Panic Attacks

pepperflo

I had a panic attack last night, it woke me up around 3am, it was really scary. I used to have them years ago, but never in my sleep like that.
Not sure what caused it, but had a steroid injection yesterday, thats the only thing I can put my finger on that has changed.
Has anyone else had these after an injection or if they know they are common with medication.

dreamdaisy

Nothing needs to change for a panic attack to happen, that is the very nature of them. I wake up at night (frequently ) but occasionally I do so because of a pounding heart, I am wild-eyed, panting, it passes and I just put it down to stress. Life for us is stressful at times, and as we are under pressure with that adrenalin floods us and away we go. I have never attrubuted it to the meds as I take them all the time.

I hope you feel better today, if it happens again, perhaps, once you are calmer you could try the breathing exercises I mentioned in my feedback from the Challenging Pain course (the thread was called 'I have begun to challenge pain') then the distraction or visualisation techniques (thread 'I have finished challenging pain.') I hope you feel better today. DD

frogmorton

Hi pepperflo

I am sorry l have never had a panic attack following asteroid jab, but maybe it IS linked?????

Did you get in touch with your doc to check it out at all?

l did however regularly get panic attack /chest pains a while back and they were always late at night...why l have no idea??? probably because that can be the most scary time of the day.

If these are new to you or worse than normal and you haven't already l would certainly contact your Gp for advice.

Love

Toni xx

suncatcher

When we dream i do think the brain goes through our day and i wonder if having the steroid subconsciously worried you. we can have panic attacks any time. The steroids do cause mood swings i know i felt pretty mixed up after one a few years ago. I did not have a panic attack though
I haven't heard of anyone having panic attacks, but it would not surprise me. I too used to have panic attacks. I have now stopped my panic attacks by having cognitive therapy and am confidant if i had them again i could cope they do not worry me now.
I am sorry you had this experience as i know how frightening it is. Have a word with gp to reassure yourself. good luck with that take care Joanne

skezier

Hi Pepperflo

It could be a lot of things but some drugs can cause them I know. I hope its a one off for you but you do know the techniques to stop the panic attacks and if it does happen again just hold on the the fact its 'only' a panic attack..... big only though.

I really hope that you are feeling ok and don't have nay more. Nice to meet you as well Cris x

woodbon

Hi I get panic attacks and I don't think I've ever really worked out the cause. Stress sometimes might, but then it can also get me going and taking an intrest in life. I don't expect the injection helped your state of mind and that might have helped bring it on. Hope you have a better night. Love Suexxx

pepperflo

Thank you everyone for your lovely kind messages. I didn't have a panic attack last night, but kept waking up, and had trouble getting back to sleep. I hope tonight will be a better night, as I have had a busy day today in Blackpool with my Daughter and Granddaughter, as it was my Granddaughter's 2nd Birthday, so hopefully all the fresh air will knock me out.
I have a helpline number for the Hospital so if I do have anymore I will certainly ring them esp as I'm now increasing my Sulphasalazine over the next 6 weeks from 3 tabs a day to 6 tabs a day.
Maybe it was just a one off, I may never know what caused it, but again thanks to everyone who replied to my post.

jonnyboyy

Hi pepperflo I have suffered with panic attacks on and off for last year just remember that they can't hurt you and they will pass I believe panic attacks can be the bodies way of relieving stress.

John

pepperflo

Thanks jonnyboyy thankfully it was just the one, but when they are in the middle of the night, I felt so scared and alone, despite my Hubby sleeping at the side of me in fact I woke him for a cuddle which did help.

dreamdaisy

We are under a deal of stress, which sometimes we can manage and sometimes we can't. I have been on 6 sulph for years now, without any painful ill-effects. I guess it's the same with the other meds, but what does vary is my ability to cope. When I don't cope so well I have the scary dreams (I have learned not to take the cocos between 4 and 6 am to avoid those!) and the odd sudden awakening. I have been using the breathing techinques I was reminded about on the Challenging Pain course, and I am sure they are helping. DD

pepperflo

Thanks dreamdaisy, I sometimes have some really weird dreams, and not sure if its a coincidence or not, but they seem to be worse around the time my morphine patch is due to be changed.
Will have to look up the breathing techniques see if they work for me.
Ive just done up my spare bedroom for me to sleep in esp when my Husband is on the early shift as he is up at 4.45am, and with me not sleeping too well, and waking him up I think it would be better for him if I went in the spare room, but then I get a bit anxious about what if I have another panic attack or really bad dream. I know that sounds selfish of me but maybe if I try the breathing techniques that will help me.