Drugs won’t work; now, I am really not into the material, and serious advice, medically or emotionally, is out of my knowledge or imagination…

Any idea?

This summer, I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse. For those of you who don’t know, its a relatively common heart defect where the valve of your heart is ‘too big’. This causes it to buckle, and sometimes leakage can occur that needs to be fixed, although if it needs surgery, people tend to need it around their 40’s. Many symptoms can ( but don’t always) accompany Mitral Valve, commonly fatigue and anxiety.

School started back about a week ago, and from about the last week of summer to now I’ve been having increasing anxiety. Nothing is really the matter; I seem to stress over little things more than I have before. No matter what I do nothing is getting better.

So yesterday, when I was in the shower, I lost control; I’m not sure how it happened, I know I was almost crying before and then I just burst full-out into hysterics. I felt like I couldn’t get enough air, although I’m wondering if this was due to the heat of my shower, as often I feel like hot air makes it harder to breath, but not to the extent that this was. I was gasping for air and my limbs where shaking uncontrollably — they felt like jello, really weak. I also got dizzy. My hands and forearms got numb and tingly. I didn’t get scared because of the "attack" — I had been researching anxiety and this sounded like an attack, so i felt like I knew what was going on. I remember thinking "It’s not gonna stop, this feeling isn’t going away. I’ll have anxiety forever." and similar things. I was pretty shaken afterwords, but the "episode" was quick. I didn’t tell my parents because I wasn’t sure what it was and I wasn’t thinking clearly. My muscles hurt so bad afterwords, and this morning my chest muscles hurt too, like they had been strained.

In your opinion, does this sound like an attack? What else would this be if it wasn’t? How is anxiety treated, other than drugs? Links to any websites and anything you have to offer is much appreciated! Thanks for reading.
I’m grateful for these quick replies. Of course, the internet can only give an educated guess, but thats all I was looking for, really. I went for a checkup with my cardiologist yesterday and told him I have been having anxiety. The only answer I got was "I hate to put adolescents on antidepressants/antianxiety pills. It can affect alot of things." I told my mother just now and she agrees that it was an anxiey attack, although she said, "Just stop obsessing over the anxiety; focus on other things."

Which isn’t a problem sometimes. Today, for example, is the first time in the past 2 weeks I’ve felt somewhat relaxed. My chest doesn’t feel tight and I’m not getting "butterflies" like I have been. But most other times, I can’t stop, no matter what I try.

So what do I say to them to make them see this is getting bad? You’d think a panic attack would be enough. They just seem to be side-stepping the issue. I don’t want to take pills either; what other way do they treat anxiety?

I have been on Lexapro for about a year and a half, and I have gone from 10 mg to 20 mg, for various reasons including not sleeping, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, and so far I have had no problems, and my doctor is really good about upping my dose if needed. I have had no problems at all, and overall I have been very satisfied with the difference it has made in my life, but now that I have moved to a new city for school, I am living by myself, and I have noticed a few monsters creeping their ugly heads out again. I have been having massive panic attacks without warning or being caused by anything, being really "low" and depressed for no reason, having more thoughts about hurting myself and acting on those thoughts (after about a year of being SIV free). I have also had a few issues concentrating, staying focused and finishing things. I want a few ideas of different drugs I could suggest to my doctor, and I’d like to know what the medicines do and how they effect you (pros and cons, please).

I’m looking for natural remedies for anxiety/panic attacks. Its for a friend, drugs are NOT an option. I stopped by the health food store today, but there were so many options. I want to recommend something effective. I have heard good things about Rescue Remedy, and so bought some of that. Has anyone had good results with this or anything else? She has panic attacks related to severe social anxiety. Also, if anyone knows of a good book or website where I could learn more about panic remedies, that would be much appreciated. Thanks! -Neb

I am 13 and have have two panic attacks. i havent gone to the doctor but their is anxiety disorder in my mums past. I had my first panic attack when i had a needle, and the second when i flew off fast scooter. i dont know how to deal with the attacks and my mum dosnt help, all she says is calm down and acts as if im embarrising. i htink she thinks im exagerating over little things. but when it happends its out of my control i cant stop shaking and hyperventilating, my hands freeze up and i had severe tingling in my face and a very pale face.Mum dosnt want to take me to the doctor or buy any medications. i agree with her when she says she dosnt want me on any strong perscribed drugs. she dosnt want to spend lots of money taking me to phyciatrists or phycologists(im not sure which one) but i want to get better. any advice. please give me good answers im realy stressed about it all

My friend is prone to these. She is really sweet, but totally insecure and won’t go to see anyone for this problem. Her Dr. diagnosed her with Panic/Anxiety attacks, but she is afraid to use drugs..ANyone with similar problem and remedy? Serious replies please
When I say she won’t see anyone, I mean a psyciatrist.

I don’t use drugs. Please help. Any book titles are welcome.

I have been having pretty bad anxiety attacks for about 1 month. Over the past week I have been getting bad anxiety everytime I think about leaving the house or even when I am home alone. Does anyone else have this problem and what have you done to treat it without sedating drugs?

Thank you to those who replied to my previous question…. Very helpful!

