If you don't mind I'd like to stay in touch with you....and when your feeling like your having a panic attack, if you can, write me tell me how you feel, what your fearing at that moment, I will try and help if I could, I'm not a nurse or doctor, just a regular girl who had sever severe very sever panic attacks and now I'm better, I never thought it would get this good. you'd help me too. It would help me stay anxiety and panic attack free. Oh yeah I was also afraid to go outside alone or take a walk or be alone in the house, bath, shower etc. pretty lame huh? I forgot the medical term for that but I had it all and I was convinced it would stay with me til the day I died, I would die and be so afraid. when I thought about that for a couple years,yeah a couple years, man they went by so fast, where was I? anyway I finely got the courage to say fuck you panic attacks....your gonna have to kill me cause I'm going down fighting. Is what sucks for me though was I never really had anyone to help me through it, I had to do it all on my own. No one knew what I was going through, they couldn't relate and a lot of my family told me I was a hypochondriac, I was doing it for attention, I was a baby, shut up and deal with it, I'm not taking you to the hospital call an ambulance, I'd break out into tears begging someone anyone to help me, somethings wrong. and sometimes I would just hide it as best I could, I was embarrassed. Yeah they could be pretty mean. My mom did help me though as much as she could and I appreciate that. I hope you have someone to help you and care and try and understand what your going through.

Christina

Hi, I had panic attacks...from all my searches on panic attacks(I was convinced I had something else, I still think it may have been something else) A lot of people had been afraid of having a heart attack because a relative or parent had an early age heart attack, and all the responses(from regular people and doctors) came back that no, it's not always hereditary, it's most likely due to their life style and bad habits but it could be possible, so you'd have to discuss your concern's with a doc. I used to think I was dying when I had my panic attacks, sometimes I thought heart attack(even though I didn't always necessarily have chest pain each time, just head confusion or whatever that feeling is), but I was too young, I was 18- 21 at the time and no family history of heart attack but I scared myself through research and I could be one of the unlucky ones so I wanted to catch it in time (be in control of my fate)and go to the hospital haha I was the girl everyone recognized at the hospital(oh no she's back lol).  I wanted to tell you that Panic attacks don't have to be forever...they can go away, well they remain a little but they can get way better. I've had panic attacks for almost 5 years then poof they're almost completely gone. I feel amazing now, it's great, i was dead and now I'm alive. I've learned to control it, I can't let anything take over my life and I've taught myself to not be afraid of death, it happens and there's nothing we can do about it, it happens to everyone. My mom being so blunt saying things like that helped me a lot. I'm 23 now and pretty much anxiety and panic attack free. negative thoughts don't help either, stay positive, it's hard but it can be learned.

Christina

hey Jeffive suffered with panic attack since i was a young child Im now 33 and still have them pretty frecquent,My Doc put me on clonazapam and even tho it didnt cure it it help me termendously,Like every1 here ive been to er so many times I cant even tell u,Many times thinking to myself ITS OVER im not going to make it to the hospital,Im going to die in this car.But all I can tell u from personal exspieriences is  that remember when ur having an attact keep telling urself over and over I no what this is Im going to be ok,Little things like walking or talking 2 some1 weather it be in person or on the phone helps me to take my mind off it plus if ur anything like me I tend to get them worse at night,I find turning lights on,Turning thr t.v up loud help because i find if its 2 quite thats the only thing ur going to think about.Also Like the other lady Lorazapam does wonders something to ask ur doc about.Anyways hope this was some help.

Take Care

hi i allso have them i was put on zanx and i have not had one in years i think iv almost had small ones but i can fight them off better now that am on zanx if you all dont know this anyone out there that has ibs i read in the medal book that they are giving to you for that i sufered for years with the pain of IBS and the zanx helps with it i dont know what i would do with out thes meds i would not want to go thrugh the pain again dont get me wrong i still get pain some times when i have to go to the bathroom but i can take them and it helps my husband will ask have you took one if we go out to eat becaous he knows they help but now its hard to go along ways and have to eat becaouse i will have to go to the bathroom fast

Jeff,I have fought this depression,anxety since I was in fifth grade.I am self employed and that is hard to deal with on a daily baisis.I know how you feel when your heart is going to jump out of your chest.My whole family has had heart trouble.My grandfather has had 4 bypasses,my dads dad died when he was 3mo of a heart attack,my dad had his first heart attack and three bypasses at 47.I am 34 and I have been to the er so many times.i have had stress test and I still have that idea of that I am having a heart attack.I go to councling and find alot of other ways to keep myself in check.When you feel that stress coming over you and you know when it is coming, you have got to find a relief.I start walking down my drive way and work though the problem but it is hard.Just hang in there it is tough but with the rite dr. you can get some relief but I have tried everything and nothing will make it completly go away.Stay strong, love your family and take everyday as a blessing.

Jeff,I have fought this depression,anxety since I was in fifth grade.I am self employed and that is hard to deal with on a daily baisis.I know how you feel when your heart is going to jump out of your chest.My whole family has had heart trouble.My grandfather has had 4 bypasses,my dads dad died when he was 3mo of a heart attack,my dad had his first heart attack and three bypasses at 47.I am 34 and I have been to the er so many times.i have had stress test and I still have that idea of that I am having a heart attack.I go to councling and find alot of other ways to keep myself in check.When you feel that stress coming over you and you know when it is coming, you have got to find a relief.I start walking down my drive way and work though the problem but it is hard.Just hang in there it is tough but with the rite dr. you can get some relief but I have tried everything and nothing will make it completly go away.Stay strong, love your family and take everyday as a blessing.

Jeff;I have suffered for over 13yrs with depression/anxiety and panic attacks.I know how you feel.My mental condition is hereditery I get it from my Dad's side of the family.I went through about 9 different meds. before The doctor and I found a combo. of Cymbalta and Clonazepam.I have also been to therapy and you need to keep in mind that the panic attacks are not going to kill you or have a heart attack(even though you think they will)they last about ten minutes,so you need to focus on something else.I sing or talk to myself.I still have a hard time driving anywhere out of my comfort zone in fear I will have a panic attack.So I do whatever it takes to distract myself til it passes.I think about heart attacks ever day,cause my Mom and Dad both died from heart diease.You need to tell your self this will not happen to me,as long as you know you are healthy.But talk with your doctor and see if you can add something else that might help your anxiety.I know this is very hard for you.

Take care.

First off Sorry to hear of such a disabling disorder, or so that is what it feels like. I also suffer from Anxiety and my 6 year old son does as well.

But there is a solution to being under control and feel better. When you have anxiety and so much stress, it does cause stress on your heart. So for your own self help, you need to start doing breathing techniques in a quit room with the lights out for 10 minutes. If you are having a panic attach and cant go in a room, remove yourself from where you are and take a walk. or chew gum.

Lexapro seems to be the drug of choice for anxiety.

You are not going to have a heart attach, and you need to stop thinking about it. Obsessing about it will only make you anxious. You are 32. Time to live your life, dont let anxiety control your life!

Tanya

Hey Jeff. I may be wrong (have been once or twice in my life) but the fact your biological father had a heart attack does not mean you will positively have one. Many things in your dad's lifestyle may have contributed to his heart attack. I am the only one in my family to ever have heart problems and that was strictly because of my life style. Now smile, doesn't that feel good?

Carol