How can I get my panic attacks under control?
I have panic attacks whenever I attend a big event such as funerals and graduations.I’ve been on meds for 3 years..I suffer from GAD,OCD,major depression and panic attacks.I was doing better but it seems that now that I’ve gotten use to these meds , the symptoms are starting to get worse again. I take Effexor Xr,Abilify,Remeron,and Ativan…Can someone please give me some advice on what to do? (Thanks)
Tagged with: 3 years • abilify • ativan • effexor • effexor xr • funerals • major depression • meds • panic attacks • remeron
Filed under: panic attacks help
I don’t know if this will be helpful, but for starts I know what you’re going through. I’ve suffered from panic attacks for the past 12 years. Meds didn’t control it enough, so I had to learn to control it myself. I do certain things when i’m anxious that really help me stay calm. You can take a hot bath & just focus on the water around you, you can try taking a ton of lotion then rubbing it into your hands really slow & focus on the way it smooths into your skin. You can try focusing on your breathing (slowly in through the mouth, slowly out through the nose). Also, when i’m in public & this it happens, I play games in my head. It sounds funny, but works. I will count things I see. Red cars, people wearing the color black, etc… or you can play a mind game where you take each letter of the alphabet & have to name something that starts with that letter (movies, music, you can do it with anything.) Try to focus on anything other than what you’re feeling. Listen to music, go for a walk, anything. If you find yourself in a full blown panic attack, you can sit down in a chair, put your heads between your knees & just breathe. Or breathe into a paper bag.
It’s hard to learn to control them, but you will find a way to control your panic attacks that works for you. It just takes time.
Good luck, I hope this helps you a little! Give these things a chance to work, try them!
Natural remedies or homeopathic tinctures can take the place of regular drugs a lot of the time. I go to a naturophatic doctor who also does work in chinese herbal medicine. I know a lot of people think its all new age crap, but it honestly saved me from chronic stomach and GI pain that was related to anxiety. I really think its worth looking into, especially if western medicine isn’t working out anymore.
btw, I’m not a crazy hippie, I’m a 19 year old female who tried it as a last desperate attempt and it worked.
I had to increase my Effexor at 3 and 6 years. I went from 75mg to 150 mg to 300mg/day. 600mg is the maximum recommended dosage.
I don’t know about your other meds. I never took any of them.
I know almost all the SSRI’s "poop out" after a time, they’re notorious for it. I just pray my effexor doesn’t. It’s the best medicine I found for me. Good luck.
Jody is right. ADs do usually poop out eventually. Please consider talking to your doctor about this. I used to be on Zoloft (12 years!) and it pooped out. Now I’m on Paxil.
Something that I’ve found that’s helpful with my anxy feelings (I have GAD) is the amino acid Taurine. I take 1000 mg. on an empty stomach. I take more if needed. Please read this info at the link I’ve inserted: http://www.thewayup.com/newsletters/011500.htm
The books by Dr. Claire Weeks are very helpful as well. You can find ‘em cheap on ebay.
Take care!
I’d say the only "real" solution is to try to "grab the bull by the horns", rather than to try to evade the problem by use of medications etc.
The way that worked for me, back when I was having some serious problems with depression, anxiety and panic attacks, was to start looking at the problem with a new perspective. I stopped my medications (not all at once, but rather gradually) and started to force myself into some habits that I had not had before. I started running early every morning before having a nice big breakfast. I started fly fishing and various other hobbies, all to keep myself occupied. While I was doing all this I started to try to divert my previous fear for my panic attacks into a more… Sort of difficult to explain, but I started to look upon it as "with the eyes of a scientist", if that makes any sense at all. When before the mere thought of my depression had sparked new fear and thus more depression, I now tried to turn that spiral into a positive spiral. This, coupled with all of my new "forced" habits, became the motivating force that in the end made me whole again.
So many people breathe thru only the upper part of their lungs, and this makes panic and anxiety worse. To see for yourself, lie flat on your back on your bed and place one hand on your tummy. As you breathe, note if your tummy rises and falls with each breath. If it does NOT rise and fall with each breath, then you are not breathing thru the bottom of your lungs, which is incorrect.
Train yourself to breathe so that your hand rises and falls with each breath. As you practice this, over and over, you will be learning correct breathing, which will be beneficial to your entire body. It will also help to stop the panic attacks.
You need to practice this all the time, until it becomes automatic. You can even practice doing this while riding in a car, sitting at a desk, or whatever. Best wishes to you, my dear.
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take very deep breathes eventually it will become 2nd nature