Who has suffered a panic attack?

[Apparition]

Hello, all.

 

 

I am wondering who here has suffered from a panic attack and how long for? What were your symptoms?

 

 

I grew up in a very unstable home with unstable parents. Obviously I took what I thought was the "norm" into my adult hood and THOUGHT I was fine until I suffered certain negative situations that happened in my early 20's. My grandparents both passed away from cancer, months apart from each other. My Aunt got cancer and we literally almost watched her 24/7 and of course, I got to see first hand what dying was like. I witnessed her dying, I witnessed her taking her last breath and it did not help that I was close with her. I also had to witness my first dog dying from cancer and put him down (he was only 7). So, cancer has ran in my family to say the least. After all of that, I started feeling.....not myself. I isolated myself away from everyone/everything. And then....I had "panic attacks".

 

 

I did not know they were called panic attacks at first when I experienced one. I never had them before, and then suddenly I experienced one whilst on the bus going into town. I literally thought I was dying. It wasn't until a few months later that I started being concerned for my mental health. I went to therapy when I was getting panic attacks every day and unable to function properly. I swore I was going insane. I went through prescription medications until I found the right one for me. And then after a few months I felt better, I was getting my life back, I was "happy" again. I started to feel myself UNTIL tonight. I have not had a panic attack in MONTHS until tonight. And it came out of nowhere. I am wondering why this is happening when I thought I had battled that chapter in my life and was rid of them for good. I had to take Diazepam tonight because I did not want to have a full blown panic attack. I have calmed down now, obviously.

 

Anyway, who else suffers from this and how long has it been going on for you?

[Michelle ma Belle]

I have. It started about 6 years ago out of the blue. I didn't really know what was happening to me except that I knew something was wrong, really wrong.

 

Thankfully my therapist showed me techniques to help me ground myself that including breathing and counting and visualizing. Eventually they all but disappeared but it took a good couple of years of active practice.

 

Like you they resurfaced not more than 4 months ago. I believe my break up may have triggered them coupled by some seriously stressful times at work and I'm having to revert back to the tools and techniques that got me through the last time.

 

Unlike you, I do not take any medication for it. That is a personal choice. I prefer to deal with it holistically.

[Apparition]

Hi, Michelle.

 

 

I am glad you do not take medication for yours. I would not recommend it at all. Unfortunately I was naive when it came to this and assumed medication would make it all go away. However, when trying to come off the medication after a year of being on it, I went through horrible withdrawal symptoms and had to be put back on it. I regret ever going onto the medication and one day I will get rid of them. I still get panic attacks despite being on them, but I thought they were gone for good when I didn't have one for months until tonight.

 

May I ask what techniques you use and what your symptoms are? Mine vary. Sometimes I feel I cannot breathe. Sometimes I feel I'm going insane. Sometimes my head feels like it has a rubber band around it and it's being squeezed and I'm about to faint. Honestly, they're so annoying. If panic attacks were a person I would beat the sh*t out of him.

[Michelle ma Belle]

For me it's often loss of breath followed by serious tunnel vision where suddenly sounds are muffled like I'm in a dream and about to pass out. I can't concentrate on anything else but trying NOT to flip the f*ck out.

 

The things that have worked for me is to close my eyes, correct my breathing by taking long deep breaths in and out (just like one would do in yoga and/or mediation) and have my mantra I recite to myself. I stay this way until I feel like the worst is over at which time I open my eyes and continue to focus on one or two things around me.

 

There was a time I used to wear an elastic band or hair band around my wrist and snap it hard whenever I felt like I was about to lose control. It helped. The sharp pain made me focus on it rather than feed into my anxiety. I haven't had to use that technique this time around thankfully.

 

I will also add that when I'm heading into or in the throws of these attacks I need space. I need fresh air or room away from people. Feeling trapped in tight spaces and/or around people often just exasperates the issue which is why I will excuse myself if/when I feel something about to come on.

 

As for prevention, yoga and mediation have been my life line. This round of attacks just happens to have occurred when I was less active in my practice which stands to reason. Now that I've gone back to a more daily practice it's helped a lot.

[Hopeful714]

I had my first panic attack years ago. They started after a bad break up. They went on for a while until I figured out what they were, went to my doctor and got a script for xanax.

 

Once I understood what a panic attack was, and with the help of the drug, the attacks went away and I was able to stop the drug. However till this day I still experience some generalized anxiety at times.

