Multiple Sclerosis and Panic Disorder

[CatherineNZ]

Hi,  I have had MS for 5 years now and over the last 2 years have started to have panic attacks and get depressed very easily.  I have been told I have panic Disorder and have been put on Nortryptiline Tablets.  I am wondering if there is anyone else out there with MS that also suffers from Panic Disorder as a result.  I have been told that the reason for my panics is due to the lesions on my brain stopping messages getting through to let me know everything is ok.  
If there is anyone else out there like me I would love to talk to you to see what things you are doing to help with the panics and maintain a "normal" life/

Thanks
Catherine

[Audrey_M]

Catherine:

I have not been diagnosed with MS (8 years since sx started) but have experienced panic attacks.

Mine are definitely triggered. One of my main complaints/sx is lightheadnesses/brain fog/vision problems which can trigger an panic attack when I am driving. I'm scared s____less of killing someone or myself (my brother died 12 years ago in a single vehicle accident).  It has only happened while I am driving and I have learned how to "try" to talk myself out of it. For me it is definitely a fight or flight response. With more severe attacks, I am absolutely drained for hours afterwards.

[tjj3761]

Catherine,

I am not yet diagnosed, but I had (2) terrible panic attacks--one with the first onset of my severe symptoms and then another one while I had an allergic reaction to Bactrim-DS (sulfa drug).  It is a terrible feeling.  The first time and second, I paced the floors with no sleep for 2-3 days.  Scary!  I felt like I was going to die or something.

I think it is part of the "fight or flight response."  If you google this, it will give you the definition.

Feel better....

terri

[Lulu54]

Hi Catherine, Welcome to the forum here.  I hope you will find this community helpful and full of useful information.  

Anxiety and depression seem to be a regular part of having MS.  It can be coming from one of two sources.  Either it is clinical, as your doctor explained and something in your brain is no longer wired correctly.  It can be situational - our situation of living with MSdoes create anxiety and depression.  Or it can be a combination of the two - clinical and situational.

Whatever the cause, your doctor should be your partner in finding a way to control this.  

Your post makes me think of a good poll to post about mental health and its treatment.  Watch for it ....

be well,
Lulu  

[sickofsick62]

P.S.
IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE SOME DEPRESSION WITH ANY DISEASE.
LOOK INTO FINDING SOMEONE TO HELP YOU/LIKE AN AID. OR A FRIEND.
YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MANY KIND PEOPLE THERE ARE OUT THERE THAT WOULD
LOVE TO ACCOMPANY YOU TO THE STORE. THIS WILL HELP YOU WITH THE FATIGUE
AND THEN YOUR ANXIETY/DEPRESSION WONT BE AS BAD., AND MAYBE YOULL MAKE A TRUE FRIEND FOR A LIFETIME. I DID.

[sickofsick62]

HI CATHERINE,
REMEMBER MSR'S HAVE A VERY ACTIVE NERVOUS SYTEM.ALL THOSE LIL NERVE ENDINGS MAKE FOR A COMPLICATED DISEASE. MEANING WE CANT ALWAYS CONTROL HOW WE ACT AND REACT. NOR HOW WE ARE FEELING PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.
SO, KEEP YOUR TRUE FRIENDS THAT YOU CONFIDE IN AND ALLOW THEM TO SUPPORT AND HELP YOU. AND DONT LET COMPLICATIONS THAT YOU CAN COMPLICATE YOUR LIFE IN. YES, WE CAN DO THAT TO AN EXTREME, BUT EVERYONE HAS STRESS.
TAKE ME FOR AN EXAMPLE, I VE HAD MS SINCE I WAS SMALL,NOW I HAVE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WITH A TOUCH OF LUPUS. AND 3 YEARS AGO I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE. I SWING IN AND OUT OF STAGE 3 RENAL DISEASE. SO IM ALL THE TIME WATCHING MY DIET,EATING LOW PROTEIN AND LOW DAIRY ETC.,ETC.,. EVERYDAY I TRY TO GET OUTSIDE IN THE NATURAL LIGHT AS LONG AS ITS NOT SO HOT THAT IT MAKES ME SICK. AND IN THE WINTER TIME, I SIT IN MY GRANDMAS OLD OAK ROCKING CHAIR FACING THE SLIDING DOOR AND GET LIGHT THAT WAY. I LISTEN TO LOTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC.
NOW, I HAVE AN AID THAT COMES TO THE HOUSE TO HELP ME COOK. SHE DOES THE CLEANING AND HELPS ME PAY BILLS.
GUESS WHAT IM SAYING IS, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND DONT LET THE MS CONTROL YOU, NOR FRIGHTEN YOU. YOU WILL GET USED TO HAVING IT. AND YOU'LL REALIZE THAT EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEM. AND IF THEY DONT WANT TO ADMIT IT, THEYRE FOOLING THEMSELVES.

WRITE BACK IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT.
GOD BLESS
SHIRL

[HVAC]

I used to get panic attacks. I got on medication for the brain chemistry. Then I learned to ignore them. Feeding them or any phobia only makes it worse. I have to act as if I am fine. Like with a child I have to distract myself. I found a therapist who specializes in chronic disease and hypnosis. I am learning to self calm when ever I want. It takes practice. I practice bringing my baseline of calm down several times a day. It also helps with pain.

I have had my share of depression. They even wanted to do shock treatments on me last year. I held off and boy am I glad I did.

Most of the time I ignore my brain. I have enough on my plate. When I do give into my old habits. I start back as soon as I recognize it.

My goal is to be the healthiest person with MS I can. Eating right and exercise is extremely important. I have to get out in the world every day.

One of the benefits of my stage of MS is with the cog fog I do not have racing thoughts it is so peaceful in my head. I used to have a computer with racing thoughts.

As far as the anxiety of having MS that is simply trying to control what I can't. I feel powerless so I worry and try to control the future or I get resentful and try to hang onto the past. Neither work.

A friend said to me "Everything she worried about happening to her child never did, other things did but not what she anticipated.

Having some kind of faith helps me. Even if it is the faith I have made it so far in life.

I went from being knocked flat by the diagnosis to pretty happy today.


I have to quotes on my fridge

"True happiness comes from playing the hand you are dealt"
"It is not what happens to you in life it is what you do about it"

Alex