Treating and dealing with Panic attacks

[laRubiaBonita]

My husband recently started having panic attacks. It started this past april, I had to take him to the ER- he didn’t know what was going on….. they ran tests, his PCP ran tests- and he is a healthy 33 year old man.

He doc did prescribe xanax, and he has used it sparingly- but has had to use it.

 

He was out of town this past weekend, until Tuesday, for business as well as pleasure- he and his father were in FL and also saw his grandparents. Apparently he was having elongated and moderate episodes most the time when he was away.

wednesday was his first full day back to work… he felt symptoms, yesterday and all evening he was having issues- he had to take a xanax and pretty much laid down the whole evening.

 

I just do not know what to do…. I order him a book yesterday with some congnative and other therapy types that he can try to help him better control the feelings as they pop up. But I feel so helpless….. and it worries me.

 

Both his fathers & mothers side of the family has a history of anxiety and depression- so it’s likely that he his already predisposed to it- but I do not know what else is triggering it, and he seems to not know either.

 

I worry that it’s something I might or might not be doing:(…… I almost wish it was so I could fix it.

 

 

And lord knows we shouldn’t have kids now- I have suffered depression- he has anxiety… our poor kids would be nuts!

[Meaplus3]

As a person who is suffering from very bad anxeity and panic I will tell you that therapy is very helpful. Right now I'm doing that with a combo of meds because the panic has been so severe. As for the xanax, you know IMO I think he should get off the stuff asap. It's very addictive. I wish i had gotten off that drug long ago. I've been on it for a year now and use it everyday because I need to. Now my body is used to it and it's going to be a B**** to wean off. Does he have a therapist?

 

Mea:)

[Rooster_DAR]

I was crippled for a year with this crap. I could not function normally at all, and was on xanax for a year. I did seek help, but what really go me feeling better was the research I did on the condition.

 

After I found out how common it was, it helped me in knowing that something was not physically wrong with me,and that it could be overcome. It's been over 15 years since that time, and I am doing great today.

 

I feel for him, the condition is really crippling at times. Does he understand it fully? Have him do some research on the net about the condition, it may help like it did me.

 

Good luck,

[Meaplus3]

I was crippled for a year with this crap. I could not function normally at all, and was on xanax for a year. I did seek help, but what really go me feeling better was the research I did on the condition.

 

This sounds like me and exactly where I'm at!

 

After I found out how common it was, it helped me in knowing that something was not physically wrong with me,and that it could be overcome. It's been over 15 years since that time, and I am doing great today.

 

 

So glad you were able to get through it. Thanks for your post. I found it helpful to know I'm not alone.

 

Mea:)

[Jilly Bean]

Hubby needs to realize that there is nothing wrong in taking the xanax. Using it sparingly is only going to make his attacks stronger and more frequent, as once your body gets used to them, it's harder for them to stop without intervention.

 

So, basically by NOT taking the meds, he is conditioning his body to foster more A/P attacks.

 

If he's genetically predisposed to this, then it wasn't a matter of if, it was a matter of when.

 

A combo of behavioral therapy and meds will help him tremendously.

[laRubiaBonita]

Awesome!!!

 

thanks for the help and advice. one of my coworkers get PA's too, and he gave me a book he says is awesome and will help me too- i just feel so helpless... but he was also telling me that if he feels an attack coming on- he doesn't fear it... he knows how to deal and it usually stops it.. or at least lessens it.

 

also through my work we have an Employee Assistance Program- which employess or their family can get some basic counseling at no cost, so i am going to mention that to him too.

 

i think he does need to research it more- i have a lot today, and i feel positive that he will learn how to accept it and not fear an attack... which is what causes a lot of his symptoms to start it seems.

 

good luck Mea, and Rooster i am so glad you were able to overcome it too.... gives me confidence

[whichwayisup]

Like Mea, I too suffer from anxiety..

 

Anyway, I suggest you try to suggest to him to do CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) so he can learn and understand what anxiety is, learn to control it and turn negative thinking into positive thinking. The skills I learned to fight anxiety through CBT was/is amazing, I recommend it for anyone who has this disorder.

 

You are right, if he can accept anxiety for what it is, learn not to be afraid of it, try to be in control of it, then he can work through the feelings of anxiety.

 

I know how scary it can be, the symptoms at times makes you feel like you're going nuts, or feel sick. Anxiety mimicks alot of illnesses so the more he learns about anxiety, the better off he'll be. And you as well. read up on it, ask questions (I'm a free book about anxiety, so ask me anything here, or feel free to PM me, I can recommend a really good anxiety website if he is interested in joining it.)

 

Some books - The Feeling Good Book, by Dr. David Burns. Been There, Try This, Done that by Sam Obitz. And, any Claire Weekes books about anxiety are also really good.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Oh yeah, go walking with your husband. Exercise is really important! So is yoga, if he can get into it. There are tons of easy/beginners DVD's, so it might be a fun thing for the two of you to do together.

[Rooster_DAR]

, and i feel positive that he will learn how to accept it and not fear an attack... which is what causes a lot of his symptoms to start it seems.

 

The accepting of it came first for me. I was so determined to win this battle that every time I had an episode, I would affirm myself that it was just some chemical imbalance or emotional dynamo that would not harm me at all. It was almost like I was challenging mine own body in a war.

 

The positive thinking and determination was a big factor for me, but the tools were education on the subject, and therapy by talking with other people who have or have had the same condition.

 

Cheer!

[whichwayisup]

Getting ANGRY at the anxiety and the panic attacks really helped me. I remember grocery shopping and feeling the anxiety coming on, I got MAD and actually started talking/muttering to myself. I think those around me thought I was nuts, but oh well.

