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hello all. i have been diagnosed with panic disorder, ocd and depression some 6 years ago. I am currently taking Paxil CR 24.5 mg and Clonzapam 1 mg x2 aday. I am in therepy. The past month or so I have been having BAD panic attacks yet again. I had stopped having them for almost a year or over. Now they seem to be coming back. I have been through alot this year since january though. A move to another house, sisters car accident, and some other things. But does anyone know how I can try to stay calm and advoid this panic? Apparently the medicine and therepy isnt doing it's job. I wish I could do this on my own and just be happy again. Plus, went to the ER at 4am yesterday morning. I didnt sihn in to see the doctor just got triaged. My o2sats were 99/100 and my lungs were clear. I thought I couldnt breath. I walked the halls at the hospital untill I calmed down then left back home and wrote in my journal to myself telling myself to plz. stay calm etc. etc.
Anyone know any other things that might help? Please I need this so bad.
thank you,
anxious allie
In Reply to: someone help. posted by anxiousallie [1679.1399] on June 18, 2006 at 21:28:56:
Try meditation, it helped me a lot with depression and feeling like things were out of my control. It just helped me realize that no matter what happened outside of my body (to other people, or things that other people did), I was still in control of what I felt and did (which is all that matters).
In Reply to: someone help. posted by anxiousallie [1679.1399] on June 18, 2006 at 21:28:56:
Hi Sallie,
Could you count how many breaths you take in a minute?
(My guess it is over 15.)
If you can reduce the number of breaths, there is a good chance that you can calm the panic feeling that comes with hyperventilation..
If you are panting, and not breathing deeply, you may be triggering a fight or flight response and making yourself overreact to any fears that you are thinking about...
Try breathing in (deeply) to a count of three, hold for a count of three, breath out slowly to a count of three, then pause for a count of three before repeating... This will reduce your breathing rate to five breaths per minute and it will calm your brain (which is likely
oversupplied with oxygen).
Keep this up for as long as it takes to bring you back from panic.. Maybe five minutes is enough... maybe longer. When ever you feel panicky, do it again.
Try it right now and see what hapens
In Reply to: someone help. posted by anxiousallie [1679.1399] on June 18, 2006 at 21:28:56:
Anxious,
The best that tranquilizers can do is afford temporary relief of symptoms and you are finding that out.
Now you have your original problem PLUS the dependency upon the medications.
Serious wellness is the only reliable thing that I know of that you can do. See the archives about the 3LS and our new book that has just come out.
Walt
In Reply to: someone help. posted by anxiousallie [1679.1399] on June 18, 2006 at 21:28:56:
Hi Anxiousallie,
Yes, something that can help you is called the 3LS Wellness Program. Read the article on the homepage "How to be Healthy." It really applies to conditions like anxiety and depression, and panic attacks. You can find lots of info about how to do this here on the website, but we've also written complete instructions in our book, "Recapture Your Health." There is an entire chapter on working with symptoms like yours. When you improve your physical health, your mental health improves too.
Also read the "brain chemistry" archives (this info is condensed in our book, too).
Our book, and this website, is full of testimonials from people who have followed this protocol and their anxiety, depression, etc. are gone.
Best wishes,
Jan
In Reply to: Re: someone help. posted by Walt Stoll [93.1889] on June 19, 2006 at 07:51:22:
I'm posting my answer along with Dr. Stoll's for a reason. Yes, serious
wellness aka the 3LS is certainly one of the most important things
you can do. However it takes time. And because of this, you also will
have the time to simultaneously withdraw from the medications.
Did you know that the class of pharms you are taking list, as side
effects, the very conditions that they are given for? Consequently, in
many people, the initial relief is replaced by the original problem,
only worse. For support and information on how to safely withdraw
from these medications with minimal (but rarely none) symptoms, see
www.benzo.org.uk. Included at that site is a scholarly manual on the
ins and outs of these medications, how and why to withdraw, and
what to expect in a general sense (everyone is individual).
Please note, however, that this site has a very strict agenda and bias
and will not tolerate any other viewpoint than these "medications"
have no use whatsoever, even for end-of-life relief. Given that caveat,
there is much to learn, especially if you eventually become a member
of the forum (strict entry conditions). This new forum isn't as strict as
the old one, and there are many compassionate and "road warrior"
types there (meaning a wealth of real-life experience).
I began the 3LS several months before I began the withdrawal
process from Xanax. Coincidence or not, so far my symptoms have
remained minimal and tolerable. Hardest part of the withdrawal has
been exercising because the withdrawal has made my muscles feel
like rubber. Nonetheless, having established exercise as a habit, I've
been able to overcome this. But ALL parts of the 3LS are essential
(like food, water and sleep are essential to life - try and do without
one of them... LOL).
So basically what I'm adding is that since the withdrawal from these
medications using the safest manner takes a very long time and that
the 3LS program also takes a bit of time to reach it's greatest
effectiveness... in this case it would do you much good to do BOTH
simultaneously. But, in my OPINION, I would start the 3LS first so that
you can establish good habits when you move onto the withdrawal
technique.
The above are simply my opinions, and do not express in any way
actual medical advice. I am only sharing what seems to be working
for me in light of the fact that everyone is individual.
In Reply to: Serious wellness - Yes! And also check out... posted by Eric d'cleric [3011.2003] on June 19, 2006 at 08:39:56:
Eric,
I don't agree with your third parg. about the 3LS as the only hope for mankind. I think this site is very liberal and open to all programs that work. Diet, exercise and stress relief are the keys to good health. How you get there is your choice. I'm sure Walt would agree that if you have a heart problem that requires medication, you should stay on the meds while starting the 3LS.
What I notice is people ask for advice, but are not willing to comply or don't stick with it. Wellness is a life time quest and few are able or willing to follow the path.
Silver Fox!
In Reply to: Re: Serious wellness - Yes! And also check out... posted by Steve [3019.1399] on June 19, 2006 at 12:28:01:
My third paragraph was referring to the benzo site, not THIS one...
sorry if it wasn't clear!
In Reply to: someone help. posted by anxiousallie [1679.1399] on June 18, 2006 at 21:28:56:
Having suffered the same way I can tell you that a chelated magnesium supplement (work up very slowly to 3 250mg tablets a day), coral calcium and a mega b vitamin supplement helped me a great deal. Delete all sources of caffiene (tea, chocolate, coffee (both regular and decaff)) white flour and sugar from your life for a while, permanently if possible. Eat small but frequent healthy meals. The breathing exercises suggested by Ron will definitely help. You can also get books that teach how to do more advanced breathing exercises through amazon.com. You would benefit too by getting a biofeedback device from ebay that will teach you how to relax all your muscles and get into a meditative state. I am including a link to one similar to the one I first got that helped me a lot. They are not expensive. I have found that the holocync cd's http://centerpointe.com/ have been awesome for me but they are expensive. You might try out their demo online with some headphones to see if it works for you. If so I have heard they will let you make payments if you need to. Just order the first one to start out if you decide to try it. It will help you for several months. You might also check out heartmath.com. Start a gentle but regular exercise program and gradually work toward better fitness. Get on a whole foods diet, a raw whole foods diet is even better. To the extent you can do all the things suggested on this board is the extent you are likely to get better.
In Reply to: Serious wellness - Yes! And also check out... posted by Eric d'cleric [3011.2003] on June 19, 2006 at 08:39:56:
Thanks, Eric!
Walt
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