Panic Attacks - Need Help In Bangkok

[Nepal4me]

My friend experiences debilitating panic attacks. He can't share this with others but he's a very good friend of mine and only I know about it. I've told him to go to the hospital and get a recommendation to see a therapist of some sort. He did try once, went to one hospital, was referred to another, they then referred him to a 3rd hospital, who then gave him some medicine to control the problem and was told to go back 2 weeks later. All this is very little help other than the med's do help. He needs to get to the root of the problem and needs proper therapy (in my totally uneducated opinion).

Does anybody know of a therapist in Bangkok that could help with panic attacks?

Thanks a lot

[ABCer]

Sorry to be a bearer of bad news.

A very close and dear person to me has suffered for 25 years (and still is suffering) this condition back in my home country.

The problem nature is psychiatric. The 'specialists' don't know xxxx about how to treat this. Sorry. No med helps really.

I'm sure the Psychiatrists will be arguing against my opinion. But the poor sods couldn't even help themselves.

All they know is how to charge their victims. Scum, feeding on poor sick people misery.

Edited May 14, 2013 by metisdead

[Banzai99]

I feel for your friend, panic attacks are terrible and it's true, many sufferers find it hard to talk with others about it.

Maybe this should go in the Health & Medicine Forum, you will get sensible comments there.

Good luck.

[Vinny1967]

Your friend can only get help if he's willing to help himself.A psychologist can only do so much.The patient has to be willing to work with the psychologist and get to the root of the problem.Meds only surpress the problem.They don't cure it.This time last year I was in a bad way,but through therapy I managed to control my depression.

Since moving over here I've become more relaxed.Not cured....but on the right track.If you want the name of my psychologist in BKK,then send me a PM.Very good english speaking psychologist.

[poanoi]

What is the panic about ?

Xeroxat can help out

[metisdead]

Moved to the Health, Body and Medicine forum for sensible answers.

[Nepal4me]

I feel for your friend, panic attacks are terrible and it's true, many sufferers find it hard to talk with others about it.

Maybe this should go in the Health & Medicine Forum, you will get sensible comments there.

Good luck.

Thanks for your useful comment. Mods, could you please move this to the Health and Med forum.

[Thaddeus]

Ok, I seldom air, but on this one I will.

I used to suffer from panic attacks, quite badly in fact.

There is no miracle pill you can pop, and no psychologist can cure you.

The only way to avoid them is to work out what situations cause them, and then avoid those situations. I've had only one attack in the last eight years, and that was in Bangkok.

[Sheryl]

Your friend needs both medication from a psychiatrist and counseling from a therapist. There is a pinned thread here with resources for counseling. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/90910-mental-health-resource-list/ I would suggest trying Ben Wienstein at PSI first.

For doctor, if your friend's condition is not urgent then I would get into therapy first and let the therapist refer, as all psychologists have psychiatrists they work with for patients needing medication. If it cannot wait for that, this doctor at Bumrungrad specializes in panic disorders: http://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Spain-Uneanong

[cmsally]

Does your friend suffer from any allergies. Hay fever, asthma etc ??

http://www.respiratoryreviews.com/sep02/rr_sep02_panic.html

[David48]

I get panic attacks when the gf slows as we pass the jewellery shop (wedding rings section), the brisk step slows from a canter to a trot, then a slow walk and I get a slight hand squeeze ...

... but I digress. Wishing a confident outcome for your friend ...

.

[otherstuff1957]

My wife has had several severe panic attacks (they look like epileptic seizures). She saw a Psychiatrist at Rama 9 Hospital who talked to her and gave her some tranquillisers. She was tapered off the tranquillisers and now just carries her "emergency pills".

As others have pointed out, she tries to avoid situations which cause stress & conflict, as they tent to trigger the attacks. She also did her best to keep herself occupied: She reads a lot of books, she got a part-time job and we watch a lot of movies. All of these seem to be doing a good job of controlling her attacks.

[mickjn]

I think I had one trying to get off terrible medication which I did.Only had the one it was terrible,only a few months ago in Bali knew I just had to get back to my hotel,people in the street asking my was I ok.When I got back to the hotel I felt safe.I think it was a panic attack terrible whatever it was

[mrtoad]

I would follow Sheryl's recommendation of Ben Weinstein. Popping pills, is not the answer.

