Aid To Sufferers Of Panic Disorder Nightmare

Mark Huber describes it as “falling out of an airplane for 45 minutes.”

Theresa Oberdorfer said, “It’s one of those things that unless you have it, you have no idea. It’s a living nightmare.”

Huber and Oberdorfer suffer from panic disorder, which affects up to 6 million people in the United States and is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. It is usually treated with a combination of medication and behavior therapy.

Most people who have a panic attack for the first time have no idea what is happening. They report feeling as if they were going to die, or believing that they might be going crazy. They say they were relieved to be diagnosed. Some people with panic disorder keep it a secret. For this story, some sufferers preferred anonymity or identified themselves by their first name only. As one sufferer said, “People are funny. They don’t understand about panic disorder. They think you are nuts.”

Huber, who has had panic disorder for five years, says he used to have five or six attacks a day, lasting from 10 minutes to three hours each. Now receiving treatment, he compares his medication to a child’s pacifier, because he needs to carry it with him everywhere, even if he doesn’t use it.

Oberdorfer’s panic attacks began four years ago and she is worried that her children will have panic disorder. One of her sons has several nervous habits and is prone to hyperventilating. Oberdorfer still goes out and tries to have a good time. “I will not let this get the best of me,” she said.

Another sufferer had panic attacks 10 times a day before going on medication. She so feared having to stop the car when she drove that she would call road departments for construction information to avoid any congested areas.

“Once I got in the car, I couldn’t stop,” she said. “If there was a red light, I went through the red light because I couldn’t be stopped.”

When Mona had panic attacks, she would go to her car because she felt secure there. But frequently when she drove somewhere, she didn’t know how she got there or why she was there.

Often, she would end up at a nearby grocery store. Since she never knew why she was there, she would buy a mop. At one time, she had nine mops, even though her home is completely carpeted. Mona is now under medical care and says she hasn’t had a panic attack in a long time.

Three of Mona’s six children have panic disorder. Two are now off medication and one still takes Prozac occasionally.

Sue Wilhem’s problems began in 1983. Her panic grew so strong that she went to her mother’s house and stayed on her couch for six months. She never left the house and was so afraid that she couldn’t even open the curtains. She was so afraid to swallow food that she only ate soup. Sue described the experience as being in fear all day, every day.

Finally, Wilhem’s mother took her to an Idaho hospital, where she was diagnosed. Sue now takes the drug Nordil, which allows her to function with a minimum of attacks.

However, she has to be monitored closely while on the drug. Simple things like a nasal spray can be fatal. She can’t have alcohol, Novocain, cheddar cheese or pepperoni. She can eat only small amounts of chocolate, bananas, sour cream and yogurt.

Chris once tried to drown her panic with alcohol, but in the end it only made things worse. “Alcohol will cover up panic attacks for a while and then it will make it worse after you’ve been drinking for many years,” she said.

Once she was finally diagnosed 10 years ago, Chris said, things improved dramatically. After taking medication for five years, she was so improved that her doctor removed her from the medication. She hasn’t had a panic attack since.

“It was an experience that I wouldn’t wish on anyone; however, it really made me a much stronger and more confident person going through it,” Chris said.

One thing she did with her new confidence was start a Spokane support group for people who suffer from panic attacks. A chapter of Phobics Anonymous, it is a 12-step program.

The group has 30 to 40 members and meets every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. at the Unity Church at 29th and Bernard.

Dave was the first person to show up for a meeting at the church. He is one of only two male members.

Dave’s panic attacks began in 1966. Still, he was able to work for about 18 years. A decade ago, he had a nervous breakdown caused by panic disorder, agoraphobia, excessive drinking and job-related stress. He has been on disability since.

Dave describes his panic attacks as a feeling of “impending doom.”

Miriam Wolfson had her first panic attack six years ago, and while it was terrifying, it also had a bizarre side.

It happened while she was on an airplane with her 2-year-old son. A man sitting next to her was making advances toward her the entire time, even while she had her head between her knees and was hyperventilating. “He followed me through the airport. I mean, I have a wedding ring, I have my son … I really wanted to punch him because he was making it worse,” she said.

Although she was diagnosed last spring, Wolfson is not in treatment. She says that one of the ways she copes is by keeping busy, going to night classes to become a nurse.

Tricia Goodman sees panic disorder from the other side. She works as a social worker at Spokane Psychiatry and Psychology and uses a behavioral treatment program to help people who suffer from panic disorder.

Goodman helps people learn to relax and to identify what triggers the attacks. She claims 80 to 90 percent of patients are panic-free after they have completed the program.

Goodman offers free consultations at the Women’s Health Center at Holy Family Hospital every Wednesday. Anyone interested in a consultation should call 482-2477 for an appointment.

, DataTimes