 

Rooster, same goes for me. To have people to talk to about this, those who have gone through it really helps alot. That and ofcourse CBT. That gave me the tools to fight it and also made me find my inner strength that I didn't know was there..

[mental_traveller]

Intense physical activity is a great way to stave it off IMO. Feel an attack coming on, start doing shadow boxing combos or pressups and you forget it in a few seconds - your mind can't help but focus your attention on the physical movement, heavy breathing, and workout you are doing.

 

If you are taking meds then take them regularly like the other poster said. The whole point is to break the cycle of starting to feel one coming on, getting scared that it will happen, and then that accelerating the process and guaranteeing one will happen because you fear it so much.

[2.50 a gallon]

Ativan

I went through 3 years of hell before I found it. In 25 plus years it has never let me down

[smiala]

Depression is one of those disorders which most people face in there life as some stage for one reason or the other. If it's children the pressure of studies gets over their head and if it's adults the pressure of work attracts depression. Rather than going on drugs, one should look for the reason behind there problem . Keeping your self busy and changing the schedule also helps sometimes to get over stress and depression.

The best way to get over stress, depression and anxiety is to take a break from your regular schedule, go out, and take good sleep. This helps in clearing the mind and try consulting a specialist who can suggest you as how you can get over your problem. There are various prescription drugs to get over anxiety and depression, but these should only be used in accordance with the instruction of a physician and going on anti depressants should be the last option.

[Meaplus3]

Getting ANGRY at the anxiety and the panic attacks really helped me. I remember grocery shopping and feeling the anxiety coming on, I got MAD and actually started talking/muttering to myself. I think those around me thought I was nuts, but oh well.

 

 

This is a very good way to put an attack to a hault. If you have ever watched the show Obssesed.. it's part of the A&E interventions, they actually make people with OCD and anxeity disorders face their fears by means of exposure. Just the fact that you can walk into that store means your facing your fear and not allowing it to control you. I've been doing this to and it helps. IMO, alot of these fears come form a feeling of needing to be "Safe". Most are strong attempt to be in control. So kudo's to you WWIU for facing the beast head on.

 

Mea:)

[GirlBytheOcean219]

anxiety n depression r quite common! dont hold back on kids if you love each other, just cuz of those 2.

[carhill]

OP, I liked JB's response and it mirrors my own experiences. If he wants to beat this, he needs a consistent and combinative approach managed by a competent psych. First, even though Xanax is a benzo and addictive, it appears to work for him without significant side-effects. That's good. Work out a titration that takes the edge off the anxiety but doesn't flat-line him (make him uncaring and/or somnolent). Then, engage a CBT professional and work on the 'thinking one out of the box' part.

 

IME, once he learns the cognitive tools and knows how it feels to consistently not have the anxiety, he can then begin to actively manage his symptoms without meds, slowly tapering off meds over a number of months. The important thing is being aware of the emotional goal, knowing how that feels. Then, work to perpetuate that state and accept that there will always be 'bad' days somewhere in there and that's OK. The confidence that he gains will get him through them.

 

Best wishes!

[laRubiaBonita]

Best wishes!

 

thanks CH....... so far he has been reading some books.

 

i mention the counsel that is avaliable through my employer, but he really didn't seem to interested.... in fact i may just go see a counselor.

 

i try and talk with him about things, but he doesn't talk to me- so i feel like i am to blame, at least partly, and when i have staight up asked if part of his panics were something i may or may not be doing he doesn't say one way or the other. granted when i have aked him it didn't seem as if he was avoiding the question... but more like he had a nother thought to tell me and then doesn't go back to my questions.

 

in one his books it mentions looking back 6-12 months to see what has changed in his life- i sarcastically said we got married.....

[whichwayisup]

This is a very good way to put an attack to a hault. If you have ever watched the show Obssesed.. it's part of the A&E interventions, they actually make people with OCD and anxeity disorders face their fears by means of exposure. Just the fact that you can walk into that store means your facing your fear and not allowing it to control you. I've been doing this to and it helps. IMO, alot of these fears come form a feeling of needing to be "Safe". Most are strong attempt to be in control. So kudo's to you WWIU for facing the beast head on.

 

Mea:)

 

Thanks Mea. It hasn't been easy over the years but therapy paid off. Sometimes I let it take control but not for very long..

[laRubiaBonita]

an interesting turn of events....

 

hubby and i had a great talk last night... he said some concerns and i gave him new ways to look at things- differing perspectives. you could see the light bulb go off... so i think he feels way better about things, plus we talked about us and that we need to communicate more- even if we do not want to for whatever reason. i told him he has to let things out before they build up so much he explodes with attacks.

 

also, he has had a sore spot on his elbow for the past week or so. kinda like an ingrown hair that gets sore. he thought it was getting better, but it started hurting again. this morning he gets up and his elbow is super swollen, sore, and really hot to the touch. he made a doctors appt. and they are testing him for Lyme disease!!!

i have been reading up on it and lyme disease can cause depression, fatigue, cognative disruptions, heart palpatations, dizziness..... aka many of the symptoms that the panic attacks seem to cause.

 

so he may be suffreing more because he has lyme disease. i didn't know lyme disease could cause those symptoms.

 

i do not know if lyme is confirmed yet, but it makes sense.

[2.50 a gallon]

I can understand what you husband is going through.

In my case, I was not depressed, I was not stressed. My life was totally the opposite. I was healthy had a great life, including a very loving fiance. The first attack was paralyzing for months afterwards. Who can I turn to? Am I insane? Will they lock me up? Will I lose my fiance?