Joints stiff during anxiety attacks

[kjordan21]

Hi everyone, I'm a 17 year old female and I'm prone to very extreme panic attacks. I've already been fired from two different jobs for having these attacks and I don't know what to do anymore. It begins with an uneasy feeling in my stomach and I start to think that I shouldn't be doing what I'm doing, no matter what it is. If I don't leave, my heart starts to beat too quickly, I start to hyperventilate, sweat, and cry. Eventually, my fingers get "stuck" together (they automatically move into a weird position and become completely stiff) and I can't move any of them without extreme pain. All of my joints stiffen up and I'm unable to walk. They've lasted up to two hours before. I've tried natural supplements and they don't stop them. My psychiatrist (I'm also clinically depressed) prescribed me klonopin, but my parents, who hate medicine, refuse to fill the prescription. They don't understand that I can't control it and they get furious at me every time it happens and claim that there are other natural ways to make it stop but I don't believe it. Are there any natural ways to reduce anxiety problems like mine? I don't know/haven't heard of anyone whose joints freeze like mine do during an attack. I guess I just need some advice..

[kjordan21]

Actually, yes I do have problems with my left wrist! I used to think it was carpal tunnel but apparently my doctors don't know what's wrong with it. I wonder if that has something to do with it because I always thought I was the only one too! Next week I have a few appointments at a hospital for some other health problems and my parents said that they'd ask my doctors how they felt about it. Hopefully they'll come to their senses because I can't keep doing this. Thanks a lot though, guys!

[taylor22]

My arms and hands get really stiff when I have a panic attack as well. I thought it was just me! I have a hard time moving my hands and fingers, my arms feel really heavy. Do you by any chance have carpal tunnel or any nerve problems in your arms? I do and I wonder if when you are freaking out, if your nerves just freak out as well. I was eating at a restaurant with my husband a few years ago and I had the worst panic attack and couldn't move my arms at all. I've been having panic for about two weeks straight now, I'm a stay at home mom and am afraid of being alone. I'm home alone all day every day and my anxiety has been TERRIBLE the past two weeks. I was having a bad panic attack the other night and I tried to splash some water on my face and my hands were really stiff. It was horrible. I hope you feel better soon. I wish this would all just get better for us!

[cheshchesh819]

your parents sound like they really need to understand you more what you are going through should be supported by your loved ones,if they refuse go see your doc again and tell them if they wont support you,you will find someone that will,i feel for you going through this alone if you need to talk i am always here,also when you do have attacks to tense up which do have effects on all your muscles

[MrGreen]

What parents you have. Your psychiatrist is the expert. Not them. Klonopin is great for easing anxiety. It can cover the full day. Your psychiatrist sees that you need help in the medication sense. Even just to get you back on your feet. Medication along with theraphy is like the spring board. Then we do the rest of the work. Getting ourselves back out there. Natural ways might work if you really believed in them. But in the same light, if you really believed you could stop a panic attack, you would have a great mind and wouldn't need anything at all. My own opinion? Medication to help you out of a bad situation. What are feeling is normal for panic attacks. Symptoms can vary. From person to person. I always say to imagine a cat seeing a dog. You ever see the way it goes on full guard. Ready for a fight. Up on all four paws. Hair sticking up. We do similar. Our mind senses danger and prepairs us for a fight. At 17 can you go against your parents wishes and get meds on your own? Or are you using their insurance? I think someone needs to bang their heads together. They don't seem to be able to accept that they have a family member with a mental problem. The word mental sounds bad. But it is of the mind. Maybe your psychiatrist can arrange an appointment to meet with them. Put them straight on the issue. Just really wishing you can and will manage to get it all sorted out.