paper bags

[carl0s]

i think i just experienced a panic attack. woke up and had a horrible feeling of highly-accelerated anxiety and worry. can't find a way to put into words this feeling accept that it's like hyper-anxiety or something. I think its gone now after sitting on the toilet for 30 seconds and then breathing into a screwed-up carrier bag for a couple of minutes.

 

Why do they say "breath into a paper-bag" and not just any kind of bag? Isn't the idea that you breath your expelled co2 and therefore slow yourself down through cutting your oxygen intake?

 

has anybody else every experienced this wierd horrible thing? I remember last time it happened I was sat on the doorstep at whatever time nearly crying saying 'please stop please stop".

 

On all three times (including this) that it's happened I think I have taken a benzodiazepine of some kind about an hour before whilst getting to sleep.

[Ian R]

hyperventilation.

 

Simply put, hyperventilation is "breathing fast," or overbreathing, says

 

"Anxiety is a common cause. When some people are frightened, they breathe rapidly and deeply, even though they don't need the extra oxygen. This causes them to breathe out a large amount of carbon dioxide, and excessive loss of carbon dioxide causes the blood to become alkaline. This in turn causes the symptoms of a panic attack

 

Episodes of hyperventilation can last for hours but typically just 20 to 30 minutes. But to the heavy-breathing sufferer it can seem like hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One moment you're breathing normally—then suddenly you are breathing fast—out of control—your heart is pounding, your fingers are tingling, and your palms are sweating. You feel as if you're going to die, but in all probability you'll live to pay next year's taxes.

 

Hyperventilation, in most cases, is caused by anxiety. But if you've never experienced hyperventilation before, you probably should be seen by a doctor

 

Though it is uncommon, hyperventilation could be connected to a lung disease, a blood infection, pneumonia—even poisoning. Also, it's possible that what feels like a heart attack is a heart attack.

 

Of course, it's probably nothing that serious—but leave the official diagnosis to a doctor.

 

 

 

 

Breathe into a paper bag. This has long been the primary treatment for hyperventilation. The theory is that rebreathing into a paper bag will allow the person to replace the carbon dioxide "blown off" while hyperventilating.

 

"Blowing into a paper bag is fine, if you've hyperventilated before, been evaluated by a doctor, and are sure there is nothing seriously wrong. Most people who hyperventilate meet that criteria, but a few may have more severe problems.

Sit down, be calm, and relax. You need to slow your breathing, . The more tense you are, the faster you'll breathe.

[merckx]

A paper bag will stay inflated , a plastic bag wouldn't.

[carl0s]

thanks for the info. I wasn't hyperventilating mind-you. It was a mental feeling in my head. really can't explain it, it's just like agitation amplified by a thousand.

[ewizzy]

MY girlfriend gets this.........I reckon its living with me

 

In all seriousness, get to the doctor mate, its probably nothing too serious, but he can tell you if its a physical problem of mental, once you have found the problem (mental or physical) then you go can start to treat the cause.

 

Hope this helps mate!

 

Kind regards

 

Alex

[Holly]

On all three times (including this) that it's happened I think I have taken a benzodiazepine of some kind about an hour before whilst getting to sleep.

 

Have you been prescribed these by your Doctor? If not, you shouldn't be taking them, if you have then you need to tell him/her about these 'attacks' and not take them again. In any case you really should go and discuss the problem with him/her.

 

Make the appointment and hope you get it sorted.

[carl0s]

Have you been prescribed these by your Doctor? If not, you shouldn't be taking them, if you have then you need to tell him/her about these 'attacks' and not take them again. In any case you really should go and discuss the problem with him/her.

 

Make the appointment and hope you get it sorted.

 

I've been prescribed lorazepam for about six months then I moved to relatively low-dose diazepam for quite some time when I found that I was in a dreadful state if I ran out of lorazepam. All in I was on benzos for about 3yrs. I've now been Benzo-free for a good 4 - 6 months however I do occasionally take 0.5 - 1mg of alprazolam to help sleep - I am talking at most four times in a month though, so I am quite comfortable with benzos and don't appear to have any problems with them generally.

[Holly]

Well done for being benzo-free for a while!

However, it still seems a bit of a coincidence that this has now happened 3 times after taking a benzo type drug, so maybe you should still see your doc to see if they can prescribe another type of drug for occasional use to help you sleep? Or try taking a 1/2 or 1/4 of a pill instead of a whole one - just an idea.

Good luck with it Carlos.

[GeordieSteve]

Plastic bags all have a small hole punched in them for safety