 

Your best bet for relief is to pin point the cause or trigger for these attacks, work through that (with a counselor if necessary) and practice deep breathing/ meditation techniques. Exercise and clean eating also helps.

 

Many people experience this so you are far from alone. The key is learning how to deal with it so doesn't disrupt your life. It can be a real pain to deal with, but can get better with effort.

[Tayla]

I've had them. Worse one was hyper ventilating followed by sharp chest pains. I literally passed out after ten minutes. They used whiffin salt to bring me back.

I was not breathing after I passed out.

 

anxiety is kept at bay thru aroma therepy, breathing and centering reality.

 

As previously conveyed by another poster, The first one sends ya spiralling, all the others exacerbate if not remedied.

 

No pharmaceutical meds... Alternative methods work just as effectively.

 

Meditation and yoga are now done in mini series thru out some days. Even pinching yourself in certain pressure zones have helped.

[thefooloftheyear]

Get checked medically...Certain physiological conditions predispose one to panic attacks..The most common being hormonal imbalance...Its one of the many reasons women suffer panic attacks more than men do...

 

Therapists are fine, but I think they should be considered after or during treatment by a qualified medical doctor..You cant cure whats in your head if your body chemistry isn't where it should be....

 

Wishing all well...

 

TFY

[truthtripper]

Get checked medically...Certain physiological conditions predispose one to panic attacks..The most common being hormonal imbalance...Its one of the many reasons women suffer panic attacks more than men do...

 

Therapists are fine, but I think they should be considered after or during treatment by a qualified medical doctor..You cant cure whats in your head if your body chemistry isn't where it should be....

 

Wishing all well...

 

TFY

I had to do research into this very topic of "chemical imbalances" while studying my pharmacology degree. Up till now there is no scientific evidence that shows that any kind of mental illness is caused by chemical imbalances, despite medication often being a temporary effective treatment.

[truthtripper]

Get checked medically...Certain physiological conditions predispose one to panic attacks..The most common being hormonal imbalance...Its one of the many reasons women suffer panic attacks more than men do...

This is usually solved through diet/lifestyle changes and the inclusion of vitamin/herbal supplements for eg PMT and menopause

[truthtripper]

I had to do research into this very topic of "chemical imbalances" while studying my pharmacology degree. Up till now there is no scientific evidence that shows that any kind of mental illness is caused by chemical imbalances, despite medication often being a temporary effective treatment.

I forgot to add, of course there are many people who are permanently dependant on meds to manage their mental illness. Researchers are still uncertain as to how meds actually function.

[pureinheart]

 

I did not know they were called panic attacks at first when I experienced one. I never had them before, and then suddenly I experienced one whilst on the bus going into town. I literally thought I was dying. It wasn't until a few months later that I started being concerned for my mental health. I went to therapy when I was getting panic attacks every day and unable to function properly. I swore I was going insane. I went through prescription medications until I found the right one for me. And then after a few months I felt better, I was getting my life back, I was "happy" again. I started to feel myself UNTIL tonight. I have not had a panic attack in MONTHS until tonight. And it came out of nowhere. I am wondering why this is happening when I thought I had battled that chapter in my life and was rid of them for good. I had to take Diazepam tonight because I did not want to have a full blown panic attack. I have calmed down now, obviously.

 

Anyway, who else suffers from this and how long has it been going on for you?

 

The best advice I could give you is let you know about a book I'm reading that is really making a difference, it's called 'Triumph Over Fear' by Jerilyn Ross. It is excellent and states and covers what you speak of here. I can't remember all of what they chapter said about this, but if you like I'll re-read it for you and tell you what she says about that.

 

It's entirely possible (and normal) that just when you think all is well the attacks pop up again to think that you've gone 10 steps back in your recovery. This isn't true...

[truthtripper]

I'm sorry you are going through this at the moment. I know what it's like too. I've had these relapses many times throughout my life. It's so frightening to lose that control you thought you'd nailed.

 

Since I was a baby I was sexually abused all my childhood by my grandfather. It has left me in a constant state of dissociation which has rendered me extremely vulnerable to panic. In fact I feel my whole life has been one gigantic panic attack. I have worked hard at developing a cool exterior in order to get through life, but underneath it all lies terror. I have suffered several nervous breakdowns as a result. I've tried a few prescription medications but they tend to exacerbate my dissociation. Chinese medicine, particularly chinese date seed(zizyphus) has been of great help for my sleep and daytime anxiety. Though after about a year I began to develop a tolerance to it as I did with all the other herbal remedies I tried, which lead me to exploring different physical therapies. Feldenkrais therapy has been exceptionally helpful. As other posters have mentioned here, working on grounding oneself or feeling safe within your own body is the key to healing from panic. Feldenkrais has taught me to tune into my body and feel where I'm holding the tension. I feel it for what it is, research it without judgement, develop a relationship with it. In learning to know your own body better, you gain more control over it. If you are consciously unaware of the original cause of your panic(which is usually a childhood trauma buried deep in your subconscious), this body learning process will naturally lead you to it.

