[b]Lauren02 wrote:[/b] [quote] It is good that you are exercising. Especially eating all that pizza!!! Haha, just kidding. I love pizza too. [/quote] Tell me about it! Oh the tasty manna from heaven that pizza is....Sometimes I think I workout just so I can have the pizza. :) [quote] why don't you take you exercising down a notch? Or get a thin that monitors your heartrate so you can be sure that it isn't getting to high. [/quote] You know something? As logical and simple and this sounds, it never really occurred to me to lower the intensity of my workouts. I'm so used to working out at such an extreme level that even though it's been 7+ years since I was in the gym regularly, I pretty much went back to where I left off, intensity wise. Maybe I just can't do that anymore. Maybe those days have passed me by, or at the very least, maybe I need to spend some time working back up to them again. Thanks for the recommendation. I'll see if I can bring it down a notch or two. Though, I think it's going to be hard, after working out with such intensity for so very long....

[quote] Try skipping the Xanax before a workout. It is very short lasting, meaning it does not stay in your system long at all so try just to skip it before you work out and see what happens. [/quote] bygrace, Thank you for taking the time to respond. I'll give your recommendation a try. I do happen to take my Xanax about 1-2 hours prior to my workout, so I'll move it to after my workout and see what happens.

It is good that you are exercising. Especially eating all that pizza!!! Haha, just kidding. I love pizza too. Anyway, why don't you take you exercising down a notch? Or get a thin that monitors your heartrate so you can be sure that it isn't getting to high.

Hey there! Welcome. Your post sounds like mine. I have no idea what the trigger was to my panic. I had a big attack out of the blue and have dealt with it ever since. I am on the same dosage as you with the Xanax. I was at the YMCA today working out and I notice if I get my heart rate over 130, I start feeling bad. So, therefore I drink a ton of water and constantly monitor my heart rate and keep it at a level I am comfortable at. I have mitral valve, a little leaky valve in my heart. It is common, not dangerous but annoying. It does cause the heart palps and especially if I work out too hard or raise my heart rate up too much. You wont die but you will feel lightheaded. Try skipping the Xanax before a workout. It is very short lasting, meaning it does not stay in your system long at all so try just to skip it before you work out and see what happens.

Pizza, Welcome to The Panic Center. We thank you for sharing your story with us today. This support group is full of supportive individuals who may be able to help you answer some questions regarding panic and anxiety. It is great to hear that you are making an appointment to see a doctor. In the meantime please feel free to roam the site at your own pace. If you look to the left of the screen under "TOOLS" you will find many supportive tests. These tests are not diagnostic tools and are not a replacement or substitute for a physicians advice. The purpose of these tests is to prepare you with information that you can present to your physician. When youre finished the test, you can either print your Final Report or email it directly to your doctor. We also have developed a Panic Program. This program is 12-weeks and involves the tools mentioned above. Each session is based on the previous session, so we strongly advise that you work slowly through the program and not jump ahead. If you have any questions or concerns with our "TOOLS" you can contact our support department at support@paniccenter.net. Take care and we hope to hear from you soon. Josie ______________________________ The Panic Center Support Team.

Hello, I've been suffering from an anxiety disorder for about two months now. It started with a bang, and a trip to the emergency room, because I thought I was dying. I'm sure many of you can relate. I was given 0.5mg of Xanax in the ER, and my doctor continued the prescription at 0.25mg twice a day ever since. Prior to the trip to the ER, I never knew I suffered from anxiety. I had plenty of stress in my life from work and what not, but I never considered myself anxious. I don't have any "fears" per say. My "panic" attacks seem to be brought on by build up, rather than event triggered. Of course, my therapist and I are both delving into the dark corners of my mind to see if this truly is the case. What I'm posting about today, more than anything, is the affect my anxiety (and Xanax possibly) is having on my workouts at the gym. Both my therapist and doctor agree that the gym is theraputic both mentaly and physically. I've worked out my whole life, to one extent or another. Up until I was about 25, when my workouts slowly begin tapering off until they ceased to exist. This was a simple cause and affect of life and dedicating my time to work and family instead of myself - the eventual cause of my anxiety, to be sure. Anyhow, when I workout now, I sweat profusely with hardly any exertion. I get out of breath easily, can feel my heart pounding, and by the end of my 45-min workout, I often feel as though I cannot catch my breath - like there is a weight on my chest. This feeling of breathlessness, often triggers a minor panic attack, because I'm afraid I will faint. This of course leads to dizziness, and a harder time to breath, which usually culminates in me sitting down and trying with all my might not to pass out in front of everyone. Bottom line is, it's not fun at all! I used to love working out, and can remember being able to exert myself to a much greater degree without ever feeling like I was short of breath or dizzy. Is this anxiety (xanax)? Or am I on the verge of having a heart attack? When I went to the ER, they did a full workup on the EKG, chest X-rays, blood tests, you name it. Everything came back perfect, which is why they concluded it was an axiety attack. Still, I wonder if something else is wrong. Anyone else experience