The Panic Attack Blog

Hello

I am trying to find information regarding how countries other than the United States treat panic disorders with or without agoraphobia–for example, Japan or Africa, Spain…basically wherever as long as it differs from the U.S. in some way. I’ve tried googling but have had no luck.

If you know, do you mind stating your source? I will have to cite it, as this is for a paper. I need to get a global perspective on this disorder.

Thank you!

Generally, the standard of care includes benzodiazepine drugs (Valium, Librium, Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, etc.) along with a form of talk therapy.

In America, it is more common to use SSRI/SNRI drugs first, then sedating anti-histamines, before trying benzodiazepines. SS/N/RI drugs are anxiogenic (anxiety-creating) substances, and therefore a very poor choice for anyone with even mild anxiety or panic. In depressed patients (who also don’t gain much benefit from the drugs, sadly), "anxiety" is listed as one of the most common effects of the SS/N/RI drugs (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, etc.), and depressed patients are often given a two to four week course of benzodiazepines in order to control the anxiety that the anti-depressant invoke.

Treating anxiety with SSRIs is literally homeopathy - "like cures like". Homeopathy believes that a fever-inducing substance will cure a man with a fever (in reality, it will make his fever worse), and an anxiety-inducing substance will cure a person of anxiety (in reality, it makes anxiety worse).

I believe SSRIs are used for treating anxiety because they are non-controlled substances, and therefore the doctors prescribing them draw no attention from the DEA (which, unfortunately, is trying to tell doctors how to practice medicine, and cracking down on those who don’t toe the party line - cops shouldn’t be telling doctors what to do, nor vice-versa - this is the reason that many people do not receive adequate pain management in America, nor adequate treatment for psychiatric conditions, besides schizophrenia or bipolar disorder). They are addictive, just like benzodiazepines (which is an argument put forth by many uninformed doctors: "Antidepressants aren’t addictive!" - take Effexor for two months and then quit - and tell me they’re not addictive then) and the treatment of psychiatric patients has been harmed greatly because of it.

It’s a travesty - treating anxiety with anxiety-inducing drugs. Treating depression with pills that are no more effective than placebo, and many times more harmful (cf. medical study reviewed in current Newsweek, a meta-study of EVERY WELL-CONTROLLED STUDY ever conducted on anti-depressants).

In addition to neuroleptic drugs like Abilify, Risperdal, and Seroquel, which cause depression directly through dopamine and serotonin-antagonism (if serotonin deficiency is the cause of depression, how can both serotonin-agonists and -antagonists help it? answer: neither do.), and have a whole host of deforming, disabling, possibly permanent and deadly side-effects (Parkinsonism, Diabetes, Neuroleptic Malignancy, Prolactinemia, etc.).

These drugs were approved because they were designed to sedate the acutely-agitated psychotic (hallucinating, hearing voices) and violent patient - more dangerous side-effects are considered tolerable when dealing with controlling someone who is being told to kill the psych ward staff by the television.

I know this as a psychologist who personally suffers from panic disorder, currently taking 1mg of (brand-name: don’t settle for generic in psych drugs unless you can’t afford them: the difference is sometimes over 25% active ingredient, under law, up to 20% weaker is permissible in generics) Klonopin (clonazepam, a long-acting benzodiazepine) three times a day, along with 150mg of Lyrica, three times a day, and 10mg of baclofen three times a day for panic disorder and anxiety. The only meds that have ever worked, and I have taken everything from MAOIs, TCAs, neuroleptics, both typical and atypical, SSRIs, SNRIs, sedating antihistamines, anti-epileptics, and the works - over 30 different drugs - before finding ones that worked, and will work for mostly anyone. The other shut functions through placebo effect, and all of the anti-depressants, excluding a few of the TCAs (Nortriptiline and Amitriptiline) worsen anxiety.

Along with 22mg of buprenorphine a day for my heroin addiction, all’s peachy. I’m still nuts, and don’t feel normal (the only times I have in my life were the four hours after each shot of heroin) and not yet fit to practice again, but as good as I’ve ever felt on legal, prescribed medication.

Don’t let the doctors give you bullshit for anxiety. Demand a benzodiazepine (stay away from Xanax, IMO), and if not, at least Lyrica or Neurontin. The others range from ineffective to hellish.

You’d be surprised how many headshrinks are diagnosed themselves. It’s usually why they get in to the field - at least it was for me.

I have anxiety attacks sometimes when I stay overnight at places and I decided to look into some anxiety anxiety drugs that I can take until I learn to deal with it on my own.

