Re: Panic attack responses

October 14, 2002

Hi All

I just want to thank everyone for sharing their personal stories regarding

panic attacks. It is extremely interesting to me that so many of us with

these debilitating diseases also suffer panic attacks. I will gather the

input from the group, and relate back to you what I have found.

I have always been somewhat claustrophobic, i.e., airplanes, buses, but

always not too bad. Two yrs. ago while in the hospital, I experienced a panic

attack when they were attempting to do a CAT scan. I panicked to say the

least. It has happened again when the doctor attempted to put a cast on my

foot last year and just about any medical test now, x-ray. The sever attacks

seem to occur when confined or having a medical test.

The other night, however, for the first time I woke up in a panic attack!

That day I had those beautiful fake finger nails applied and when I woke up I

was panicked because I could not get them off (they were very long-so long I

could not open the screen door) and I PANICKED. My poor son (who is 29) was

terrified...trying to cut them off, hold on to me, calm me anything. It was

horrible. Again I can only assume I felt in someway confined or trapped. But

this reaction is all so new, I was terrified also. It eventually passed from

xanax but I truly felt like I was losing my mind and would need to be

committed. just keep asking myself how much more God do you think I can

stand?

thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts with me

Love Joanne

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