Panic Attacks
 

Sorry for posting quiet a lot! But the thing is I an totally anxious. Since 5 months I am stuck in the concussions stadium and it's gettin worse and worse. Just last night I got a panick attack becasue I am so afraid of symptoms being permanent. I could't breath. My family tells me I should just ignore it but that's not possible. It's around all the time. The worst thing is the visual snow and the feelign to be stuck in a dream, I am anxious as hell that this symptom will be persisting. Then I did the worst thing ever and googled my symptoms, about the visual snow and got another panic attack. My neuro has sworn me that it'll go away. I did the MRI(no bleedings) and the EEG will follow soon but he does not know that I overdid it a lot, and even started playing sports again. Of course I am not playing sports anymore and dropped out of every activity I was doing. I wish I could travel back in time and tell the stupid me from back then what to do. Just had to get rid of this becasue I totally don't know what to do. I know how stupid is to be anxious but I can't do anything against it.:(

Set up appointments to see a psychiatrist (for meds), and a psychologist who specializes in anxiety disorders. You should be able to get referrals from your primary care doctor.

The people who have told you that the panic and anxiety will just "go away" do not know what they are talking about. The good news is that panic and anxiety are treatable, if you get help from the right people.

In the meantime, it might be worth checking out this page to help you better understand your anxiety:

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topic...rs/index.shtml

If researching anxiety causes you to panic, then it might be better to hold off until you can get an appointment with a specialist.

Hang in there; I know how awful panic is.

Hi Lui!

Sorry you are not feeling well.

Many people here take antipsychotics but I believe that you need to make an educated decision. Make sure that your doctor discusses what he/ she will provide. Make sure you know the side effects and the dosage and if you will have to be weaned off or if you can take them occasionally for a panic attack. You should bring someone with you to the doctor to help you ask your questions.

Did you discuss with the doc your anxiety? is there anything that calms you down besides meds? It is hard how you are not even at home right now. You have to have more support.

And don't google that much. Most stuff on the internet is worse case scenario.
Did your parents learn more about PCS? Did your new host family learn more? Do they go with you to the appointments?

Please take care Lui!

Thanks for all the answers! My new host fam, I changed two months ago, is aware of the concusson and all the problems being caused trough that but I did not tell them about the aniexty problems. They think I can handle it really good. They also went to the neuro with me. I ended up crying there and told him that I am scared. He tried to calm me down and told me that it would go away but that did not help. I just think about hundreds of reason that it could stay forever.
My parents at home think I am too anxiuos and should stop with that. They also think it is just something I am imagining. They are not really helping either. I am afraid but I won't be able to go to a psychologist here. It's too expensive.
My dad wants me to break up my exchange year. I still have 6 months left here but if that would make things permanent i would of course rather go. I think I will meet up with my athletic doctor this week. But i do not tell what to tell him. It's embearissing for me and I feel weak!:mad:

I know the feeling of panic attacks.... I got my concussion back in June of 2012 and I was experiencing panic attacks when I'd be driving in traffic, anxious to get home Or just in situations where I would be under pressure or nervous. My whole body would start getting tingley and I would have to step away and try to calm myself down. I did take xanex (low dosage) when needed but I didn't want to depend on these medications. My panic attacks/tinglyness eventually went away and I stopped taking medications. For light excerise and to calm your mind I started doing Tai Chi, Qigong which is similar to Tai Chi but easier to do I feel. I would like up the movements on youtube and they'll go over th 18 movements one by one.

m00sekat33r

Hey,

That is good that you can see those different doctors. At least they are taking this seriously. Have they all spoken to your parents? Ecspecially your Neuro doc? I think that it is very important your parents know whats up. Maybe hearing it from the doctor is better?

Do not worry about seeming weak in front of the athletic doctor. There are ways to say how you feel in a factual manner. Just think of what you will say before you go in. You can even write it down on a list and then read it.

In the past I wouldn't name all my symptoms because I felt I was complaining. Later I would regret it because if you don't tell them they don't know. At least they can write it down even if they don't care. If your anxiety is bad and you keep having panic attacks you should tell your doctors. I think your neuro would be able to do more that your athletic doctor. Is that a school doctor that clears students for sports and stuff? Does he prescribe meds?


Your doctor should be able to discuss your situation about going home or staying here. What does he think?

Maybe if you can have some of these decisions done you will finally be able to focus on real resting. It will all work out. Right now you have doctors that you can see and you are doing the right thing by stopping sports. It is good that your new family is better. Maybe you can share with them your struggles?

My dear Neuro is not responding to my parents e-mails and calls because he is too busy. That's the annoying thing. My dad wants me to get a written confirmation about what I am having but I don't get a hold of him. I trust my athletic doctor, he like really helped me when things started to get worse. He told me to take fish oil and what to do. Altough he is not a real doctor, he is an expert with concussions. I will discuss the situation. I will probably break out in tears but I don't care anymore. I will talk about the aniexty and my struggles about going back home where I could take a 6 month-lasting break. My new family is so nice but I won't get a lot of rest there because we will travel the country a lot! The problem is that I look pretty normal on the outside but anybody who did not experienced tbi/pcs by themselves won't know how it is inside but I think you guys all know that...
I could just cry when I am thinking about returning back home. I don't want to. It's not fair if I had too.

