Hi, I have panic attacks since 1985, I had a nerveous break down back than and I am suffered from panic attacks since that time. Had a psycho therapy (with no help at all) and never was on medication until I moved from germany to the states. I always was able to manage the attacks, just by saying to myself: It is just your nerves, you will be better soon and by talking to my mother (who had this disorder too) or good friends about it. Just the talking made it easier to overcome a attack. I married an american 5 years ago in germany and we decided to live in the states, so we moved to NJ december last year. I was almost attack free for the last 4 years (only light anxiety feeling sometimes). It started again in September and it was even worst than everytime before. It lasted 4 days without pause and it happened again in October. I went to the ER both times, the first time the doc put my on Xanax. I had it in my pocket just in case of... When it happened the second time I took one and nothing happened, not even a little better so I went to ER again. This time I had a better doc and he told me to go to a specialist. Now I have my doc who put me on Klonozepam during the day and Tenazepam for the night. It works very well. I have my social worker there, but it is not helping at all, so I will stop this. I started meditation and Tai Chi and this is helping a lot. I read the book: Hope and Help for your nerves from Claire Weekes and made a lot of research about panic disorder and it is good to know as much as possible about it. I feel great since I started with meditation and all this stuff. This is my history, Now my question: Does anybody know if there are studies or any researches on connection between nutrition/diet and panic attacks? Did anybody try to change diet to see if it has any effect on the anxiety? My meditation teacher said that massages and a new diet (macrobiotic) would help me better than anything else. Could it be? Should I try it for ya`ll guys? Hope to hear from you all Klono
I don't have any answer to your question. I have a question for you though. I believe I suffer from anxiety. Any time I encounter a stressfull situation, I get nauseous and start dry heaving. I find myself avoiding confrontation and people. This all started about 6 months ago. Prior to that was very out going... and stayed in touch w/ friends and family. I believe I had a "nervous breakdown" may be several this summer. I'm going to an endocronologist this week to see if my adrenal glands, etc are working properly. How do you like the meds? I may have to try.
if you have the klonazepam wafers these were specially designed for panic attack sufferers to carry with them and to eat when a panic attack starts, tell us about them, do they disolve in the mouth or do you need to chew them
clonazepam (klonapin, xanax amd temazepam are all valium type or benzo meds, they are very helpful for panic attacks but theres the risk of coming to rely on them too much if taken all the time every day and night, there is an art in getting the dose right, many take too little or too much
the claire weekes book is good but it about 30 years old, she was a pioneer in treating and recognising panic attacks, ther are many modern books about overcoming agoraphobia and panic disorder, some written by ex sufferers, get some of these, they all have useful advice
panic attacks often do run in families, I know of no diet that makes any difference although I expect that an all junkfood diet may make it worse
naturapaths often confuse panic attacks with attacks of hypoglycemia and prescribe a special diet but this doesnt help panic attacks, check your blood sugar when panicky if in doubt as to which it is
massages for relaxation are very good and helped me a lot, for those who cant get anyone to massage them and cant afford to pay, jacuzzi spa baths, bubble baths, etc are almost as good
the traditional type of psychotherapy is nearly always useless, some psychs say the subconscious mind is throwing up the panic attacks as a defense to stop them doing their work
Hi mranxiety, I checked all the pysical things that can cause anxiety first, too. My blood, my hormons, my thyroid.... My endocronologist finally gave my all the best advices. To look for a specialist/therapist for this attacks, to read about it, told me about what is going on in my brain during the anxiety and finally told my to find relaxation somehow (meditation, tai chi, massages, or whatever). So check first if everything is OK with your hormon balance, thyroid and whatever. If everything is OK, just join us to read all the good advices from ppl who are suffered all from the same disorder and pull out what is right for you. Medication is always a question of what your doctor will recommend. I am happy with my KlonopinWafers. I have no side effects. And I am taking temazepam for the good night sleep. But anybody is different. You should ask your doc if this would be right for you. Wish you a quick recovery and feel free to ask whatever you want to know.
