Rate of Aspergers with Panic Attacks?

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Have you had a panic attack before? (Aspies only, as this is relavant to my question.)
Yes :( 92%  92%  [ 97 ]
No :) 8%  8%  [ 8 ]
Total votes : 105

ebec11
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23 Feb 2008, 10:18 pm

GoatOnFire wrote:
Personally, I'm not sure whether I've had panic attacks or not. But if these are the symptoms...

ford_prefects_kid wrote:
Technically, physical symptoms=panic attack. If you immediately start sweating profusely for no reason, your heart rate goes through the roof, dizziness...ect.


I have had this happen to me every time I have had to speak in front of people. Even if it's only for 10 seconds I'll have broken into a complete sweat. Also when my stress level reaches a high during a bad day, but I'm not sure if that's more of a meltdown than a panic attack because they are induced by other things so I'm not sure what I should vote for.

Pithlet wrote:
Ebec, you mentioned your Paxil is wearing off at 20mg? You are likely going into a forced discontinuation syndrome because of this. It happens to about 40% of Paxil users who either quit or develop tolerance which is essentially quiting cold turkey. You need to get a hold of your doctor (or any doctor) and let them know what's going on. Quitting or even tolerating Paxil cold turkey can be very dangerous. I went through this and it was hell. Lethargy, flue like illness, severe anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, dizzy spells, anorexia, perhaps even hallucinations. Any of this sound familiar? That's what you may experience for months even if you wean off carefully. It's much worse cold turkey.


I was taken off of Paxil abruptly several years ago, that really explains a lot.

Pithlet wrote:
Go see a doctor ASAP. Until then, there is a forum called PaxilProgress, it's not only informative but you can also get in touch with other people going through what you are going through. Most people there have the aim of quitting, because for many Paxil can be destructive. I did, and eventully pulled out of that mess it made and am much better off. I won't tell you that you should quit, but you definately need to up the dose for now.


Be careful advising anyone to up the dose on that sh**. Ask a doctor first definitely, even then, studies have shown that doctors tend to prescribe things even if they shouldn't if the patient asks them about it first. Still, definitely don't do anything without the doctor's advice.

Pithlet wrote:
But if this keeps happening, you may want to consider tapering off carefully since they max the dose at 40mg and it's alot harder to get off the higher the dose. Sometimes it helps the symptoms to go with Prozac during the tapering. Even if you stayed on Prozac, it's much more benign than Paxil.


This one may be a good idea. Although beating depression isn't all about medication. Try to see if something can make you laugh etc. because you don't deserve this depression ebec.
I need the medication, because I'm clinical depressed, and I've tried laughing, but it doesn't work...



GoatOnFire
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23 Feb 2008, 10:38 pm

ebec11 wrote:
I need the medication, because I'm clinical depressed, and I've tried laughing, but it doesn't work...


I never said you didn't need the medication. Although maybe a switch of brands. I just suggested that it may take actively working to feel better rather than just relying on medication. That I know is very hard, but things change if you hold on long enough.


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24 Feb 2008, 12:00 am

I started getting monster panic attacks on a regular basis in 2006, but I haven't had a single one since I went back on 20mg of Paxil about a year ago (I took Paxil in high school for OCD, and anxiety but I was taken off it because my mom thought it wasn't working). I've also been sleeping better.

The panic attacks seemed to have been the results of the obsessive thoughts associated with my OCD interacting with my anxiety. This caused me to get freaked out by pain in my shoulder, neck, or the sides of my head because I obsessively worried about them being signs of a heart attack or stroke (I'm only 21 so me having either are unlikely, but obsessive, OCD-based thoughts aren't logical). The worst attack occurred in early September of 2006, in which I called for an ambulance because I seriously thought I was dying. 8O My heart rate was through the roof, I was shaking uncontrollably, was dizzy and light-headed, and felt close to blacking out.


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ebec11
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24 Feb 2008, 12:06 am

GoatOnFire wrote:
ebec11 wrote:
I need the medication, because I'm clinical depressed, and I've tried laughing, but it doesn't work...