Now any ideas how to deal with anxiety? I have had it for years and am truly fed up with it! Have tried drugs, therapy, etc but still it comes back! It makes me feel physically ill and mentally drained. I feel as if I am different from other people who live life without feeling anxious or unhappy…. and then I feel lacking in self esteem. Anxiety is really quite a crippling thing! Any suggestions on how to deal with it or should I just accept it and make the best of a bad situation?

I’m almost 23, I’m in college and let’s face it, I like going out and having some drinks with friends like many people my age do. I also have a mild case of generalized anxiety which is genetic in my family. I take clonazepam sometimes to treat anxiety attacks which have gotten less frequent over time. I’ve been told that drugs like paxil and buspar may help but I know you’re not supposed to drink alcohol when you’re on them, but I don’t want my social life to stop either. I don’t consider myself an alcoholic or anything, I usually just drink on weekends or at sporting events so I can go days without drinking or whatever, but I don’t want to have to cut it out all together. Any advice?

By the way, for what it’s worth, I only drink beer, I don’t drink liquor or wine or anything else.

I suffer from panic disorder for a couple of years now. I have gone to psychiatrists, psychologists, read books & been on medication. Most of the time i feel horrible. I would just like to know if there is actually a person out there who has recovered from panic disorder without the drugs, which i absolutely cannot handle. And i’m not talking about those infomercial people, which you are not sure if they are being honest or not. Panic disorder is hell on earth & i would like to know if anybody has been able to escape it…

No drugs, no therapy… Is there anything I can do to help with the nervousness and anxiety attacks? I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder… Blaaahhh, I need help.

I’ve been thinking about taking Xanax to help with my anxiety attacks. (i’ll go to the doc for this)
But before I do so, I was just curious about somethings..

Side effects:
Such as weight gain?? It that true?

Does it really work for anxiety? scale 1-10 of how well it works?

How does it make you feel? (i’m do not of drugs that make you feel weird and not in control of you body)

Will it eventually make you not have anxiety? How?

Will I be able to still do daily activites like gym?

My view of Xanax is it makes you real relaxed and tired..so i’m worried i’ll be lazy and druged up everyday!

I really want to treat my anxiety because it is hold me back on a lot of things. I have anxiety about having axniety! which is difficult to ignore and try to not let it hold me back. It’s a fear..and i hate it.

I am not sure what the symptoms of an anxiety attack are but I was sweating like crazy and I felt like I couldn’t breathe and my heart was beating crazy. I felt like I was extremely scared, the way my heart was beating, but for no apparent reason. It took 3 or 4 hours to fall asleep.
And no, I don’t do any drugs, drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes.
And no, I didnt have anything to be nervous about the next day.

Is it just stress? Should I see a doctor? Is this what an anxiety attack feels like?

I have social anxiety disorder but I don’t take any medication. Since I started school again it’s gotten worse. I also have panic attacks. I don’t want to take any drugs. Can you give me some tips on how to control it?

Will Valerian root help with my anger problems and anxiety/panic attacks with school work. I don’t want to take normal drugs for this and I am looking for an alternative. Will this work, what are the risks, and are there any more effective and safer things I can take?

Thanks

I need to know how to control myself and minimse the risk of having panic attacks without having to use drugs.

I have panic attacks at night at least once a week.
I wake up out of sleep panicy, hyperventilating, shaking and fearful.
Then i usually throw up and can’t get back to sleep.

I’m 16.

How can i get control over this without drugs.

I want to know if there are any other "cures" for anxiety attacks besides exercising, and using drugs. I know therapy is supposed to help too, but anything else besides those things?

I am 36 years old and have suffered with anxiety attacks for the last 15 years. I have been on numerous anti-anxiety drugs and have had several therapists to help me with this. Currently I am off all the meds. except for Xanax which I only take when needed. It seems like I have most of my attacks at night when I am trying to sleep. During the day when I feel an attack coming on I can usually get my mind off of it because I am busy at work or doing other things. But, at night is when the attacks are uncontrollable. They wake me up out of a sound sleep. My heart is racing , I have trouble swallowing and the heaviness and pressure in my chest is just awful. As of now, I am up due to another attack and have to get up in less than 5 hrs. to go to work. I have tried special breathing exercises to control this (which is what all the therapists tried teaching me) they don’t work at all. I have read self help books but nothing, absolutely nothing helps. The chest discomfort and trouble swalling is the most uncomfortable symptoms out of all the other anxiety attack symptoms I have to deal with. Does anyone have this same problem and how do you deal with it? I will not go back on any of the drugs. The Xanax does cause some relief but, I don’t like to take it. My mind just races with all of these "silly" worries and concerns that I don’t have any control over. I just don’t understand why it wakes me up out of a sound sleep at night. Any advice from anyone would be greatly appreciated!

I just started getting some attacks and symptoms throughout my days and I googled it and all these people are saying they’ve suffered for years with disabling anxiety and you just have to learn to live with it… which of course has made me even more freaked out. I don’t even want to live if I have to deal with this! I would never actually do anything suicidal but this is making me very depressed.

Any success stories? Preferably not from using drugs but cognitive behavior therapy or something else?

Or would you have to take different drugs for each problem?