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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety attacks?
        
(Message started by: birdman on Feb 3^rd, 2007, 1:07pm)

Title: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety attacks?
Post by birdman on Feb 3^rd, 2007, 1:07pm

Do any of my fellow CHer's suffer form panic/anxiety attacks? If so, what do you do to treat them? I have suffered with these attacks on and off for the last nine years. Tried different med's but nothign working this time around. Any suggestions or info please? :-[

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by thebbz on Feb 3^rd, 2007, 1:35pm

Heck ya I become anxious all the time during and episode, prior and after, wondering and worried.
Beyond that stress and anxiety are big triggers for many.
What's going on with seretonin while this is going on?
How does the hypothalmus play into this? I could go on and on. Many different factors are involved here. I think this would only be a trigger and without panic/anxiety you would still have CH. I know from my expierence that panic and anxiety are part of the whole episodic syndrome as is sleep problems, the inconsistency with meds, and all the rest.
Lots of MORE dope the doctors throw at you to treat another symtom of the larger problem. IMHO
short answer: yep
all the best
jb
BTW: this has been discussed in detail..check back in the history and read...you'll find more details, and discussion.

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by froggy on Feb 3^rd, 2007, 1:59pm

Yes, after my husband tried Oxygen (not to take away from anyone elses positive experience with it) he started to get them. It was scary at first cuz he didn't know what was going on. Since I had them in the past I was able to recognize the symptoms and help.

Although I do not get the Clusters (my husband does) I can tell you what helps us get rid of 95% of the panic attacks.

Have you ever tried Angelica Root? The best one to get is in liquid form. A friend of mine (big guy - 250 lbs) told me about it, said it helped his panic attacks subside.

It worked for me and the husband. My husband's are different than mine. His are a more feeling out of control "having to kick your leg on the bed to get rid of this feeling". Angelica Root and (believe it or not) gatorade helps him.

For me, they grab me right out of my sleep. So, what works for me is I remember what I've read about panic attacks - just educated myself on the subject as much as I could. How and why people get them, how to talk yourself out of one etc. (and that usually subsides it), then I take a dose of Angelica Root and that knocks it out completely.

If you can relate to only 1 thing and it helps I will be happy for you.

Regards

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by thebbz on Feb 3^rd, 2007, 2:04pm

http://www.nutrasanus.com/chinese-angelica.html
dilates the blood vessels...I guess if it works, do it.
all the best
jb

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by mel on Feb 3^rd, 2007, 7:16pm

Yes, I suffer from them. Mine stem from clinical depression and I treat my disorder with Cymbalta. For me, it works wonderfully and only very rarely will I need a fast acting Xanax for panic attacks. I think the last time I took one was a month ago. Before that one I had gone 2 months without needing any and that was just after going back on my medication for the 2nd time due to being off it for 7 months. I had thought I could control it myself with vitamins and continue to drink alcohol. ::) I found that I cannot drink alcohol socially anymore. Only one or two glasses of Spumante for special occasions. Other than that, I haven't had a drop since New Years. You see, for me, getting "tipsy" means a loss of control. That in turn would trigger the panic attacks. I still get some anxiety once in awhile, but it only lasts for seconds at a time.

PM me if you have any questions.

melissa

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by froggy on Feb 3^rd, 2007, 8:48pm

Yeah, you hit the nail on the head. Loss of control. Sometimes you have to say to yourself LOUDLY inside to stop it, just stop it! [smiley=hug.gif] Sounds a bit neurotic, but it works.

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by Skyhawk5 on Feb 3^rd, 2007, 11:08pm

Only during peak attacks for me. I do relaxation breathing and this seems to help me get through it.

Brgrds, Skyhawk

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by Batch on Feb 3^rd, 2007, 11:51pm

Skyhawk,

You a scooter driver?

Batch

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by Batch on Feb 4^th, 2007, 12:04am

Birdman,

Anxiety attacks can be caused by a lot of things... Do you use 100% O2 and if so, what flow rate? O2 shouldn't cause the problem but high respiration rates at low O2 flow rates and a non-rebreather mask with a faulty inhalation check valve can cause CO2 to build up in the mask reservoir. That will give you the willies

Batch

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by froggy on Feb 4^th, 2007, 1:35am

Maybey that was part of it. We used the Clustermasx but the regulator was set too high (we found out later).

