re: who else here suffers from panic attacks

I do kinda have it under control haven't had one in over 8 months. Also weed does not calm me down it gives me anxiety and basically a panic attack.

Ativan is awesome.

it has the opposite effect on me

Knowing what it is helps. Getting a feel for when one is beginning also helps. Watch your breathing and breath deep from you diaphragm.

Once I realized when one was kicking in, I went out into the warehouse and picked up the heaviest galvanized pipe, like 4"od, 10ft and pumped it to distraction. Things got better and they went away. I didn't like the medication-well, correction-I probably did like it a lot- so I decided against using it.

What's behind them is an element too manage as well. My wife was having seizures from a brain lesion, couldn't drive, first anti-seizure meds for her was toxic in therapeutic dosing she needed so getting seizures under control was a process, oldest son was 0311, 911 happened not long after wife's first episode and he was deployed and ended up in Afghanistan so added worry there for my young Marine.

I had to take over much of her chores and functions with our other kids, work never let up and one day my first attack happened and I thought I was going to die and leave my sick wife to fend for herself and the kids-which made me feel worse and exacerbated the attack.

That was late 2000/2001 when this all started and went on for a while. Things got better and they will for you also. and prayers.

First and foremost, acknowledge it for what it is. Do not do as I did and deny that stress can make you feel as if you are dying. I spent several years denying it was stress and continued the attacks while I searched for a physical cause rather than admitting it was mental. Alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine all have an effect on panic attacks. Over indulge and it will cause or lead to an attack. Some have advised to take drugs to combat the causes of a panic attack. Antidepressants are not for everyone. They had the opposite effect on me. Many bad thoughts while on them. I quit taking them, learned I wasn't superman and stress effected me. Once I accepted this I learned how to mentally train myself when I felt an attack coming on. I literally told myself, "quit being a pussy, this is in your mind". Haven't had a serious panic attack since I learned this. Yes, I can still feel them trying to come on but an prevent it.

Ativan and Klonopin> Xanax for panic, but only as needed. The half-life for Xanax is too short, and I see patients all the time taking it like candy and they become dependent on it. A SSRI like Lexapro or Zoloft for the long run, then have you doctor ween you down off the benzodiazepines. May need to stay on the SSRIs for a year or so, sometimes longer until you learn adequate coping skills. Therapy plus meds is better than either of them alone. Good luck.

Klonopin works great, but it's easy to become reliant on it, not addicted though.

Here's comes the posts from the guy who knows more about drugs than the Dr's and Pharmacists on the OT.

You don't think you can become addicted to Klonopin?

Sure all those out there or in treatment for benzo addiction are full of shite