I started to experience really bad panic attacks recently, use to have them before but I will get one once in 5-6 months- now is every day, some days even twice a day. On too of that I have bad migranes, and the so called fear of fear. I’m currently at university studying Psychology with Counselling….whwt a coincidence I know right .
I know fully what causes panic attacks and anxiety from scientific background, therapy on the other hand I tried and dont find it fully helping tbh.
I live alone and im scared to just take any meds for anxiety becayse of the side effects, I did research a lot and have a fee to suggest to my GP but wanted to hear other people opinions.
Its really affecting my day to day and I dont want to be indoors when the weather is so beautiful this summer ! Thank you all in advance
I did an introduction to counselling course one time and we used to laugh about what a bunch of basket cases we all were - so far so normal!
Those panic attacks sound awful. Having nearly had one yesterday when I got hopelessly overheated and lost control on temperature regulation, I really feel for you - and I only almost had one! Nasty, nasty things.
I am sorry that you’re struggling and hope that your training and self-knowledge help you find a way to cope.
My only experience is just before diagnosis I started to experience episodes of fast heart rate, this happened more frequently and then I noticed certain foods brought it on. I was then diagnosed with supra ventricular tachycardia, it’s now my body’s response to anything it doesn’t like! I was told before I was diagnosed with SVT I was told I was having panic attacks. The hospital was very dismissive until I had an ECG then it was picked up even when I was sleeping, they started me on a beta blocker which has helped.
So please get it checked out as it may be the same. They’ve put mine down to a lesion on my brain stem.
So sorry to hear about your anxiety attacks . To me it’s perfectly normal for people with an unpredictable disease with no cure i.e MS to feel anxious plus for some of us the MS might have affected the parts of our brain that regulate mood, brain chemistry etc.
I’ve been doing this course from the University of Tasmania including the module on MS and mental health and mental conditions ( depression, anxiety etc).
My wife has reminded me that some time after I was first diagnosed I started getting slight anxiety attacks and struggled with a fear of being on trains, planes and even hairdressers chairs and dentist chairs - something to do with not being in full control or something like that and I did have to let my morning commute train pass until a quieter one arrived, left the hairdressers etc and just about managed to deal with being on planes ( for work business) but after getting off the plane would have to spend a good 20 minutes or so in a quiet part of the airport just calming down.
I’ve been taking Citalopram for years now without any side effects so far as I’m aware. The citalopram certainly helps - made a massive difference to my general mood and life. To begin with it was 20mg a day which I reduced to 20 mg one day, 10mg the next.
I also find relaxation / meditation/ mindfulness sessions are very helpful.
Not that this will help you but I sometimes feel that I am on the verge of some panic or anxiety attack and I’m now back on 20mg Citalopram a day. My wife recently developed endometrial cancer which has spread to her peritoneal lining and she is about to start chemotherapy. Again, a scary disease that came out of the blue and for which there is no guaranteed cure. I think we both feel that we aren’t in control of our futures and that they could be a little scary. Anxious times
I just now had my 3rd panic attack of the day…at this rate im getting tired of it! The weather is not helping either- had to go to the go and pharmacy…the whole time I felt i will faint it was just too hot…my pulse went as high as 145! She also prescribed me Cetilopram… i am scared of taking medications tbh and i read good and bad reviews for this med. Like any other you never know how it will affect you and I live alone which doesnt help.
On top of that I noticed my recent blood work has shown elevated white blood cells yet the doctors say its fine!? Im well confused and even more worried now!
And planes I havent been on one for 9 years..I know what you mean about them
Hello and thank you for your reply. I have had ecgs in the past…quite a few actually and even a recent one on the 3rd of July, they dont find anything concerning, I also had ultra sound check on my heart- again everything is fine. Im due to have a ct scan end of July to investigate further but until now they are convinced is nothing serious and just panic attacks…
I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this, it’s not nice especially when you live alone. I really hope they get to the bottom of what’s going on, and things eventually settle down for you as it takes its toll on you. Tbh I was told for the first 14 months I need to deal with my anxiety, all because my GP didn’t put down I had MS and a brain stem lesion that can effect heart rate and blood pressure. Have they completed a holter ecg you wear it for 7 days?
Take care x
Hello, not yet…just had ultra sound of my heart as i said in my post and im due to have ct scan end of this month. I decided to try different techniques to deal with it since i dont want to get on anti depressants. One thing I notice is doctors dont really care, last blood test showed high white blood cells count for no reason and they are telling me its ok- its so not ok but i will chase this with my ms nurse and go next week, how disappointing when health professionals should be concerned the dame way patients are….
It’s better to get to the bottom of what’s going on! I had the same discussion the other week, due to spasticity and stabbing neuropathic pain from the waist down and Trigeminal neuralgia, I got told to go on an antidepressant my reply was if you get my pain under control I won’t feel low!
Usually they say raised white blood count can be either inflammation or infection.
It sounds like your ms nurses are the same as mine, keep brushing things off!
I really hope you get some answers soon, all I can suggest is to keep a diary of what you’re doing when it happens, when it was happening to me I was told to drink a glass of water, told to bear down by the ambulance crew.
It could be your ms causing this. you get some answers very soon.
Yes but im buffled as i have no infection and its been going on since february this year alrhough the last blood test were slightly lower yet still high… and thank you hopefully i will have some answers next week
I hope you do get some answers next week, so at least you can have peace of mind that everything is ok! It’s not nice when you feel that people don’t believe you! Take care and sorry I can’t help anymore
I understand that you are nervous about taking anti depressants/ anxiety tablets but do remember- millions of people do use them. As mentioned before I’ve been taking Citalopram for years with no side effects. Definitely worth getting on top of your anxiety and the panic attacks bot of which are bad for MS and have a general inflammatory effect. When I mentioned to my MS Nurse that I had been thinking of weaning myself off Citalopram she said it’s probably best to stay on it and keep anxiety promoted inflammation at bay.
Also, anxiety and depression do result in increased levels of white blood cells ( I guess it’s something to do with the body perceiving some sort of threat and responding with more white blood cells in case of injury/ attack)
If not antidepressants then do try mindfulness- meditation- relaxation exercises
.
I havent been on one for 9 years..I know what you mean about them
you get some answers very soon.