Tb'ers with Anxiety help

[7StringBassist]

It seems like the last 2-3 months I have Random bouts of Anxiety attacks that can last 30 mins to hours

One Recently lasted 3-4 hrs and caused me to have my heart beat near out of my chest and a huge headache

all and all Its a horrible feeling that I felt I couldn't do much

Imagine feeling nervous for no reason =X

anyone here know a way to help to cope with it without the use of drugs

any helpful consideration will be much thanked

[Hawaii Islander]

Originally Posted by 7StringBassist

It seems like the last 2-3 months I have Random bouts of Anxiety attacks that can last 30 mins to hours

One Recently lasted 3-4 hrs and caused me to have my heart beat near out of my chest and a huge headache

all and all Its a horrible feeling that I felt I couldn't do much

Imagine feeling nervous for no reason =X

anyone here know a way to help to cope with it without the use of drugs

any helpful consideration will be much thanked

I had similar anxiety attacks when I first started college. It was usually before an exam and when I didn't get enough rest the night before (burning the midnight oil too much).

I found getting enough sleep helped. If I did get an attack, controlling my breathing (slow deep breaths inhaled through the nose and exhaled slowly through the mouth) helped.

The nurses had my mother use this exercise when she had anxiety attacks brought on by her lung cancer and emphysema, especially during her radiation treatments.

Diet is another area that can have an impact. Skipping meals and/or eating too much junk food (chips, Twinkies, candy bars, etc) could screw up your blood sugar levels.

The MOST IMPORTANT advice that I can give you is to check with your doctor to rule out any serious medical problems.

[Rudreax]

First off, I'd suggest you go to sleep right now if you can. It's about 1 or 2 over there, right? Hit the hay, and get some shut eye.

Secondly, find a doc you trust and ask him about it.

[Combat Chuck]

Are there any circumstances similar in the moments (seconds, minutes, hours, w/e) before your attacks?

As the others have mentioned, has your diet changed recently? Have you undergone any significant life changes (moving, new job, new child, breakup, death of a family member or close friend, etc)?

There are a lot of different reasons for people to begin having anxiety attacks. Any additional information you could provide would be very helpful.

[TOOL460002]

i read all replies, but will still be redundant:

1. sleep/ regulate it very well. bottom line: get exactly as much as your body needs

2. turn lights off. burn a candle or two. listen to "aphex twin - rhubarb." focus on breathing and keep good posture with legs crossed.

3. diet is cool. so is exercise. i like multi vitamins in the morning, banana and yogurt for breakfast, a sandwich and fruit for lunch, and plenty of milk and water. dont drink or smoke. do the same excecrise every day.

4. there is nothing wrong with medication. youre 2-3 years younger than i am, but mental issues develop now or younger. i was misdiagnosed for years as anxiety/depression, but im definitely bipolar/ it took me 5yrs and a lot of psych people to get that right.

6. if you need psych (meds) go for it. maybe you just need a psych (talky) to move you through some rough ****.

NEVER compromise your health.

[Toasted]

Seriously, get off the internet and get on the phone to a doctor.

[Din Of Win]

Hey 7stringbassist,

I know this sittuation all too well. I have a diagnosed panic dissorder that rears it's ugly head in what seem sto be the most inoppertune times. I once had a panic attack en route to a show where i had to have the band drop me off at a hospital in a state i wasn't at all fammiliar with (i guess figgurativley and litteraly).

If ya look down in my sig, you can see the whole 'straightedge' thing applies to me. But, in this case i HAD to get medical treatment. I was perscribed Lorazapham (sp?) which were taken when/as a panic attack occured. It was awesome. What use to be, possibly, hours of panic turned into a couple minutes followed by sleep.

HOWEVER: the medicine only helped when one would occure, not their occurance rate. For that i had to look within and change some things about me and my daily routine.

[Cabazon]

I've noticed that attacks come more frequently when I don't get normal sleep.

What I often do is control my breathing, get a glass of water, and then try to think back to anything that could trigger it, and figure out how to deal with that. Often times, even if it's not a trigger, it helps by thinking it could be.

I find it helpful to not try too hard to overcome the attack, as that can just make it worse, as well as to recognize that it will indeed end.

[katibass]

see someone. soon. 3-4 hours is a bit crazy!

sleep, diet, etc, will help, but i would also suggest seeing someone to rule out anything serious.

and there's nothing wrong with meds imo.

