ocd w/panic - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

cryfreedmb41 · 05-18-2007, 07:36 PM

Hey guys. Here's what's been happening to me lately..any help or advice would be appreciated.

I have OCD. And it flares up every now and then. I recently had a flare up but i had it pretty much at bay. Then all of a sudden this week I got depressed. A lot of things going on. I've always been anxious. But again this week Ive be so nervous. Like there were butterflies in my stomach. Kind of like when you are about to give a big speech in front of a lot of people. My dr. gave me zoloft which Ive been on for 6 days now for the ocd. I left that part out.

Then all of a sudden last night i had a panic attack. I felt like i couldnt breathe. My chest got tight. I start to feel tingly, numb, thought i was losing control felt "out of body." ect. all the signs. It doesnt last too long but enough. I have had this happen before. But they dont usually keep going. I think it happend a few times last night.

Now today Im still all nervous and every once in awhile i feel the panic come back it wont always go into full panic attack mode. I might just start to get a little tingly or feel hot. But it's been bad.

I guess my question is..any idea what's going on? nervous? anxiety? Also I thought panic attacks dont last long. I mean like I said the intense part doesnt. a few seconds. but It's been going to that intense part or atleast half way there a few times now since yesterday..

And of course with the OCD it starts the worrying and constant need for reassurance and then the thoughts come in... any advice with the panic though?

BadMalibu · 05-18-2007, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cryfreedmb41

I felt like i couldnt breathe. My chest got tight. I start to feel tingly, numb, thought i was losing control felt "out of body."

Cry-

One thing that I learned in therapy today is how the mind can affect the body, and how the body can affect the mind. In alot of panic attack cases and in cases of dissociative episodes, people will feel tingly, numb, and like they're having an "out of body experience." So where does it come from, and why do we have them?

Well, when we feel stressed out or upset it causes us to feel anxious, and when we feel anxious our brains will start to trigger all those hormones flowing like adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin. We've all heard mind over matter, or mind over body, and this is the same situation. We over stimulate our brains so much that these chemicals are released, which in turn causes the feelings of panic, tingly sesnsations, and that out of body experience.

Here's another example. Who hasn't had those butterflies in their stomach liek you described? That first kiss, that first job interview, the first dance in junior high school, that first public speaking situation. It's the exact same situation. Our mind becomes anxious, which in turn causes us to feel the typical symptoms; butterflies in our stomachs, throat tightens up, perspiration increases, heart rate goes up, blood pressure rises.

Next time try some deep breathing or relaxation techniques to calm yourself down.

WorldInMotion · 05-19-2007, 12:41 AM

Hey cryfree,

Although BradMalibu makes some good suggestions..I know that someone with a more obssessive anxiety (myself included) is not going to benefit entirely from just "breathing exercises." Breathing exercises don't neutralize the obsessive and nagging thoughts that trigger one's anxiety. I can totally relate to you in almost every aspect. WIth the thoughts, you have to let them come and don';t fight them, as hard as it seems (I still have trouble with this) . Although I have mostly overcome my panic attack situation (still get minor anxiety attacks from time to time) I deal occasionally with automatic and ocd thoughts. It is really frustrating..and last night I had some anxiety before bed, which was mostly heart pounding, and then this morning felt great but as soon as i got hit with an anxious thought, the ocd mechanism kicked in and i started getting panicky and annoyed. Ive had ups and downs, great and awful, in the past 2 years..What I've learned is that it's a cycle..You ask what is going on..it's just the ******* anxiety showing its face now..it'll fade for a bit, then it may come back, but the point is you get used to dealing with it, so that if and when you experience it, the pain and frustration is minimal. I know what you're going through..Take care

Nick-

lithenblithe · 05-19-2007, 10:16 AM

Actually, I wonder if the panic is related to the Zoloft? I started on Zoloft also five days ago, and was getting very anxious, keyed up, vomiting, sweating, out-of-body, tingling and creepy crawly. It was manageable, but on the third day got completely out of my control. I was dry heaving nonstop, on the verge of hyperventilating, felt I was going to die for a bit. I was up the entire night in panic mode, though I had gotten virtually no sleep the two nights before. I've felt nervous and anxious before, but never anything like this!! I stopped the Zoloft on my doctor's advice (I think I would have stopped it anyways though), and I am soooo much better now. I think my doctor did initially want me to stick it out and see if the side effects would pass - these are side effects and they can get better. This just wasn't the time for me to do this. But if you keep on the Zoloft, it might calm down and get better - I've heard it can take a few weeks.
Good luck and keep us posted!

cryfreedmb41 · 05-19-2007, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lithenblithe

Actually, I wonder if the panic is related to the Zoloft? I started on Zoloft also five days ago, and was getting very anxious, keyed up, vomiting, sweating, out-of-body, tingling and creepy crawly. It was manageable, but on the third day got completely out of my control. I was dry heaving nonstop, on the verge of hyperventilating, felt I was going to die for a bit. I was up the entire night in panic mode, though I had gotten virtually no sleep the two nights before. I've felt nervous and anxious before, but never anything like this!! I stopped the Zoloft on my doctor's advice (I think I would have stopped it anyways though), and I am soooo much better now. I think my doctor did initially want me to stick it out and see if the side effects would pass - these are side effects and they can get better. This just wasn't the time for me to do this. But if you keep on the Zoloft, it might calm down and get better - I've heard it can take a few weeks.
Good luck and keep us posted!

Ya know...I think the same thing...or atleast I hope it's the zoloft. My doctor was the same way kind of wanted me to stay on it but I didnt take it last night and i see her monday. I just have bad feelings about zoloft. I didnt like it years ago when I was on it. Ive been on many ssri's though. about 9 months ago i was on prozac and it didnt do this to me.