Sharon Walden

Hello all
I am 19 days sober now. I used to drink to calm my anxiety attacks. I have always been a very anxious person and drinking "seemed" to calm me down and help me sleep. Now that I am not drinking, I find a weird thing happening. Starting around 7 p.m., the panic attack hits me - heart hammering, feeling it will never end, feeling anxious. I am doing 90-in-90 and am often in a meeting when this happens! I should be feeling solace!

I used to start drinking at 7 p.m. I figured my body is detoxed by now.

So any ideas what brings this on? Not only do the panic attacks hit me, they come in waves so that I also cannot sleep.

The lead-in to insomnia is when, around 10 p.m., I worry about being able to sleep and thus, cannot.

I have tried warmed milk, tea, liquid calcium, reading, talking to program people, walking my dog, deep breathing.

Help!
Thanks
Sharon

SeekSobriety

Hi Sharon,
I started drinking and using because I had figured out ways to "self Medicate" myself to treat my chemical imbalances in my body. Now I have let go to the fact that I cannot do it alone or together with just meetings, the steps and a sponsor, I am in Therapy and am in process of having a evaluation by a highly recommended psychiatrist. Unfortunately I seem to have gotten stuck in the "I dont want to take meds" mindset, even though I was abusing drugs on my own. Go figure!
Anyways, to make a long story short, if you are having anxiety attacks there is a underlying issue that you can address with the help of a professional. I know it is helping for me. Perhaps it would help with you to. (just my 2 cents)

Sharon Walden

Thanks so much. Well, part of my story is that I am also bi-polar and have not changed my meds, now that sober. My med doctor now says she doesn't have the expertise for alcohol and addictions and is looking for a clinical pharmapsychologist for me. I know I def have a physio imbalance but hard in this stupid world of healthcare to find an expert to help me. Where did you find your expert?
Thanks
Julia

SeekSobriety

Hi Sharon,
I am seeing a therapist in the Los Angeles area who's specialty is addiction, she has a Psychiatrist she works with who is a addiction specialist. Therapists or psychologists that deal with addiction specifically are good resources. Although I am sure your doctor must have people they know who specialize in addiction.

problemchild

I take 1/2 mg of klonipin strictly enforced by my wife when i am sober to avoid panic attacks, its not much but it does keep them from happening and she also hides them from me cause ??? you know

Sharon Walden

Thanks again, all. I just have to be vigilant with my healthcare providers as I am in therapy and can find the resources for that part of addiction. I also read about meditation, prayer, etc etc and hope time will help with this. I have to also get over that "fear of 7 p.m. and I am going to go crazy again tonight."
UGH
But am sober today...
Sharon

Introvrtd1

I think your body is still adjusting to the abstinence. Drinking was a major contributor to my panic/anxiety.

During your search for the right health care professional, I also invite you to the Anxiety section of this forum.

Meanwhile check out the website http://www.joepanic.com/

It will give some insight to what is going on with the mind and body during this condition. There is also a lot of support from folks here.

Keep posting.

Take care,

Intro

GlassPrisoner

My panic attacks usually happened early in the morning, about 4:30 AM. I'd wake up with a vague fear of impending doom and cold sweats. The sheets would usually be soaked.

Assuming you don't have an underlying physical cause, the best advice I can offer is continued abstinence through a good program of recovery like AA.

1_day@_a_time

Sharon, PM me if you'd like, I can't post the link here, but will be happy to provide you with a program which will allow you to be free of meds, AND panic attacks!

Tom

baggervance

I had panick attack last night bout 3.oo couldnt breath sweating ELIZIBETH THOUGHT I WAS COMING TO JOIN YA.

Aducksdelight

I have panic attacks too, usually late at night when I am severly stressing. I don't take anything for them because I am clean and sober and it's tough. I have to wait them out because I know they will pass. I just try to breathe and relax if it is possible. You're doing the right thing. Keep going!

igetallnumb

I agree with you as well ... the only things drugs like xanex do is mask the problem and give you more problems...
I just have something soothing to drink like herbal tea and just try to zone on in one thing that beings me pleasure and calms me
i hope your feeling better.

overcomer32

Please be really careful with the Klonopin... I am tapering off it after being on it for 2 plus years. The stuff totally deadened my feelings and personality and caused me to VERY depressed. I didnt even realize how severely it was affecting me til I started tapering off (very, very gradually) about 2 weeks ago. Since then, I have felt my emotions/feelings and just my whole self, coming back to LIFE. It is wonderful! Amazing, and an answer to many prayers.