Thats what Xanax is for….anxiety. But it is very addictive and causes unfavorable side effects. For me, it makes me really depressed. My doctor switched me to a mild dose of Ativan and it works much better for me and no side effects. This is a new doctor and he told me he never prescribes Xanax to his patients unless they come to him already having been prescribed it by another doctor. He switched me because I was having so many problems with it. I really like the Ativan and it also doesn’t make me sleepy so I can take it during the day if I need to. I also take a medication for mild Bi-polar disorder called, Limictal and that really helps with my anxiety too.

I had an anxiety attack last week, and since then, it feels like I’ve been out of touch with reality and it’s almost as if I have to reassure myself I am in reality.

Hey, I understand how you feel…

The uncomfortable symptoms like sweaty palms, "jelly" legs, extreme alertness, "impending doom" feeling and the fight-or-flight response.
I’ve been there. I’m an ex-victim. Sometimes the deep breathing or distraction techniques doesn’t work - a full-blown panic or anxiety attack happens later.
Sometimes you experience panic attack out of the blue and such.

Do NOT buy Panic Away, Linden Method, EasyCalm or the Panic Puzzle. They do NOT work - I’ve tried them and their solutions are similar - it DOESN’T WORK.
Medications do NOT work - I was under many antidepressants (Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft) and anti-anxiety medications (Ativan, Klonopin, and Xanax) but my condition was the same - no improvement at all.

The only program that really work is The Panic Attack Solution. It’s found by an ex-victim. You can check out his old blog in his official website to read up some useful tips.
But the package is the best - it teaches 17 powerful techniques and the real solution to panic attacks. I’ve bought it and it really helped me - it’s the BEST anti-anxiety package or book I’ve read.
His theory really makes sense and it works effectively!

You will learn why your panic attacks can happen without warning sometimes; why having stimulant causes panic attacks; and many-many other useful tips!

Check out his official website:
http://www.ThePanicAttackSolution.com

I have been on xanax and klonipin(sp?) and it did not help my sleep panic attacks that much. I started using meditation techniques which TREMENDOUSLY helped them, but I still have panic attacks while I sleep.

I would wake up and my wife would have to comfort me. All the doctors I went to keep prescribing the same things. Does anyone have a website or any idea on how I can stop sleep panic attacks naturally?

In my experience xanax only stopped the symptoms for a while and the other just made me more dependent on it, though it lasted longer.

I took yoga classes and like you said I learned how to meditate which helped me tremendously as well. When you have a sleep panic attack, you have to learn how to accept it and not fight it and realize it will not harm you.

If you want to see how I stopped my sleep panic attacks naturally in detail, go ahead and check out my blog. It has very nice resources to stop your panic attacks in your sleep!

So every now and then (usually a few times a day) I get a feeling of apprehension and complete uneasiness. My heart doesn’t beat faster, I don’t sweat, or get any physical side effects really, but this feeling drives me nuts and leaves me uncomfortable. Is it an anxiety attack or something else?

I also have depression, self-loathing and depersonalization - although it’s gotten better in the recent months.

You sound a lot like my friend. This happened to her a while back… I have anxiety, too. You should consider seeing a psychologist at least once or twice a month, before yours gets as bad as mine. Mine is so bad that sometimes I can’t even go to school! Don’t let it get out of hand, and you will be feeling normal as soon as you start talking to someone. Hope I helped! If you have any more questions just e-mail me, OK?

Ive been having panic attacks recently (or what i think are panic attacks) and i have been feeling worn out.. and i keep getting bad headaches.. or migranes rather.. is this to be expected?
I have been to the doctor and have had a full blood panel and everything came back normal..although i am about to schedule another appointment. I am worried a bit because ill get headaches (or migranes which im concerned they are) and they make my eyes agitated.. and it does make them sensitive to light and such.

Certainly! It varies between people, though. It can be difficult to find information about it, but if you talk to a psychiatrist or a mental health care worker, you’ll find out that it’s more common than you thought.

I myself have a Panic Disorder, where I have frequent panic attacks, sometimes even over nothing. My side effects include a lack of control over my muscles, loss of strength, uncontrollable emotions and mood swings, and sometimes even severe stuttering if it’s bad. I am left extremely exhausted and ready to fall asleep. Sometimes, I have some of these side effects for hours or even all day!

I’ve been seeing a mental health care worker twice a month, and I’ve been getting a prescription for Zoloft from my psychiatrist. If you’re having these frequent panic attacks, it would be best to see someone about it. Sometimes, panic attacks are a result of a medication, or perhaps you’ve developed a panic disorder with a change in your physical or emotional life. Maybe, there was a recent loss in your family or friends. Maybe, you moved or got a new job. New members of the family…getting married…going to college…all these big things can set of panic disorder, which may or may not last. I have always had this thing as long as I can remember, but you most likely are experiencing something of a temporary condition.

The best advice I can give you is to keep going with the tests but for sure see a psychiatrist or something. Get some immediate help by at least going to someone in the mental health care area of expertise. That way, if he thinks it’s serious, he can get you in to see a psychiatrist quicker (especially if you get the help of a doctor). All these things will help. Believe me. I should know.

