Panic Attacks • Hacker News Board

Re: Panic Attacks

#141

Post by longears » Wed, Aug 22, 2018, 8:58 PM UTC

I found that potassium gives me anxiety and panic attacks. I noticed this after drinking an electrolyte drink, and also eventually traced it back to fish and to chicken broth, both of which are high in potassium.

I now eat a low-potassium diet, which fixed the problem.

My potassium levels are normal. My doctors have never heard of this effect. I can't explain this, I just know it works for me, and I have some confidence from looking back at my food logs that it's not a placebo effect.

Re: Panic Attacks

#142

Post by hndamien » Thu, Aug 23, 2018, 12:23 AM UTC

rrmm wrote: post #109

IAmGraydon wrote: post #92

I have always suffered from some level of social anxiety, but never really considered it crippling. Years ago, I brought this up to a doctor who promptly prescribed me a drug of the benzodiazepine class. At first I felt like an idiot. Slightly less anxious I guess, but I became kind of loose of the mouth (like you get when you're drunk), forgot a lot of things, and generally didn't like it. However, I stuck with it a…

As far as I understand (not an MD), benzos are not generally considered a long-term anti-anxiety drug. They treat the immediate symptom for people who need immediate relief from debilitating anxiety attacks and occasional 'flare-ups'. Generally, you could go on an SNRI or SSRI coupled with some form of cognitive-behavioral therapy to try to treat the root cause of the anxiety. But I'm not a big fan of GP MDs giving o…

My anecodotal experience is that SNRIs and SSRIs can massively increase the propensity, and even induce panic attacks where they were never present. My recommendation is to first try dancing - I know it sounds dumb, but the risk reward profile of this I think puts it at the first line of defense. I get that it is very hard for somebody in that mental state to get up and go dancing.

Re: Panic Attacks

#143

Post by rrmm » Thu, Aug 23, 2018, 3:48 AM UTC

hndamien wrote: post #142

rrmm wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As far as I understand (not an MD), benzos are not generally considered a long-term anti-anxiety drug. They treat the immediate symptom for people who need immediate relief from debilitating anxiety attacks and occasional 'flare-ups'. Generally, you could go on an SNRI or SSRI coupled with some form of cognitive-behavioral therapy to try to treat the root cause of the anxiety. But I'm not a big fan of GP MDs giving o…

My anecodotal experience is that SNRIs and SSRIs can massively increase the propensity, and even induce panic attacks where they were never present. My recommendation is to first try dancing - I know it sounds dumb, but the risk reward profile of this I think puts it at the first line of defense. I get that it is very hard for somebody in that mental state to get up and go dancing.

Yes, SNRI/SSRI's can precipitate panic attacks. And I agree aerobic activity of any sort can be very effective for controlling stress/anxiety and even depression. The important thing is to find some things that work for you and do them.