Hey,
im a 17 year old guy and i think i might have been having panic attacks for a while. Recently i just realized that what has been happening to me actually might be panic attacks. Here's an exmaple of one; Yesterday i was at the mall to buy a hat, and i needed a club id card to get the discount on it, so i called my brother. It took forever to get thru and no one was picking up so i started getting really nervous and started sweat a lot. I felt like i wanted to just leave the store, and was getting really annoyed. Even after getting the number i was still sweating and really anxious/nervous and i was still getting flush's of heat on me when it was air conditioned in there.

Other times it occurs while in large crowds of people indoors, i get really nervous and the same thing starts happening to the point where i have to leave im sweating so much. Why does this happen to me? What should i do about it? I talked to my mom, and she gets panic attacks and my dad used to. I also have ADHD, yet my parents took away my stimulant medication because they thought it "changed my personality." I dont think they will go for xanax or valium or stuff like that, maybe they will.

Would those situations be classified as panic attacks? I dont feel like im about to die, but i just get really weirded out. Ugh, i hate this. Oh yea, and there normally at random times in places with a lot of people.

Thanks for your response's in advance!

It sounds like mild panic attacks - I get the same thing, especially in a crowded area...Pep rallies at school are murder for me because I'm so crowded and I start hyperventilating and my mind gets all clouded - the same thing happens if there's a lot of noise or light stimulation. I end up covering my ears, closing my eyes, and just rocking back and forth for a while. At first, it worried my friends because it often happens at school when I'm overwhelmed by people and/or assignments, but now they understand that that is my way of coping and they just wait it out because they know my triggers and they talk me through it when I'm able to...

Hrmm my experiences with panic attacks have been much more severe so I'm not sure if it's the same thing. As Paige said it could be very mild panic attacks but it sounds to me like plain old social anxiety. I think you'd find if you had a panic attack you would know it for sure.

Benzos are a very unnecessary medication for this sort of thing..in my opinion

Maybe you could try an anti-depressant first? I'd recommend you go talk to your doctor about this ASAP


Some other things that may help:

Exercise!
Eating well and making sure you stay away from sugar and caffeine as best you can.
Maybe you could try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? It's at least worth a shot before you start benzos. It helped me out a lot with my anxiety issues

I know these things might sound stupid but I think they're worth a try ;)

Good luck.

Have you had a Physical?

Bloodwork?

Some medical conditions can cause problems with anxiety. e.g. MVP, adrenal problems, porphyria, thyroid, etc.