AboutDaryl Taylor, BSc(Hons) Psychology Expertise As a former youth worker, working in the UK and as a Camp Counsellor in the US, I have volunteered and helped young people from all over the world. I have worked for two or three websites like this in the past since I was about 13/14 and I continue to do so now at the age of 23. I can answer problems on a whole range of issues from friends and family, to drugs, sex, alcohol and relationships etc.
Experience I have worked as a youth worker for local organisations, volunteered on this and other websites giving out information for about 8 years, volunteered at my college and university doing face to face counselling and I have recently worked for an organisation in the UK which specialises in helping young people aged 13-19 to make positive decisions in their lives. I have featured in a UK based magazine called Aim Higher as a case study to show triumpth through adversity and I have recieved an Adult Learner's Award for my pioneering work at college.
Question QUESTION: Hi, I'm 17 and about 3 weeks ago I went to the dentist (I haven't gone in years before) and I had to have a lot of work done. So I decided to get the full anesthesia everything went good but the next day I had a very bad panic attack. The next two days I had less severe panic attacks. But now every night I feel like I'm going crazy. Is this normal or should I go to my doctor?
ANSWER: Hey Victor,
If you have never suffered from panic attacks until now then I can only recommend that you go and see your doctor: the dentist visit may have kick-started stress that has caused this to happen, or there may underlying reasons why this is happening just now.
Panic attacks, although not that severe (in reality) can become a major hinderence in your life if you do not find out what causes them and the steps you need to take to calm yourself down and make yourself comfortable.
It doesn't matter that these attacks are becoming less severe...go and see your doctor to see what they think.
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QUESTION: Thank you, I'm sorry I forgot that when I was younger I had a bad panic attack and for a long time after I felt like I do now. But now its worse than I remember. Also when I was younger (I don't remember if this was before or after the first panic attack) I got into my dads valium and I ate a lot of them. I haven't taken any since then. Can that make a difference?
Answer Hey Victor,
There are several causes for you to have a panic attack that can trigger these symptoms you have described and these triggers should be identified and controlled to stop them from making you feel this anxiety and anxiousness you do. Identifying these triggers is something that you can do yourself by thinking about what it is that causes you to have a panic attack and making a note of what it is and why you feel like you suffer from panic attacks in this instance. However, in order to control them properly and to discover whether or not their is any root cause or risk to your general health, I would still recommend you see a doctor or pyscologist (or therapist) that can help you to learn techniques to keep these attacks at bay. Regardless of what you have done when you are younger, the issue is what is happening now and by talking to healthcare professionals, you can work out whether or not what has happened in your past with your dad's valium has had any effect and if so, how you can counteract it.