[jaffacakes1]

It may not be the answer but the easy availability of Xanax at most pharmacies should at least provide a useful band aid until longer term treatment is found. That is, after all what they are designed for.

[Sheryl]

Xanax is a strictly controlled drug in Thailand and OTC sale or purchase in a pharmacy is illegal for both buyer and seller.

It is also highly addictive, and inadevretnt addicition is not unusual in opeople being treated for panic/anxiety disorders, and is a complication to be wary of.

There are some non-addictive medications that can be very helpful in the long=term management of anxiety disorders though.

[Nepal4me]

Xanax is a strictly controlled drug in Thailand and OTC sale or purchase in a pharmacy is illegal for both buyer and seller.

It is also highly addictive, and inadevretnt addicition is not unusual in opeople being treated for panic/anxiety disorders, and is a complication to be wary of.

There are some non-addictive medications that can be very helpful in the long=term management of anxiety disorders though.

such as???

[Sheryl]

Lyrica & similiar

Beta blockers

Better done under the care of a specilaist, self treatment likely to go awry. Also, medication needs to be accompanied by therapy, the two work in synergy. Medication alsone is not likely to be enough.

[kennedy]

I had an anxiety attack 20 some yrs. ago. I thought I was having a heart attack. After discussing the series of events that led up to it with some very professional paramedics and an emergency room doctor I was fine.<br /><br />What I'm trying say is, not all cases are the same.<br /><br />My next trip to the emergency room about 10yrs later while suffering from a perforated ulcer was an anxiety attack x 10 ( strangest feeling you could imagine and no pain ) They had to give me about 4 injections to calm me down enough to take x-rays before operating.<br /><br />None of the above are joking matters. Hope your friend gets what he needs. Having a good friend like yourself, is very important to him, I'm sure of that.<br /><br />

[tfc]

Xanax is a strictly controlled drug in Thailand and OTC sale or purchase in a pharmacy is illegal for both buyer and seller.

It is also highly addictive, and inadevretnt addicition is not unusual in opeople being treated for panic/anxiety disorders, and is a complication to be wary of.

There are some non-addictive medications that can be very helpful in the long=term management of anxiety disorders though.

In addition I believe it was announced that the generic Xanax (alprazolam) is going to be banned some time in June? Though some small bits of information say that the name brand will be available only from government hospitals.

3 of my friends who had moderate panic attacks in Australia were able to control (not eradicate) their issues with Cognitive Behavior Therapy with trained therapists (lots of $$ though because the average was 10 sessions). Another friend who had strong panic attacks after returning from service in Afghanistan said that CBT did nothing for him and he tried 3 therapists with 35+ sessions. In his case he needed the medication because the concern of the doctor (as well as myself and his family) was that he could become a danger to himself and possibly others. The medication along with therapy is ongoing for him and in my opinion in his case the side effects of the medication are far better than the effects of his panic attacks - for now. Don't get me wrong I'm not for people being drugged out for life and when I was younger I was almost knee jerk anti medication. It was only after seeing people absolutely lose their being and become violent and/or unable to even cope in the world and myself being in some fear for my life that I recognized that medication has it's place. It is only when it is handed out to anyone for even the smallest anxiety when there are other alternatives that it becomes an issue.

[WitawatWatawit]

DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT under any circumstances take xanax or any other benzodiazepine or related medicine. Seriously folks, I have been on this &lt;deleted&gt;, and the withdrawal symptoms are horrendous. If you want to know just how bad, google benzobuddies.org. Mods, I know you won't allow links, but please don't can this message. Millions, and I'm not crapping you, are going thru hell with this evil drug, as you will see on this website. I suffered 2 brain seizures because of this &lt;deleted&gt;, and could have died, while many other people spend a year or more in bed as they withdraw. With a bit of luck I may be completely free of this drug's claws by the end of the year. Yes, some people recover quickly, but most don't. Don't take the risk. A pharmacy in Bkk sells it under the counter, which is where I how I got hooked.

Anyway, the OP's concern is about panic attacks. That's another withdrawal consequence of xanax. I've managed to control it, but not conquer it, by regular exercise, meditation, mindfulness, distraction and sheer force of will. It's not an easy battle. If anyone wants me to go into more detail, please let me know.

All the best to your friend, nepal4me. I truly sympathise.

Wit

[Salapoo]

Start with getting the body and mind healthier.

