I have had panic attacks, exactly like you are describing. I had had 2 or 3 in my life, and then last fall ('08) I had a miscarriage, starting having marriage trouble, found out my brother had been cheating on his wife, and found out my mom had a recurrence of a brain tumor all in the span of a couple of months. I started having panic attacks almost daily between Oct 08 and Jan 09. I went to a neurologist because I was sure I actually had a brain tumor, but everything checked out. We did figure out that I was having migraines (very mild by most measures) that were often triggering the panic attacks. Once I knew that what I was having was a panic attack, it really helped me cope with them. Usually I would try to breathe deeply, continuously remind myself that this was just a panic attack and nothing bad was going to happen, pray, and try to lay down and go to sleep. Sometimes I'd describe what was going to happen to myself. I'd say, "This is a panic attack. First my arm starts to feel numb. Then my heart starts to pound. Next my head will start to buzz and I'll feel like I'm outside my body. This happens every time and I am always fine. It is just a panic attack." Sometimes I would call a friend of mine who also had panic attacks and talking to her would help distract me, and the panic attack wouldn't become a full blown one. It really helped to talk to her because she knew what I was experiencing.
A couple of things I think helped me stop having them so regularly. I dealt with some of the drama & repressed emotions in my life. I started getting more sun (makes a huge difference for me!). I went on BC pills -- this is kind of strange but it turned out I was MUCH more likely to have a panic attack if my progesterone was low, and I had low progesterone. After I went on BC pills, I felt great for the 3 weeks I was on them, and about 2 days after I started the inactive pills I would ALWAYS have a panic attack. I'd feel off until about the 2nd day I was back on the regular pills. And, lastly, if I start feeling like I might have a panic attack I sometimes take some Excedrin, in case what is really happening is a migraine. I almost never have them anymore, although when my progesterone dips I always feel like I could have one.
My friend who had panic attacks ended up going on Effexor. She said it really helped her, but it was torture getting off it. She also found that one of the panic attack triggers for her was gluten. Turns out she has Celiac disease, and there was something about mal-absorption of nutrients that was making her more likely to have panic attacks.
I know panic attacks really suck. I hope you are able to find something soon that works for you to deal with them/make them go away. I'll pray that you do.
