Anxiety & Panic Attacks

[Loopy79]

My husband has been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks for the last two years. I have been really patient and optimistic with my husband but after two years I am finding it increasingly difficult to stay positive. My moods are now fluctuating all the time so that one day I can feel quite positive and the next I can be very depressed. I am feeling very much like I have no control over my own life and we are unable to make any plans. I am especially disappointed as he has changed his mind about having children until he feels 100% okay - reading some of the people on here saying that they have suffered for many years makes me feel very uneasy as I would really like to have a family. Can anyone suggest anything that might help as I am really very unhappy and need something to make me feel more positive.

[Amber1571]

Hi Loopy79

Have you told your husband how you feel? What you have told us, should be what you tell him. If you have, what is his response? Is he aware that his actions are getting you down also? x

[Dassie]

Your husband needs to see the doctor and get some Fluoxetine prescribed for him. After about 2 weeks that should do the trick.

[shivvy]

Is your husband doing anything to get better Loopy?

[tiggerblue10]

Maybe you should look back and see what triggered off his depression. Talking about the reasons that drove him to have these attacks may help. I suffered with depression 6 years ago and I knew the cause of it. I was put on anti-depressants but came off them a couple of months later.

[Pesk]

In the past I suffered from panic attacks which really affected my life. It took ages to get my head round them and sort out how to deal with them logically. I wish I'd had some cognitive therapy which would ahve been alot quicker. Cognitive therapy is really effective ibutexpensive if you go private. Waiting for NHS would take too long. Look uo some local therapists on the web and talk to them.

[pastafreak]

I know that there several national support networks that would be of help to both your husband and yourself. I had panic disorder many years ago and I found that the books of Dr Claire Weekes were immensely helpfull,that along with a very sympathetic therapist may help your husband onto the road to recovery. Please give him as much positive support as you can -it is vital to his recovery...unfortunately I did not have that.Regarding children-maybe that is what he needs to distract himself from the fear and anxiety.Good luck to both of you

[pastafreak]

Try this www.nopanic.org.uk

[Roy262]

Hi Loopy
Your husband needs to come to terms with his panics and except that he is going to get them for a while. The panic itself is a terrible feeling but that's all it is a feeling and no harm will come to him. He needs to relax when he gets one and slow his breathing down and change his thoughts. A panic last for at most a couple of minutes he needs to go through a panic every one he goes through will help him in the long run. He will slowly get used to them and they will go for good. NO tablets will help they might relax him but that all. Its all in the mind he needs to slowly deal with them and get used to them until they go. And i promise they will go but he needs to go through them to succeed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgVCm82juWg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iySZAodIRm4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5-TxagOI9U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BGZTbL0UeE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6VJA9jvqhE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU-C6QE9Eco

I know thats a lot of links but these might help your hubby...

[homerbart]

Hi Loopy - sorry to hear of your hubbys panic attacks. I suffered badly from them too about 3-4 years ago especially stress from work but this may sound feeble to you but I found putting a paper bag over my nose and mouth and breathing into it actually calmed me down. Your hubby may need more but in the meantime get the PAPER bags and get him to do it as often as he needs. It does work.

[Loopy79]

Thanks for all your responses.. wasn't expecting to have so many! Told him a while ago how I was feeling but this tends to make him panic more because then he thinks I will leave him because I am so unhappy (however much I tell him I won't!)

The doctor has prescribed tablets which work to a certain extent but then side affects i.e. dizzyness make him anxious again! He has spoken to the doctor about getting counselling. The doctor is reducing his tablets instead to see if that helps first and then will consider counselling at a later date. Everything just seems to be so slow!!

[Dassie]

What's the name of the tablets the doctor prescribed? Some of them are strong beta-blockers which slow the heart rate too much and then you get dizzy. That's why I suggested Fluoxetine.