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---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 16:56:17 -0600 (CST) From: P. Schark <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Help! Panic Attack! I recently had two scary panic attacks in 24 hours and have been trying to figure out why they happened so I can avoid them in the future. The first occurred when I woke abruptly from a sound sleep with my heart pounding wildly. I was shaking from head to toe and had a chest pain that mimics a heart attack. The same symptoms occurred the following day while I was teaching a class. Although the nighttime attacks had happened before, I never had one at work until then. In addition, during the daytime attack I became flushed and hot all over. I passed the hot-flash phase of menapause years ago, so it wasn't that. I had my blood pressure taken several hours after the attack, and it was still very high. During the daytime attack, I froze in my seat. This is only the second time that's happened; the first was in the shower last week. Luckily I had a good class and they were able to carry on without me. I had warned them previously that I could experience "off" times and explained what could happen, so they weren't surprised. Nevertheless, it took an hour for me to get back on. The only variable within 24 hours of the attack was a masssage I had gotten the evening before the first one. Does anyone know if that could trigger an attack? We had been out to dinner before the massage to celebrate my son's birthday. Food additives might be the culprit. My nutritionist said a very remote possibility might be toxins released into my system by the massage added to toxins generated by the diet/supplement regimen I've been on. My neurologist doesn't have much to say on the subject, which probably means it hasn't been researched extensively. Parade magazine ran an article Sunday which mentioned panic attacks are attributable to faulty neurotransmitters. Makes sense for us, but what do we do about it? Relaxation breathing is helpful, but I'd like to avoid them altogether. By the way, they happen when I'm "off," but it's not possible, or even desirable, to be "on" all the time. As the King of Siam used to say "'Tis a puzzlement!" I'd appreciate any input. Thanks. Pat Schark