 

When I feel my panic rising to the surface, I bend my knees(while standing) and let my pelvis drop down and forward. The lower back straightens and it's muscles relax which allows the tummy muscles to also relax and let the breath easily enter the pelvic area. The lower tummy can easily expand with inhalation. Since the pelvic area is the central part of the body and the powerhouse of all movement, when it's relaxed, automatically the rest of the body follows. It sounds complicated but is a relatively simple movement with practice. It has really helped me curb my panic.

 

If you can stand the heat, cayenne pepper is an excellent muscle and mind relaxant. It opens up all the blood vessels and gets your metabolism working. I haven't developed a tolerance to this yet, been taking it for about 6 months now. I take a heaped teaspoon of cayenne powder with my dinner. It really helps with sleep too.

Edited December 10, 2015 by truthtripper

[thefooloftheyear]

I had to do research into this very topic of "chemical imbalances" while studying my pharmacology degree. Up till now there is no scientific evidence that shows that any kind of mental illness is caused by chemical imbalances, despite medication often being a temporary effective treatment.

 

 

Pharmacology degree or not, I'm saying no way....

 

You are gonna have to prove that somehow, because its widely accepted that some of the most common causes of a variety of mental conditions can be exacerbated/triggered by physiological imbalances in the body...

 

TFY

[truthtripper]

Pharmacology degree or not, I'm saying no way....

 

You are gonna have to prove that somehow, because its widely accepted that some of the most common causes of a variety of mental conditions can be exacerbated/triggered by physiological imbalances in the body...

 

TFY

Yes, it is widely accepted and hypothesised but there is simply no concrete scientific evidence existing which proves it.

 

Please do your own search and let me know if you find otherwise.

[thefooloftheyear]

Yes, it is widely accepted and hypothesised but there is simply no concrete scientific evidence existing which proves it.

 

Please do your own search and let me know if you find otherwise.

 

No need to....

 

Ive watched people in my own life completely change their personality due to drug abuse....Paranoia, depression, suicidal, etc..

 

Then become "themselves" again, once they got clean.. ..Complete reversal...

 

There are women in my own life that are absolute Jekyll and Hyde, depending on the time of the month....Two completely different people..

 

 

In all cases, there are clear cut psychological effects based on imbalances in body chemistry,,,,

 

 

And no...I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express, either..

 

TFY

[truthtripper]

No need to....

 

Ive watched people in my own life completely change their personality due to drug abuse....Paranoia, depression, suicidal, etc..

 

Then become "themselves" again, once they got clean.. ..Complete reversal...

 

There are women in my own life that are absolute Jekyll and Hyde, depending on the time of the month....Two completely different people..

 

 

In all cases, there are clear cut psychological effects based on imbalances in body chemistry,,,,

 

 

And no...I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express, either..

 

TFY

Check this out

 

Real Disease vs. Mental Disorder

[Apparition]

Thank you all for your responses. I wasn't expecting this many.

 

 

I do not suffer from anything physical. I have battled depression for quite some time and have managed to cope with it for many years. It's just been recently that it all came crashing down on me when I started suffering from panic attacks. I do not consider myself 10 steps back because I had one last night. I consider myself getting better, although, I will have hiccups here and there but I refuse to let them bring me to where I was a couple months ago. I refuse to let it control me and my life. My panic attacks usually come on now when I am alone with my thoughts. I worry excessively and in the back of my mind, I'm always worrying about something. I think that is why I am prone to these panic attacks because otherwise, they never happen when I'm busy. I once had a life where I never experienced such a thing, and of course, it is possible to be rid of them for good as I once lived a life without them before.

