Mr Bubbie,
I have something funny to relate, like an "aside", and it has to do with what to do when confronted with the funny feelings you get in your heart..like a stab or flutter, and the resulting panic attack.
In 1991, I got Pericarditis, as a side effect of the flu shot that year. I went to the hospital ER, it was misdiagnosed, and I ended up a the carddiologists' office the next day. He was a wonderful young heart expert, right out of Duke Univ. He understood my problems immediately, and recognisecd my illness after many horrible tests. More importantly, he diagnosed my panic disorder and treated me accordingly. I I was put on Indocin and dtayed on that med for the recommended time. During the course of this illness, I used to get this sinking feeling, and the panic followed, leaving me to feel that I was going to die of a heart attack. It was then that he prescribed Xanax for me, and instructed me hos to take it...including carrying some with me at all times. These instructions included carrying a card in my wallet, which I still have, that states I have Panic Disorder. When I asked him what I should do when I get an "attack" he replied. "take a pill, immediately, and then you won't care how bad you feel". It is true..and for the first few days, I noticed that when I took the Xanax, I did not carwe. It worked so well in relieveing my anxiety, that not only did I not care, but the chest pains went away as well.
This is panic disorder. It matters very, very much how you feel about it, not just how you act on it.
Red
