What a fuckin trip! I was in the middle of an attack(vertigo, chest pain, shallow beathing) when I came online to the Siccness and saw this very post on top. But yeah, I think we've discussed this before. I get anxiety/panic attacks all the time. For me, there is no real trigger, it just happens out of the blue in varying intensities. Some days are better than others, but for the most part there is a general anxiety present everyday of my life, for no reason at all.
It all started in 98 when I was at a 49er game. I was dizzy, my chest was hurting and I couldnt breathe right. I thought it was from the two packs of Newports I used to smoke a day, but about a week later I was at school when out of the blue it felt like I was having a heartattack. My chest was in so much pain, and the world around me was appearing very dream-like. I went to the emergency room and they found nothing wrong with me.
After numerous ER visits within that month, the docs finally diagnosed me with anxiety/panic disorder. It has a lot to do with chemical responses, and how our minds respond to stress, wether subliminal or concious, and the mis-firing of the instinctive "Fight or Flight" response that all of us have.
I get all kinds of symptoms on a daily basis, but for the most part Ive learned to live with it and ignore the aches and pains I get. I dont get the full blown, damn-near paralyzing panic attacks anymore. When you learn to live with them, you kinda get used to them and the vicious cycle of worrying and panicking over the symptoms is nearly gone.
I was on Paxil for 6 months, and it really did make life feel so much better. It was like Id have anxiety, but the Paxil would just have me content, shrugging my shoulders at any symptoms that may surface. It gave me massive stomach aches though, so I had to stop. Now Im on Ativan, which I take if I think its needed. It really does help when Im feeling really fucked, but I havent taken one in about 6 months now.
Try to cut out chocolate and caffine from your diet. Exercise is supposed to help too. And I dont know about you, but I had to stop smoking weed because it would intensify anxiety and panic. Sometimes like dude said, I think that all my heavy weed smoking between the ages of 13 and 19 might of changed my brain chemistry, causing my anxiety and panic. But, who's to say?
Good luck though man. I would still see a doctor just in case. And also, there is always an informercial for Attacking Anxiety & Stress on late night, try to catch it, its hella informative. Holla at me holmes if you need any more insight.
By the way, what happened to you last night that confirmed it?
