Panic Attacks Support Group

These are all my personal thoughts I am NOT giving medical adivce nor telling anyone that they are doing anything wrong or that they should change!

Panic can not harm you

Your emotions and thoughts can not harm you. So there for you dont HAVE to take a pill to over come it. Its not like highblood pressure where is you dont something may happen to your body. Panic comes and goes with the passage of time and causes no lasting effects to the body. As scary as they may be they can not harm you in any way..

It is normal to be scared,and feel alone when you have a panic attack because

1. Panic attacks ARE fear they are caused by fear - fear of the unknown-fear of death-fear of the what ifs- fear of the feelings so it is normal to be scared of them, the point is trying to learn how to not be so scared of them and what you can do to help that fear and scared feeling pass as fast as possible for you that may be belly breathing,darkness,cold wash cloths,hot baths,meditation ect....whatever suites you in your life and present time.

2. It is normal to feel alone. Im not going to sugar coat it when you have a attack you are alone, it is only you -your feelings-your thoughts-your emotions..You in that moment only have yourself to work with to over come and flow with your panic, no matter who you have around you and no matter how much you talk about it its still in the end your panic and how you react to it and handle it....

I don't have the fear of panic much, or the what if's, for me it a full blown attack, caught off guard, like when I am relaxed, happy, laughing, sooooooooooooo confusing how they creep up on you. But the body sensations are the worse, hyperventating, and major dizziness, after I have tried everything I know to do, and it doesn't work, I take a pill, I only take them on emergency, my last resort. But maybe if I'm brave enough, I can ride it out and see if it would have ended on it's own with out the meds. But sometimes the distress is so bad, I just want it to stop!

Oh I so understand when I have 6 months off the benzo I may use them in 911 times myself.

Sometimes its so hard I know last night I wanted to take one so bad

After I am off the scheduled ativan, my plan is to ONLY use it in emergency. I will try all the other stuff first though. They will be my last resort!

I've avoiced meds for 20 years because of my addictive personality.. I overcame drug addiction when I was 21 years old. I don't want to go back there. So I am very afraid of meds and being dependent on them. I gave in and take Ativan only as needed since my nervous breakdown in August. Thankfully I have been able to keep it controlled. I feel for all of you that have dealt witht he detox. It's miserable no matter what drug/med it is.

Yes it is you are correct withdrawals are so hard, I am in them now off xanax I begged roy to make a benzo withdrawal support group and did makes me so happy --- I cant wait to be clean for about 6 months I will use them again for 911 times but other than that i am not touching anything for awhile benzo withdrawals is the worst pain i have ever been in and I have detoxed meth,dope,had a baby and this is by far the longest,worst I have ever been through and what is scary is everyone will have to go through it at some point if you take them everyday cause you will go into tolerance withdrawls so either you are on them forever and keep uping the pills or go through months of hell to get off of them and start over on the reason you started them all to being with... thats where I am now I am back at step1 on my panic but at least have this group,tools, and the know how to over come them a little at a time but having to restart all my going places alone with no meds, being alone at home, going to work its like day 1 of my panic attacks all over again but I will get there little at a time!

You're doing good dealing with the withdrawals, and you are so good at the coping stuff. It's great that you are able to go off the benzos. My mom has been on xanax for 20 + years and before that valium. It does nothing for her now, but she can't ever go off at this point. They just keep adding other meds to take care of problems. She's a mess. I'm glad you were able to get off them.. They are needed for a lot of us I know, but always best to try to keep it "as needed".

Keep it up Lee, you're doing fantastic and you're such a help to many of us

Thanks I wish I felt strong I am sure when I look back I will see it for now the over whelming sickness and pain have me on edge all the time .....

And remember it dont matter how long you been on it you can come off now weighing ben/con is a diffrent story if you are in your late 60's stay on it not worth the risk of health,heart,stroke,sezuires,pain and such at that point, but coming off is possible someone in a benzo support group I am apart of was on it from 16-47 thats 31 yeas came off and is living a wonderful life so it is possible just really weighing what is best is important

Thats why I came off everytime I went to the doc he wanted to put me on more and more meds, when I asked why he said "to make you feel better" when I asked if i would ever get better on them he said no thats when I made the choice to stop taking them

I hope I help at least one person then I am very happy

lee

They have taken control of my life. I live by myself and that makes it even worse. No one I can talk to or turn to. I am taking ativan which helps however I have been on it for almost 2 years which I now feel that I am addicted to. the normal doses are becoming less effective. I wish I had friends or family around that I could turn to for help but, I don't. My life is a mess and Panic has taken over. I can't even drive to work or home without getting them. I want my life back.

Hi mndelort, welcome, unsure if we spoke yet, But can take back control, it will take dedication and work on your part. And you have to be willing to try over and over again and practice new tools and master the belly breathing, that is the one that will make the most impact when you have a panic attack. Is there any chance of getting a roommate? Is that something you would be comfortable with? You have us now to talk to, we are all here for the same reasons, to help others if we can and get help when needed. There was a period in my life, that the panics were so bad, I was going file for disability, I felt worthless, and thought there was no purpose for me in life but panic. I read, talk to others, practiced tools for panic attacks, listened to guided meditation cd's. I never stopped trying to get better. Today it is much better, panic no longer has control over my life, Don't get me wrong read my diary, I still have panic attacks, but I can handle them better now and that took time to develop that mindset and apply the tools that work for me. I do keep my med for us only emergency, after I have tried everything else. Once the fear is gone, and you know it can't hurt or kill you, mentally you can prepare yourself to take control back. Worrying about the next panic attack will only induce one or negative thinking "what if" thinking, only cripples you. if you have any questions or concerns, please share them with us, we are here for you, you are no longer alone. Diary works wonders, it helps you get it all out. Hope your feeling better.