I never said you didn't need the medication. Although maybe a switch of brands. I just suggested that it may take actively working to feel better rather than just relying on medication. That I know is very hard, but things change if you hold on long enough.
I am! I'm going to therapy, but since I'm switching therapists, it's just adding more problems :(



ebec11
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24 Feb 2008, 12:09 am

Odin wrote:
I started getting monster panic attacks on a regular basis in 2006, but I haven't had a single one since I went back on 20mg of Paxil about a year ago (I took Paxil in high school for OCD, and anxiety but I was taken off it because my mom thought it wasn't working). I've also been sleeping better.

The panic attacks seemed to have been the results of the obsessive thoughts associated with my OCD interacting with my anxiety. This caused me to get freaked out by pain in my shoulder, neck, or the sides of my head because I obsessively worried about them being signs of a heart attack or stroke (I'm only 21 so me having either are unlikely, but obsessive, OCD-based thoughts aren't logical). The worst attack occurred in early September of 2006, in which I called for an ambulance because I seriously thought I was dying. 8O My heart rate was through the roof, I was shaking uncontrollably, was dizzy and light-headed, and felt close to blacking out.
I've never felt like dying, but I understand that feeling. I don't have OCD, but I do have extreme anxiety (I hate my constant meltdowns).



oscuria
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24 Feb 2008, 12:14 am

I plenty get anxiety attacks. I've only had one very bad panic attack. I became delirious. I began crying, which I NEVER do. It was strange form of crying. I didn't want to, but I forced myself to. I felt that I was going to die "I guess this year is the end for me" was my thought." Too soon to tell if I am right!! :lol:

But yes, usually, I just get anxiety attacks on a weekly basis. If a person doesn't call when they say the will, if I am late to an appointment (which is always), if I forget about a meeting (which is most everytime). All these "if" events bring some kind of anxiety attack where I just pace back and forth and silly events play in my head.



nomad21
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24 Feb 2008, 12:17 am

Yes, unfortunately :(



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24 Feb 2008, 1:00 am

GoatOnFire wrote:
Personally, I'm not sure whether I've had panic attacks or not. But if these are the symptoms...

ford_prefects_kid wrote:
Technically, physical symptoms=panic attack. If you immediately start sweating profusely for no reason, your heart rate goes through the roof, dizziness...ect.


I have had this happen to me every time I have had to speak in front of people. Even if it's only for 10 seconds I'll have broken into a complete sweat. Also when my stress level reaches a high during a bad day, but I'm not sure if that's more of a meltdown than a panic attack because they are induced by other things so I'm not sure what I should vote for.

Pithlet wrote:
Ebec, you mentioned your Paxil is wearing off at 20mg? You are likely going into a forced discontinuation syndrome because of this. It happens to about 40% of Paxil users who either quit or develop tolerance which is essentially quiting cold turkey. You need to get a hold of your doctor (or any doctor) and let them know what's going on. Quitting or even tolerating Paxil cold turkey can be very dangerous. I went through this and it was hell. Lethargy, flue like illness, severe anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, dizzy spells, anorexia, perhaps even hallucinations. Any of this sound familiar? That's what you may experience for months even if you wean off carefully. It's much worse cold turkey.


I was taken off of Paxil abruptly several years ago, that really explains a lot.

Pithlet wrote:
Go see a doctor ASAP. Until then, there is a forum called PaxilProgress, it's not only informative but you can also get in touch with other people going through what you are going through. Most people there have the aim of quitting, because for many Paxil can be destructive. I did, and eventully pulled out of that mess it made and am much better off. I won't tell you that you should quit, but you definately need to up the dose for now.


Be careful advising anyone to up the dose on that sh**. Ask a doctor first definitely, even then, studies have shown that doctors tend to prescribe things even if they shouldn't if the patient asks them about it first. Still, definitely don't do anything without the doctor's advice.

Pithlet wrote:
But if this keeps happening, you may want to consider tapering off carefully since they max the dose at 40mg and it's alot harder to get off the higher the dose. Sometimes it helps the symptoms to go with Prozac during the tapering. Even if you stayed on Prozac, it's much more benign than Paxil.


