Mental Health Panic Attacks in Class

[Jktm]

Hey all. I think this is my first thread here actually.

I have issues with social phobia, and after taking a semester off, the level of anxiety I normally feel in public places has exponentially grown. I was doing alright (by alright, I meant not having a full on panic attack), and then Tuesday when I was in my English class, I got to the point of hyperventilation for a few seconds and forced it down for about 2 minutes. At this point I realized I was there, so I stood up and walked out door to go smoke a cigarette, and by the time I got to the elevator, it hit. Went outside, smoked my cigarette, then went back in the building to ride it out, hoping it wouldn't last too long.

I think now (possibly) that it wouldn't get any better because when I was outside smoking there were people walking around me, and then when I went back inside and got upstairs, there was a group of about 5 people talking amongst each other. Then it was time for the 8 o'clock classes to release, so I ended up in the corner looking at the ground and trying to not look like a maniac as my respiration rate skyrocketed with my pulse, I become lightheaded, I develop nausea, and my arms, legs, and stomach muscles start going numb and contracting as hundreds of people pass by.

Finally, the crowd died down enough that I could go into class, pack up my stuff, and go to my car. I move the car closer to my next class and just sit there for about 5 minutes getting as calm as possible. Then I go into my next class and experience the exact same issues.

My psychiatrist just has to try me out on Zoloft apparently to treat depression/anxiety before she will let me not take it, and it doesn't help the depression, and makes the anxiety worse. I get hydroxyzine for breakthrough anxiety which is about as useful as tits on a boar, and she doesn't want to try me on benzodiazepines for a few months because I've only been with her a couple so far.

My question is, what could I possibly do to avoid these panic attacks or at least be able to calm them. The psychiatrist reasons that a panic attack won't kill you, so they can go untreated for a while, but I can't leave class everyday for half an hour and expect to pass. Any suggestions, dark siders? You guys are my last hope.

 

[yteek]

I can relate but really have no advice considering I'm stuck in the same boat, but really...AVOID THE BENZOOOOS!

 

[spork]

^Yes, definitely avoid benzos. They can be a temporary fix, but in the long term they only make things worse.

Are you seeing a therapist at all or just your psychiatrist? If not, I'd definitely suggest that you find someone to talk to. Ask your psychiatrist for a referral to someone that practices Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. A therapist will not only provide you with a listening ear, but will also be able to give you some tips to help cope with the panic attacks. In the mean time when you start feeling anxiety take some deep concentrated breaths. Feel your anxiety and let it go when you exhale. I know it's hard at first, but when you do this more often it gets easier to sort of retrain yourself and control your anxiety a bit more.

You may want to contact your school's disability center and let them know what's going on as well. I know this sounds like something that might be really hard to do, but they should be understanding and able to help you further.

I know how terrifying panic attacks can be, but you do have the power to get through them.

 

[Tiesto]

Honestly I know exactly what you're going through. I always had anxiety problems, but I actually didn't understand it was anxiety at the time, I thought it was just something that happened to everybody (but surely not to the extent I was experiencing it.) What made it exponentially worse for me was that I went through long phase of stimulant abuse. That really fucked shit up. I was actually so bad they scripted me clonazepam. And that helped, but obviously it didn't cure it completely. I've been taking benzos for about 3 years now. However, always the same dose, they've never increased.

But yea, there would be times in University where I'd have to get up and leave class in the middle because I thought everyone was staring at me, or talking about me. I would either sit directly at the front, or right at the back. I could never stand sitting anywhere in the middle. I was so bad that sometimes if I had an itch, or needed to crack my neck/back, I wouldn't do it, because of the massive fear I felt (I thought if I did anything people around me would think I'm weird or something.) So I would sit there, and suffer, heart pounding, sweating buckets. Sometimes it was so bad I wouldn't even go to school some days. It was just...terrible. Only in the past 6 months or so has my anxiety started to decrease. I know me stopping my stim abuse played a big role though. But like I said there's still some days where it's there...

