Panic Attacks.....

Luvnlife · Lion King Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1270 Location: US

Hi;

Does anyone have any suggestions for handling panic attacks?

I used to have them all the time. Now, I don't have them very often and when I do, it's usually caused by an emotional event or issue in my life. Occasionally I have one and don't know why.

As an example, I was driving to work one day a couple of years ago and I experienced a severe panic attack for no reason that I could figure out. It was so bad that I called my husband and told him I was coming home. I called in sick which I rarely ever do. My husband was completely beside himself. He didn't know what to do or what to make of this as I don't typically behave that way.

One night, I woke up in a sweat shaking inside and severely depressed. I couldn't get back to sleep. I prayed and prayed non-stop and finally did get back to sleep. I had been going through some rough emotional issues but thought I was handling them OK. The next day I woke up and I was fine.

I have been going through a rough patch for the last several months and I have had 3 attacks.

I would welcome and seriously weigh/consider any suggestions you may have.

Thank you,

Luv
_________________
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Biblegateway Christian Viewpoints

Key of Twilight · Big Hamster Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 97

I have had very few, but usually severe panic attacks. All were caused by stress and emotional weight. One of my close friends suffers regular attacks and is on prescribed medication from her doctor and also sees a therapist specializing in panic attacks. Your best bet would be to talk to your doctor and research online before you go. Find out what some of your options are so when you see your doctor you can join in the conversation with them about your treatment options. I'll be praying for you Very Happy

_________________
Nowhere does the Bible state that the sexual orientation of homosexuality is sinful — it merely instructs anyone, gay or straight, that any sexual act that does not spring from a place of love, respect and commitment to the other person involved is sinful.

Luvnlife · Lion King Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1270 Location: US

Thank you, Twilight;

I have been on medication for short periods of time (a few months) three times. Once was when my marriage was breathing its' last breath (I took Prozac for a few months). During my hellish divorce which took over 14 mos. I took Ambien to help me sleep. More recently, when I had a couple of worries at home and some major worries and problems with my oldest daughter, I was prescribed Lexapro and my weight promptly started spiraling out of control. Needless to say I discontinued taking that medication.

I do have a great support system. I have been married to a great guy for over 9 years now and he's my rock. He's what keeps me sane and on course.

I really don't know where to turn as far as psychological support. I don't want to rely long-term on a medication or therapist. I also live in a very small town and even the next largest towns don't have enough psychologists, psychiatrists and psychotherapists to adequately serve their communities.

I just feel like I must be doing something wrong or that there must be something I could do differently that would help me stave off or at least minimize the severity of my attacks.

Thanks,

Luv Embarassed

_________________
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Biblegateway Christian Viewpoints

ChristianWoman1 · Labrador Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 300

I would like to offer some encouragement if I may...

I understand completely how you are feeling. I use to suffer from panic attacks back in 2003 and they were brutal Crying or Very sad

I didn't know what they were initially, I just would have these "spells" of feeling REAL sick and sweaty...my heart would race...I"d get completely nervous for no reason at all...they REALLY scared me, but they would last a few minutes and pass. It got to the point where I couldn't leave the house alone...I had to take my kids with me EVERYWHERE and if they wee in school, then I had to take my dog Embarassed

...I even had to make sure I had a lemonade juice box in the car with me to sip on...for some reason, just sipping on that while driving somehow would "curb" the attacks...it was distracting for me ( as my doctor explained).

This continued for several months until one day I had an attack that was real bad and I actually went to the E.R...I had my 2 oldest children with me at the time and they were scared too bc we had a neighbor drive us to the E.R....it was pretty bad. I thought I was having a heart attack or something! well... my doctor put me on Celexa daily and Xanax ( when needed). Xanax is very addictive and the thought of staying on that scared me even more Rolling Eyes

Do you remember that day in 2003 ( August) when we had that HUGE power outage all across the country?? everyone thought it was terrorist related?? THAT was the day I went to the E.R....we came home to no power Confused or disgusted

anyhow...