Hi hry33, It is always a pleasure to read your comments. You seem to be a real professional . I am very happy with the KlonopinWafers from the first day on. I might have choosen the right doc or just had luck. The Wafers just disolve in your mouth in a second. No bad taste, nothing. The dose is very low (0,25mg) and my doc set me on 4 a day to keep me calm over the whole day. It worked absolutly well. I felt a little tired the first 3 days and was not sure with driving, but after this few days I felt great, attack free and fresh and concentrated enough to drive and have a normal day. Sometimes I think that I am a little worse on short term memory, but I had the same problem before and it might be imaginated. I am on clonazepam for 2 and a half month now and I even forgot to take them for a whole day during the holidays, because I had the house full of people and it made no difference. I just took the next one as soon as I noticed it. Since I take KlonopinWafers I am attack free, I had only a few days where I felt a little anxious or unwell, but I was able to control it. I am also taking Restoril (temazepam) for the night (30mg at the moment). We started with a lower dose but I had some nights, where I woke up to early and was not able to fall asleep again, so I was to tired during the day. But with the 30mg now it works well. My doc explained to me that it is better to keep me calm 24/7 for a while to get back inner balance and find a way to get rid of the panic attacks. He usually is trying to lower the dose and slowly get ppl off of clonazepam after one year. I might be able to do it sooner because I really feel well with meditation and tai chi. I am trying a low carb, diary free, meat free (I still eat chicken and fish) diet (macrobiotic). I also avoid sugar, chokolate and caffein. No alcohol! Of course, it is not allowed with the medication . By the way my husband found a website where they explain the connection of diet and anxiety. I knew there must be a connection because of the chemistry in the brain that causes the attacks and that you can have a influence on the neurotransmitters. I already checked all physical possiblilities like blood, thyroid, hormons{REMOVED}
I started with oilpainting again and it lookes like I will be fine. And this website, of corse. I think it is so helpful to talk about the disorder with other ppl and to help them with advices.
The Claire Weekes book might be old but all she is writing is still working: accepting, let it float and wait. Just loose the fear of the fear. It is always a little hard for my to read the stuff about our PAs because I am german, only 1 yaer in the country and in the language now, but I try to do my best.
The family thing is a little wirred, some are talking about generell bad nerves in the family others are talking about a kind of copying. I am not sure what it is but I don`t think it is genetic. And therapy is really not made for anxiety ppl. Everybody who tried therapy I`v talked to are telling me, it didn`t help at all. {REMOVED}
Hope to hear from you soon, hry33 Greetings from Klonopin
Last edited by ms_mod; 01-18-2005 at 06:21 AM.
Reason: Please don't post website addresses or ask another member to violate posting rules.
Just my two cents on the comment that therapy doesn't seem made for people with anxiety. Search the boards for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It is a God send!
A recent book I read said that more than 50 mg of caffeine a day may be too much for panic attack sufferers. The book recomends cutting out all caffeine and white sugar from the diet, especially caffeine. 50 mg is one six ounce cup of drip coffee or one can of soda.
Hi, your story sounds like mine. Very similar. I am on a low carb diet with no diary and very less meat too, because a specialist gave me the suggestion. I am on medication too, but I think it helped me. I feel healthier, happier and relaxed. And I will start with meditation and all of this stuff too. Thank you for the advice. The diet helps. I have positiv energy too and so I can focos better on the good things in live and get over attacks. Would like to hear more about your experience with the diet. Hope to hear from you soon.
how did ya get over the nervous breakdown? i feel like im gonna have one or my bones will stiffen.i sweet alot, my fingers swell.feel pain in the side and chest and stomach pain.
Panic attacks and nutrition/diet? 
Re: Panic attacks and nutrition/diet? 
. By the way my husband found a website where they explain the connection of diet and anxiety. I knew there must be a connection because of the chemistry in the brain that causes the attacks and that you can have a influence on the neurotransmitters. I already checked all physical possiblilities like blood, thyroid, hormons{REMOVED}
