anxiety attacks

[this_sucks]

ugh had an anxiety attack yesterday. horrible. had the biggest headache afterwards from crying so much and throwing pillows at my walls. i have had them before maybe two or three. i have panic attacks though almost everyday it seems now. anyway i was wondering if anyone is prescribed anything for panic attacks and if it has helped them? my mom says i need to just meditate, but i take a bath every day and light candles and practice breathing and if i did anymore id be like buddha! i was also wondering if anyone takes valium and if that works? i took it once before bedtime and i just remmeber i had the hardest time waking up and i felt like a zombie during school cuz i was so tired! if anyone would like to share their advice on their attacks and how you help them, i would love to know!
thanks! katie*

[anxious one]

Hi Katie, I also suffer from anxiety hence my user ID :rolleyes: So I can relate. I was on Remeron for about a year which i think helped somewhat because now I have started elavil instead and the anxiety is much, much worse. I also have oxazepam for sleep and panic attacks- you can take 1/4-1 tablet. My dr says that if I am having a full blown panic attack I should take 1/4-1/2 tablet to calm me down. Even if it makes me a bit groggy he says that it is better than panicking which is true!! It may have a different name over there (I am in australia) but I know there is something called xanax over there which seems to be very popuar for panic attacks. It would work on the same principal as oxazepam I think. Valium is a stronger drug and my dr would not prescribe it for me!!

Other things that MAY help is bach flower rescue remedy, you can get this from a health food store. Chamomile tea is also good to "calm the nerves." Sometimes you need something stronger though!!! :rolleyes:

I hate the anxiety I think that is one of the worst things of IC. The anxiety and the fear of UTI's etc. That is what I have trouble with. I have a close friend with IC that I met at a support group and she is the same. So I think unless you are an exceptionally calm person IC would bring out the anxiety in all of us!!!

Sending you big, warm HUGS!!! :grouphug: :grouphug:

Sara

[kelly McC]

I use to have panic attacks and took valium . I would have to try to stay calm relax sometimes hard to do but I have gotten much better. wish you the best
huggs,
kelly

[ICNDonna]

I suggest you talk with your doctor about your anxiety attacks.

Sending warm encouraging hugs,
Donna

[kadi]

i agree that checking with your doctor first is a good idea & also you might want to check your medications to make sure anxiety isn't a side effect. If everything checks out ok, here's another option...

After years of therapy & antidepressants didn't resolve my anxiety attacks (which I've had since the age of 10), I bought the "Attacking Anxiety & Depression" infomercial product by Lucinda Bassett. You can find it online by "googling" it or it turns up on late night TV regularly. I'd never bought anything off an infomercial before, & was pretty skeptical, but it had a money back guarantee & a payment plan, so I decided to try it. It's a set of 16 cassettes & a workbook to use over 4 months with weekly listening & writing assignments. It worked well for me (I was quite surprised)-it reduced the panic episodes from several times a week to infrequent (maybe once every few months) & shorter lasting.

I know it sounds cheesy, but this was one of the few things that have actually changed my life... (Note, I'm not a salesperson for this product, just a very satisfied customer!)

Hope you feel better soon!

[michelleskw]

I get anxiety attacks too. I remember getting them as a kid & teen, but they were less than I could count on one hand. Last year I began to get them every day. while I was walking, whenever I tried to sleep (I had insomnia), every time I wondered what was wrong with me (This was before I was diagnosed with IC), and every time I though about my obnoxious roomates, obnoxious doctors, or going to the hospital for more tests. I'm a lot calmer this year though. I think it is because of allowing myself to open up to others and let them in on what was going on with me (Counseling helped with this too). Not that I still don't have panic attacks, but they're not as frequent. I've taken on an active role in trying to get well. This makes me feel more empowered and in control. Take care, because I believe that things will get better for you too.

[mayray518]

i made a dartboard with a few pics of ex-boyfriends who were jerks on it and threw darts at it regularly. it helped relieve the tension (ha)