I sought counseling from a church pastor mainly bc I felt it was wrong to take the meds...I thought I should be relying on God, not pills...but he assured me that sometimes we need the medication, for a short while and God DID give us physicians Wink

The closer I drew to God, the less I needed the pills though...and what I began to realize was even though I WAS going through a rough time in my life ( LONG story...good testimony Wink

) I really wasn't laying it all down for the Lord to take, I was surpressing everything Embarassed

In time, the problems and fear got the better of me Crying or Very sad

...As this revelation became clearer and clearer to me I could see that my attacks were not only physical but spiritual. And let me tell you...once I finally came to this knowledge I was able to bind them!

In Luke 10:19 Jesus tells us : "I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among scorpions and snakes and crush them. NOTHING WILL INJURE YOU."

I spoke this verse out loud[b] EVERY time I had an attack coming on...I would immediately bind it in the name of Jesus and command[b] this fear and panic to leave in Jesus name!...No sooner than the words left my mouth, so did the fear! Very Happy

...now...Satan is ruthless #evil

, of course the attacks would come back every now and again...but I ALWAYS said that verse out loud and commanded it to leave, and it DID...until one day they never returned. ( Praise the Lord!)

I haven't had any attacks since Very Happy

...I weaned myself off the medication and threw the Xanax away.

So my advice.... is to look deep within yourself my sister. It's not always just the physical, the problems, the trials...it's Satan attacking us Confused or disgusted

Panic, fear and anxiety does NOT come from God ( as you know already) so my advice is to NOT accept it. Bind it in the Name of our Lord....lay your troubles at the cross...and let God take control.

I know it may seem impossible at times, but this is what truly helped me. I was warned by my doctor that people who get these panic attacks often "snap out of it" but then they return about a year later...in 2004 I was waiting for it to start again Embarassed

but it never did Wink

...then after I had my 3rd child in 2005 the doctor warned me, "having given birth may bring on panic attacks again...the pressure, lack of sleep, change in schedule for everyone in the home..."....well, it never happened Wink

Then when I had our 4th child in 2007, again the doctor warned me..."they could come back, esp. if you're breastfeeding bc it's so demanding on your body physically"...well, here I am 2008 and they have NOT come back! Praise the Lord!! Very Happy

you see...even though I"m a God fearing Christian woman, who tries her best DAILY to be a Godly wife and mother, I"m still human...I can't help but worry sometimes about life...who can't?? These are VERY hard times...And although I give my fears to God and cry out to HIM for help, I guess I was suppressing a lot of anxiety without even realizing it Embarassed

how awful...but it's true.

I"m only human you know..

So again..my advice is to give your attacks to God, and read Luke 10:19...at least give it a try....no I take that back...EXPECT it to be released! Laughing

God will never forsake you....hold tight to that Very Happy

I hope this helped you...and I"m going to pray for you tonight to overcome this, which IMO..could be a spiritual battle and not just physical. ...it sure was with me Confused or disgusted

God bless you!
_________________
____________________

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
ROMANS 12:2

Luvnlife · Lion King Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1270 Location: US

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Christian 1.

I will try that.

My mom used to always say that God does not give us more to bear than we can handle. He knows our limits and in recent months, my limits have been a wee bit challenged.

I will also take it again to God in prayer.

Thank you,

Luv Smile

_________________
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Biblegateway Christian Viewpoints

Pondering · King of the Jungle Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 1512

Luvnlife,

If you're still struggling, I'd recommend going back to the doc....I had a similar experience to some of those mentioned above....attacks for no real reason, often while in traffic, etc, etc...started to get to the point that I was avoiding going out, etc, etc...

took Lexapro for a year. Doc said that as we age, our bodies continue to go through changes...the seratonin levels change and the Lexapro helps stimulate your body to "get back to where it needs to be"...the drug allowed me some level of control that other behavior coping mechanism (in some it might be prayer, in my case it was Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) can start to do some good....

