Question:
My shrink says I had an anxiety attack.
I thought I was suffering from seratonin poisoning. A quick read of google
leads me to believe the symptoms I experienced were very similar. I wasn't
taking any antidepressants, only using melatonin to help sleep, since I had
gone hypomanic.
I cant' find anything in an online google search about anxiety that isn't
classified as "general" or "social" anxieity? The symptoms don't fit what
happened to me.
Answer:
My shrink says I had an anxiety attack.
I thought I was suffering from seratonin poisoning. A quick read of google
leads me to believe the symptoms I experienced were very similar. I wasn't
taking any antidepressants, only using melatonin to help sleep, since I had
gone hypomanic.
I cant' find anything in an online google search about anxiety that isn't
classified as "general" or "social" anxieity. The symptoms don't fit what
happened to me.
I didn't knowingly have an emotional attack that left me feeling scared,
insecure or frightened for myself or of the world around me. I had a
physcial attack of uncontrolled shaking of arms and legs like Parkinson's.
If I consciously stopped it, it returned with even more fury. At one point
I was thrashing like a 2 yr old throwing a temper tantrum.
It sits in the background right now, like an explosion waiting to happen
again. I have a creepy, wnat to jump out of my skin sensation.
I dont' feel like my thinking is impaired. I feel the same as I did a week
ago when this started. No one is out to get me, nothing in my life is in
such disorder that I should be upset about it, my clients only know I got
sick with fever and chills a week ago and don't know the physical problems
of an axiety attack came on top of that.
I started on lithium a week ago and have seen both my psychiatrist and
family doctor.
Sounds like potential litium poisoning to me!!! Since you just started 1
WEEK ago! Did you start/stop any other meds recently? I got lithium poisoning when prescribed 1200mg/day to START WITH!!! In 3
days I was blind and couldn't stand. Luckily it goes away when the lithium
does.
PLEASE cut back on that crap at a minimum. Call your doc tongiht! This
stuff can kill you.
Here is some info on panic attacks. I hope it helps you to figure out
whether it's panic attack or the lithium. From how you described it doesn't
sound like a panic attack to me. I think you should get a 2nd opinion. PANIC ATTACKS
Info from http://www.mentalhealthvic.org.au/factsheets/anxiety.asp
The defining characteristic of anxiety disorders are panic attacks - sudden
feelinga of intense terror which may occur in certain situations or for no
apparent reason. Symptoms include shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat,
choking and nausea. The person may feel they are going to die.
The exact cause of panic attacks in not known but they are most likely a
chemical response in the brain to stressful events or thinking about
stressful or threatening events. It is now believed that changes in the
neurochemical serotonin may contribute to the onset of panic attacks. Low
levels of this chemical in the brain is also linked to depression.
PANIC DISORDER
Info from:
http://www.zoloft.com/index.asp?pageid=2&o=PZO3002ASRCH00T0000000000
People with panic disorder have repeated, unexpected panic attacks. A panic
attack is an unexpected attack of fear, anxiety or discomfort with at least
four or more of the following symptoms that develop suddenly and usually
reach a peak within 10 minutes:
fast heart rate or pounding heart
chest pain or discomfort
sweating
trembling or shaking
shortness of breath or a feeling of smothering
choking feeling
nausea or upset stomach
dizziness or feeling faint
numbness or tingling
chills or hot flashes
feeling out of touch with reality
fear of losing control
fear of dying
WHAT ARE PANIC ATTACKS?
From: http://members.tripod.com/theblue2/panic.html (although I don't
recommend going here - the music alone is enough to send anyone
psychopathic!)
A panic attack can feel like a heart attack...they usually happen suddenly,
and are awful. I'm trying to think how to describe this...it's not easy.
Well, you might feel chest pains, pounding heart...faint...sweats.
You might feel nausea, as if you cannot swallow...or you can know
you're going to throw up...you might throw up...your throat may feel
as if it's closing up on you and will never open again...
You can get dry heaves...gag and gag and gag...
You might break out in a sweat all over...break out in a rash...
clammy hands...even chills. Your body can have 'ripples'
up and down your arms and legs...neuralgic, weird pains follow...
cramps in your hands, fingers, feet or toes...
You might feel like you're choking...will choke to death...
your breathing can become difficult, labored..
your vision may blur....
your muscles might twitch...or tick...
You feel very frightened, full of fear and hopelessness.
You have no mouth and cannot scream...
You think if you scream, you will never stop !
You feel helpless and hopeless,
somehow paralyzed.
You want to get in bed and stay there forever...
Just pull the covers over your head...
If you do go to bed, try to breathe regular breaths.
Do not be afraid to breathe.
Panic Attacks can cause violent diarrhea,
horrible headaches, painful body aches.
Don't know if I've described them perfectly...
Some are worse than others, more extreme.
But anyone who has panic attacks will recognize
what I'm talking about.
Doctor called it an anxiety attack and not a panic attack. the symptoms
don't fit a panic attack. They do get worse with stress and start occuring
about the same time every day, after 4 or 5 pm. Started before the lithium,
so I don't think it's a side effect of the lithium. Started when I was on nuerotin. Went away after I dropped all my meds.
Returned during what I think was an attack of hypomania.
