Claustrophobia & Panic Attacks - recommendations?

Unregistered39

Hi all,

I am looking for some personal recommendations from anybody who has suffered from the above and been successfully treated. It's mostly, but not limited to, a fear of flying - essentially "lack of control" situations.

I have done a post search and while organisations are listed, it would be great to get some names/first hand accounts of therapies/therapists that have actually worked. Dublin area ideally.

Thanks for your time.

AdamusAdonis

I've tried, on several occasions to get help/advice on anxiety & panic attacks to no avail... "Take a deep breath and hold it for ten seconds" is the best I got.

Problem is I get them any time... I can't even find a trigger.

Thread seems dead, but any other suggestions?

dennyire

Try your GP...friend of mine had similar problem and GP prescribed Xanax....sorted it all out for him....if ever he felt a panic attack coming on he too one and never has had an attack since

AdamusAdonis

[FONT=&quot]That's what I mean, been there time and time again (three opinions) but "there's nothing wrong with you".
At least on my last visit she explained the "attacks".
So if it doesn't get any better I'll be forkin' out another forty five in pursuit of this Xanax.

Thumbs up, Thanks a lot.
[/FONT]

dennyire

Maybe try another Doctor...Cant understand GP saing Theres nothing wrong with you....physically maybe not...but panic attacks stem from the mind, and with my friend, the more he thought about it, the worse it got.

Once he used Xanax for a while, and it helped greatly, he realised that it indeed was not a physical problem, and now only very seldom needs to take it.

AdamusAdonis

Exactly right, perhaps even the idea that something can help, will.

oisindoyle

my brother had panic attacks and a phobia and he went to a kinesiologist ,who helped him big time .The kinesiologist is somewhere in phibsboro dublin 7 ,cant rememebr the therapists name though

Ashlinggnilsia

Well i have had them for about 2 years now and ive come up with a few inventive ways for helping me to cope with it though obviously im not a doctor and they dont always work but it helps sometimes and sometimes there is never a trigger for mine either!!

1. Chewing Gum the really minty stuff...especially if you feel claustrophoic because it opens up your airways and you can actually feel the air going into your lungs so that tends to calm me down because i know im breathing properly....as you no when you do get panic attacks you usually feel like you cant breathe so I find it helpful to have a pack if i know im going to be a stressful situation.

2. Drinking a cold bottle of water....more or less for the same reason again and it kinda takes your mind off it a little

If you dont know what your trigger is its kind of hard to combat it and i know myself it can be quite frustrating . However if you do know what your trigger is I would recommend *Facing your Fears* i know its easier said then done but if you keep escaping/running away/or avoiding situations you know will trigger a panic attack it will ruin your life... you will be fine just stick it out and yes you might have a panic attack but you cant let it rule your life or let it win. If you put yourself in situations or merely not avoid the situations you know maybe a trigger do it anyway and it will help you to realise its not as bad as you thought it was going to be which will help in the long run.

One thing i found helped me alot was when i actually discovered what a pannic attack is..... an adrenaline rush....ya just an adrenaline rush the only reason we **** ourself so much is because we dont expect it... we expect it when we are running or doing a strenous activity but we dont expect it sitting down on our couch watching tv and generally that is the reason it terrifys us so much we dont know why this is happening or what necessarily is happening...to help explain my point i had read about panic attacks being adrenaline rushes and thought jaysus that makes sense but it actually came into practice when i was on holidays and went on a ride i got an adrenaline rush and i didnt have a clue what do to... it felt every inch a panic attack except i was laughing my arse off... first time that happend!!

Thats all i can say about it really hope it helps!!

seanybiker

I have been getting em about 12-13 years now. I get them all the time. Every day tbh. No reason that I can think of. After trying loads of things. Some helped for a while. Different things work for different people.

Ashlinggnilsia

Very true seanybiker! I hate them so much though I just wish I could go back to not havin a care in the world (when i was 16) ha ha! You have to be careful though I do believe panic attacks can ruin peoples lives!

x MarK x

Panic attacks are simply your bodies way of reacting to extreme stress. Your body and mind become so wound up, you release adrenilin, the fight or flight hormone. This causes you to feel any, or all of the following, sweat, hyper-ventilate, shake, feel weak, nauseus, pounding heart, wanting to go toilet, and many more. Its a natural reaction, but catches you off gaurd, and because there is no tiger about to bite your head off, your fretting wondering whats wrong, im sitting here on the bus (e.g), why do i feel like i might die? It can be extremely frightning. Because we remember things better when were emotional, this experience gets stamped on our brain. It then becomes a problem, because we fear its return. Its as if, a foreign entity envades our mind. It is this "fear" which then becomes the problem. Anyone needs any advice, feel free to ask.

karenk83

Nice to know other people get these dam things. I got them a lot for a while not too bad now. My God they are scary though. People who have not had one have NO idea how scary they are and nothing annoys me more than when people make light of them. In response to the op I find I have to talk myself out of it. I have to focus on what is happening to my body and explain to myself that it is a panic attack and I need to beat it by looking at it for what it is. Rather than trying to take my mind off it, I actually focus on it. I have to chant to myself "You're fine, you're fine" (Inside my head obviously, dont want to come across a bit unhinged ). Certain drugs do also help immensely. GP should be very helpful about this and if not should have a formal complaint against them.

Stanford

Phobias and panic attacks respond best to a type of therapy called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT, no merit in using meds like Xanax because it just masks symptoms and you need to get to the root of what is really an irrational fear.

I suggest you Google counsellors in your area and pick one who specialises in CBT or ask your GP if he/she knows such a counsellor, most GPs will have lists of counsellors in your area, usually 6-8 sessions will cure the problem.

Good luck

G

tbaymusicman

Get your favourite songs on your ipod!!put the music on and step into your closet all phobia's can be beating if your pre occupy your mind!!

Sorry i should mention i had debilitating anxiety for almost 8 years got so bad that i felt there was no point in going on!!But then i decided feck it il give it one craic to beat it and i did there is only one thing im afraid to do now and thats drink but i will beat this too!!!IF anyone wants to know how i did pm me but be aware im not a doctor or a therapist just a lucky person who's been to hell and came back stronger

Lone Stone

God had them for years , Altho it was panic disorder which lead to gorephobia etc basicly my advice to you would be take note of where you have the panic attack , whats going on around you when you had it, Then put yourself in that situation daily if possible till you get used to it , I really think repatition and a routine is needed to help with this kind of thing, If i stay in doors for a while it happens to me like now ive been of college for a while and i getting anxty again and am ****ting myself going to a 21st tonite .

Also go to your gp or ask in your gp if there is anyone there who deals with this type of thing.