[Cabazon]

Depending on frequency of use, there are problems with meds. A lot of benzodiazepines, which are prescribed for anxiety and panic attacks, can cause rebound anxiety. After being taken regularly and then withdrawn, often times anxiety issues are worsened. It's better to try to go to the source, rather than cover up the symptoms.

[7StringBassist]

yea Im seeing a doctor as soon as I get insurance through my job, no questions

but Ill see what I can do with some of the advice

Im very optimistic that Ill be better in time

I've noticed playing bass to your fave songs even if you dont know um helps A LOT to mellow down

[Din Of Win]

Direct sunlight also helps a ton.

My mom bought me a "light box" for the winter time that simulates sun rays.

It sounds way more hippy-dippy than it is. It's legit advice.

[SuperDuck]

In addition to the good suggestions above (healthy diet, exercise), I found that completely cutting caffeine out of my diet did wonders to decreasing the frequency of anxiety attacks. The "high" I get from more than a single 20 oz. bottle of pop was too close to the feeling I had during the onset of an attack, so I figured it would be best just to cut it all together.

The only sucky part is that decaf coffee usually comes in pretty crappy flavors. (And will still have varying amounts of caffeine in it.)

I was in the same position - suffering from the attacks but wanting to avoid medication. Lifestyle changes are key! Nothing helps you stick on a diet like wanting to avoid going through another panic attack.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by 7StringBassist

Imagine feeling nervous for no reason =X

I am no expert, but I do sometimes suffer from anxiety. What I've found is that there is always a reason for it, whether it may be a conscious or subconscious one.

The worst attack I ever had was after my first band of 3 years broke up, followed by me realizing it would be best to drop out of the college I was attending, complicated further by financial troubles. I seriously had to call someone to pick me up from work and take me to the hospital. I was pale and had massive pain in my chest, over my heart. I thought I was having a heart attack. I was left in the ER for an hour without being helped when I started to feel better, and decided sine I didnt have insurance it was best for me to go home. Ive had numerous bouts since, but nothing near as severe.

[TOOL460002]

Originally Posted by Cabazon

I've noticed that attacks come more frequently when I don't get normal sleep.

im not trying to diagnose you, so please dont think im trying to, but sleep management is very important for bipolar folks like myself. losing sleep also just adds stress, which could trigger pure anxiety disorders. statistically speaking, stress would be more likely.

i have taken xanax when i was diagnosed with anxiety. like someone mentioned above, it works fast but fades fast. ask about seroquel. its technically an antipsychotic, but itll sure relieve anxiety quick, and it builds up in your system. you may not want to take a daily medication, but klonopin is a long-lasting benzo (ie- same family as xanax). ive never taken it, but friends that have have said it works. i take valium (again- a benzo), but not for anxiety (because im bipolar), so i feel like ive gotten the full range of benzos.

if you get stressed, then have high anxiety, then spike, have trouble sleeping (meaning, you can do several days in a row with VERY little sleep), then crash, to varying levels of depression, thats me, and thats bipolar for you.

again, im not trying to push a diagnosis, but ask about anxiety and ask about bipolar. its worth a shot. i wish i had years ago. good luck buddy. i know how that stuff can mess with your life from time to time.

[KPAX]

I've had varying levels of anxiety my whole life. It can really affect me negatively sometimes. I've never seen a doctor for it because I'm afraid they'd just prescribe drugs.
The best thing I can recommend is rigorous exercise. I run. Afterwards, I'm quite relaxed and sanguine and it lasts for days sometimes.

[WalterBush]

See a doctor. Ask about bipolar disorder and anxiety.

I won't repeat what's already been said, except to say that my biopolar disorder went misdiagnosed as panic disorder for years. Once I was aware of the difference, it made actual treatment, lifestyle changes, etc much easier and more effective.

Hopefully it's just too much stress on your part, and you'll be fine, but it wouldn't hurt to check with a doctor about it.

[Stumbo]

+1 See a doctor. Hyperthyroid can do that to you.

On wrongdiagnosis.com there are 396 possible diagnoses.
http://symptoms.wrongdiagnosis.com/c...mptoms-all.htm

Def. need a physical and lab work to figure out what's wrong.

Btw, nothing wrong with meds if they keep you alive.

[KPAX]

In my case, my anxiety has never derailed me or made me nonfunctional.
If it gets to that level, I'd definitely recommend seeing a psychiatrist.

[Asa Samuel]

I suffer from very strong anxiety but they are not random bouts, there is always something that causes it.

I'm seeing a homoeopath for treatment and it's going well