8 Comments

1. Brittany says:

   December 23, 2009 at 10:18 am

   i really think you should inform your parents and then go get that checked out ….
   References :
2. Jeremy Jones says:

   December 23, 2009 at 10:41 am

   Sounds like panic attacks.
   References :
3. Flamenco nut says:

   December 23, 2009 at 10:52 am

   That sounds like a typical panic attack. But any chest pain should be reviewed by a Doctor to rule out heart. I don’t know if panic attacks are typical in Bipolar, not that I have heard.
   References :
   Registered nurse
4. His better half says:

   December 23, 2009 at 11:39 am

   What are panic attacks and panic disorder?
   A panic attack is a sudden, intense fear or anxiety that may make you short of breath or dizzy or make your heart pound. You may feel out of control. Some people believe they are having a heart attack or are about to die. An attack usually lasts from 5 to 20 minutes but may last even longer, up to a few hours. You have the most anxiety about 10 minutes after the attack starts. If these attacks happen often, they are called a panic disorder.

   Panic attacks can be scary and so bad that they get in the way of your daily activities. Treatment can help most people have fewer symptoms or even stop the attacks.

   More women than men get panic attacks.

   What causes panic attacks and panic disorder?
   Experts aren’t sure what causes panic attacks and panic disorder. But the body has a natural response when you are stressed or in danger. It speeds up your heart, makes you breathe faster, and gives you a burst of energy. This is called the fight-or-flight response. It gets you ready to either cope with or run away from danger. A panic attack occurs when this response happens when there is no danger.

   Panic attacks and panic disorder may be caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals or a family history of panic disorder. They sometimes happen with no clear cause.

   Panic attacks may also be brought on by:

   A health problem such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), or heart or breathing problems.
   Depression or another mood disorder.
   Alcohol abuse.
   Using too much nicotine or too much caffeine.
   Taking certain medicines, such as those used to treat asthma and heart problems.
   Using illegal drugs such as marijuana or cocaine.
   Living with high levels of stress for a long time.
   You have a higher chance of getting panic disorder if you have a parent with depression or bipolar disorder.

   What are the symptoms?
   Symptoms of a panic attack may include:

   A feeling of intense fear, terror, or anxiety.
   Trouble breathing or very fast breathing.
   Chest pain or tightness.
   A heartbeat that races or is not regular.
   Sweating.
   Nausea or an upset stomach.
   Dizziness and shaking.
   Numbness or tingling.
   Symptoms of panic disorder may include:

   Repeated panic attacks when there is no reason for the fight-or-flight response.
   Changing your daily activities because you worry that you will have another attack.
   Some people have a fear of being in crowds, standing in line, or going into shopping malls. They are afraid of having another panic attack or of not being able to escape. This problem is called agoraphobia and can be so bad for some people that they never leave their homes.

   About half of people who have panic disorder also have agoraphobia. 1 People with panic disorder often have depression at the same time.

   How are panic attacks and panic disorder diagnosed?
   Your doctor will ask about your past health and do a physical exam. The exam may include listening to your heart, checking your blood pressure, and ordering blood tests to look for other causes of your problem. Your doctor may ask you to do some simple things that test your memory and other mental skills.

   How are they treated?
   Treatments for panic attacks and panic disorder include counseling and medicine. Using both will often work best. Treatment can help most people control or even stop attacks. But symptoms can come back, especially if you stop treatment too soon. 2, 1

   Early treatment of panic attacks is very important. It can prevent other problems related to panic disorder. These problems include depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse.
   References :
   I have panic attacks also. I hope this helps. If you don’t feel right you should see a doctor to be safe.
5. gragar14 says:

   December 23, 2009 at 12:23 pm

   Cut my life into pieces,
   This is my last resort.
   Suffocation,
   No breathing,
   Don’t give a **** if I cut my arm bleeding.
   References :
6. Kristi says:

   December 23, 2009 at 12:31 pm

   Anxiety or panic attacks vary from person to person and also vary in their intensity. The tightness in your chest is more than likely causing the difficulty in breathing, which is a classic symptom of a panic or anxiety attack. Symptoms of a panic attack can be very frightening, but they won’t kill you; though during a panic attack a person feels like they will or are going to die. I am a retired psychotherapist and I also suffer from panic disorder. It is a difficult thing for others to understand if they have not experienced it. Others may think you’re just "nervous" and nothing more. They cannot understand the horrible fear a person experiences during a panic attack. I have told others it is like going down the first huge hill of a roller coaster and realizing the cars have left the track! EEEEK! Not funny really, but humor is a good defense mechanism.

   Bipolar Disorder can be genetic, but panic disorder and Bipolar Disorder are not necessarily connected. If one or both of your parents or siblings have any kind of mental health issues, it can put you at risk for any mental health problems. Being a teenager in itself is enough to cause unbelievable anxiety, but it does not typically advance to the point of the symptoms you have described. Do you have a school counselor? If so, make an appointment to meet with him or her to talk about these things. Learning and using some breathing exercises can be very helpful. When you first start feeling that you may be having a panic attack, try to relax your breath and make sure that you are inhaling air from deep in the belly and not up in the chest (the tummy will bulge as you breathe, not your chest).

   I hope this has helped you. Remember that you are not alone with your problems, there are more people than you realize who are suffering from the same. Most just try to hide or ignore such problems. You are smart enough to know that you should not, and that is the first step to feeling better.

   Have a great day,
   Kristi
   References :
   I am a retired PhD psychotherapist
7. monica says:

   December 23, 2009 at 1:06 pm

   Its difficult to know which it could be. You sound highly anxious.

   1. Try Byron Katie – she is fantastic – I can’t recommend her highly enough.

   2. If you get panic attacks, sign up for the free emails on the panicaway website.

   3. Try reading Patrick Holford’s "Low GL diet" – blood sugar imbalances can cause havoc with your body and symptoms include depression, mood swings, tiredness, drowsiness after eating, cravings for sweet foods, headaches, heart palpitations, anxiety, irritability, agrressive outbursts, crying spells, excessive sweating, dizziness and trembling.

   4. Keep two journals. One for writing down all your feelings, this is really good for clearing out your anxieties and getting all your
   war onto paper, you can delete it straight after if you need to, it’s just good to really see your stressful thinking. And the other can be your gratitude journal – write down all the things you are grateful for that happened today.

   Love and light.
   References :
8. radiatti says:

   December 23, 2009 at 1:44 pm

   The Panic Disorder Severity Scale -PDSS- has been designed to evaluate
   the severity of Panic Disorder.
   I have uploded a copy of the questionnaire.
   Try to download, study and fill it. If your total score is above 8 PD is highly likely.
   Cheers,
   dr AR
   References :
   http://www.belorvos.hu/userfiles/freeradicals/pdds.pdf