It creeps up on so slowly (benzos/benzodiazapine medications, ie Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, etc) that I didnt even realize I was slowly losing my ability to feel feelings, and to truly care about other people. Now that I am "coming back", I can hardly believe how I didnt notice! But others are noticing me now... and now I notice, big time.

If there is any possible way you can or would quit this medication, I so strongly urge you to do so. I had terrible panic attacks for many years.... and yes, I drank to "help" with those. Ended up doing even more damage to my CNS.
Please consider a complete change in diet and alternate ways of coping... such as herbal remedies, seeing an alternative/naturopath doc, etc. Those benzos are pure poison, just it can take awhile before their damage is really noticeable. I would say all this even if you werent an alcoholic btw. These drugs are just aWFUL.

Peace to you,

o32

Sav

Yeah, I used to get that too. I was so anxious I'd obsess on every little thing that could go wrong, and try to prevent it in advance. I used to be terrified I'd like, loose my wallet, so I'd walk down the street tapping my pocket every 30 or so seconds to make sure it wasn't gone. My wife used to stop me and point out "you're doing it again!"
It drove her crazy and me to distraction.

I don't know if this will help, but I worked on "living in the moment". If I was sitting there worrying, I'd stop and concentrate on what I was doing right at that moment only. Like if I'm drinking a cup of coffee, I close my eyes and drink, feel it going down, focus on the warmth, the texture, the taste. Focus on the warmth when it hit my stomach. If it tasted good, think "This is a good cup of coffee". Nothing else. It took a long time, but I'm only a quarter as bad as I was (still not great!).
I make a point of doing this during the day whenever I can remember to. I think it at least breaks up the periods of worry and gives me SOME peace.

1_day@_a_time

Sharon, PM me if you'd like, I can't post the link here, but will be happy to provide you with a program which will allow you to be free of meds, AND panic attacks!



BTW!!! this applies to everyone here......

STOP THE ANXIETY, NO MEDS, NO PANIC ATTACKS!

Worked for me!

Tom

Live

Sharon posted that she has a dx of bipolar, this CANNOT go untreated and requires medications. A very high percentage of people with bipolar self medicate and if Sharon does not get her bipolar treated, her risk of relapse is much greater.

Sharon there is a site depression.org that has tons of info and forums for all types of mental health. I find it very helpful.

There are a few bi-polar people in this mental health forum...but this site's main purpose is substance abuse.

SeekSobriety

Great post, for some reason some people seem to think that medication is bad etc. While in a perfect world it would be nice to not need medications, the reality of the situation is that there are many people including myself who would probably not be alive were it not for medication. As for myself I used alcohol to self medicate severe depression that has existed in myself and my family since I was born. No matter how much yoga, herbs or meditation I do does not take away the disease of mental illness away for me. Obviously for some people this is not the case but please do not suggest that someone who is on medication feel any less then someone who is not on medication (I know that is not at all what anyone here was trying to do) I am just venting because at a few meetings I have been meeting people trying to make me feel less then them for being medicated under professional medical care) It really hurts when that happens. Thanks for listening.

Sav

Unfortunately doctors and the health care industry have lost so much trust with the people because of their questionable behavior. So even if someone needs treatment, they should research carefully what they need, and question their doctor. If the doctor reacts poorly to being questioned, then get another, he's no good.

In a country where medications are advertised on T.V. ("Ask you're doctor about Nappien, the sleep aid with extra Napping power!!!"), you have to be wary. You have to have your own best interests in mind, since they most likely won't.

parentrecovers

just wanted to say hello and welcome, sharon - keep posting! blessings, k

Aysha

Hi Sharon and glad you are here.
Panic attacks are hard to deal with. I have been taking xanax but I found that they were doing moredamage than good. The after affects were not good.
I found that just going it naturaly is the best way. It is harder but alot better in the long run as far as my experience goes.
The xanax got rid of the anxiety but made me very emotional and angry..sometimes turning violent.
So I found it better to just grint my teeth and wait it out.
Jus t relax and breathe and clear your mind to the best of your ability.
Definately dont want to keep using to calm yourself. It just keeps you inthe endless cycle of chasing your tail.
All good things are work but so worth it when you finally get past all the uncomfortable feelings. But it is possible.
i wish you luck...