Anxiety/Panic Attacks - Brandon,MS

I've been taking a low dose of Buspar (5mg twice daily) that has really helped. It makes sense that you would have more anxiety in the evening/night. Things quiet down around the house, but your mind is still going full speed. Your body is tired then as well. Exercise may help also.

I went to the doctor thinking I had high blood pressure because my blood pressure would spike when I would get upset about something. I mean like 150/110. My pulse would race and my face would get really hot. My doc said (after a month of keeping a blood pressure log) that my blood pressure was fine, but my anxiety was out of control.

Talk to your doctor. It's really not a difficult fix. You may have to try a few different medications before you find one that works well for you, but when you do its a big relief. My husband has really noticed the difference in me - when he gets home from work, I'm like "hey, babe. how's it going" instead of freaking out about something. Good luck to you!

You NEED to talk to your husband in depth about this! He is your support system. I sometimes suffer from this too and I thought it was asthma or some breathing problem, until all of my pulmonary tests came back fine.

I discovered it was anxiety after my second was born. The worst feeling I have ever had was 2 days after he was born, it was super foggy outside that morning and all I could see outside the hospital window was fog. My husband was still sleeping and I was just laying there awake. I felt like my room was closing in on me.

I researched PPD and was super surprised to learn that I had so many of the symptons and that my elephant on my chest, feeling was really anxiety. Boy was I surprised and quite dissapointed!

I had a super long talk with my husband and told him I didn't want to take any medication for it because only 'crazy' people take meds, lol. He told me if a little pill will make me feel better, than why not take it? I realized he was right.

After a couple of weeks I felt better and never did seek any medication, but I felt SO much better after having a deep conversation with my husband about it. I will still occasionally get those feelings and most of the time they happen when I'm laying in bed and my husband is fast asleep and I'm laying there wide awake feeling lonely and can't breath.

I will tell myself, you are in control of how you are feeling right now, so don't let this feeling take over you. Most of the time I can talk myself out of my panicky feeling and can fall asleep. I think it's so weird how it happens mostly at night, though. It must have something to do with not being able to really see far, so therefore we feel trapped, IDK. Good luck to you, but have a deep heart to heart talk with your hubby about how terrible yo are feeling. I bet you will feel so much beter!!

I would say that the more you worry about having attacks, esp in front of your family, the more your anxiety will probably build and you will end up with more attacks. That said, I have suffered with anxiety and when it comes to certain issues (claustrophobia) and driving, I still do......... Lately, I have been trying EFT (emotional freedom techniques) you can go to their free website.. eftuniverse.com .. however, I found that the website is more understandable if you first visit a practitioner in person who specializes in eft. Anyway, I have been going for about 6 sessions now and gotta say it has helped.. how do I know?? well, I was anxious to go thru tunnels and would begin to get VERY nervous and at times, shake.. However, recently I rode the subway and had to go through a tunnel and I was actually ok.... can't say I am completely over my anxiety, I am not.. BUT... I do think I feel more calm than I used to. however, as with most things, it takes practice and working through the anxiety... Also, I too don't like to take meds so I wouldn't go that route unless COMPLETELY necessary.. which leads me to this.. before you continue to assess your problem any further and before you continue to experience this all by yourself, please do look online and see about that EFT or if you don't want to do that, then do visit another type of practitioner.. There are some who get over anxiety on their own, but to me, I think it's been pretty tough. Also.. there might be other reasons (in your subconscious mind) as to why you are anxious.. could be work is just the trigger.. Lastly, it's my own personal opinion, but I think anxiety worsens (or can) as we get older and hormones change.. I have known more and more women whom once they hit their 40s.. BAM.. anxiety hits.. and not just because they are getting older but for me, all of a sudden I became claustrophobic when previously I NEVER was... anyway, you may not be 40... so maybe that isn't the problem, however, definitely try and get someone to help who deals with anxiety.. you'll be glad you did..

I wish you the best!

Repeat over and over again, "I'm fine everything is all right". For what ever reason you are feeling insecure. You are not nuts, but you do need to see a counselor to talk things out with. You can explain you don't want to take meds but just need to figure out why you keep having panic attacks. If you feel one coming on BREATH A BIG BREATH IN THROUGH THE NOSE AND OUT THROUGH THE MOUTH S-L-O-W-L-Y ~~ BREATH AGAIN. This will help to slow down your heartrate. Look around you are you in a safe place? Are you loved? This will also help you to calm down.
Start a 'gratitude journal', get a notebook and daily write down all the good things in your life, a nice home ~ food in the fridge ~ a Sunny day ~ flowers blooming ~ even a needed rain. When you start to be able to see the good you have you will be able to relax more.
Counseling will help and counselors don't prescribe medication, only a doctor or psychologist can.

I have a general anxiety disorder, related to social phobia & ptsd.. Ive tried a few anti depressants & ani anxieties, but the best help was eliminating refined foods & omega 3's.. I'd look into that.

My advice is to read your answer from "M R" several times and take it to heart! They said the exact same thing I was going to say. I have general anxiety that was clinically diagnosed 12 years ago. I went through a year and a half of cognitive behavioral therapy and have tried Zoloft, Welbutrin, Amnitryptaline, and Prozac. Of those, a low dose of Prozac was BY FAR the best. My anxiety spiked after giving birth to each of my children, to the point where I had to go back on a low dose of medication to get me over the "baby blues" period. Thanks to my therapy, I am generally able to handle my own anxiety with techniques I learned instead of pills, but you have to start somewhere and that may be with a low dose of medication.

There is NOTHING to be ashamed of. It is a chemical imbalance, nothing more, nothing less. You need seratonin. It's a neurotransmitter and all you're doing is swallowing a tiny little thing that helps your brain better utilize the seratonin it has. Be thankful that it's available and take advantage of it.

Best of luck!

First, get the book 'anxiety and phobia workbook'. All the great information and knowing you are not alone is so helpful.

Second, think about talking with a counselor/therapist. It has done wonders for me for the exact same issues.