Panic Attacks, medication, other stuff and help.

About a month or so ago I suffered from a very severe panic attack and my fiancee rushed me to the ER where I had my vitals checked twice and sent home with a $2000 bill.

Since then I've had a few minor attacks but they've taken a turn for the worse over the last few days. It started with a toothache that kept be from sleeping a Friday night. I managed to get to sleep around 7AM through to about 5-6PM. No surprise there as I have sleeping issue and can't sleep and sometimes have a hard time waking up.

The following day my toothache was worse and I was trying everything to get it to stop until Monday so I could make an appointment at a dentist after my plan kicked in. I took a neproxen and was using a home remedy of garlic and salt. I was doing okay up until I tried to go to sleep in which a panic attack kept me up. Every time I went to sleep a panic attack would keep me from sleep. I managed to get less than an hour of sleep before the string of panic attacks kept coming at me. Finally, I managed to keep them under control but then I just couldn't sleep. Eventually I ended up back at the ER.

This time the doctors were better with me, instead of just taking my damn vitals they asked me questions and gave me advice. They took a look at my impacted wisdom tooth and sent me on my way with a prescription for Ativan and Vicodin for my panic and my pain. The Ativan has helped wonders and since I started taking it I haven't had a single attack. As for the Vicoden, my toothache mysteriously disappeared so I haven't taken it. (I assume my garlic and salt remedy killed any infection that was causing the pain, but I'll know for certain when I see my dentist.)

The Ativan has been great though. I feel calm, if not a bit melancholy, and the only side effect is passing vertigo/dizziness. It only last a few seconds before it passes for a few hours and mostly bothers me when I get up and down. But, despite how helpful the Ativan is, I don't want to have to take medication to deal with my panic. I really, really want to stop having panic attacks all together.

I know why my panic attacks seem to hit me when I try to go to sleep, as the first bad one happened when I was lying down to sleep. I can't just avoid sleeping, so I wanted to know if there is anything I can do to make this mandatory thing a hell of a lot less scary. I'm not even sure what is scary about it. I'm not even thinking about something remotely frightening when it happens, but of course as soon as the panic attack begins, I begin to think horrible things. I can't seem to get to the root of it, but even if I did, would it help?
I really need all this panic crap to stop. Is it possible that something has happened in my life that is causing this? Does anyone else know where they're panic comes from?

Lastly, the ER is damn expensive. What do I do, or where can I go when I have a panic attack that just won't settle down? All I can do right now is breath and try to convince myself that I'm not dying. Please help.

Your story sounds exactly like mine. I suffered from severe panic attacks for quite a while. Most of my attacks came from particular body sensations or the fear of having a heart attack. I never understood what a panic attack was until after 3 visits to the emergency room, several procedures including a cardiac cath. and a lot of expenses.

My doctor put me on lexipro and ativan which scared me even more to take either and caused more panic attacks. However, the ativan worked quite nicely other than making me zone out. Eventually I took myself off the lexipro and began weening myself off of the ativan.

There were three specific things that helped me to overcome my anxiety naturally. They were exercise, vitamin B complex, and one other thing that really helped me.

I figured out I was causing my own attacks by my own thoughts and not reeling them in when they started. But when I started lifting weights or running, I discovered I was triggering endorphins that counter acted my anxiety and panic feelings.

When you feel a panic attack coming on do pushups or start running in place and do anything without the fear of dying. I figured if I can run fast get my heart rate up and I don't die, I'm really not going to die and its all in my head. After doing this over and over, I started to build up confidence and even get in shape. I eventually got rid of all my attacks and haven't had one in quite some time.

Of course, I still get anxious! But, I know what it is and stop it before it gets out of control. I really feel for you as I have dealt with the same thing you are going through. I also got a Panic Attack course and audios that helped me learn how to deal with it. It was expensive but worth every penny.

I hope this helps others out there. Realize that you are causing your panic attacks and that you can over come them with the three things I mention.

Cheers!
Derek

hi
i think you should think deeply about the thoughts that trigger the attacks.the worries,anxieties.. maybe you have to change to a lifestyle with less stress.also,what you say to yourself to release the tension and get out of the situation is important.see what calmed you down in your previous attacks and stick to them!there are websites that can give you more information.don t miss them!
in the end,remember that you are not alone!

@Misstea. If the pain is so severe that they are prescribing Vicodin then you should also be on antibiotics! It's the bacteria that's casing the pain and it "can" be dangerous.
I'm astonished they did not prescribe you that..????? Unbelievable! You also need to see a dentist. There are free clinics out there.

**I also went through something very similar. The pain was so intense I could not sleep and my eyes were watering. I was prescribed antibiotics (so the bacteria doesn't spread to my brain) and Vicodin. I didn't want to become addicted so I endured the pain, the antibiotics killed the bacteria and I was feeling better within 24hrs. I then made an appointment to see a dentist at a free clinic.