http://www.gnorb.net/930/stopping-my-panic-attacks In your head it's only a memory, but written down it's working knowledge Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 http://www.gnorb.net/930/stopping-my-panic-attacks/comment-page-1#comment-78800 Nathan Smith Sat, 04 Aug 2007 16:59:00 +0000 http://www.gnorb.net/personal-development/20070803/stopping-my-panic-attacks/#comment-78800 I had a run of panic attacks earlier this year, in the first week of January and this was the first time I ever experienced a panic attack. My heart would beat fast and it was so severe I genuinely thought I was going to die. This started happening when I was on vacation for Christmas. When I returned to work, I had a panic attack as I stepped in the door. I said I was sick and needed to go home and the response was "Well you looked fine the other week, you are just doing this because your co-worker is on vacation and you can't handle the stress". I went to my doctor and she suggested I see a "specialist". That night, and after reaching the conclusion that these were panic attacks and I was not having a heart attack or something like that, I checked myself into University Pavillion Hospital and stayed there for a few days until I was stablized. . In the short term, I was given Alprazolam (Xanax), and keep it around "just in case", Xanax is fast acting and can bring you down and out of a panic attack. . I am now taking Paroxetine (aka Paxil) which is prescribed for panic disorder and depression, and because I've been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, I'm also taking the anti-psychotic Seroquil. I'm pretty much a walking zombie now but, I don't have panic attacks anymore. I have a previous history of running up the pole to the top almost to the point of psychosis and crashing back down to depression, that also hasn't happened for awhile. . Anyways, I know many people are against psychoactive medications, or taking anything long term. In that case, I recommend taking Xanax when having symptoms of a panic attack, since it acts short term. Despite the potential for abuse and all the druggies out there that use it illegally, It's really quite mild like taking a shot of Jack Daniels. . What really sucks about panic disorder is that people who haven't have a panic attack don't understand. I still get treated like I "just can't handle stress" at work. "Be careful not to stress out Nathan or he will go to the hospital again." . Nathan I had a run of panic attacks earlier this year, in the first week of January and this was the first time I ever experienced a panic attack. My heart would beat fast and it was so severe I genuinely thought I was going to die. This started happening when I was on vacation for Christmas. When I returned to work, I had a panic attack as I stepped in the door. I said I was sick and needed to go home and the response was “Well you looked fine the other week, you are just doing this because your co-worker is on vacation and you can’t handle the stress”. I went to my doctor and she suggested I see a “specialist”. That night, and after reaching the conclusion that these were panic attacks and I was not having a heart attack or something like that, I checked myself into University Pavillion Hospital and stayed there for a few days until I was stablized.
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In the short term, I was given Alprazolam (Xanax), and keep it around “just in case”, Xanax is fast acting and can bring you down and out of a panic attack.
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I am now taking Paroxetine (aka Paxil) which is prescribed for panic disorder and depression, and because I’ve been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, I’m also taking the anti-psychotic Seroquil. I’m pretty much a walking zombie now but, I don’t have panic attacks anymore. I have a previous history of running up the pole to the top almost to the point of psychosis and crashing back down to depression, that also hasn’t happened for awhile.
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Anyways, I know many people are against psychoactive medications, or taking anything long term. In that case, I recommend taking Xanax when having symptoms of a panic attack, since it acts short term. Despite the potential for abuse and all the druggies out there that use it illegally, It’s really quite mild like taking a shot of Jack Daniels.
.
What really sucks about panic disorder is that people who haven’t have a panic attack don’t understand. I still get treated like I “just can’t handle stress” at work. “Be careful not to stress out Nathan or he will go to the hospital again.”
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Nathan

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