One thing that did help me (not all the time, but sometimes) was that whenever I started to get that massive anxiety, while I was freaking out I'd ask myself "Why am I freaking out?" I'd answer that, and then I would analyze my answer. Is that a valid reason for freaking out? Does it even make sense? If I couldn't find any logical reason for the freak out, I would start to calm down. But like I mentioned above, sometimes that wouldn't work (aka I know it's not strange at all for a kid to crack his neck in class). You know, I wouldn't flat out suggest benzos, but I wouldn't flat out deny them at the same time. However if that is the route you end up taking, be careful. Watch that dose. Don't start asking for increases and what not. I've been on the same dose for 3 years and have no desire to have an increase in the dose, because I know damn well that benzo addiction is no joke and not to be taken lightly.

I hope that some part of my post has been of some help to you. Best of luck. It's not an easy thing to deal with at all.

Also, this should go without saying, sober up for a bit (I don't recall you mentioning if you were currently using any drugs at the time), it should help.

EDIT: Forgot to mention to keep talking to someone about it. I had a psych and a drug counselor at the time.
And I should also make it clear that I don't plan to stay on Clonazepam for the rest of my life, in case anyone interpreted it that way.

 

[ugly]

I hope you can find a doctor better suited to your needs. Panic attacks are horrifying. I've heard them described as satanic. That is pretty wicked.

My oldest son had the worst panic attacks of anyone in our whole family, and everyone on both sides has had them.

If I had been told by a licensed physician that the panic attacks would not kill my son, so he should suffer, I would have sent my concerns to the medical board, and my doctor's resident hospital if applicable, and a good lawyer. I would have included video of a typical panic attack crippling my 6'4" 300 lb 18 year old son.

He is 33 now. He manages. Do you understand what I mean? He manages under the care of quality medical personnel. His life changed when he had the first panic attack and it has never, never, changed back.

In many substantial ways, panic attacks are more dire than heart attacks.

 

[Jktm]

I've had a LOT of group therapy in the past but limited one-on-one. I plan on getting into a therapist and would have done so sooner if finances weren't such an issue right now. Apparently I've got to have 6 different freakin doctors to take care of everything that's wrong with me, I just totaled my car, and my mom just had surgery.

I know the whole bit about benzos, but they're the only thing that works in a social setting for me. I would more or less just want them to take to go to class, or before I go to a social gathering (though I haven't been to one in ages, so I don't know if having something for anxiety would change these circumstances lmao).

I realize I can make it through a panic attack, but that doesn't help when I'm trying to sit in class and pay attention so that I can get an education. I've started getting loans and already burned through the grace period of some of my debt, so I can't stop going to school until I can work lmfao (disabled w/o SS recognition currently).

 

[Jktm]

@ Tiesto: I'm not really doing drugs other than what I'm prescribed. I am prescribed Vyvanse because I have severe ADHD, but I've experimented going to class with and without it, and have found no noticeable difference.

I can't think when I'm in these panic states, there is no asking myself anything when it gets bad enough. It takes the longest for me to get to where I can initiate any kind of action, like walking out the door. I stood in the corner, terrified, looking like a nut, when in reality, I could have made things better by getting out the building instead, but I wasn't in a mental state to do so.

This whole situation just sickens me as academics has be come the only thing I can perform at.

@ ugly: I know exactly what you mean in reference to the comment about never being the same. My first really, really bad panic attack (well...first time that I realized I was having one; and was subsequently followed by more in a short period of time) happened this past May from a combination of buspar and cymbalta. Ended up staying up for 4 days straight before this happened (and this was without any stimulants), and broke down and seroquel'ed my ass to sleep. I then woke up going straight back into panic mode (I was thinking it was from serotonin syndrome; and still think it really could have been), but when I went to an urgent care clinic as advised by my doctor's office (it was a Saturday), they just diagnosed it as a panic attack.

I don't know if I would say they're worse than a heart attack, but they can be quite debilitating, and I could see them very easily leading to cardiac issues in the future from the strain they put on your heart. That thing is not supposed to beat more 2 times per second at rest for that extended period of time lol.

 

[kace]

Breathing techniques! Recognise, remind and reassure yourself of the symptoms when you can feel your anxiety peaking. Keep reassuring yourself you will be fine, breathe in through your nose for 5 seconds, hold in, and breathe out slowly of your mouth for 5 secs. You'll feel your heart and anxiety start to calm down. Also easy and subtle to do amongst other people.

