Help with Panic Attacks

[Peter]

Hello everyone,

I wonder if anyone has any suggestions to help me with stopping my
panic attacks. Sorry for the length of the post but I am trying to
include everything in case it is relevant.

I have recently started a new job. I like the people at work and don't
have any real pressure on me, which is good.

however, over the last few days I have been having panic attacks in my
sleep which wake me up. that is not so good, especially as it is a
physically demanding job and going to work on very little sleep each
night is wearing me down.

many years ago, doing a high stress job at a different place of work I
suffered from a severe panic attack. I then had more attack on
subsequent nights, and again at work. they were so bad that I had to
leave that place of work. fortunately I had enough money to be able to
stop working for a few years during which time I was on beta blockers
and anti depressants. eventually I stopped the drugs and was fine
without any attacks for 4 years.

the pattern that I have been having goes like this:

Wednesday
I started last Wednesday, night before no problem, going to work no
problem, when I got there I felt a bit anxious, but that went away
quickly.

that night I had a strong panic attack whilst sleeping, this kept me
awake most of the night.

Thursday
I then had another less severe attack getting ready for work in the
morning, and driving there. once I got there I felt ok. when I got
home I was very tired. I thought I would be spared an attack as I had
been fine at work. however, that night I found it very difficult to go
to sleep, as I shut my eyes I could feel an attack coming on, it would
stay fairly weak if I stayed awake but would build up if I closed my
eyes and tried to go to sleep. I got little sleep and was absolutely
tired at work. I had a small attack in the morning but was ok at work.

Friday was basically the same, but no panic getting to sleep Friday
night

Saturday no panic,

Sunday day no panic but panic when trying to sleep,

I now seem to have developed a pattern, in morning, going to work,
actually at work, coming home no problems. but when I try to go to
sleep I feel an attack coming on. when I eventually get to sleep, as I
am so tired, I wake up after about 1 hour with another attack.

has anyone got any ideas?

I want to try without drugs, as I didn't like the way I felt on them,
I was very slow witted and lifeless, and I really don't want to have
to depend on them for the rest of my life.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Lobo]

sorry to be contrary but drugs do help you when you get so far out
there with everyday panic and they type that wakes you up at night. I
was so wiped out from the kind of stuff you are describing, too.

what were you on? how much? how long ago?

drugs and talk therapy have helped me get back on track.

you can use the drugs to help you get back to where you can THEN make
some cognitive, permananet changes in your behaviour pattern. right now
i think you are too stressed to have something work well enough for you
"right now"

see your MD asap, IMHO and get some rest.

good luck
Lobo

[GFX]

Based on your own statements, you can do without medicine on an *indefinite*
basis, because you went four years without any. A little bit of it right
now probably would not hurt anything. Obviously you should speak with a
psychiatrist and get a proper diagnosis and some treatment. The vast
majority of people who take anti-anxiety drugs do NOT stay on them.

Gary

Post by Peter
Hello everyone,
I wonder if anyone has any suggestions to help me with stopping my
panic attacks. Sorry for the length of the post but I am trying to
include everything in case it is relevant.
I have recently started a new job. I like the people at work and don't
have any real pressure on me, which is good.
however, over the last few days I have been having panic attacks in my
sleep which wake me up. that is not so good, especially as it is a
physically demanding job and going to work on very little sleep each
night is wearing me down.
many years ago, doing a high stress job at a different place of work I
suffered from a severe panic attack. I then had more attack on
subsequent nights, and again at work. they were so bad that I had to
leave that place of work. fortunately I had enough money to be able to
stop working for a few years during which time I was on beta blockers
and anti depressants. eventually I stopped the drugs and was fine
without any attacks for 4 years.
Wednesday
I started last Wednesday, night before no problem, going to work no
problem, when I got there I felt a bit anxious, but that went away
quickly.
that night I had a strong panic attack whilst sleeping, this kept me
awake most of the night.
Thursday
I then had another less severe attack getting ready for work in the
morning, and driving there. once I got there I felt ok. when I got
home I was very tired. I thought I would be spared an attack as I had
been fine at work. however, that night I found it very difficult to go
to sleep, as I shut my eyes I could feel an attack coming on, it would
stay fairly weak if I stayed awake but would build up if I closed my
eyes and tried to go to sleep. I got little sleep and was absolutely
tired at work. I had a small attack in the morning but was ok at work.
Friday was basically the same, but no panic getting to sleep Friday
night
Saturday no panic,
Sunday day no panic but panic when trying to sleep,
I now seem to have developed a pattern, in morning, going to work,
actually at work, coming home no problems. but when I try to go to
sleep I feel an attack coming on. when I eventually get to sleep, as I
am so tired, I wake up after about 1 hour with another attack.
has anyone got any ideas?
I want to try without drugs, as I didn't like the way I felt on them,
I was very slow witted and lifeless, and I really don't want to have
to depend on them for the rest of my life.
Thanks in advance for any help.