This one may be a good idea. Although beating depression isn't all about medication. Try to see if something can make you laugh etc. because you don't deserve this depression ebec.


Oh, of course I didn't mean for her to up the dose without consulting a doctor. In fact I said she needs to make an appointment ASAP. But if she's developing tolerance, like I said that's nearly the same as quitting abruptly. To start getting off safely, the drug has to be stablized before you can even consider tapering. Whether she wants to quit or stay on it is up to her, but going off fast or just letting it stop working is a bad idea. For most people the withdrawls are much more severe, and can even last longer. She needs to set up a plan with her doc. If she wants to go off, or cross taper with something else like Prozac, they'll likely want to up Paxil once just to stablize. And then they can wean her off gradually. If she's already going through withdrawls now, they have to increase it either way. But I definately wouldn't recommend anyone do this with the intent of staying on it because it's only a matter of time before it happens again.



NeantHumain
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24 Feb 2008, 1:08 am

I've never experienced a full-on panic attack, but I have had chest pains a few times before, which at the time I thought were palpitations or some sign of a pending heart attack. It was a little bit disconcerting, but I was no more than moderately anxious about it—hardly panic.



oscuria
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24 Feb 2008, 2:25 am

QUESTION:

Do you always sweat in a panic attack?

I don't recall ever sweating during an "attack". I do palpitate and have tremors, but not sweat, nor clammy hands.



Dhp
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24 Feb 2008, 4:05 am

ebec11 wrote:
So lonely...


Okay, you're not the only one. I too have anxiety, major depression, and panic attacks in addition to AS. Just wanted to let you know that even a stranger cares. I hope you can feel better soon.



markaudette
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24 Feb 2008, 10:04 am

I have had several panic attacks.

But my worst one was one evening as I worked at Taco Bell. I couldn't keep up with the frequent orders that just kept coming in fast like waves on a beach. The beeps and noises and sounds and barking voices and the perpetual orders coming in started to bring on a panic attack. The next thing I'm aware of is that I'm suddenly no longer thinking. Everything is kind of bleached out. No noise. And I'm not really seeing anything. I start feeling like I'm dying and I just reach into my pocket, grab my keys and I run out the back door. I hop in my car and just split. I peeled out of that place and went home and crawled in my bed, under the sheets and thought about killing myself. That was a bad day.



Aoife
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24 Feb 2008, 7:25 pm

Wow, I didn't expect the percentage to be so high....


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19 Feb 2011, 7:17 am

I have been getting a whole lot of them lately because I've been going through colossal changes in my life, so I have to keep reminding myself of that and that I'm not about to die etc. My panic attacks start off with strong tingling throughout my body and rising terror and my heart starts to pump like mad causing me to hyperventilate. I know that I just have to let them pass. Once I do that and the attack starts to subside, I begin deep breathing and focusing on positive thoughts. It's not a suitable time to work on the negative thoughts during or just after a panic attack, so it's better to focus on other strong positive thoughts instead until I'm in a better state of mind to try address what lead to the panic attack. I wish there wasn't a crazy long waiting list for my psychiatrist! My appointment isn't until March 29th, and I can't afford a private therapist! >:-(



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19 Feb 2011, 5:21 pm

Is it considered a panic attack if it's a reaction to a phobia?


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20 Feb 2011, 1:07 am

ocdgirl123 wrote:
Is it considered a panic attack if it's a reaction to a phobia?


It is... but if it's clearly related to a phobic stimulus it's referred to as a "cued panic attack".....

if it is only vaguely related to a stimulus it's called a "situationally pre-disposed panic attack" and if it's not related to a stimulus at all and comes on for no apparent reason it is an "un-cued panic attack"....if you get a lot of un-cued panic attacks and are constantly worried about another attack you might have "panic disorder".......... but, yes, panic attacks related to phobia's are still considered panic attacks.

I get panic attacks when I experience sensory overload (i.e. in crowded noisy places) and they are made worse if I am in a bad state emotionally at the time for unrelated reasons. I think these would be considered cued attacks. I used to get un-cued attacks during a bout of severe depression that I experienced when I was eighteen years old.