Alcohol Induced Panic... Super Long Post. Posted: 08-07-05 06:36am
Been an alcoholic for about 15 years; been
through treatment and got clean for
awhile...Didn't take. Found god (i mean
that sincerely) asked him to take away my
addiction; got a decent job and only drank
on the weekends (about 15 beers on friday
night.) and then...
One morning I woke up hung over like
normal, but this time my entire body was
shaking (not a seizure), my mind was
spinning out of control, heart beating
uncontrollably, such terrible acid that it
felt like a heart attack. I was certain
that I was going to die...I gave up and
told god that he could have me, I was
ready to go; laid back down and waited for
the white light and a lot of explaining to
do. White light didn't come (obviously)
but the shaking and insanity and acid
continued. Finally went to the hospital.
After multiple blood tests, the doctor
told me I was fine - that the acid was
gastrius, and then gave me some industrial
strength maalox and told me to avoid
alcohol and caffeine and nicotine. I was
sure that he was mistaken, this sort of
thing couldn't be just acid and soda could
it?
The symtoms went away, and I was able to
stop drinking for two weeks (a record of
some sort), but, being the alcholic that I
am, I figured that if I just quit the soda
I would be fine. I drank again and the
same thing happened again.
Now to the present
i've been off booze and caffeine for 3.5
months, and been off of tobacco for 3
weeks. For the first couple of months I
felt ridiculously good, I mean just
awesome, but then I had an attack again 2
weeks ago while at work. It was quite a
bit like the ones I described above but
not as severe and without the shaking and
the feeling of losing control. It was
more like a huge burst of adrenaline shot
up from my feet up to my brain, leaving me
momentarily paralyzed. Also, big time
hearburn and chest pressure, but my
breathing and heart rate was normal though
I was panicy. Went back to the
hospital...Same results - nothing wrong,
but this time they gave me some heartburn
medicine (ranitidine) in lieu of
anti-panic meds (which would be prescribed
later if necessary).
It seemed that the meds were working but
then yesterday at work I didn't feel all
that good - started out with pressure in
my chest, heartburn, dehydrated feeling,
weakness, a little panicy, but then it hit
full force again. This time I just sat
down and rode it out and it finally
passed, though I felt drained and weak for
the next two days. Normally I drink a
bunch of maalox and it helps relieve the
pressure in my chest, eventually giving me
diarrhea and expelling the acid
acumulation, which in turn stops the panic
attack, but it doesn't seem to be working
as well anymore nor as fast.
Now for my question (finally): if the
ranitidine was working would I have to
still be using maalox?
From reading the posts on this site, it
seems that I have a classic case of panic
attack disorder. Does this sound right to
you guys?
I know that the gastritus can be caused by
alcoholism, but what about the panic
disorder? Has this happened to anyone
else? Specifically through alcohol?
I've had general depression for a long
time (but not severe panic attacks like
this) and have tried several
anti-depressants - paxil worked, but the
sexual side affects were unacceptable.
Would you guys recommend my trying another
stronger antacid or trying to go back on
paxil? When your mental stability is in
question, erections don't seem nearly as
important! Does paxil work on panic
attacks or just depression?
I'm praying that this whole thing will go
away with time - I mean, it took over 15
years of drinking to get into this shape,
it probably will take longer than 3.5
months to heal.
When I prayed that god would take away my
addiction, I wasn't expecting this!
Sorry for the epic post. I look forward
to answers to my questions as well as
words of encouragment and advice.
Thanks.
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djajt
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 32 Location: Indianapolis, IN
You Need to Contact Me!!! Posted: 08-17-05 06:49am
I have the exact same thing as you. I
have depended on alcohol to help with my
attacks until I can get xanax. I am 31,
and a disc jockey (which doesn't help) and
I have been having panic attacks since I
was 19. I feel I have wasted so much of
my life on this. I have had several
shrinks, went to support groups been on
meds. Nothing has worked. I recently
ran out of xanax and was a "recovering
alcoholic" and that all stopped because
when I am feeling anxious I will drink
until it goes away (usually cuervo) we
need help. I just don't know where to
find it. I have several visits to the er
and am agoraphobic. I am on the computer
several times a day. I don't sleep much
due to the panic and I have no life. I
can't do anything really. Please feel
free to get in touch with me, it would be
nice to talk to others who experience the
same symptoms and emotions of panic and
anxiety...They suck!!! I hope to hear
from you!
