EVA
Hello: First of all I wanted to say thank you to Eileen for doing such a great job with the website. It really has helped me a lot and gave me motivation.
I too want to share my story. I am 26 years old. I ocassionaly would get panic attacks in the past but the major one happened a week ago (Novemeber 2001). My panic attacks I believe happen because I am preoccupied with my health and because I hold everything in. I don't release the stress properly.
Well, anyways. I got married September 22, 2001 to a wonderful man. Unfortunately he got really sick about 3 weeks after our wedding. The doctor's suspect schizophrenia though the diagnosis has not been done yet. Well in his psychotic episode which lasted one week before he was medicated, he thought that I am cheating on him, he hated me. I was terrified of him. I thought he wanted to hurt me.
Anyways I was strong around that period. I knew I had to be. But then a couple of weeks later when everything is "fine", meaning my husband is on medication, things are manageable, I get a panic attack. I was shaking, my head was shaking, my hands, my heart would race..
I went to the doctor and he perscribed paxil which I took and experienced the most horrifying side effects. Everything seemed unreal, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, dilated pupils, tremors..everything...I think the side effects made me panic even more since I am so concerned about my health.. Anyways the symptoms lasted about 3 days...which is unheard of after just one dose.
I decided not to take any medication because this experience was terrifying. Right now I feel a lot better, I still experience some anxiety but I try to stay positive, busy and I breathe when I feel an attack coming on. I found this website recently and I visit it regularly to post with other who experience similiar things.
