Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Panic Attacks, Migraines...

I'm not really a tablet-ty person myself and I need you to be responsible. Discuss any medications you decide to take with your doctor and with your parents, if you are under 21.

Until recently, I was sick all the time despite loads of vitamins daily. Nothing helped.Finally I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder, i.e. I was having panic attacks that knocked the stuffing out of me and often set on a migraine.

For those who don't know what this is like - it's different for everyone, but this is my experience:
You'd be sitting on a bus or a waiting room, classroom for instance and start feeling claustrophobic,short of breath, rapid heart-beat,sweaty,nauseas, possibly headache... you'll think that you are dying. I usually get pretty paranoid and angry at the same time as I'd feel out of control. When it's over I'd have a migraine and have to go to bed - no matter what the time is. The migraine would persist until the next day.

A migraine is usually a VERY SEVERE headache, just behind / around the eyes. It feels like your eyes are popping out and your neck could be sore. Also, you'd usually be nauseas as well. Very few pills seem to do the trick.

I have found that practicing breathing s.l.o.w.l.y. and visualization work for me.

Exercise is a great stress-reliever.

Taking relaxing baths and realizing that doing everything perfectly and carefully and stressing about it (I'd put Monk to shame!) is not a guarantee that things can't still go wrong. My motto: If you stress, you die - if you don't stress you still die. What's the point in stressing? At least try to enjoy the ride!

Besides - what's the point of stressing? If it all goes smoothly - you couldn't even enjoy the victory, because you were too stressed.

Medications - REMEMBER - I'm not advocating these - I'm merely telling you what works for me. Everyone is different, we all have unique bodies and some of these medications could be VERY BAD for you. Speak to your parents and doctor!!!

For panic attacks - I use a beta-blocker (half in the morning and half at lunch. I take another when I feel the onset of a migraine or panic attack). A beta-blocker is really for high blood pressure and it makes sense, because when you are uptight your blood pressure rises. A headache causes arteries to contract and beta-blockers open them up. I know for a fact people with asthma can't take the kind I'm on - so speak to your doctor.

Emergency Migraine Relief: I once bought a migraine cocktail from a pharmacy. Most pharmacies have their own version. It's 3 tablets - 1 x anti-inflammatory, 1 x anti-nausea tablet and 1 x tension headache tablet. I add a a beta-blocker to that... Just supply your own bed!

For chronic migraines: Stay away from all the nice things... Chocolate, cheese, alcohol, eggs, cakes, sometimes even bread, dairy products. I noticed for me that before a migraine I crave NikNaks and the moment I have them the migraine sets in. I don't like staying away from nice foods, but when I feel the onset, I do avoid them for a few hours.. ;-)

How do you know you're getting a migraine?

Again - that depends, but most people get these symptoms: blurry vision or "tunnel" vision, a feeling of melancholy - people may say you seem quiet, sore neck / shoulders.

I hope this info helps. If you have any of your own advice - please post a comment!

PS: Remember - I'm not a doctor - speak to your doc before taking meds.

7 comments:

sstarfox2 said...

My father's mother suffered from severe migraines when I was a child. She started taking one cod liver oil pill every morning and swears that after that she no longer got migraines. Please check with your doctor as I'm not sure if they can ill affects as I have never used the remedy myself.
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Unknown said...

m 20 and recently found out i suffer from panic attacks. whether or not its a health or mental problem has yet to be determined by a 24 hour ecg ill get in January. ive had sore heads before but the other day i went half blind, a sort of greyness at the top of my right eye for a few minutes till i calmed down and took a propranolol. Can migraines cause this? or stress/undelying problem? anyone had an experience like this?
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Buy Xanax said...

The chances are if you have migraines, you also have panic attacks. The panic attack can happen before or after the migraine. You don’t necessarily have to have a depressive or other psychological disorder in order to suffer both panic attacks and migraines. Dealing with panic attacks, no matter when they happen, can greatly reduce the severity of your migraine pain.

Anonymous said...

Thank you soo much for speaking your truth. As silly as this might sound - it was soo soothing to my soul to hear your story, as this is what i am going through at the moment. I had two pannic attacks in the car whilst driving and i thought i was going to die - this resulted into a mega migraine bring on and an exhaustion in my body like i had never felt. It felt like all my energy centres were zapped and that my life force and life field was drained. I too have only had resolution from sleep and hope when i wake up it would disappear but it took around two weeks. I dont believe in taking medicine as in my early 20's when i suffered from depression i was on two sets of meds and they didnt work for me.... for me the pill was all a placebo.
Recently ive been having panic attacks in my sleep and they have woken me up like im about to have a heart attack soo full on and very invasive and limiting. I feel that meditation when helps to ground me and when i have energy movement in the body ie, a walk even a small one to take in some fresh air has been doing the justice and also just to surrender even though this is the hardest thing to do which is to be still. im stil trying to work this one out.
Thank you again for your insight and sharing of your love. xx