Also, med wise- agreed to stick awaaay from the benzos. They are so addictive. Therapy sessions could help you, even just talking on here . Also discuss with your doctor how badly they are affecting you. I did and was prescribed a betablocker which stops the physical symptoms of anxiety. I have found them to be extremely helpful and no longer get panic attacks with them. Before I was in a similar position- getting panic attacks all the time at uni. It got so bad I would walk there and just freeze and get one at the door, and go home, or sit in the class paranoid and anxious as hell with my heat beating insansely fast. With the right help I'm sure you can get help with them.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

You should be able to go to the person in your college/university who works with students with handicaps/disabilities, and see if there's anything they can do to help counteract this.

I think that you shouldn't have to take a drug that worsens your anxiety before they will let you "not take it".

Nonetheless, I think the best way to reduce anxiety is to make sure you're eating well, getting good sleep, and exercising as much as possible. I know you're a pain patient, but sure there's some exercises you should be able to do.

You can always PM me too man.

 

[Jktm]

Breathing techniques! Recognise, remind and reassure yourself of the symptoms when you can feel your anxiety peaking. Keep reassuring yourself you will be fine, breathe in through your nose for 5 seconds, hold in, and breathe out slowly of your mouth for 5 secs. You'll feel your heart and anxiety start to calm down. Also easy and subtle to do amongst other people.

Also, med wise- agreed to stick awaaay from the benzos. They are so addictive. Therapy sessions could help you, even just talking on here . Also discuss with your doctor how badly they are affecting you. I did and was prescribed a betablocker which stops the physical symptoms of anxiety. I have found them to be extremely helpful and no longer get panic attacks with them. Before I was in a similar position- getting panic attacks all the time at uni. It got so bad I would walk there and just freeze and get one at the door, and go home, or sit in the class paranoid and anxious as hell with my heat beating insansely fast. With the right help I'm sure you can get help with them.

And I think part of the reason it's so hard for me to pull myself out of panic attacks is, as good ole C.H. said, I'm a pain patient. Pain raises NE levels greatly, so I can't get out of it almost.

I try the breathing thing, but if I'm not away from everyone in an open area, it doesn't work.

Thank you for the suggestion though.

Goddamnit, I just feel fucking broken. Did you ever have it to where you felt more and more anxious as you got each step closer to the door?

 

[T. Calderone]

SSRI's can make things worse. I've been diagnosed bipolar/schizoaffective and last hospital trip they would not give me zyprexa, risperidone, haldol or any meds that I had been previously prescribed by my psych doctor. I was having bad chest pain and blood pressure was super high. I went there thinking I was having a bad reaction to prednisone and the ER doctor believed it was a panic attack. But sent me away with Prozac and it sent me into manic mode. I didn't sleep for 3 days and thought I was losing my mind. These meds can be tricky. Tell your doctor if you feel they are not helping you.

 

[Bliindsided]

These posts are moving - I can totally relate. I failed out/dropped out of college because of social phobia and my life is in shambles. I can not even get a job and I am about to lose my car. I have failed to even make the effort to collect disability because I feel that it would be abusing the system and would only prohibit my chances at a 'normal' life.

The advice I wanna give you is just hang in there. It will get better through trial and error and if you must see 100 doctors at 200 locations, then do it. Stay consistent and serious with your therapy appointments even when you start to feel better. I truly believe this anxiety game is just that - a game of cat and mouse. How can I put this... You can climb so high on a ladder in learning control and confidence, but never become overconfident because there are good days and bad days ... never let bad days get you down. No matter how far you fall from that ladder, your footprints remain on that higher step.

You never forget panic attack experiences... therefore you always remember that you made it out alive of each one

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I have failed to even make the effort to collect disability because I feel that it would be abusing the system and would only prohibit my chances at a 'normal' life.

Sounds like the social phobia is preventing you from going to do this in itself. Try to work past this because getting on disability and collecting it would definitely help.

 

[Artificial Emotion]

I don't really think antidepressants really work for social phobia all that well in the first place. Big pharma are always trying to push their antidepressants for new disorders and they've really tried to take advantage of social phobia recently.

