Lesley Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 (edited) I've just split this frommanother thread as it was totally out of context where it was! I've tried most natural remedies Annie - it's more of a strong, unbearable, impending doom - totally unfounded, rather than an "I can't breathe" type of panic. I get it fairly frequently. Edited July 28, 2006 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 I've tried most natural remedies Annie - it's more of a strong, unbearable, impending doom - totally unfounded, rather than an "I can't breathe" type of panic. I get it fairly frequently. Karen - I hope things will soon be better for you all Have you tried St John's Wort for that? I had dreadful depression (not like me, I know) when the ex walked out on the baby and I - it worked a dream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 (edited) Lesley I'm just reading up on OCD and Panic for work and yes for me...the panic that is. It's a remnant of my past that every now and again pops up. I've found that if you ignore the niggles and worries they actually build up. I use self talk so positive self talk to counteract the negative. I'm not good enough becomes I am good enough and I remind myself of a situation when I did well. You can try writing down what your concerns are and then taking them to a natural conclusion. Are the fears founded? Can you do anything about it? Are you needing to express emotions? etc. Just thought I'd post it as it's something I am doing at the moment. BBx Edited July 28, 2006 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 That is the same sort of sleeplessness I get Lesley Mine stems from being anxious in the house alone about 3-4 years ago now and even though the anxiety has gone I still have periods sometimes for months when I wake in the middle of the night for no sensible reason at all Nothing I ever tried worked and alcohol makes it worse Now I jsust make the best of the time watch a DVD or do some ironing as I know I will eventually stop doing it again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Well done Louise it's important to remember the anxiety does pass and that helps make it pass more quickly next time. BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Thanks Buffie, It has taken me a long time to accept that is just the way I am and I seem to cope now with a few weeks of problem sleeping much better so my body has adjusted a bit too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 28, 2006 Author Share Posted July 28, 2006 Thanks Jayne and Louise - I have no obvious anxieties or problems, that is why it is so annoying. I can get up, turn on all the lights and rationalise my thoughtd/dreams but as soon as I try to close my eyes the feeling comes back. It's like being very claustrophobic and being shut in a small box. It is usually to do with me not being able to breathe as well and I end up using a nasal spray - then I can't stop using the spray...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 (edited) I haven't had any bad times recently but in the past it had affected my sleep too. One thing is for sure there is always a reason I know myself well now and can always find my cause. It may be a phone call a conversation or just a worry. Worse thing is running out off breath with panic but I am working on myself and hoping to bring this in line, as I have many of my other issues. WE are all just human and flawed...no one is perfect BBx Edited at 22.50pm as it sounded as if I had many other issues...not quite how it should have been worded Edited July 28, 2006 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 I am not sure how relevant this is,not having read all the other thread but....... I suffered from anxiety attacks for years,during my 20's & 30's. I found that 2 things worked for me. Breathing exercises,really concentrating on my breathing in through the nose,out through the mouth. It may get you a few funny looks in Tesco,but it really helps,as does covering your nose with your hand so you breath in the carbonmonoxide/dioxide (can't remember which!) that you have just exhaled (think brown paper bags over the nose & mouth!) Secondly,Bach rescue remedy...I always keep it in my bag,ALWAYS I still get the odd spell of it now,mostly in the airport,or if I am in a new & unknown situation. I have Daizapam for the Airport,which in 5 years I have never had to take as its enough to know its in my bag if I need it Like Lesley,I found the feeling almost like claustrophobia,with an added feeling that I was going to faint or was dizzy to the point of falling over. Panic/anxiety attacks are horribly disabilitating ,& there were weeks when I never left the house,but now I know how I can vcontrol them things have never been better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 28, 2006 Author Share Posted July 28, 2006 Not having control is the worst thing isn't it? I'm lucky in one way in that i only get them at night. I coped for the last few years by looking out of the windows to 'ground' myself - there was always something moving, traffic on the main road or a cat etc. Now when I look out of the windows all I can see is BLACK I thought it might make me worse but I have coped by turning on all the security lights. I don't have the breathless thing - just terrified Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 When I had a really bad time sleeping a few years back, I used to take kava kava, which isn't now available in the UK. But I have since been recommended and bought the Valerian & Ashwagandha Formula from victoriahealth.com. I only use it once in a blue moon, but it really calms and gets rid of those random panic thoughts that stop you sleeping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Hi Lesley, someone I know who had/has panic attacks on and off over the years found quite a lot of help here: http://www.panicfree.co.uk/ I think she found the chatroom sessions helpful... Phil edit... and a further thought - there's a very good free booklet (pdf file) here by MIND - my brother used to work for them - they usually know what they're talking about... http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/How+to/How+to+cope+with+panic+attacks.