That sucks about the neuro. I wouldn't give up though, you might have to make an appointment just to get him to do it. Are your parents' English good? Maybe you can have a conference type call with them at the appointment. Probably he will never initiate anything unless you are there.

On the other hand, that is great you have your athletic doctor. You should tell him about your worries and decisions. This is a lot to stress about. He sounds like he is the most knowledgeable about your situation. Maybe he would be willing to call your parents. It sounds like he will help you with the whole picture.

Sorry about maybe returning home early. I know it is hard to think about, but maybe after you can talk about it you will see things clearer. It will be OK. It is brave of you to do all of this yourself away from home and family. You will not always feel this bad. Hang in there!

Yes, I will talk to him soon. I don't really have somebody to talk about that. My german mum is getting agressive when I am starting the topic and is even hanging up on me. My dad's english sucks lol but he is the worried one. Thanks or all the advise! I really appreciate it!:)

Lui, Maybe you can Skype with your parents and your doctor at school?

Lui I remember your early posts and you seem more anxious now than before. If you were to go home would you get as good as health care at home as you are here? Also IMO trying to push through this year really seems like it is putting too much strain on you. The added stress is only magnifying the anxiety. If you know a good pcp he/she can prescribe a medication to help. Only you can answer what the right thing to do here is. If it is too overwhelming talk to someone you trust.

Yes, I never realized but it's actually true. I am getting more and more anxious. I just don't wanna be the "loser-exchange student" who is breaking up the exchnage year because she can't handle some concussion symptomes. My health care in germany is way better then here.

If the health care is better at home then GO HOME!! And take ALL of us with you!!:D
We could use some good health care!

Just kidding! Listen I agree that you're the only one that knows if it will be better for you at home. You can't worry about what anyone else thinks. You only have one brain and one life and you have to live with your decisions.

If you are enjoying your time here and want to push through and stay then do that. If you don't enjoy it here at.all and think you'll get better care, better rest and be happier at home then go home no matter what others think.

The good news is..... we'll still be here to try to help you no matter where you are! :hug:

As you've read in the other threads....worry is bad so try and think happy thoughts or do activities to distract you.

Take care
CC

Aww, thanks!:)
The thing is I like it better here but would get better care and rest back home! Sttupid situation I am stuck in!

Good news! I talked to my mum today and i will tlk to my hosts to make an appointment with a therpist against aniexty! What do you guys think? My mum wants me to ask my hosts to find a therapist. Should I still talk with my athletic doctor/neuro and tell him about the being anxious or should I just deal with that within my host family! Thank you guys a lot btw! Really helped!:)

It is always good to keep your doctor informed about all symptoms you are experiencing so you can get the best care possible. So I would tell your doctor about the anxiety as well. It is a perfectly normal and expected symptom of post-concussive syndrome.

If you were at home resting in your own bed in Germany would you still feel as stressed out? It seems like you have so much going on.

It is common to have anxiety and panic attacks with PCS.That is why it is good to tell your doctor because he probably knows that is a common symptom. The reassurance will be good.

Does your Mom know that dealing with all of this is really hard for someone with a head injury? Does she want you to see one because she thinks it will help you heal your concussion or just help with anxiety?

If you went to a therapist what do you think what help you? Just imagine you left the appointment, what would make you feel better? I just know that for me when things where just way too much stress wise is when I would have a panic attack. Once things got better I wouldn't have one for a while.

I think some people here have been to a therapist. But I think that they mostly see a neurologist and a therapist on the side. Maybe they can share if it helped them? I noticed that people here that have a great neurologist who tells them what to expect do better managing everything. For me I felt I had to make all the decisions about what to do next and I would cry all the time. I hope that your neuro can help guide you more. Did you talk to the school doctor yet?

Does your host family help with your decisions or are they more hands off? Do you tell them I am worried about having to go back, not getting better, doctor not calling your parents, stuff like that? Did you tell them you have panic attacks?

No, I wouldn't feel stressed out but I would feel as I would have missed the experience of my life time. So called my mum today and she was saying that I definetly need to see a therapist. She wants me to stay but maybe that's because they are planning to pick me up in July. She is not the warmest person. Anyways I took all courage together and told my hosts everything about te axiety. They will go to my counceller with me tomorrow and after that to the athletic doctor. They suggest to meet up with social worker? But i am not sure if that would be the right kind of person?
I would expect that I coul look at the concussion out of another perspeective. Not anymore like, oh my god I will have to live that for the rest of my life! Omg, this visual snow will ruin my life or something like that. What's the deifference between a psychologist and a therapist btw?

hi lui! A social worker just helps organize all the different professionals helping you and tries to get you the access to all the help that you qualify for. Like a middle man who has your interest at heart. They will help communicate with your parents, the doctor, host family, and anyone else.