_{What Are Panic Attacks?}

Panics attacks are often caused by stress and/or anxiety. During a panic attack your breath speeds up causing your heart rate to go faster, because you breathe in oxygen faster. They can last seconds to a few minutes. This can lead to you feeling some or all the following;

Dizziness and nausea
Hot and cold flushes
Faintness
Trembling
Hyperventilation
Diarrhoea
Heart palpitations and a tight sensation in the chest
Confusion
Feelings of impending disaster or death

Suggested methods to cope with a panic attack involve taking long, deep breaths and counting to three and then letting your breath out slowly.

Other suggestions involve diet, regular sleep, cutting down caffeine intake, alcohol and excercising more.

For enduring panic attacks there is medication, therapy and counselling which help to identify the triggers of your attacks, and to help you deal with them to minimise your attacks.

If you are experiencing any of thse symptoms it would be wise to see your Doctor.

Also, Tunnel vision. 
I have GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) sometimes with Panic Disorder. Had since 2001 (at least) probably longer.

I am skeptical that any of us with IIH have true anxiety disorder.  what I think is that most of us have sensory problems, such that stimulation of our senses leads to overstimulation and anxiety that is a normal response to having one's boundaries violated.  for example, if sounds are too loud for too long, that is very painful and feels threatening, therefore we would respond normally: with fear of the pain.  if you are being attacked, panic is a normal response.  I get upset when people suggest I have anxiety.  would you tell a person living in a war zone that they have an anxiety disorder because they are afraid of the bombs?  I have a normal fear of people because most of them smell toxic to me.  if I am exposed to their chemical smells I feel like I'm suffocating and then my ICP goes up.  that fear is not an anxiety disorder, it's real.  now, it does become a sort of PTSD, because I have a fear generalized to all people because I never know what they are going to smell like or how loud they are going to be, and they have a tendency to get too close.  I am wary but I will relax my guard if a person shows themselves to be benign.  but that is normal when you are in a war zone and you can't tell who is the enemy or not.  does anyone else relate to this?

I've had anxiety for about 7 years now and was only diagnosed with IIH yesterday so unfortunately I think mine is probably "true". My diagnosis has really riled up my anxiety, though, which was mostly under control and in remission. I spent all of last night crying, hyperventilating, shaking, feeling like I was dying, and thinking of places to "flee". Today I broke down and took a small dose of Ativan but, to be honest, I was so anxious about taking it that it probably wasn't worth it 

Is Ativan even safe with IIH? What about things like Benadryl or Gravol/Dramamine that can calm me down enough to sleep? I took nothing last night and the horrible sleep isn't helping my symptoms :(

I would hope that your prescribing doctor took your IH into account. I'd be surprised if any anti anxiety meds had an impact on IH. I myself have been on Prozac for over 16 years. If you're still worried about taking them consult with your Neurologist for peace of mind.

Sorry for the delay in response, I've been trying to cope with everything! My panic attacks/anxiety actually predate my IIH by many years so when I was prescribed anti-anxieties my doctor wouldn't have known. Although, the neuro told me it was fine to take Ativan before the LP, so I assume it's ok. I haven't taken anything since though.