Panic Attacks

I get panic attacks and used to be crippled by them, but I never associated it with carbs.
I have to avoid caffeine and any high emotion situations, and I also think my underactive thyroid, undiagnosed at the time, was a contributing factor.

I suffer from anxiety and sometimes get major panic attacks. I've never heard that carbs had anything to do with it, but that's interesting. I do find that caffeine has a direct impact on me though. I limit myself to only two cups of coffee, if any, because of this. Right now, I really feel like I need a third, but it will only hurt me.
Also, I cut down on my alcohol a lot since starting calorie counting. When I do drink now I find that I have a lot of anxiety the day after.

I pray that you all can have peace from your panic attacks. Jesus heals!

I have/had panic attacks. I found that carbs did help with them, but then again panic attacks are "all in your head" So I don't think there is a connection in eating carbs to help decrease panic attacks. Carbs do help with the increase of serotonin levels therefore causing a calming effect. I found that since I realized panic attacks are caused by me, that I don't have them as often or actually hardly ever now...


Mine used to come late at night or at bed time too...

I have had panic attacks for over 30 years.. See a psychiatrist. A prescription for a mild depressant coupled with a tranquilizer will cure most panic attacks.

I suffered panic attacks for nearly 20 years. I had gone to the ER several times over that period, convinced I was dying, only to hear it was a panic attack. Mostly I would get them when I got in the car after work, if the car was hot inside. There were also other various activities that would trigger them. After all those years, suddenly I just "got it". I would stop what I'm doing and breathe deep breaths and hold them for just a few seconds and slowly let them out. I did this almost every day when getting in the car after work when I felt one coming on. Eventually, I didn't get them anymore. They went away. Go figure.

In my opinion, dieting is probably causing stress and carbs is usually the one thing people miss when changing to a healthier way of eating. Are you hungry? If so, I would re-assess my calorie intake and food journal. I believe if your tummy is satisfied, the lower carbs won't be as stressful. I do know that if I am hungry a lot during dieting, my blood pressure is consistently higher, which indicates a little stress from the dietary limitations.

Edit (again): Oh, and when you breathe; make sure you completely empty your lungs. Point your chin up as far as possible and exhale completely through pursed lips. Sometimes putting your hand on your stomach and pressing just a bit helps empty your lungs. If you breathe shallow, you are not cycling the air. The depleted air is hanging out down in your lungs, preventing the new from going in. I also learned this from attending Respiratory Therapy sessions with my ex-husband, who I have been taking care of for the past 7 years because of COPD.

Good luck! I sure hope you find a solution soon. I know how terrifying it can be.

Oh, one more thing. A good workout will do wonders. After that 20 year mark, that's when I started "getting healthy". It was the time when I just started seeing a few pounds creep up on the scale. That, along with the breathing exercise, probably had a lot to do with my panic attacks going away.

And, when you first start noticing that little niggling stress in the pit of your stomach, check to see if you are unaware that you are holding your breath.. and breathe! When I started forcing myself to be aware of what my body was telling me, it was the beginning of the revelation of getting a grip on it.

The last one I had was about 12 years ago in college in anticipation for an exam. I had been drinking too much coffee, I wasn't eating, getting too little sleep and I felt the weight of the world on me because my folks were getting divorced/.... yadda yadda... I was in a really bad place and the exam put me over the top.

So when the exam came, I was frozen. I actually didn't remember anything and couldn't see straight and my friends tell me that my hands were shaking the whole time and I was sweating like I had a fever or something. I did ok, i think, and I ended up sleeping in for the next two days and I took a break and got away for the weekend..

I used to have pretty bad panic attacks.
I did find that low blood sugar, or not having carbs throughout the day, was one of my triggers. I'd get dizzy or shaky and from there, my anxiety would get worse.

Being consistent in the gym has all but removed my anxiety. Haven't had a panic attack in a long time, and I'm much more comfortable in public.
I think you gain a lot of self belief when you put in hard work on a regular basis. And I've learned that sometimes you are going to be uncomfortable, but I face that with an attitude of acceptance now instead of trying to escape it.
When you get dizzy as hell from squatting on a regular basis, some head spins in a public place aren't nearly as frightening as they used to seem.

Some people think its silly/ ridiculous..but look up EFT (emotional freedome technique) ..I have had anxiety and panic attacks all my adult life, mine is triggered by a phobia of being claustrophibic. You can google the EFT and read on, it helped me to relax, along with breathing to help keep the panic attacks mostly at bay. It is like tapping pressure points and repeating words such as, even tho I get panic attacks, I believe I can overcome them, and I believe in myself......See your doctor too, there are so many medications that will help and its nothing to be ashamed of. They are so common, more than you realize. Exercising helps alos, it releases endorphins in your brain. hope you get relief soon! My entire family has had panic and anxiety attacks so I think its a brain malfunction that you have to train to calm down...

If you can't get to a psychologist, i'd 100% recommend an anxiety self-help book. Someone posted the link to one earlier but i'd recommend the 'Overcoming... ' series, I believe there is an overcoming panic one. Essentially they're going to tell you the same sort of things though. There's also some online cognitive behavioural therapy courses in panic (here in the UK theres one called fearfighter) but I think you can only get access to it through your doctor.

I think it's important that when you do feel yourself getting into a panic that you try to calm down your breathing because breathing quickly will only make your heart race faster and make you panic more. Also, however much you think you're going to die during it, nobody has ever died from a panic attack