My girlfriend suffers with Anxiety and occasionally has panic attacks - how do i help?
818342
I have the same problem as your g/f. There is not much you can do, but listen and give lots+lots of hugs. My b/f does this, but he is also really tough with me. At the end of the day, I really need to get through this and over it,so just be really supportive, but not too shielding. \nIf you wanna speak, you are welcome to e-mail me(don't worry, I'm not a loon).Good luck XX
395191
It could easily be an anxiety disorder, but it culd just as easily be something else.  Don't be scared to go to your regular doctor and tell him/her what it feels like AND about the stressors in your life.  He might recommend tests, or confirm it is stress.  Also, don't forget many very real physical illnesses are caused by stress (ulcers, crohns disease, etc..) so try to calm down.  Everything will be alright...and she won't leave you ;)
468888
Alcohol or Drug Abuse: you may be tempted to turn to alcohol or drugs to self-medicate, although this will likely make treatment more difficult. The National Mental Health Association reports that “about 30% of people with panic disorder use alcohol and 17% use drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, in unsuccessful attempts to alleviate the anguish and distress caused by their condition.”\n\nGood starting points for reducing the frequency of future panic attacks include:\n\neducating yourself about anxiety symptoms, causes, and treatments\nmaintaining a healthy lifestyle\nlearning how to reduce your anxiety\nworking with a counselor or therapist to address your fears and anxieties\nassessing and modifying your general attitudes towards life\nlimiting triggers like caffeine, alcohol, and smoking\ntalking with your doctor if your symptoms have recurred or worsened
674788
Ask her what's going on with her mood swings then if she goes off  then give her space and time to breathe. She'll come to her senses.
176565
Depends.  If you have generalized anxiety...like just being worried all the time, therapy should help...and you won't need medication. \nIf you have what I have, which is anxiety disorder w/panic attacks...see a psyc who can give you meds in conjunction with therapy.  I've always been a worry wart...but over the past year I've had quite a few actual panic attacks...that are very scary when you first have them.  I can be sitting, doing absolutely nothing...not worrying about anything..and withing 5 mins be shaking, feel like I can't breath, lightheaded, dizzy, a absolutely terrified...for No reason.  That's a true panic attack.  Of course, stressful situations don't help...but usually I don't even have attacks in those situations.  At this point...I can feel when one is coming on, know I'm not dying, and pop 1/2 a xanax.  It's so helpful when you have the true attacks.  If I didn't have meds, I would sometimes pass out from the fear of the attack itself.  Get some help accordingly :)  Good luck!
810362
YES!! thank you...my best friend has panic/anxiety attacks..I dont know how to help her...she is afraid all the time...i want to be able to help  her, I want to know how to deal with her...I have taken her to the hospital countless numbers of times..just because she thinks something is truely wrong with her...she has been having feelings that death would be better than dealing with this problem....I need a support group and she does too!!!
173689
I would act normally around her concerning this self inflicted disease, she already is in a confused mental state so love and trust would be my sustenance for her.\nShe needs to see a doctor as soon as possible and the medical authourities will help her BUT she has to want to be helped.
692664
I too suffer from panic/anxiety attacks and, at their worst, they are crippling.  I have a great doctor that treats me with meds (as needed) and I have found one thing that personally works great for me.  When I feel an attack coming on I ask myself 3 questions and I can ALWAYS talk myself out of the feeling.  They are:\n\n1.  Where am I?  \n2.  What am I doing?\n3.  What do I need right now?\n\nAnxiety is usually the result of anticipating the unknown, these questions bring you back to the present.  When my therapist told me this I thought she was kidding, but after I tried it once and it worked, I have not needed to take any meds for close to 2 years now.  \n\nTry it!  You never know.  Also, ask your doc about the medication imipramine.  Good luck and remember....\nYOU ARE NOT ALONE!
463977
First and foremost pray and then start looking for information to help you with anxiety attacks because the Bible says Seek and you WILL (not may) find .Believe me, having been through anxiety attacks I know how motivated you are to get help. I believe you will get help and I am on your side in the battle.\n\nIt is very important to do this with the guidance of a trained Psychologist or Psychiatrist but there are ways to cope with this problem without medication in many instances.\n\nOften panic attacks are the result of some kind of psychological trauma. In my case I almost died from a heart problem. Most of my life I have not had them but when I did they were doozies. You must guard against incompetent Medical people. In my case the Dr. prescribed enough of a drug in the same class as Valium (can't remember the name now) to sedate a horse. These drugs do not address the underlying problem although in some severe cases may be necessary. The benzodiazapenes such as Valium and Xanax are addictive. The only drug I take now is a drug that regulates the heartbeat.\n\nBe particularly careful about the Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors such as Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. Again in extreme cases they may be necessary and regardless always go with a Doctor's advice(just make sure they are competent). What I am stating is my own opinion derived from personal experience but it is well founded since I am well now and was at one point a basket case. I had a very bad experience with Zoloft, promptly quit and don't need it.\n\nHeres what I found:\n\nDon't laugh, but many times anxiety attacks are caused by hyperventilating. When you hyperventilate you are actually changing the chemical composition of the blood. It is a vicious spiral because the more you get anxious the more you hyperventilate which makes you more anxious ad infinitum. I am not talking about conciously hyperventilating but rather hyperventilation you are not necessarily aware of, basically improper and shallow breathing. A good site that explains it is http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/anxiety/christine/treatment_breathing_techniques.htm\n\nSometimes if you will slow the rate at which you breathe and breathe from your diaphragm, you can mitigate your anxiety. Babies breathe from their bellies, adults and sometimes even children breathe in a shallow manner not extending their bellies out as they take in a breath.  Due to the excessive levels of stress all around us we become desensitized and don't even realize how much we have been affected. I remember going out into the country and for awhile the extreme quiet got on my nerves until I got used to it and then what an incredible good feeling came over me.\n\nThere is another technique for dealing with the acute portions of an anxiety attack. There is a book by Dr. Claire Weekes called Hope and Help for your Nerves. She talks about the 4 stages (1 Facing 2)Accepting 3) Floating \n4) Letting time pass . I highly recommend that you purchase her book . For me, the facing part is acknowledgeing that even though you feel as if you will die and it is extremely uncomfortable , you will not likely die. The accepting part is just acknowledging that since you will not likely die you can accept your condition. This becomes easier as the severity of the attacks begin to lessen. 3) Floating for me was a process of stepping outside of myself and observing objectively what was going on 4) Letting time pass is facilitated by realizing that the attack will diminish over time . This realization allows you to become occupied doing something else. I am by no means  a trained Psychologist but the techniques worked for me and I am definitely well now and I think it is possible you will be too. \n\nOh and be sure to get a complete medical workup. Sometimes anxiety attacks are realted to a thyroid condition or mitral valve prolapse.
1171677
If you really want to talk about it, you can E-mail me. I've been suffering with anxiety and panic attacks since I was 20 yrs. old.\nTherefore I know alot about it. jaymeadowjay@yahoo
578286
Well, it's ambiguous if you've tried talking to her about it, when you say "She seems to think ...".  Have you just come out and asked "Why are you so tense?"  You're not instigating the response by a wham, bam, thank you, ma'am, are you?\n\nSetting the mood, as previous answers suggest, with a bath, a massage, cuddling would certainly help.  Try new positions that would get her to move.  Honestly talk about what feels good and what is awkward during.  It could only lead to more enjoyable situations.
158244
I had anxiety problems once in awhile and I just told a doctor. He gave me medication for any time the feeling accured. I also learned that when I had anxiety attacks, which wasnt often, to breathe in a paper bag for awhile. The carbon dioxide you breathe in, with less oxyagen in you system calms you down. Hope I helped you out. advise, see a doctor for sure.
21942
i personally have panic disorder. i've been told...get help from a mental health professional first and possibly medication. i've tried the medication, but i'm not one for pills. and honestly, talking to someone...doesn't make it go away! i've had to teach myself relaxation techniques. first and foremost, i repeat to myself over and over, "i'm okay, i'm fine, i'm not hurt, and this too shall pass". but it has affected me in everyday life, even when i'm not having an attack. truly it is all about your mind set. changing your way of thinking, and that can be the hardest part. i haven't found a concrete solution, i just take it day by day.
213787
ok she is feeling like things are out of her control and she is hurt emotionally and yalls relationship is one thing she does have control over so she is trying to stop from getting emotionally hurt by you not that you would but its just a scence of security. tell her you know whats going on and understand but would really love to be there for her. give her some space, but dont give up or stray to far if you really do love her.
143102
If your fear of losing "her" exists, you need to ask yourself whether or not this fear has been generated by your thoughts and insecurities, or whether these thoughts have been generated in response to her behavior.  If she has given you reason to believe that you must be fearful of her one day leaving you, or worse, than you need to talk about this problem. There is no healthy relationship between two people where one person threatens the other by leaving.  \nIf you think that this fear is an innate thought, than you need to deal with this problem in a self help way.  Realize that "she" would have left you already if she felt that that was what she wanted.  Clearly she has not, therefore she wants to be with you. As long as you dont let this fear overtake your relationship, you should inevitably get over it. By overtaking I mean becoming over paranoid of cheating, whereabouts, lying, etc.  Ask yourself why you feel this way? Is there a reason? Do you not fully understand her feelings for you? Ask her, talk to her. If you trust her, she will trust you, and there will be no fear of anything ad happening.  And if something does happen, you will know at least tht it is not your fault, and that you will be satisfied in your fufilling your goals of being a good partner.
1078544
When i have an episode, I just need to be left alone for awhile.  Try to communicate with her through notes if you can't talk to each other.  Don't start with "You don't this or You did that" but say more along the lines of "I feel I need more help around the house" or "I feel like sometimes you don't like me very much" or something along those lines.  It's hard to communicate during an episode because it does take over.  Maybe her writing back will help her calm down, let her put her feelings on paper.  At least the lines of communication will still be open.  I hope she sees a doctor.
153840
I had suffer from anxiety attacks a while ago, the best thing to do is not to think of them, if before u go on the plane or the cruise u are already thinking that u are gonna have an anxiety attack, u are programming yourself.....just be optimistic about it, dont think about them...if u have one..the best thing to do, that works with me...think that it will soon pass....just dont loose ur head....it will pass it will pass....and if u have a partner, couple....try to talk about anything....anything at all...the worts thing is to be left alone with yourself and your nervous mind. Talk to the guy next to you..sing a song...anything...to distract for a moment your mind.