Panic attacks and some questions

[dktekno]

I have some very important questions (and a single not-so-important question but just some of interest (the last one)):








1. I sometimes encounter panic attacks in periods. These periods
usually lasts 1-3 weeks with panic attacks every day. Then it gradually
decreases and after some time (there can go months and even years) I
get them again.





They are always associated to the fear of vomiting.





But during my panic attacks I dont really feel nauseus they way you
feel like if you are sick. But I am shaking all over it. And I have a
fear of developing nausea.





Even though I know I am not sick, these panic attacks are still there.
I am still shaking. I can't controll my legs. No matter how much I try,
during the panic attack I cant relax and I cant stop my legs from
shaking.





Are there any technics I can use for relaxing?





2. My mum have told me that I should go to something called "Yoga". I
have heard about it, but dont really know much about it other that it
is something asian and some therapy of some sort and treatment of
mental problems. Does any of you have any experience with Yoga
regarding emetophobia?





3. It seems like there are only women who suffer from emetophobia, except me.


Is that right? What do you think the reason is?


(this is not intended to be offensive of any kind, I am just asking purely for interest).

[sage]

Hi dk,


There is some good information about managing panic attacks on the sticky posts at the top of the Treatments thread....as well, there is other information about treatments. I doubt Yoga would do much to address a severe phobia like emetophobia. You'd probably still panic while doing Yoga.


Be reassured by the fact that you're not alone, and the symptoms you describe are quite typical of this and other phobias. There is treatment available that will lessen the panic attacks if not eliminate them altogether.


And many men suffer from this phobia, although women are generally more prone to anxiety disorders than men.

[leese]

DK,


I get nauseas with panic & anxiety attack also, and like u said its a different kind of nausea. I cant reconize the difference, but it still is scarry.


-Lisa

[Eternity]

Theres a million ways to try n get yourself to chill out, n they work in varying degrees. I love anti emetics right nowbut Ive only ever once taken them at home- Im afraid that if I start to take them all of the time I'll get too dependant so I save them for going out. Yoga could work if you were really into it I suppose, its just relaxation techniques.


I cant speak for other people, but for me the most effective way to stop panic is to focus your mind on something else. Turn on the Tv, music, the internet, everything all at once.Walk up n down, find someone to talk to or sing along to ya musicor anything, just make everything around you loud n busy.. your mind cant focus on all these stimuli at once AND on feeling panicked, so your panic drops.. at least.. mine does. This technique wouldnt work for everyone Im sure, just as theirs wouldnt work for me, but I find it very effective. The absolute worst thing you can do is sit still n alone in silencen worry about what youre feeling.


I know what ya mean about having panic in waves of many attacks at once, n then not one for ages, although im not quite so lucky as to be able to go years I think that panic breeds panic so one attack worrys you so much that youre more likely to have another, or something like that.


Youre not the only guy by far.. not the only one on the boards even, I used to know a couple, altho Im not sure if theyre still here now, Ive only just recently reappeared myself. Statistics suggest that women are more likely to suffer from emet, but that could be partly because many more women report such a phobia- a lot of men cope in different ways, for example, ironicallysome guys drinkalcohol to block out being worried of going out in public.. not sure about the logic there! but ive even known ppl say that they dont mind vomitting when theyre drunk. Anyway, yea the point was that men tend to find more physical ways of dealing with stuff, whereas women are more likely to want to talk about it, so theres a hell of a lot more women on forums like this than guys!

[dktekno]

I dont understand why emets dont mind vomiting when drunk.



When I was getting 18 we held a big party, and as the tradition says I
should get a lot of alcohol. But I knew I wouldn't want to get so drunk
that I vomit of it. But then I drank some, and I noticed that it felt
good, so I drank some more. And some more. And then I don't rember
anything else than I suddenly began feeling some nausea. Then I felt
like I were about to vomit - and then I got my consciousness back!



I even managed to hold it in.



My fear of vomiting is so strong so I can be clear in my mind even
though I have taken so much alcohol that I felt I wasn't really there.



Since then I can get panic attacks by just feeling the normal dizziness you feel after drinking a beer.