Cut out drugs and alcohol, healthy diet with lots of fruit and veg, a routine bedtime that gives plenty of sleep.

[mingalaba]

I have been suffering from panic attacks too... Fortunately I managed to control them now.

I dont know if it´s really a good idea to see a doctor, I guess that depends on how severe the panic attacks are.

I learned to deal with panic attacks by:

1. Realising and constantly remembering that I am not going to die. Remember that it´s all in your head

2. Learning breathing techniques that calm you down when anxiety comes up... I didn´t believe in them but they really DO help

[mingalaba]

I had an anxiety attack 20 some yrs. ago. I thought I was having a heart attack. After discussing the series of events that led up to it with some very professional paramedics and an emergency room doctor I was fine.<br /><br />What I'm trying say is, not all cases are the same.<br /><br />My next trip to the emergency room about 10yrs later while suffering from a perforated ulcer was an anxiety attack x 10 ( strangest feeling you could imagine and no pain ) They had to give me about 4 injections to calm me down enough to take x-rays before operating.<br /><br />None of the above are joking matters. Hope your friend gets what he needs. Having a good friend like yourself, is very important to him, I'm sure of that.<br /><br />

I can relate to that a lot...

If you don´t know anything about panic attacks when having one you think you are about to die. It feels 100% real...

It´s really incredible how our brain is able to fool us ...

[cheeryble]

No-one's mentioned one possible trigger.

Stop taking coffee.

In addition to any other treatment, heavy exercise and avoiding "must"y thinking......."the world must, ought, or should be the particular way we want it"......"I must NOt have a panic attack"......are both very efficacious.

Edited July 14, 2013 by cheeryble

[Salapoo]

No-one's mentioned one possible trigger.

Stop taking coffee.

And whiskey.

[cheeryble]

No-one's mentioned one possible trigger.

Stop taking coffee.

And whiskey.

Yes it's very true that if you use alcohol as a tranquiliser you will be much more prone to anxiety on the rebound next day.

I used alcohol then benzodiazepines for years as a relief from panic attacks.

Trouble is you are swapping one problem with another, and when you eventually....with great difficulty.....withdraw the original symptoms are likely to come back.

Edited July 14, 2013 by cheeryble

[nicolas18]

I used to suffer from panic attacks when I first moved to Thailand five years ago.

I've managed to bring my anxiety to a manageable level now and I got rid of my panic attacks by taking both Neurontin 100mg and Zoloft. The Zoloft was prescribed to me by a psychiatrist over at BNH Hospital in Silom.

Neurontin (molecule name: gabapentin) is traditionally used as a drug against nerve pain, but it can also sometimes decrease anxiety.

Both Zoloft and Neurontin are over-the-counter drugs in Thailand, but your friend should nevertheless ask a doc first before taking them.

To answer your second question, I have never seen a traditional "psychiatrist" in Thailand, ie. someone who offers therapy over a long period of time. The psychiatrist I saw over at BNH was just like a regular doctor, asking me about my symptoms, giving me advice and prescribing drugs. Very different from psychiatrists in the West.

[Sheryl]

Actually in the west nowadays pyschiatrists almost never provide therapy. That usually is done by pyschologists and other types of professionals. And long drawn out psychotherapy, while it can still be found if for some reason you want it, is less often practised in favor of much shorter-term goal oriented approaches as these have proven more cost effective.

As you note, there are non-addictive drugs which can be of use in anxiety and panic disorders and these are a much better alternative than the benzos which are highly addictive and withdrawal from which can in itself cause panic attacks.Best overseen by a pyschiatrist specializing in anxiety disorders, of which there are a number in Thailand.

[kingstonkid]

Help is close at hand. I was having major difficulties when I came to LOS and saw Dr Thani at Bangkok Nurses Hospital. He is great to talk to and will help you. If meds are needed he will only recommend the minimum.

That wil get your friends level but to resolve the issue I would recommend Anette Pollner at NCS counselling. http://www.ncs-counseling.com/

I have been seeing her for the past 2 years and she really has helped me get things into perspective. Aat this time I still see her just to keep level and to really help keep adjusted to the LOS.

Neither one are expensive and will help your friend resolve his issues.

an appt with Dr Thani is easy to arrange just send them an email and he will book him in the first chance he has. If it is urgent then contact the hospital and tell them.