Panic Attacks Support Group

Here is part of a post I sent a friend...I just don't have the energy to re-type it...if anyone has any help to offer I would gladly accept it...

I really can empathize with you on the panic. Last Wednesday I was driving to an appt. and I had a complete panic episode. I know that the lead into this was Jack's health (my son), me not sleeping well and the heat. But for some reason once that little buggar enters my head it just goes into motion. I had this happen while driving in 2001...and because it happened while driving I developed a full on phobia of highways. I had panic episodes prior to this...but while driving really sent me to hell. Especially since I am in sales and my whole job revolves around me driving. So then it spurred into every aspect of my life because I was so fearful of having to drive on a freeway. I know it is all nonsense in my head...but tell my head that. How I overcame it before is really a sad story. I learned all the side streets and made excuses for the manager to drive to all our out of town appts. It never got better...it was a constant fear. Then after visiting my co-worker who had just lost her baby at 36 weeks...I got so pissed at my phobia that I literally told it to "it-f-off"...it seemed so minor to what she had just been through. I have tried this...but now it just laughs at me. There were periodic points since that time...but I could get on a freeway again. To the point that many times I marveled at how I could ever have even had a fear of it. I could drive 80 miles per hour, change lanes and the whole bit.

Until last week. That happened around 11:30am and I decided that maybe a new route home was what I needed. WRONG....it only triggered another panic episode and it has been an overlaying awful feeling since. I have gotten on the freeway to drive...but I will have at least 30 seconds of panic......in a 30 minute drive...but that 30 seconds stays with you. I grip the wheel tight, grit my teeth, can't have the radio on...etc. I had forgotten what a true panic attack felt like until recently...I forgot that when I go into one while driving...my vision becomes bleary...not good! Every nerve cell is at 200%!

I refuse to take medication...not after what I have been through.(I had an awful experience with anti-depressants and will not take again) So I happened on a site today that said acupuncture was the number 1 thing people reported as helping them. So I start to call around and everyone says that I need a prescription from an MD, because of the laws in Ohio. Are you freaking kidding me! Wait a week to see a doc...who wants to give me drugs...but relents and gives me a script for the acupuncture. Which none of it would be covered by insurance...because it falls under "mental health"...which my company does not cover. It must have something to do with "licensed" vs. "registered". Anyways, I found one that seems good that will see me tomorrow w/o a script. I see her at 1:30p. I am going easy on myself tomorrow. I will drive the back roads as to not reinforce the "panic"...eat well...hopefully not smoke too much...etc. Hopefully, I can get the needle for alcohol and smoking too! I started to crave alcohol more once the panic set in. Which scared me. I hadn't "craved" alcohol in some time...did I drink it...yes...crave it no. I like that it is holistic and does not go on my medical record, so I will be brutally honest.

My appt. is at 1:30p....so depending on how I feel I may call off the rest of the day and just come home to sleep. Good Lord...if I can get some good sleep I may just stay there and pay her extra to let me sleep!

I know that the biggest cause of this is Jack's condition. Which I can not change. But I can not be plagued with panic while helping him. I can't allow panic to cause me to "crave" alcohol again...or I will be in the same hole I was a year ago. I am thankful that I am more educated now. Back in 2001 when it hit I had no education on natural medicine. I felt like I was going to pass out while driving...so I would drink a bunch of pop..take some wake up pills (I can't remember the name of them...they were being used but everyone for weightloss)...talk about a combo for disaster! This time I was able to take supplements that helped and when that didn't do the full trick I moved onto acupuncture. Symphora did help (it stops the production of cortisol)..but I had to take 2 in the am...2 at lunch and 3 in the PM. I know it is a whole mind thing...which turns on the production of cortisol. When I took it to come off the Zoloft I took 1 a day. I am just praying that this helps.

I edited it down a bit...but if anyone can relate I love to hear from them....thanks!
Posted on 08/14/07, 09:08 pm