My panic attacks have been getting worse lately and i starting to get scared. People at my school are starting rumors and i just want it to stop. Am i really going crazy?

Your best bet is to just face your fear. I suffer from high stress/anxiety/Panic Attacks as well, they are scary, but you just have to learn to live with them. It helps to talk to someone about it so you can vent your feelings and let some stress out. You can see a doctor and discuss it with them and they can put you on a medication that can help lower your anxiety as well. But definitely start by talking to people.

Another thing to help out is to eat healthy. Make sure to eat banana’s at least once a day as those help your body get into the right feeling. I had a panic attack a few days ago and ate a banana, drank lots of water, and then felt as if nothing happened.

It is scary at first, but you just need to learn how to put up with them and don’t try to fight them away, just let it flow! I hope this helps in some way.

I got my first panic attack late in september and since then, it’s becoming a habit ! I’d like to know what I should. I’ve already gone to the doc, and he prescribed me some medications that can cause hallucinations. I’ve taken it for 3 days only.

The only way that I have ever found to battle panic ( anxiety ) attacks is to very quickly try to distract myself. That only works if I can manage to do that the moment I feel one coming on. If you are not recognizing the signs of one starting yet, try to pay closer attention and you will discover there are little warning signals. For example, I will get an odd kind of nausea, not be able to focus very well and feel " spacey’ shortly before they hit full force. What works for me sometimes is intense physical movement of some kind. I’ve taken off for a fast jog, put music on and danced, grabbed a bucket of soapy water and started scrubbing walls, anything that uses up some of my concentration and keeps my body moving. I have found that baths, reading and especially driving will actually make them worse. ( I don’t know why ) Occasionally, if they were mild, a heating pad and the t.v. would be enough of a distraction. At times they are so intense that nothing will work. I then resort to either going to sleep or taking Ativan. ( it’s a mild tranquilizer ) I only take the Ativan as a last resort because it leaves me feeling crappy the next day.
As for the medication that the Dr. prescribed you, you need to give it more than 3 days to know if it is going to work. With most drugs for depression and anxiety, it is about 6 weeks before you will know the effectiveness for you. ( unless of course you are experiencing any of the warning symptoms that should be explained in a write-up that comes with the prescription) It is not uncommon for someone to have to try several different drugs before finding one that works for them.Everyone metabolizes drugs differently and will have more, different or no side effects compared to the next person. Hopefully something I’ve suggested will work for you as well, Panic Attacks can be hell.

Sometimes I have them all day long.

I had Panic Attacks for about 5 yrs. That was about 15 yrs. ago now and my best advice is to meet it head on. I know that sounds like the last thing that you want to do. I always felt like I was going to pass out or have a heart attack and everybody would be standing over me looking at me. I hated crowds, and standing in line to a movie or whatever. I did talk to a professional about it but I really do not feel that he did any good for me. One day I just said with a friend at first that I am tired of this and went out and faced my issues. I kept saying to myself standing in line I’m not going to pass out it’s all in my head and if I do too bad I will get over it. To this day I still challenge myself but it does get better and better as time goes by, it really does. Good Luck and if you need to talk my e-mail is on my profile page.

Of course, but it take a great deal of perseverance. Some people can do it on their own (cold turkey so to speak) but others may need help. If it takes a counselor to overcome Panic Attacks, it is worth the time and effort. Good luck with yours.

You can get good information about panbic attacks at:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000924.htm

I have been struggling with panic attacks for two years now. I have gone to a natural doctor who gave me vitamins to take, and pills to take when i am having a panic attack. i havent been having as severe Panic Attacks for a few months.

but just recently i have been getting them again. I use to get them because i was scared of dying, God, or being sick.

now i have no idea why i am getting them. I just feel like i cant breathe, start to freak out, all the same symptoms, but no reason…
I know how to handel panic attacks when i know whats causing them, but i dont know how to overcome these panic attacks.
I have no idea why i am getting them, so what should i do?

anyone have any breathing techniques? or advice? anything please help!

Hi honey,
I get them too, almost as often, and also for no reason. It’s hard, I know, but there’s a couple things you can do. First, when you feel the attack coming on, immediately go into the breathing technique. Breathe in while counting to ten, hold your breath for five seconds, then breathe out while counting down from ten again. Another one that helps is to hold down one of your nostrils and breathe in, and on the exhale plug your other one.
Remember to remind yourself that this is only a panic attack, it’s just a fight or flight response, and nothing is really wrong with you. If it helps, sit on the floor with your head between your knees and stroke your hair. It may also help to whisper to yourself, something like a mantra. Mine used to be nonsense like "I love you, I love you, you’re okay, you’re a goddess, you’re powerful, you can overcome this." It may seem silly right now, but when you are having an anxiety attack your mind is very influenced by everything that is happening around you or said around you, even if you’re saying it to yourself.
And finally, the best remedy for fear is to laugh in it’s face. Chuckle at yourself and the silly response your body is having. Realize that nothing will come from this, and it will pass like all of the other ones you’ve had before.
Good luck sweetie, best wishes.
:]

Okay. So whenever somebody talks about something gross or disgusting, or if i see something, i start to feel dizzy as if i am going to pass out. I never have passed out, but i have came very close. I know that this fear is very irrational and i really want to learn how to get over it, since i am considering a career in the medical field. What techniques can i use to help me get through these panic attacks or to help me not freak out in the first place?

