Had my first PANIC ATTACK this morning..........Anyone else?

I agree, Melissa.  You will need some help.  Have you been in touch with the hospital's social worker?  If insurance won't cover it, you might be able to get respite care.  Or bring her to an adult day care center?

Sending you lots of love...

Thanks! I don't think I would want to send her to adult day care. She hates being around "old people"...lol...yes, she's one of those/.  Plus the stress of having to take her would get to me. As well as the guilt trip. I use to tell her when she lived alone to go check out the senior center and she would makes faces and say yuck.

What you described is definitely a panic attack. It's good you are seeing your doctor. It sounds as though you are predisposed to panic attacks, and you finally experienced the 'perfect storm' of conditions that brought one on. This does not mean you will be plagued with them for life.  It will be important for you to take care of you before you can take care of someone else. That's easy for me to say and probably not easy for you to do though. Here are things you can work on for yourself to try to prevent stress from ballooning into a full blown panic attack:  get enough sleep.  Reduce or eliminate your intake of caffeine. exercise, jog or dance like crazy - enough to sweat and release endorphins. BREATHE.  Find a quiet place where you can go to quiet your stressed out brain.  

I'm sorry you are going through this. Please take others' advice and try to find some help with everything. You might feel like you can do it and that it's your responsibility to do it, but it really is more than anyone in your position could possibly handle. 
Kathy

Thanks Kathy! I've never had anything like this but I do get "stressed" pretty good once in a while. Usually it's financial reasons. In 2009 we lost our dream home to foreclosure. That was a very hard time and still haunts me.

I am an insomniac and take Ambien to help me sleep. Yes, I tend to wake up at 3:00 and stress over life. The brain that don't stop. lol. I only drink one cup of coffee at 6:00 am with my protein powder and then water/crystal light the rest of the day. And I do exercise.

Another thing I didn't mention was my daughter and I have horses. The barn is my quiet place and nothing is more satisfying to the soul than to be with our horses. But due to all the changes in life right now I see them less and less (for now) we typically try to get out there 4 days a week but only been getting out 2. Soon the time will change and all we'll have is the weekend.

 Melissa, the others have said it all so I'm just going to throw in a lot of hugs and good thoughts coming your way.  I know that with the help of her doctors and your doctors etc, you will find a way to take care of yourself during this stressful time.

Just a thought, If you belong to a church, perhaps there might be someone that would volunteer to help with your mom's appointments etc to give you some time for yourself and your business.

Thanks Lee!

Funny thing is I belong to a church and haven't been for 3 weeks because I've could not leave mom alone. But I am more and more as she is getting better getting around with the walker. She was sooo weak before, couldn't even get off the toilet without help. About a week ago I was so excited that she actually got up at 3 am and used the bathroom alone. A good sign.

I belong to a small church (about 60 member)and most of them are seniors too. or work.

Melissa,

One of those seniors, or two or three, might be willing to trade off days and come and sit with mom so that you can work in your office without interruption.  They could call you if mom got into trouble and needed more assistance.

It never hurts to ask.

Bless your heart!  I'm praying for you!  You certainly have a lot of your plate!
I have "mild" panic attacks when I get behind in my work and/or homelife.  My doctor put me on Lexapro daily and it keeps me "even"!! 

You might ask your doctor about a daily med. or have the occasional Xanax ready and standing by!

On a side note, I am currently enrolled in a Bible study on Sunday night and we just talked about how Jesus commissioned us here on Earth to take care of the sick, needy, and those who can't help themselves.  You are guaranteed blessings!!  I hope your situation gets better and better day by day!

Thanks Peyton!

You sound like me...mild ones when you get behind in life. I never realized I was having mini attacks, It was just intense stress. I see my doctor today and I'm telling her everything I'm going through.

Yep, it's a panic attack.  So sorry.  I had a very stressful government job, and some days I would get to the parking lot, and just the sight of the building would throw me into panic mode.  Heart pounding, couldn't breath, start crying, feel paralyzed like I couldn't move or get out of the car, and then I would just have to turn around and get out of there as fast as I could once it subsided. 

You need to get some support, some help with your mom, and please see a doctor to find ways to help you cope- because this may have been your first panic attack, but it won't be your last, unless you get the proper help in place for both you and your mom.

Just take it one day at a time, deep breaths when you feel stressed, leave the room when you're overwhelmed, and make sure you try to take some time for yourself- even if it just means going out for a walk and some fresh air while she's resting.

I hope things work out okay for you.