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Secondly,Bach rescue remedy...I always keep it in my bag,ALWAYS I still get the odd spell of it now,mostly in the airport,or if I am in a new & unknown situation. I have Daizapam for the Airport,which in 5 years I have never had to take as its enough to know its in my bag if I need it This is also me exactly (although my Diazapam is only two years old) My GP also recommended a book called Mind Over Mood (available from Amazon) which I found very useful - it helps you to understand the causes of your anxiety and shows you how to create your own solutions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 My panic attacks were mostly of the 'can't breathe' variety, I still carry packets of mints everywhere with me. Concentrating on eating a mint very quickly so that I could clear my nasal passages seemed to work sometimes by taking the sting out of the attack. C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 My ex used to get these panic attacks and waking in the night with anxiety. He'd rather have eaten live worms than listened to any advice though He still gets very stressed from what I can tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunee1 Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Hi Lesley...Aconite is one of the homeopathic remedies used for sudden fear,panic,restlesness,insomnia....maybe this could help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 My Dad gets them and has to get up in the middle of the night because he can't breathe and goes for a walk round the block to calm himself down. He's a very tense person and gets stressed easily. He also gets dizzy spells and I don't know if the two are related. The doctor hasn't been able to help much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 The two are definitely connected Kate (not wanting to teach you to suck eggs ) The tension caused the arteries and heart to tense, so less blood reaches the brain and causes dizziness. This will also be caused it someone is hyperventilating. (come from a family of medics ) With all due respect to them, I hardly ever go to the doctor; I go to our osteopath for a lot of things and a friend who is a herbalist. Apart from a couple of nasty gynae ops in the last couple of years, I haven't seen our doc in ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 29, 2006 Author Share Posted July 29, 2006 Thank you all for the advice - I'll have a trawl around over the weekend and try to find time to think about it. I am not generally a stressed sort of person, even under extreme pressure but I suppose this is one way in which it manifests itself. I think it may be vicarious stress - Carl is having a really hard time of it at the moment and we also still have two mortgages and a bridging loan which isn't going to help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 Hope it gets better soon. It sounds like the stress of the move catching up with you/triggering it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spott Posted July 30, 2006 Share Posted July 30, 2006 heya, sorry i had to butt in again. i suffer from panic attacks quite frequently, time-of-the-month related. i developed a severe form of arthrits a few years back, and at the age of 24 being bed-boud for weeks on end really messes with your mind. i am getting better now, but i am still under regular care of my gp. i found two things that help, the first is very mild: there is a range of teas available in many supermarkets, healthfoodstores, etc, call dr. Stuarts. one of the is called tranquility. if i have one cup in the evening before going to bed, maybe with a little bit of honey, i sleep through the night. it also makes me sleepy when i come honme form work at midnight and know i have to sleep, but cannot. the secon was prescribed by my gp. its ia an old-fashioned anti-depressant, not used for that purpose anymore, called amitryptillin. at a ver small dosage (1/4 of the anti-depressant one) it really helped me, it just made everything seem a little farther away, less imidiate, if that makes any sense. it has, of course, side effects. i found that i needed at least 10 hrs of sleep a night whilst on it, and it sometimes left me with a dry mouth. also, you can't just come off it, it has to be weaned off. but it really worked wonders to keep me functioning. but everyone should try the tea!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 30, 2006 Author Share Posted July 30, 2006 I might look out for that - as long as it doesn't taste like tea? and I'll also keep the Rescue Remedy Emergency Spray by the bed instead of in the cupboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