 

[ad lib]

I don't really think antidepressants really work for social phobia all that well in the first place. Big pharma are always trying to push their antidepressants for new disorders and they've really tried to take advantage of social phobia recently.

I agree. I personally haven't found any antidepressant useful in treating my anxiety. I truly wish that wasn't the case though.

 

[Bliindsided]

Sounds like the social phobia is preventing you from going to do this in itself. Try to work past this because getting on disability and collecting it would definitely help.

Yeah, I will push for it. I don't want to have an excuse to stay home and not work, but in actuality that would be better than losing everything by going broke.

Also, I have only been on Effexor and Paxil and I have found relief from the social problems, but then I assume your body adjusts to the drug and you level out again... SSRIs are fucked

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Yeah, I will push for it. I don't want to have an excuse to stay home and not work, but in actuality that would be better than losing everything by going broke.

Also, I have only been on Effexor and Paxil and I have found relief from the social problems, but then I assume your body adjusts to the drug and you level out again... SSRIs are fucked

I stayed on a high dosage on Zoloft for about a year after my body adjusted to the normal dosages, and I got relief for that year but it wasn't working well for me. It made me indifferent to whether I had friends or not, which wasn't something I wanted for my life.

Once I quit taking Zoloft and got past the acute withdrawal, I felt a lot better.

 

[Bliindsided]

I stayed on a high dosage on Zoloft for about a year after my body adjusted to the normal dosages, and I got relief for that year but it wasn't working well for me. It made me indifferent to whether I had friends or not, which wasn't something I wanted for my life.

Once I quit taking Zoloft and got past the acute withdrawal, I felt a lot better.

I quit paxil after 4 or 5 years and the withdrawals were 6 months deep and still only progressively worsened. the only part of the withdrawal that didn't last longer than one or two weeks was the feeling of being electrocuted. I got back on the drug and pretty much accept being a lifetime patient.

I'm surprised you're able to feel better after being on that. Did you ween off slowly? I can imagine the weening process taking a year or longer

 

[Captain.Heroin]

My doctor told me to get off of it in 2 days going from 100mg one day, to 50mg the next day, to 0mg after that. I tapered over a week and still had brain zaps for a while.

I'd say the acute withdrawals for me, only lasted a month or two, maybe even less time. It's hard to remember since this was many years ago.

 

[blahman8000]

I've been meaning to reply to this, but couldn't get to a computer until now, and usually can't post with my cell phone.

Anyway, when I was having daily panic attacks and constant anxiety recently, before getting sober, just getting up in the morning and leaving the door felt totally impossible. I'd think about getting through the day and felt overwhelmed, incapable. I wrote down this quote in a notebook during one sleepless night:

"Sometimes you climb out of bed in the morning and you think, I'm not going to make it, but you laugh inside — remembering all the times you've felt that way."

It's a quote by Charles Bukowski, and it's not exactly your model cheerer-upper quote of the day, but it got me through those mornings before work. Through the shower, getting dressed, tying my shoes, facing the door, walking through it, step by step on my way to work, anxiety wall to wall. It reminded me that I could make it.

Panic attacks, as we all know, are sheer hell and no one should have to live with them, especially on such a constant basis. Especially when they make life seem unlivable. Benzos are hazardous because quite honestly, they work so well (particularly at first), and they work so temporarily. In the long run, they don't solve a damn thing. They allow you to get through a certain amount of time with the anxiety set to the side. But as we all know, benzo dependency can be painful and relentless. Your anxiety is bad enough without something like that helping to fuel the motor.

To be concise: sobriety, meditation, deep breathing, regular sleep, exercise, nutrition, and therapy. That is my long term (and I mean long term; it's a process) game plan to address my anxiety and panic, and I think it's a pretty damn sensible one. SSRI's can be helpful, and only a trustworthy doctor can determine whether or not they're the solution you're looking for. But please start with the basics, take care of yourself, and talk to a doctor about really tackling this issue. You don't need to suffer like this, and you certainly don't need to be taking any medication that is only exacerbating what it ought to be resolving. You know your body, your mind, and how it's reacting. If the Zoloft isn't the medication for you, then taper off it safely and find something right for you, with a doctor you can trust and who's looking out for you.