Guest guest Posted December 29, 2005 Report Share Posted December 29, 2005 , In my case PLS began with this symptom. I too - those days was worried that it was mental/panic. That was long back in 1990. I underwent a few sessions with a MD (Hypnosis) which was a waste of time & money. I think the panic one gets when is away from a fixed thing like a wall or table a natural safety mechanism automatically taken by ones mind - mind knows the extent of the spasticity that a PLSer has. Please watch healthy people walk up/down stairs. Most of them keep touching the railings/walk near the railings- a subconscious safety devise imposed by ones mind?! With PLS one has to hold on to something firm & sturdy. In fact I have a load of weights in the basket of my walker to make it more secure. I don't think it is " Mind affecting body " It I think is mind knowing body's weakness & taking preventive action. That was the position, at least - in my case. Jagan (India) Panic Attacks > After numerous recent falls, I have developed a fear of walking without > holding or touching something. I can be walking beside a wall or table > without actually " touching " them but totally freeze up when I am past the > wall or table..............I either can't go further or I fall b/c I am so > panicked. It is a mental thing but my mind effects my body. Any help out > there? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2005 Report Share Posted December 30, 2005 Hi , For a while i had the same panic if i was not near a table or something to hold on to. It seemed to pass after a few months. I have learned that if i begin to fall, i can just let my body 'go' and relax my muscles...then i rarely get more than a bruise. It helps to learn some reassuing 'head-talk'...like: " I am safe and in control " . Try standing about a foot from a table or chair...so that you can grab it if you need to....and stand there for as long as you can....even though it may cause anxiety. it will pass and you will feel better......but be sure to be close to an object you can grab. Just some ideas that have helped me. Take care. Di..........Canada > > After numerous recent falls, I have developed a fear of walking without holding or touching something. I can be walking beside a wall or table without actually " touching " them but totally freeze up when I am past the wall or table..............I either can't go further or I fall b/c I am so panicked. It is a mental thing but my mind effects my body. Any help out there? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2005 Report Share Posted December 30, 2005 Hi Oh yes I have that all the time. A lot of it is mind over matter but then we cant help it because we do fall so easily. All I can suggest to you is get a quad stick. Before the quad stick I was unable to walk in an open space with even a plain walking stick. I still had to hold on to someone also. The quad stick gives you more stability and thefore more confidence. And if you find yourself still freezing up, you have to be firm with yourself and say " that you can do it " . It does work! You will relax and keep walking. Maureen in Australia > > After numerous recent falls, I have developed a fear of walking without holding or touching something. I can be walking beside a wall or table without actually " touching " them but totally freeze up when I am past the wall or table..............I either can't go further or I fall b/c I am so panicked. It is a mental thing but my mind effects my body. Any help out there? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2005 Report Share Posted December 30, 2005 , before I was dx I was having panic attacks and they were getting more frequently. I didn't know they were panic attacks but I had one day in md's office as I was discribing to doc the situations I would be in when I would have one - just discribing it caused one. The doc told me I was having panic attacks and she prescribed celexa for the attacks. It is an antidepressant and I didn't want to take it but she convienced me and it has done wonders. Talk to your doc and explain what is going on. Susieq Panic Attacks After numerous recent falls, I have developed a fear of walking without holding or touching something. I can be walking beside a wall or table without actually " touching " them but totally freeze up when I am past the wall or table..............I either can't go further or I fall b/c I am so panicked. It is a mental thing but my mind effects my body. Any help out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 Hi Dolores...I too, can look back at panic attacks and what may have been very early symptoms over the last 20 years. I think that some of us get very early warning signs. i was the family 'clutz' when i was 15! It IS very interesting...and a relief to know we are not alone! All the best! Di...........Canada > > I've been sitting back and reading with interest the prevalence of panic attacks in our ranks. What a revelation that has been for me! During the frustrating time sixteen years ago that I was trying to get a diagnosis for my increasing neurological symptoms that had been developing in the previous 5 years, one doctor suggested that I needed psychiatric treatment for agoraphobia. I has highly insulted!! Indeed, I HAD experienced that shortness of breath and heart racing when I was in an open place without anything to stabilize my balance but I knew it was only because I felt so unsure of my balance and strength. All this time, I've been saying that my PLS was developing for about 20 years. > > The real revelation for me is that I can now see that the episode of panic attacks more than 30 years ago due