Well there are different techniques. For some it helps to take deep breaths, or distract yourself from whatever makes you feel the way you do. Think of something that you enjoy, something that makes you feel good (i.e. shopping, going out with friends, horsebackriding etc.)
But in the long run, you might wanna try to get to the bottom of those Panic Attacks. Why do certain things make you feel that way. Is there a connection with a possible trauma in the past?
Good luck sweety!!

Okay. So whenever somebody talks about something gross or disgusting, or if i see something, i start to feel dizzy as if i am going to pass out. I never have passed out, but i have came very close. I know that this fear is very irrational and i really want to learn how to get over it, since i am considering a career in the medical field. What techniques can i use to help me get through these Panic Attacks or to help me not freak out in the first place?

If you just feel dizzy when you see or talk about something gross, it may not be a panic attack – it’s just that you are sensitive to gross or disgusting stuff.
I think you already made the fist step – you are aware that your fear is irrational which is great. When you find yourself in that situation again, try to calm yourself down, reassure yourself that what you’re feeling is normal, but that it won’t hurt you.
Maybe some technique to get your mind of that "gross or disgusting" thing can help you?

Here’s my experience that I’ve written in an online Panic/Anxiety forum. Hope it helps!!

WE CAN STOP THIS. IT’S ALL IN OUR HEADS. I’m LIVING PROOF.

Though I am 98% better than I used to be and consider my Panic to be behind me mostly, I know that my fear was and still is this:

a) I’m going to die young
b) I’m going to die suddenly, without warning.

They don’t scare me like they used to because after months of dealing with it, I realized that I am not a stupid person and I wanted to figure out why I feel this way. It started on August 26th, with my close friend Tracey passing away from a Brain Aneurysm SUDDENLY at the age of 20. At her funeral, I heard she had a headache the day she died, and that was it for me.

So began the headaches, the scary uncontrollable panic, the chest pains, the dizziness, the difficulty breathing, the hallucinations, the fear of driving or dying while driving because I’m alone and no one could help me, and slight agoraphobia.

It was the most terrifying 5 months of my life.

So I researched and I listened to The Linden Method, and I researched more and I analyzed myself and my fears and tried Paxil in October, and the wonder drug Xanax, which I call God In Pill Form…and it was all so crazy.

I quit taking Paxil in January because I believed that I didn’t need it and didn’t want to take something unnecessary. I was told "Take this and you’ll be cured of your Panic Attacks." Bullshit. Did you know that it’s something like 70% of all doctors office visits end with a prescription for an Anti-Depressant? That’s ridiculous. If you research your medication, it can be a little scary. I didn’t want to be an Anti-Depressant for something I knew was all in my head. Besides, I wasn’t depressed. Just scared. So because I stopped Paxil cold turkey, I rang in the New Year by suffering from BRAIN ZAPS. EW. What a FUCKED UP FEELING. I wasn’t warned about that though, was I?

I realized I have to push myself. And it SUCKED, but I knew I had to. I realized that my fear was of dying, and that if I stop "living" my life the way I always had –going out being spontaneous and fun and surrounding myself with the things I loved, I was in a way dying, because I had resorted to everything that I had feared and hated.

I gave up driving for awhile, and I continued working. I began to read Sylvia Brown’s Journey To The Soul series again, and everytime I felt I was going to have a Panic Attack I’d repeat to myself "Through God, Anything Is Possible". I put my faith in that higher power and told myself that because he has the power to help me, and he is in me, I can make myself better. And I did. Days passed without panic. Weeks. Months. I removed myself from the mindset and saw myself again. And I was happy and free again.

And here I am now, and I haven’t panicked in 3 months.
I still get the occasional feeling that I COULD panic, but then I just talk myself through it because I know what it is and that I’m okay. If worst comes to worst, I take a Xanax and just try to relax. Aside from driving I don’t have the problems I used to. IT’S ALL IN THE MIND. WE ARE IN CONTROL OF THIS. WE STARTED IT. AND WE CAN STOP IT.

If there is ANY WAY I can help, please let me know.
I think I’ve been through it all.
So Message me. I’d be glad to talk.

To charitykelson I accidently hit the thumbs down. I’m sorry. I loved your answer-these are great. Please keep them coming.

You have to take slow deep breaths. Focus your thoughts on something else. Almost like meditation. Close your eyes and just picture something that gives you peace. Keeping your breathing calm, slow, and steady. Just keep saying you’ll make it through, you can do it. Once you feel your heart rate slowing down, you’ll know your gonna make it!