*hugs stella* i also have problems with panic attacks, and it's really hard for me it causes me not to sleep so i get more worked up because I can't sleep and then I'll get sick and miss school or work flunk out then live at home as a failure the rest of my life it's very hard
espeically because sometimes they seem to last a long time
although I've recently found out that for me at least, panic attacks often make me nauseated and If i let myself throw up I feel better. not trying to say bulima is the answer I don't make myself throw up it happens with panic attacks for me
other than than try to think positive it's just a panic attack you're not dying and it will pass, just focus on that it's not permanent it's only temporary just keep saying that over and over
well panic attacks are a reaction to stress and overload of neurotransmitters like endrelanin(....how ever it's spelled, you know what mean) because it's like your fight or flight switch is stuck in high gear and also a glitch in your amygdala ( the part of your brain responsible for fear and that stuff) kind of like it has the hiccups and every time it hiccups you get the sensation of fear and panic
have you talked to a therapist about your panic attacks? therapy can help also they can prescribe something that can help
I was on seraquel regularly for quite sometime and then I got off it which was hard, but now I use only when I feel the onset of a panic attack and I take one and it really helps
anyways I hope you can figure something out
also if you haven't already read it here's the wiki article on panic attacks to help you understand them a bit better
"Sufferers of panic attacks often report a fear or sense of dying, "going crazy," or experiencing a heart attack or "flashing vision," feeling faint or nauseated, a numb sensation throughout the body, heavy breathing (and almost always, hyperventilation), or losing control of themselves. Some people also suffer from tunnel vision, mostly due to blood flow leaving the head to more critical parts of the body in defense. These feelings may provoke a strong urge to escape or flee the place where the attack began (a consequence of the sympathetic "fight-or-flight response") in which the hormone which causes this response is released in significant amounts. This response floods the body with hormones, particularly epinephrine (adrenaline), that aid it in defending against harm.[3]
A panic attack is a response of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The most common symptoms may include trembling, dyspnea (shortness of breath), heart palpitations, chest pain (or chest tightness), hot flashes, cold flashes, burning sensations (particularly in the facial or neck area), sweating, nausea, dizziness (or slight vertigo), light-headedness, hyperventilation, paresthesias (tingling sensations), sensations of choking or smothering, and derealization. These physical symptoms are interpreted with alarm in people prone to panic attacks. This results in increased anxiety, and forms a positive feedback loop.[4]
Often the onset of shortness of breath and chest pain are the predominant symptoms, the sufferer incorrectly appraises this as a sign or symptom of a heart attack. This can result in the person experiencing a panic attack seeking treatment in an emergency room.
Panic attacks are distinguished from other forms of anxiety by their intensity and their sudden, episodic nature.[3] They are often experienced in conjunction with anxiety disorders and other psychological conditions, although panic attacks are not always indicative of a mental disorder."
"While the various symptoms of a panic attack may feel that the body is failing, it is in fact protecting itself from harm. The various symptoms of a panic attack can be understood as follows. First, there is frequently (but not always) the sudden onset of fear with little provoking stimulus. This leads to a release of adrenaline (epinephrine) which brings about the so-called fight-or-flight response wherein the person's body prepares for strenuous physical activity. This leads to an increased heart rate (tachycardia), rapid breathing (hyperventilation) which may be perceived as shortness of breath (dyspnea), and sweating (which increases grip and aids heat loss). Because strenuous activity rarely ensues, the hyperventilation leads to a drop in carbon dioxide levels in the lungs and then in the blood. This leads to shifts in blood pH (respiratory alkalosis or hypocapnia), which in turn can lead to many other symptoms, such as tingling or numbness, dizziness, burning and lightheadedness. Moreover, the release of adrenaline during a panic attack causes vasoconstriction resulting in slightly less blood flow to the head which causes dizziness and lightheadedness. A panic attack can cause blood sugar to be drawn away from the brain and towards the major muscles. It is also possible for the person experiencing such an attack to feel as though they are unable to catch their breath, and they begin to take deeper breaths, which also acts to decrease carbon dioxide levels in the blood."
*hugs*