to the same feelings of instability and imbalance most likely were at the TRUE onset of PLS. Other more obvious symptoms (like foot drop, etc.) had not become apparent. Occasional spasticity upon fatigue was, but being young and feeling immortal, it was always ignored or blamed on lack of sleep, strenuous physical exertion, etc. Of course, admission of such feelings of panic were shrouded in the shame of possible mental dysfunction. I was not going to have that label on me!! What a relief, all these years later, to come to the realization that it was a taste of things to come. > > I suppose that a panic attack is our body's way of protecting us from potential injury by making us avoid those places without walls, railings, or furniture to hold. A panic attack is a very unpleasant loud shout, but if it were anything less, would we really pay attention to the message? > > Dolores > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 Hi Dolores...I too, can look back at panic attacks and what may have been very early symptoms over the last 20 years. I think that some of us get very early warning signs. i was the family 'clutz' when i was 15! It IS very interesting...and a relief to know we are not alone! All the best! Di...........Canada > > I've been sitting back and reading with interest the prevalence of panic attacks in our ranks. What a revelation that has been for me! During the frustrating time sixteen years ago that I was trying to get a diagnosis for my increasing neurological symptoms that had been developing in the previous 5 years, one doctor suggested that I needed psychiatric treatment for agoraphobia. I has highly insulted!! Indeed, I HAD experienced that shortness of breath and heart racing when I was in an open place without anything to stabilize my balance but I knew it was only because I felt so unsure of my balance and strength. All this time, I've been saying that my PLS was developing for about 20 years. > > The real revelation for me is that I can now see that the episode of panic attacks more than 30 years ago due to the same feelings of instability and imbalance most likely were at the TRUE onset of PLS. Other more obvious symptoms (like foot drop, etc.) had not become apparent. Occasional spasticity upon fatigue was, but being young and feeling immortal, it was always ignored or blamed on lack of sleep, strenuous physical exertion, etc. Of course, admission of such feelings of panic were shrouded in the shame of possible mental dysfunction. I was not going to have that label on me!! What a relief, all these years later, to come to the realization that it was a taste of things to come. > > I suppose that a panic attack is our body's way of protecting us from potential injury by making us avoid those places without walls, railings, or furniture to hold. A panic attack is a very unpleasant loud shout, but if it were anything less, would we really pay attention to the message? > > Dolores > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 Hi Dolores...I too, can look back at panic attacks and what may have been very early symptoms over the last 20 years. I think that some of us get very early warning signs. i was the family 'clutz' when i was 15! It IS very interesting...and a relief to know we are not alone! All the best! Di...........Canada > > I've been sitting back and reading with interest the prevalence of panic attacks in our ranks. What a revelation that has been for me! During the frustrating time sixteen years ago that I was trying to get a diagnosis for my increasing neurological symptoms that had been developing in the previous 5 years, one doctor suggested that I needed psychiatric treatment for agoraphobia. I has highly insulted!! Indeed, I HAD experienced that shortness of breath and heart racing when I was in an open place without anything to stabilize my balance but I knew it was only because I felt so unsure of my balance and strength. All this time, I've been saying that my PLS was developing for about 20 years. > > The real revelation for me is that I can now see that the episode of panic attacks more than 30 years ago due to the same feelings of instability and imbalance most likely were at the TRUE onset of PLS. Other more obvious symptoms (like foot drop, etc.) had not become apparent. Occasional spasticity upon fatigue was, but being young and feeling immortal, it was always ignored or blamed on lack of sleep, strenuous physical exertion, etc. Of course, admission of such feelings of panic were shrouded in the shame of possible mental dysfunction. I was not going to have that label on me!! What a relief, all these years later, to come to the realization that it was a taste of things to come. > > I suppose that a panic attack is our body's way of protecting us from potential injury by making us avoid those places without walls, railings, or furniture to hold. A panic attack is a very unpleasant loud shout, but if it were anything less, would we really pay attention to the message? > > Dolores > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 hello, I am new here been reading lots and you ladies are wonderful. I was recently diagnosed with FM. But, I have had panic attacks for years and I was curious does this go with FM? I have been having some really really bad ones lately, today is the worst. The doctor wants me to take prozac or some other antidepressant. I have taken them in the past but I really hate taking pills, so I am not sure what I should do? Just in a really bad state today. thank you for listening Phyllis in Roseville Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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