I feel like I’m going crazy.. Help!

[sarahfl]

Hey everyone-


I've been okay for the past few weeks, no big panic attacks or anything. Just about an hour ago, while I was driving, almost got to where I was going and had a massive panic attack. Felt so nauseous like I was going to throw up. I got off the interstate, got back on going the other way and sped home. I seriously feel like I'm going crazy. About 99.99% of the time, I can talk myself out of a panic attack, but this one was neverending. I made it home after driving almost 20 miles and that's where I am now. I just felt like I was going crazy, all I could do while I was driving was snap my fingers (which for some reason helps to calm me down) and say out loud a billion times, "You're almost home. You're fine." I could feel my ab muscles tighten and that made me even more scared that I was going to be sick even though that was probably just from the panic attack. I don't know what to do now. I need to go back out and work (I am a drug rep), but I'm scared I'll have another panic attack and go through the same thing again. I need to call back my coworker since she has called twice, but I don't know what to tell her, I don't want her to think I'm nuts, but I've been under a ton of stress in the past 2 weeks and I think that's what caused it.


What do I say to her? Should I take half of an Ativan? Will that make me sick? Should I try to eat something with it like Wheat Thins? All I've had today is oatmeal for breakfast, which I eat every morning. What do I do? Could stress be aggravating this?


Thanks!


Sarah [img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img]

[japa]

I would tell my coworker that I was actually feeling very sick, and I had to go home.

[sarahfl]

What is safe to eat? I'm feeling hungry, butscared to eat anything. I just had a few wheat thins and feel fine. I think this is just caused by all of the stress I'm feeling, so I don't think eating will hurt. I do have IBS though that acts up during stress (it has been acting up). Hmmm... What to do?

[sillygirl]

I'm sure it is all stress. I would stay away from eating anything heavy or greasy. Crackers are good, bread, pretzels, anything starchy is what I usually eat when I have panic attacks. I'm sure you are fine. If there was anything really wrong you wouldn't have felt okay after the wheat thins. Try and relax, tell your co-worker you are sick if you have to, but I'm sure you will be fine.

[peachfeet]

I would definitely eat something. A good sandwich with a cold drink and some chips would suffice. Though how much oatmeal is nutritious and plentiful, it doesn't get you very far. Digested in less then an hour since there's nothing major in it. Eat something, good gracious! Stress can spring up spontaneous panic attacks; I've had a few minor episodes of my own recently. Good luck and stay safe. I'm sure you're fine.

[sarahfl]

I was going to eat a salad for lunch since that is whatI usually eat, but my stomach hasn't been liking salads the past few days (which is weird, usually it can). I just ate 2 pancakes since that was the only starchy thing in my pantry besides oatmeal and wheat thins. I took a half of an Ativan at around 1:30, so I feel calm from that. Don't know if I would take it when I'm working, but I think I might try tomorrow so that I can work and not freak out. I don't want to use up all of my sick days b/c of stress-related panic attacks, but I also don't want to go through the situation I had this morning again, it was definitely not fun and not safe!