Amy
Last edited by djajt on 08-17-05 06:56am; edited 1 time in total
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djajt
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 32 Location: Indianapolis, IN
Also Posted: 08-17-05 06:55am
When I went to the er they diagnosed me
with gastritis due to the alcohol
consumption. But I understand the
helplessness and the need for immediate
relief. Trust me. It calms me down too.
I don't know about you but I don't want to
live the rest of my life with this!
Meditation, breathing,
relaxation....Doesn't work most of the
time! Teetering on the edge of a panic
attack all the time is no way to live and
it's good to know (although i'm sorry that
anyone has to experience them) that
someone else has the same problems I do.
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highwire1
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Wa. State
Hey, Amy Posted: 08-17-05 08:52am
Thanks for replying, I was beginning to
think that no one was going to!
It blows me away that there isn't more
exposure about panic attacks. Before I
had some of my own, I thought they were
just little anxiety attacks that made you
feel nervous when under stress - just walk
it off, ya sissy, but that is not even
close to the case! It's like saying to a
drowning person, "quit whining!" it's not
really just a mental thing, it's actual
physical reactions in our bodies that
bring on real symtoms.
What was really scary for me was that I
don't even have the option to drink booze
to combat the attacks - they are what
caused them to begin with, so I have to
suffer through them cold turkey. I didn't
have one last week, or so far this week,
thank god, though I have felt a couple
coming on and, for some reason, they
didn't hit me. Since mine seem to start
in my stomach, maalox has been helping
keep them at bay.
I wish I had something encouraging to say
to you, amy, but I don't know what. I
guess you should keep trying different
meds until you find one that will help
you.
At the risk of offending you, I would
suggest that you keep/start praying. The
way I look at it is: if there is a god
(and I believe there is) then he must care
about this problem and be willing to help.
When I was first beginning to believe, I
told god that I was willing to believe but
he had to do some things too - real,
tangible things. What I didn't want to
hear was, "it's just god's will that you
are suffering through this." that to me is
a cop out! I'm not talking about a genie
here - no basing your belief on whether or
not god gives you a mercedes, but
something that is as serious as these life
altering/destroying attacks should be
something that he would be interested in
helping with. He has helped me enormously
in the last year, these panic attacks are
the last really big thing in my life that
I have to overcome.
I hope you feel better, and I would be
happy to keep talking with you! Hey, you
get to work on the air, life can't be all
bad 8)
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djajt
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 32 Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posted: 08-17-05 12:15pm
Nope, i'm a mobile dj...Weddings, parties
etc...I get panic attacks from a hangover,
that is why I don't go "over the edge"
just a little buzz when I am anxious. My
mother was an alcoholic and so was my
father, I don't speak to him anymore but I
do talk to my mom who lives right down the
road from me and never stops criticizing
me for my drinking. I know mom! I want
to stop and I will, but she likes to make
me feel guilty about it when she can
because she stopped cold turkey and thinks
that everyone should. She has klonipin so
she is still able to self medicate in one
way or another. I do believe in god but I
know that the answers to my problems are
in me. I need to start therapy again and
get pro help. I will have xanax again
friday so the drinking won't be an issue
and my stomach will be right again. I
have a peptic ulcer from stress, i've had
it my entire life it seems. I think the
majority of my panic and anxiety comes
from the 'what if's' and 'scarry thoughts'
my mind goes 100 miles an hour all the
time.
I'm glad you haven't had a panic attack or
anxiety in awhile. That is a good thing.
I just wish I could stop them or find out
why I have them all the time. I'm a pro
at this i've been dealing with it so long
it's good to finally know i'm not alone in
this. Although I wish I could sleep!
I've had insomnia for a week and a half!
Anywho, let me know if you have any
techniques that work for you or any info
you would like to share I am here to
listen(read) about your experiences with
panic. Sometimes it just helps to talk to
someone who understands. :)
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Lennon
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 82 Location: Canada
Posted: 08-18-05 01:26am
Don't shrink from your panic. If the
attacks are new to you that's the best
time to start. What brings them back is
your fear of them. Everyone can panic but
some people start thinking what if it
never stops or what if it happens right
now. That second fear after the panic
itself is the disorder that slowly gets
you obsessed with it. You have to replace
your what if thoughts with......So what
thoughts. Like, so what if I panic? Tell
the panic to do it's worst and tell it you
aren't afraid of it. I've had anxiety for
23 years and it's nothing if you don't
tense up about it and aren't afraid of it.
Your mind will start to drift onto
something else, your body starts to heal
it's nerves and you slowly get back to
normal. Every single time you feel it
come on just say.......Big deal......Go
ahead. Just don't be afraid of it and let
it happen.