Understand your concern about the weight gain, that can be somewhat controlled with diet and exercise (and exercise, even a walk around the block) is good for what ails you as well....

Anyway, I was not a believer in better living through chemistry, until I had this experience....and I believe that that 1 year of medication saved my "life"....
_________________
Links of note:"Review for Doubting Christians"
Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs
“You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong...You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.” - Ronald Reagan

Silver Surfer · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: Panic Attacks.....

Luvnlife · Lion King Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1270 Location: US

I appreciate your responses.

I know I can't take the Lexapro. My diet was very reasonable and I worked out 4 times a week and did other physical activities during the week and still gained. I have lost some weight since then but am still not down to my "Pre-Lexapro" weight.

If I have another attack I may consider trying another medication though. I'm not ruling it out.

Silver, could you elaborate? I take it that you have never had panic attacks. I understand what you are saying but I think you are assuming that I have not prayed about this. I have. I do believe in the power of prayer. I think it's what got me through my last attack but praying has not made the attacks cease.

Luv
_________________
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Biblegateway Christian Viewpoints

Silver Surfer · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 6:07 pm Post subject:

ChristianWoman1 · Labrador Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 300

I have to agree with SS here...ithe attacks were spiritual with me too so I understand what he's saying. satan always attacks when we get closer to God #evil

speak the scripture out loud and God bless you Luv!
_________________
____________________

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
ROMANS 12:2

eleven · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:13 am Post subject:

Panic attacks. Nasty stuff, but only temporary, thank God!!!

Panic attacks are the results of stress. But believe it or not, stress is a GOOD thing. It is said that stress will kill you, but that's not true. IGNORING stress is what will kill you.

God is magnificent. And He designed the body in a way that heals itself. One of the things He implanted in us was the stress factor. When one feels stress, it is a signal from Him to us that we have gone too far.
It's the body's way of protecting itself---like a circuit breaker. If you ignore those signals, then you can really hurt yourself.

See what happens is this. We go about taking care of all our responsibilities, and many times taking on more than we can handle. So the body starts to send signals to let us know we are overdoing it. But we ignore those signals. So the body has no choice but to send something that cannot be ignored........panic attacks.
It is the body's way of saying, STOP!!!!! You are taking on too much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then we go running to doctors, and psychiatrists, thinking we are losing our minds. We're not.

Panic attacks make you feel like you are dying.
You are not.
Panic attacks make you feel like you are crazy.
You are not.
Panic attacks make you feel like you are weak.
You are not.

All you are is human. Embrace that.

If you are suffering from panic attacks, you are not weak, crazy, stupid, or dying. You are stressed. It's time to back off.

It takes a great deal of stress to start experiencing panic attacks, so understand, however long it took you to get to this point, it will take you the equal amount of time to heal from it.

Panic attacks will not kill you.
Most people who suffer panic attacks do so while they are driving.
Panic attacks will not last forever - you will heal and be free of them forever if you listen.
And NO, you will not have to take medication for the rest of your lives, even though doctors will insist this is true, and would love for you to buy into this lie -- that is how they make their money.

If you are suffering from panic attacks, that is God's signal to you, that you are down the wrong road. Turn around and go back.
He never intended a life of suffering for us. As Christians we are destined to have a life of joy, not misery.

If you need medication for now to help you though, then do it. But you are not condemned to a life of meds and counseling. You only need time to heal. Do that, then go back to the life God intended for you-----a life of celebration and joy. You are NOT weak or crazy, only tired. So rest up, get well, and be on your way.

Life is an adventure. Hope you have the time of your life!!!
_________________
Pain is inevitable;
misery is optional.

Silver Surfer · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:11 am Post subject:

eleven · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:58 am Post subject:

eleven · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 10:00 am Post subject:

PS. What does any of this have to do with panic attacks?
_________________
Pain is inevitable;
misery is optional.

Silver Surfer · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 10:09 am Post subject: