Follow-Up:
dear juliexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx i am a 30 year old who has suffered from panick disorder sinse i was 15 years old. It is so difficult to get through every day feeling fearful of when the next one will hit or if your gonna make it through the next one. I am having one right now which is why i signed on here and talking is calming me down. I too had a son at a young age and now have a 4 year old daughter as well, i am a full time nursing student. i take a tranquilizer for the times i just cant talk myself down and prozac on a daily basis. It can be managed. do your research, find out all you can about these attacks. read books, go online. my 13 year old son now suffers from them. avoid things like tobaco or caffeine or any kind of stimulant that will increase your heart rate sinse these can usually initiate the panick attack. exercising regularly is very helpful, walking mainly. when an attack hits ride it out, the more you fight it the worse it becomes. know that it will be over soon. do not let them stop you from enjoying your life. distraction also works very well. when i have an attack i usually have someone just talk to me about anything BUT the attack itself. sometimes i lightly pinch my forearm or hold my finger up and move it as i foolow it with my eyes. these things may sound silly but......distraction is key, when you remove your mind from the panick it has a way of not being there. I know it seems hard right now but day by day we can get through. i have been doing it for 16 years now and i still have to remember its just an attack, im not dying.