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by Bob_Johnson on Feb 4^th, 2007, 8:06am

For immediae relief from panic attacks, meds like Xanax work quickly and effectively. However, research has shown that they return quickly when the med is stopped (and you don't want to be on this class of meds for years on end).

WHILE you are using the med, start to train your mind on how to reduce the impact of anxiety. This set of techniques are effective but they do require consistent use and some self-discipline to practice. Go to:

http://www.ouch-us.org/chgeneral/painvsuffering.htm

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by froggy on Feb 4^th, 2007, 10:27am

Exactly!

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by georgej on Feb 4^th, 2007, 10:42am

Welcome, birdman.

I presume that your reference to panic/anxiety attacks refers to the rising panic that is, I think, a natural, physical reaction to a building CH attack, and not free-floating anxiety that can occur at any time. Free-floating anxiety is really a separate issue, IMO, and may be best addressed with appropriate therapy and/or medication.

Bob gives very good advice. I urge you to explore his link fully, and try to put some of these concepts into practice. You may find that altering your reactions to a hit can help, tremendously, to make your experience less traumatic, and allow you to weather a hit with greater aplomb. It's not easy, and is not achieved overnight, but it can be done--and it's worth it.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by Wilbur on Feb 4^th, 2007, 10:56am

on 02/03/07 at 13:59:34, froggy wrote:

Yes, after my husband tried Oxygen (not to take away from anyone elses positive experience with it) he started to get them.

This sounds like claustrophobia to me (but I'm not a doctor, so take it with a grain of salt) - the mask.

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by froggy on Feb 4^th, 2007, 3:37pm

Claustrophobia, mmmm hadn't thought about that. I don't think it was that because he freely was able to put the mask on for further O2 treatments.

What really is a drag is that he never got them before the O2 and gets them now and then when anxiety goes up.

Still trying to figure it out,
froggy

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by birdman on Feb 5^th, 2007, 9:05am

Thanks for all the input and reading material. I will definetly watch my o2 intake.

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by Skyhawk5 on Feb 5^th, 2007, 9:58am

Batch, Used to be. Sold my bike in '95 though. My handle is actually from my pilot days. I flew a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, a lot.

Birdman, welcome aboard and best of luck, Skyhawk

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by Ob1kanobee on Feb 5^th, 2007, 2:07pm

I suffer from this and it doesn't have anything to do with CH. I'll admit though, that when I am in cycle, I do have anxiety linked to it as well, who wouldn't. However, I'm wound up like a clock when in cycle and when I'm not.

There is also a big difference between anxiety attacks and panic attacks. An anxiety attack is extreme, but mellow compared to a full blown panic attack. During a panic attack, it is impossible to control your feelings and physical symptoms, until a benzo kicks in. During an anxiety attack, you can at least reason with your mind and body until a benzo kicks in or you just ride it out using reasoning and breathing techniques. Anxiety is a precursor to panic.

Some Doctors refer to it as the Rain Barrel Theory. When the barrel gets full, hence anxiety and panic can manifest.

It is also a good idea to have your blood checked to make sure your Thyroid is functioning properly. Avoid anxiety stimulants.

In my opinion, if you have anxiety that you just can't deal with, and the Doctor wants to give you a Med, I suggest Clonazepam. It is not as addictive as Xanax, doesn't usually require higher and higher dossages, and stays in your system much longer than any other benzo. Xanax is faster acting, however it has been my experience that my anxiety rebounds with it. I am also taking Suntheanine as of a few weeks ago, which has helped tremendously with my stress level.

This has worked fairly well for me. You might get different results?

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by redhead on Feb 6^th, 2007, 11:18pm

Hey, I have had anxiety disorder issues since my mid-30s on and off. Started with panic attacks, but now have those under control. Mainly just periods of feeling overly anxious. I have had CH since I was about 16. There has not been a major connection between the two...but as I get older, I find that the episodes are more stressful for me. Just can't tolerate them as much. Taking some clonepin during the episode helps out with the stress and also has not made the CHs worse either.

Title: Re: Any CHer's also suffer from panic/anxiety atta
Post by birdman on Feb 7^th, 2007, 10:50am

What is Suntheanine? Never heard of it.