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djajt
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 32 Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posted: 08-18-05 06:09am
I tried that method once...And I had a
really bad panic attack and ended up going
to the er with a heart rate of 180. That
was not a fun day!
I have been having these for as long as I
can remember but started to get real bad
at 19 i'm 31 now.
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djajt
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 32 Location: Indianapolis, IN
Highwire I Forgot Posted: 08-18-05 06:19am
All my panic and anxiety attacks begin in
my stomach. Then I get that hot cold rush
(fight or flight syndrome) and that's when
the heart rate goes up and then sparking
the chain of the funfilled events. I wish
they would do more research on panic and
help people like us so we wouldn't have to
"ride the next one out". :\
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Lennon
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 82 Location: Canada
Posted: 08-18-05 13:19pm
djajt
wrote:
i tried that method
once...And I had a really bad panic attack
and ended up going to the er with a heart
rate of 180. That was not a fun day!
I have been having these for as long as I
can remember but started to get real bad
at 19 i'm 31
now.
you can't just do it once and say......Oh
well, it didn't work. That's not the
point. You'll feel panic the first time
and the next time but if you aren't afraid
of it and feel a bit more calm than you
usually do during a panic attack, you're
on your way to getting better. Every
attack that comes will be a bit easier if
you aren't afraid of it. They don't just
stop. It takes time for your nerves to
de-sensitize themselves.
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blackjack
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 6
Posted: 08-18-05 13:38pm
Just a quick question here for highwire1
and djajt.
You both mentioned it starting in the
stomach more so for djajt. Does this make
you go to the toilet and if so do you find
that the attack goes when you have gone
sometimes, I mean immediately after you
have gone like feeling it drain out of
your body and back to normality.
Just trying to link something here with
feelings I get.
Cheers
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djajt
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 32 Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posted: 08-18-05 15:58pm
Yup...Goes right to the bowels (not to be
gross) it makes me feel better for a
little while but that's just cuz our
nerves make the acids in our stomach start
churning and when you expell the acids it
helps. Sometimes it will look like the
lining of your stomach is in the toilet
(again, not to be gross) but guess what,
it is. The lining of your stomach, don't
worry it heals itself, just takes time.
With alcohol consumption, the pain is a
bit worse and lasts longer, sometimes a
week for me and the bathroom has become
somewhat of a library for me since I spend
a lot of time in there. If it gets bad
after awhile, try some immodium. But
don't overdue it cuz it can cause a
reversal and you don't want that either.
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djajt
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 32 Location: Indianapolis, IN
Another Method That Works For Me Posted: 08-18-05 16:04pm
When the panic starts to hit I will
pace...Back in forth in my living room.
Helps if someone is there that you trust
just calmly sitting while you pace and
talk out how you are feeling to them, tell
them every physical symptom you are
having. Sounds kinda dumb but after
awhile, you walk off the nervous energy
and have to relax or collapse onto a sofa
or something and you also feel like you
have gotten a load off your chest.
Sometimes I will even call my mom or a
very close friend and just say i'm having
an episode just talk to me, then tell them
what I am feeling while I am pacing at the
same time. For those that can leave the
house, go for a walk even if it's down a
sidewalk and back, do it a couple times.
Neighbors might think you're crazy but who
cares, like I say unless you've been there
you don't understand.
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highwire1
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Wa. State
Yep... Posted: 08-19-05 20:37pm
Going to the toilet is the key for me too,
though it takes awhile for the attack to
completely stop afterwards - it seems to
relieve the pressure in my chest and
abdomen. My doctor told me that this is
the bodies way of expelling the adrenaline
and acid.
One day I woke up with a dull headache
(one of my signs of an oncoming attack)
that meds wouldn't touch. I went for a
bike ride and the headache persisted,
though it did lessen somewhat. The post
exercise endorphines didn't come, and
later at work I had a panic attack.
The idea that worrying about an attack
brings more attacks doesn't seem right to
me. I could be be laying down and
watching tv - just relaxing, with nothing
on my mind except what to eat for dinner,
and the adrenaline will hit and the fun
begins.
Granted, understanding what is going on in
your body when an attack hits makes the
ordeal less stressful, I can't seem to
get the things to stop by using calming
techniques such as breathing or self talk.
And I certainly can't stop them from
coming. I don't dismiss this idea out of
hand, I just haven't been able to do it.
But on the bright side I haven't had an
attack for two weeks, perhaps they are
going away. But on the other hand, my
hours at work have been cut back (i really
dislike my job) so I have more days off.
