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Panic Attacks

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Re: Panic Attacks

#61

Post by byproxy »

faaabio1618 wrote: post #31
r32a_ wrote: post #4

Panic attacks are awful and terrifying, mine eventually turned into panic disorder, but after over a year of working on it and taking it step by step I was able to beat it and without any medication! In my experience, the following helped me. * Meditation * Deep breathing exercises * Exercising especially cardio. * Cold water showers * Learning about panic attacks * CBT

If you have health issues, please don't follow any advice on the internet (Ok, not even mine) and go ask your doctor.

As someone who went to their doctor (experience summed up elsewhere in this thread), I'd say there are merits to following internet advice with regards to this subject. Reading others' experience and techniques (even if I didn't adhere to them) was highly beneficial to my understanding of what was happening to my body. I don't think a doctor would've given me the time of day.

Re: Panic Attacks

#62

Post by homero »

modzu wrote: post #22

so are there really just magic pills you can take that stop panic attacks? this guys carries them around but doesn't say if he's had to use them.

Yes xanax works perfectly but stops working if you use it daily and makes things worse

Re: Panic Attacks

#63

Post by byproxy »

thecatspaw wrote: post #49
paulpauper wrote: post #37

I have never had this problem. I have felt panic but it never became a full blown attack. I'm not sure what the difference between an attack and anxiety is.

the difference is gigantic. The usual kind of panic for me is "oh shit, I forgot to do this, if I cant fix it Im getting fired" kinda. For me a panic attack is "oh shit, I forgot to do this, if I cant fix it Im getting fired. ooooooh no I cant fix it because im a idiot and . Im gonna get fired, not get another job ever again because I was only at this job for 6 months. Fuck, is this it? convenient life, gone, just li…

I wouldn't necessarily call that a panic attack. Panic attacks are a physical manifestation of some underlying anxiety. I've, personally, never been able to focus on any other thought than the fact that I feel like I'm going to die when I have one.

Re: Panic Attacks

#64

Post by AlwaysRock »

I've got near crippling social anxiety. It's hard because intellectually I know my brain is creating and responding to fear that is all artificial. However in the moment that's nearly impossible for me to realize or take in.

I've been having more and more conversations with friends and co workers about anxiety recently and that's helped a bit but realistically this is something that I'm going to have to do real work on.

Re: Panic Attacks

#65

Post by [deleted] »

drjannakoretz wrote: post #60

Body based coping strategies are helpful those moments. Try sticking your hand in a bowl full of ice water and leaving it in there for a few seconds, or taking a very cold shower. Some folks even do something called Ice Diving, where they place their entire face into a bowl of ice cubes and water. This actually triggers the diving reflex and it automatically calms your body. But you have to be in a place (like home)…

[deleted]

Re: Panic Attacks

#66

Post by hrktb »

modzu wrote: post #22

so are there really just magic pills you can take that stop panic attacks? this guys carries them around but doesn't say if he's had to use them.

It depends on the person (some substances work better than others on someone, most doctors will recommend to try for 4~5 weeks and see if there is any effect, positive or negative).

Also there can be a strong placebo effect of taking the pill.

Re: Panic Attacks

#67

Post by Tharkun »

drjannakoretz wrote: post #60

Body based coping strategies are helpful those moments. Try sticking your hand in a bowl full of ice water and leaving it in there for a few seconds, or taking a very cold shower. Some folks even do something called Ice Diving, where they place their entire face into a bowl of ice cubes and water. This actually triggers the diving reflex and it automatically calms your body. But you have to be in a place (like home)…

I doubt it triggers the "drowning reflex", which according to Wikipedia looks like this:

"Involuntary actions operated by the autonomic nervous system involve lateral flapping or paddling with the arms to press them down into the water in the effort to raise the mouth long enough to breathe, and tilting the head back. As an instinctive reaction, this is not consciously mediated nor under conscious control."

You may be referring to the diving reflex instead?

Re: Panic Attacks

#68

Post by nicklovescode »

AlwaysRock wrote: post #64

I've got near crippling social anxiety. It's hard because intellectually I know my brain is creating and responding to fear that is all artificial. However in the moment that's nearly impossible for me to realize or take in. I've been having more and more conversations with friends and co workers about anxiety recently and that's helped a bit but realistically this is something that I'm going to have to do real work…

Have you tried propranolol? The research shows it’s quite effective for this kind of thing

Re: Panic Attacks

#69

Post by drjannakoretz »

Tharkun wrote: post #67
drjannakoretz wrote: post #60

Body based coping strategies are helpful those moments. Try sticking your hand in a bowl full of ice water and leaving it in there for a few seconds, or taking a very cold shower. Some folks even do something called Ice Diving, where they place their entire face into a bowl of ice cubes and water. This actually triggers the diving reflex and it automatically calms your body. But you have to be in a place (like home)…

I doubt it triggers the "drowning reflex", which according to Wikipedia looks like this: "Involuntary actions operated by the autonomic nervous system involve lateral flapping or paddling with the arms to press them down into the water in the effort to raise the mouth long enough to breathe, and tilting the head back. As an instinctive reaction, this is not consciously mediated nor under conscious control." You may b…

Yes, many apologies, I mistyped. I will correct now.

Re: Panic Attacks

#70

Post by nicklovescode »

cryoshon wrote: post #45
freakout wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, there aren't. But physicians aren't psychiatrists and often the first treatment people get to treat panic attacks comes from their physician, and is something like a beta-blocker. By and large these are ineffective. That said, the placebo effect can be strong.

can confirm firsthand that beta blockers are not useful for panic disorders despite being widely indicated for them. the beta blockers are intended to treat the physical symptoms of anxiety like shaking, sweating, and fast heartbeat. IMO they're a therapy which is really targeted at the doctors, who will feel better if they are able to prescribe something which theoretically helps the patient but doesn't carry any ma…

Do you have research to support this? Propranolol for instance is psychoactive in addition to hitting plasma norepinephrine / blood pressure etc
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