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Panic AGAIN!

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Posted 5/1/2009 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Forum friends,

I am back here, but i wish i had good news.
I have been back on Paxil for well over 8 months now for my OCD/ panic attacks. It all seemed to improve for a while, i have accepted the weight gain all in return for some piece of mind. But something happened last night that took me back to point zero.
Last night I had a very severe panic attack, i could not breathe while in bed. I felt extremely nauseous, burst into a cold sweat and diarrhea.
I felt as if the walls are closing down on me and as i got breathless i got dressed very quickly in the middle of the night and started running!

I am not fully recovered from the panic attack yet which seemed so intense so i am wondering to myself if it is normal to feel this while being on medication for such a long time.

They say the ability to repress is a survival mechanism but unfortunately i don't seem to have these mechanisms in me any more. The panic attacks and obsessive thoughts are creeping up on me and i cannot seem to be able to ward them off any more.

I need help, i am desperate. At times I feel that life is too long to live with such a disorder.
Thank you for reading this
Posted 5/1/2009 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Dannii,

I'm sorry about this recent and severe panic attack. I would suggest going back to your doc and seeing if there is something that can be prescribed as a complementary treatment to the Paxil. Perhaps something like Ativan or Xanax, if you can tolerate them. I don't know whether or not you have a therapist, but some counseling might help, too. Also, I would look into some alternative methods like meditation and breathing exercises to help you cope. I do hope you'll find some relief soon. All the best to you.
Posted 5/1/2009 6:16 PM (GMT 0)

Wow my heart goes out to you Dannii am so sry......but please don't give up, I know sometimes while going through the rough times we just want to end the craziness but this too will pass and brighter days lay ahead.  I'm going to throw something out there at you and maybe you can discuss with your doctor but I know it works for me.  I have IBS which is irritated bowel and I know when I get sweating and diarrhea that my guts are starting to act up and then anxiety kicks in because your digestive tract is tied in with your nervous system.  I have pills from the doctor called BUSCOPAN...u can google it but its a muscle relaxant for your guts and I take one of those when I feel the anxiety starting....within no time my anxiety starts to decrease.  I don't know if this relates to you but it has helped me.  Whats worse for me is Gastric Dumping...I have this and it only happens on rare occassions but when it does OMG I think I am going to die...its horrible and will last until I am purged.

I want to say hang in there and definitely seek out alternate methods or meds like Raniah mentions.  I will pray for you and god bless us everyone.

Posted 5/1/2009 10:52 PM (GMT 0)

Dannii,

First of all do not worry about going back to step one, you may not have done that but it feels like it. With the anxiety disorders we may be all over the board but when a bad time hits we just start to put one foot in front of the other and start marching away from the panic and anxiety.  You can do this as I have great faith in your my friend.  WE are here to help you.  :-)

OCD treatment can help you bring symptoms under control so that they don't rule your daily life. A type of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be the most effective form of therapy for OCD in both children and adults. Cognitive behavioral therapy involves retraining your thought patterns and routines so that compulsive behaviors are no longer necessary. I am wonder if you have been through this therapy?

One CBT approach in particular is called exposure and response prevention. This therapy involves gradually exposing you to a feared object or obsession, such as dirt, and teaching you healthy ways to cope with your anxiety. Learning the techniques and new thought patterns takes effort and practice. But you may enjoy a better quality of life once you learn to manage your obsessions and compulsions.

Therapy may take place in individual, family or group or online  sessions.

Please take a look at the free online CBT, the Mood Gym, http://moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome.

This program is all online and you can work through it at your own pace right here online. I have been working on this program myself.

Also know you are never alone here as we are one big family and we are all here to help each other.

Gentle Hugs to you

Kitt

Posted 5/4/2009 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Dannii,

I hope you've been able to recover from the panic attack by now. I agree with Kitt that you may feel you're all the way back at Step One, but not really, because you have developed skills and had time to gain some emotional health while the paxil was keeping your anxiety at bay.

I used to get anxiety attacks during the night also. Breathing techniques helped me some, and taking an anti-anxiety med as needed was handy as well. Therapy has been the biggest source of help for me, however. Without it, I'd be far worse off than I am now, slowly taking those baby steps toward beating anxiety.

percycat
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