Just know that what you’re going through is actually quite common! Lots of people get panic attacks sometime during their lives, and quite a few people have gone through a period of having panic disorder. So long as you don’t let it control your life, you’ll be able to get through your life just like normal!

I hope you get the help you need soon!

I have anxiety issues and I find it difficult to get rid of them and I have ADD and I don’t realize that I am having an attack until it hits and I can’t breath. I’m not medicated but my mother is going to take me to see a doctor about it soon. So please help me find out how to get rid of anxiety attacks while Im having one.

Don’t listen to that first answer Heather. It is insensitive and illegal. I share your pain and concern. I used to suffer frequently from anxiety(otherwise known as panic) attacks for many years. First, I went on the drug Xanax. That helped some. Then I switched to the drug Klonopin. That worked wonders, for me. I still had them, but the drug helped a lot. I am in my 40s, and have suffered for many years, so I know what I am talking about. I have tried MANY things over the years when an attack hits me, and darn it, sometimes they still do, and I don’t know why. I also have depression. You can search this up on Google for many tips on how to deal with them. You mention one of your symptoms as not being able to breathe. That is very common with anxiety attacks. But nothing, 90% of the time, to be worried about. I found breathing into a paper bag, inhaling and exhaling helped this some. You might try it. You are experiencing some kind of an unresolved conflict, or perceived mental threat that is taking its form in a physical way. Actually, it’s your body’s way of dealing with the situation…it’s called ‘fight or flight’. You may also have feelings of unreality, sweating, heart racing, etc. This is simply an adrenaline release you are experiencing. Your body is misinterpreting the situation, but you still suffer. They can be hell to go through. Some last 15 minutes, some half hour, or up to 1-2 hours. But they ALWAYS end. You need to learn coping skills, not just from your doctor and medicine, but combine this with therapy. You may need to see a therapist, too, to discuss the attacks and try to get at the root of why you are having them. It is not easy to conquer this…you may have to live with them, hopefully not, but just warning you. Just remember you are NOT having a heart attack, and there is nothing seriously wrong with you when going through one. Try to relax…yes, easier said than done. Or even try to distract yourself by doing something. I know…that’s hard, too. You just want to sit there and suffer…worst thing you can do. I really sympathize with you, and wish you the best. I hope some of what I have said will help you.

I’ve suffered from panic attacks since I was very little, and my first major panic attack was when I was in the middle of a very busy restaurant. Another one was on a crowded train on my way to work and my heart-rate jumped like crazy.

If anyone out there experience those similar reactions.. What are the best treatments for ending these panic attacks? THANKS!

Having my own experience, speaking with others, and reading literature, I learned that "panic" is a defense mechanism that protects us from over-whelming anxiety. The problem therefore, is not the "panic", it’s the underlying anxiety.

I would suggest that you look into the "release-valve treatment," as it helped me a great deal with my anxiety. Also, do your reading and studying to give you a better understanding of the main causes and treatments of panic attacks.

I am just curious. Not what you feel but what is going on in your brain biologically that is causing these panic attack and anxiety? Like what goes on in the brain with your tissue and your chemicals in the brain that makes you so anxious? Also what can regulate these chemicals to make you not anxious? Besides medication. I am just wondering.

Your amigdala is a small part of your brain that is responsible for gut-level emotions like panic, fear, etc. It is sometimes called your "lizard brain" because evolutionarily it goes back really far. When you are having a panic attack this little guy thinks that you’re in danger because something triggered it.

As a result, the amigdala starts flooding you with adrenaline which causes a lot of the commons symptoms like a racing heart and a feeling like you need to escape from where ever you are. This is what is called the "fight or flight response."

Some people think that when you have a chronic panic or anxiety problem, it is because your amigdala has become too sensitive and it starts to interpret common, everyday things that pose no real threat to you as a possible source of danger. This sends you into "fight or flight" for no substantial reasons.

Your body is flooded with adrenaline and you don’t know what to do because there is not clear and present danger, so you have what they call a panic attack.

I’m no psychologist, but this is how I understand it to work. Hope this helps.

i get really bad panic attacks! any help on how to make them subside?

I’ve noticed that the best way to cope with panic attacks is to stop resisting them. Most of the drama and …well, panic associated with panic attacks is caused by trying to resist what you’re feeling.

This only makes you feel more anxious and gets you even more worked up. All that does is make things worse.

So, what I recommend that you do is embrace all the feelings of a panic attack. The racing heart beat, the sweaty palms, and everything else. No one has EVER died from a panic attack so you really don’t have to be afraid of any harmful effects. Just bring it on and let all the fear flow through you.

Before you know it things will get better and your anxiety will start to drop.