|
[ Stress Management Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |
I am very worried about my 17 year old son who had his first panic attack last night and his second one this evening. At least that's what I'm thinking it is. It's kind of hard to say "I hope it was a panic attack" because I've been through this awful illness myself but at the same time am hoping that's exactly what he's experiencing because heaven forbid it be something wrong with his heart.
He described rapid heart beat, shortness of breath, and nausea but this happened as soon as he laid down last night and again tonight after he laid down.
I guess I'm writing tonight to try and rule out a physical problem but am very perplexed because this kid is as laid back as Mr. Rogers! How can this be happening to him? He says he does not feel anxious, is not worried about anything, no girl problems, no school problems.
Are there any physical problems that would cause these symptoms upon lying down? Years ago, he had also had the problem of near blacking out upon standing and dizziness. I had him checked out by his pediatrician who suggested that he could be de-hydrated. The dr. checked his standing BP and lying-down BP and the readings were both within normal range.
I guess panic disorder runs in the family but the difference between myself and my son is that he's laid back and I'm an anxious personality.
I've also read the archives about brain allergies but just don't see why these symptoms would appear out of the blue. And having suffered this disorder myself, I know about SR but my son always seems in a state of SR because of his mellowness. LOL
I'm rambling here so let me try and re-state what I'm really wanting to know. Is there a physical condition that would cause these symptoms only when lying down? He says when he sits up, the symptoms go away. In my experience with panic attacks, nothing I did relieved my attacks, nothing except about 10 or 15 minutes of passing time.
In Reply to: Very worried about my 17 year old son...... posted by Carol on August 19, 2001 at 00:41:59:
A Panic attack is an instance in which the body's natural "fight or flight" reaction occurs at the wrong time. It is a complex, involuntary physicalological response in which the body prepares itself to deal with an emergency situation. Stress causes the body to produce adrenaline hormones, especially adrenaline;This steps up the metabolism orf proteins, fats, and carboydrates to quickly produce energy for the body to use; Then the bodys heart beat and breathing becomes more rapid and muscles tense;
Now what i intuitvely feel; I feel it is a food sensitivity, perhaps check out refined sugars, soda's ect; Do not consume Coffee, black teas,cola, Chocolate, or anything else that contains Caffeine;
Keep a food diary to detect correlations between his attacts and the food he eats. Food allergies and sensitivities may trigger panic attacts;
Have him still practice relaxation techniques;
Have him do some kind of aerobic type exercise to move more oxygen or see a person who does breath work;
Doing deep breathing exercises can also benifit a lot, to move emotional blocks in the chest area and toxins;
Inhale slowly to a count of five, hold breath for a count of five, exhale slowly for a count of five, aqnd then do nothing for a count of five. repeat until attack subdsides;
The bigest key is to move the emotions out by breath and also find his food sensitivity;
Food allergies and hypoglycemia are both common aomung people with this disorder; An attack may follow ingestion or overindulgence in caffeine-based stimulants, this is the common one;
In Reply to: Re: Very worried about my 17 year old son...... posted by Terri-Lynn on August 19, 2001 at 11:07:54:
I agree with Terri-Lynn. Hypoglycemia can mimic a panic attack. Have a physician run a fasting blood glucose tolerance test. Anything under 70 is hypoglycemia. Let us know what you find. In the meantime, avoid the possibility of hypoglycmia by eating protein-containing foods every few hours. Balance protein/carbs/fat (example = meat, vegetables, butter or olive oil). Don't let him go more than 2-3 hours without eating something. The suggestions Terri-Lynn had are excelent.
Please let us know what happens
In Reply to: Re: Very worried about my 17 year old son...... posted by Helping you on August 19, 2001 at 18:48:23:
I just read a post a few days ago about hydration. It may be important for his condition to be attentive to that. Also, a doctor once told me that times of hormonal change can bring out certain conditions, so at age 17 I wouldn't say it's out of the blue if that is true.
In Reply to: Very worried about my 17 year old son...... posted by Carol on August 19, 2001 at 00:41:59:
PLEASE have a doctor check his thyroid! He could be hyperthyroid or have Graves disease. This is not a serious disease in the sense that it CAN and does become controlled once the diagnosis is made. The reason I mention this is because I suffered with terrible "panic attacks" and my ridiculous doctor thought that I was JUST experiencing severe anxiety and NEVER looked for medical causes! I was intelligent enough to drop that doctor IMMEDIATELY! I did my own research and went to a different doctor and he ordered the right tests that a doctor SHOULD order with anyone complaining of these types of symptoms to RULE out medical causes first and sure enough... I was severely hyperthyroid due to Graves disease. I was treated and I feel completely normal now. I CANNOT imagine how I would have suffered if I would have listened to that first quack that should have his medical license stripped immediately because he does not have a clue how to practice medicine!!!!!!!! Please have him checked for medical causes first and THEN also listen about the diet changes also. Refined foods and sugar could definitely be contributing to his anxiety.
In Reply to: Re: Very worried about my 17 year old son...... posted by Michelle on August 20, 2001 at 10:37:58:
Hi Carol,
So glad that you got a second opinion and learned about your Graves disease. Just curious - did you ever get back to the first doctor and educate him him about what he missed? Some of these doctors need that humbling experience. Maybe then he'll be more careful with the next patient. I've had my fill of arrogant doctors who don't know the first thing about diagnosing the true problem.
In Reply to: Very worried about my 17 year old son...... posted by Carol on August 19, 2001 at 00:41:59:
Hi, Carol.
First of all he needs to get checked out by your physician. THEN, when he finds nothing, you can be assured that what I am going to say is 100% true.
ALL of the things suggested are, at base, caused by storage of stress-effect in the hypothalamus. Individuals RARELY recognize this as stress or tension since the whole purpose of other symptoms is to save the individual from having to feel the anxiety which is a much more painful feeling.
The ONLY thing that causes all of the symptoms, and circumstances, you have mentioned is what I have described above. This is a seriouis warning ploy by his bodymind and, if no one recognizes it he has a lot of health problems ahead of him.
Once everyone is ready to learn what to DO about this, have HIM get on the website to learn. This is perhaps the first serious problem he has had that YOU cannot resolve FOR him. Time to grow up.
Walt
|
[ Stress Management Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |