Anybody else with panic disorders?

How do you cope with it? I don't hyperventilate but I have every other symptom. I finally have a job and that's helping with my agrophobia. I've never been properly diagnosed but all signs have been pointing to the bleeding obvious for years. I also have a phobia of medication, I can't even take a Tylenol. Any non-medicinal; ways on coping with panic disorder? I'm sick of the fact that it's controlling my life.

I have both generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as well as obsessive cumpulsive disorder (OCD). It's really difficult to cope with at times because I feel helpless and I get pretty severe panic attacks. I take both medication and I go to therapy which are both helpful. I take Lexapro daily to help me with the anxiety, Neurontin is something I take when I feel a little anxious and need help so I don't have a panic attack. But when I get super overwhelmed and I have a panic attack I take either Xanax or Ativan. I have a really hard time sleeping sometimes because I wake up in the middle of the night anxious and worried.


There are things such as alternative medicine, would you do them?
You can do acupuncture, aromatherapy, theres something called the emotional freedom technique, flower essence therapy, and hypnosis hypnotherapy. These thing may sound stange, but deep breathing exercises are good things to do. Daily exercise is really important and helps sooo much. Avoid alcohol and carbonated soft drinks. Eat bananas, broccoli, brown rice, dried fruits, figs, fish, garlic, soy products, yogurt. Try eating small meals rather than three meals a say. Magnesium supplements are useful. Limit your intake of animal protein.

Aromatherapy can help try carrying a bottle with you to sprink on a handkercheif and inhale when your having a hard time. Use lavender, rosemary, and valerian.

Sometimes affirmations can help. Tell yourself to repeat that you are alright things will be alright etc. If you cant to that daily, record a tape you can listlen to ful lof affirmations.

Color therapy can help with radiating the colors blue indigo and green.

Valerian tea can ease anxiety as well.

Hypnosis may not be something you want to do , but it can help.

Yoga, mediation, and biofeedback can help reduce anxiety as well.


Its great you are sick of it controlling your life and seeking help. Maybe you can go with someone to talk to a docotor. Ativan comes in liquid form, a concentrate, that you can put in juice or applesauce, maybe that would be good lots of things come like that if you feel medication may work.

You can email me if you i want I have a bunch more suggestions.
Good Luck

Big time! Having a pill available is very comforting, I take one called Lazorpham (spelling?) but I try to do without it. I have found that If I lay on my left side and force myself to take the biggest and slowest breaths. When I exhale i hold for a little while prior to taking the next. This works for me most of the time. There seems to be a BIO-Rythym like thing to them. I find i have small ones during the month and a bigger one that follows the year, when they both peak together only the PILL works!!

If you are really sick of it controlling your life, the you should take control of IT!! First of all, you should consider seeing a professional that can help you by listening to you and hearing your fears and advising you on a medication that can help. You may find out the cause of these attacks and may be able to learn how to deal better when they occur. There are so many medications that will get you through these attacks. Don't try to fight it when it starts to take over. Do some deep breathing, in through the nose, out through the mouth. Know that you are not alone in suffering with panic attacks. The worst thing about them is that you never know when they will happen. Believe me, I have experienced them and know they can overwhelm you. You are not alone and these are real, regardless of what some people say. Good luck and be strong!

You're afraid of medicine? Anti-anxiety pills work very very well. Most panic disorders are caused by chemical imbalances that are easily remedied with SSRI's.

It sounds like you have a general anxiety disorder coupled with social anxiety disorder --- this is not uncommon. I really suggest you see a doctor and get pills. You might be scared of the pills at first - but after a few weeks most of your debilitating fears will be gone. Honestly, medication is the surest way to help yourself.

You can talk to people to learn that you need have no fear of them. Find people in a similar situation and makes friends with them, try calming activities like yoga/meditation etc. Focus your mind so that you are always in control of your thoughts --- some times day dreaming for a little bit can take your mind off whatever you are scared of. Don't forget that we are all in the same boat --- we all have fears and we think we are alone. But in reality, if you ask nicely, people will help you with anything.

Again - please reconsider, try to find medical help. Anxiety and panic are chemicals and nothing more.

it is fear.....really ...and i am sure riding in a car...can be hell...first you need to see what sets it off...then when it starts happening...ask your self..."Why am I scared.... everybody does it..." then relax and set down...for a minute...drink a glass of water...and what ever you do.....stay away from the caffeine...it will send you into panic mode.....you can take liquid vitamin B complex...it controls the nervous systems and works wonders. Check with your local pharmacy and they have plenty of liquid meds you can take....just face the problems head on...like me...i rather drive than let someone else...my phobia...but hey...after three accidents...i have the right....

i also had panic disoders . i used stay awake all night thinking something bad will happen to my children. but then i came in terms with my self. i didnot take any drugs nor go to a doc. this is what i did.i stopped panicing and took action. for example, i always paniced that my baby would fall off the bed. so i put him in a crib. then i always paniced that they will open the main door and run to the streets when i am sleeping. so, while i am sleeping, i lock the front door.go to the internet and find solutions about your problems. one thing i do is ask questions in the yahoo. this has helped me a lot. my advice is INSTEAD OF PANICING, TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION. TRY TO GET KNOWLEDGE IN THE SUBJECT YOU ARE SCARED.REMEMBER KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

i have spells of intense anxiety where i'll panic attacks one after the other for days on end. it's exhausting, mentally and physically. i've had this for my entire life.

i'm also reluctant to take medication...to me, it doesn't seem like a real solution to the problem.

try meditation. this may sound hokey, but it's honestly what i've found to help me the best. it doesn't have to be for long...just sit or lie down with your eyes closed for 10-15 minutes and BREATHE. The goal is to stop thinking so much...get a break from all the white noise and worries in your head. This is reaaaallly hard for me to do, so I've found that chosing a word or a phrase to focus on helps a lot. Pick a word like "strong" or "capable" etc, that symbolizes how you want to feel. Repeat it with each breath. forget all your preconceived notions of yourself and really *believe* that it describes you (even if you can't believe it beyond this exercise). seriously, just ten or fifteen minutes....i've broken myself out of terrible cycles within a week or two this way. but the trick is to keep at it! the longer you do it, the better you'll feel.