 

 

There has been many times where I thought I had a brain tumor because of the attacks or something wrong with my heart, (because I would get chest pains when experiencing an attack) I probably self diagnosed myself with several types of cancers and various illnesses. When really, there is nothing at all wrong with me. I believe it is about control and power when it comes to panic attacks. We have two options, we can either sit and face it whilst trying to control it or we can blow up and start panicking. I know it is entirely uncomfortable when it comes on because of all the symptoms that come with it. You feel you're about to faint or have a seizure, when really, your brain is essentially leading you up to a huge burst of energy yet there is no release so you are constant on edge waiting for something to happen and this cycle goes on and on. You wait. Though, waiting makes it worse. You're better off distracting yourself and doing whatever you were doing before it happened. I would recommend people who suffer from high anxiety that they avoid anything negative that would induce their anxiety. Such as reading about illnesses and diseases. Your anxiety is like a sponge and will soak up all that negativity and drown you in such thoughts, it will consume your mind and tell you that you have this or that. You don't. Though, if you are worried, get checked out once and then be done with it.

 

 

Life is far too precious to worry. We can get over it, guys. Have faith and stay strong.

[truthtripper]

There are women in my own life that are absolute Jekyll and Hyde, depending on the time of the month....Two completely different people..

Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and mental illness are two completely different health issues. PMS can exacerbate already existing mental health problems and vice versa. For example, I have an underlying panic disorder and tend to panic more a few days before my period, then my increased panic hightens my PMS which in turn further stirs up my panic and etc. which explains the intense Jekyll and Hyde behaviour in me. Tiredness and being over-worked don't help either.

[truthtripper]

TFY, if you're still around, although meds can be effective in treating mental illness, this doesn't mean that mental illness is caused by chemical imbalance. The truth is, it is not known how they work. Psychotropic meds are not specifically designed to treat mental illness as they were historically accidentally discovered during the research in the treatment of other diseases.

[Myragal]

I'm no longer an ER nurse but used to see patients presenting themselves with panic attacks.

 

I don't know the OP's medical history. No comment.

 

However, in general. They are very REAL. In my unqualified opinion stop trying to analyze some psychological underpinning. They are more likely a response to something immediate or, as some rightly mention, a physical issue.

 

Also, if not frequent, then a natural healthy response to situation. Flight or flight, etc. Or...insulin shock. Your body is saying 'do something now!'.

 

Best not to comment on meds. Way too many variables to consider. Your doctor is trying to treat YOUR issue and not some cookie cutter case.

[truthtripper]

I'm no longer an ER nurse but used to see patients presenting themselves with panic attacks.

 

I don't know the OP's medical history. No comment.

 

However, in general. They are very REAL. In my unqualified opinion stop trying to analyze some psychological underpinning. They are more likely a response to something immediate or, as some rightly mention, a physical issue.

 

Also, if not frequent, then a natural healthy response to situation. Flight or flight, etc. Or...insulin shock. Your body is saying 'do something now!'.

 

Best not to comment on meds. Way too many variables to consider. Your doctor is trying to treat YOUR issue and not some cookie cutter case.

Certain physical diseases can cause anxiety-like symptoms, but they are also accompanied by non-emotional symptoms. I used to have graves disease(my thyroid hormone levels are normal now). My anxiety was sky-rocketing. I instinctively felt there was really something else going on with me because I was feeling hungry all the time, eating more than usual but losing so much weight. My doctor was trying to push antidepressants onto me, so I changed to another doctor who diagnosed my graves. So what actually took me to the doctor was more the fact that my clothes were beginning to hang off me.

 

Kidney disease can also cause mental illness type symptoms, but is also accompanied by obvious physical symptoms like changes in urination and swelling of certain body parts. The list is endless, but most importantly doctors should test patients thoroughly especially if they also express non-mental symptoms, like what happened to me.

[soph-walker]

Hello, all.

 

 

I am wondering who here has suffered from a panic attack and how long for? What were your symptoms?

 

 

I grew up in a very unstable home with unstable parents. Obviously I took what I thought was the "norm" into my adult hood and THOUGHT I was fine until I suffered certain negative situations that happened in my early 20's. My grandparents both passed away from cancer, months apart from each other. My Aunt got cancer and we literally almost watched her 24/7 and of course, I got to see first hand what dying was like. I witnessed her dying, I witnessed her taking her last breath and it did not help that I was close with her. I also had to witness my first dog dying from cancer and put him down (he was only 7). So, cancer has ran in my family to say the least. After all of that, I started feeling.....not myself. I isolated myself away from everyone/everything. And then....I had "panic attacks".

 

 

I did not know they were called panic attacks at first when I experienced one. I never had them before, and then suddenly I experienced one whilst on the bus going into town. I literally thought I was dying. It wasn't until a few months later that I started being concerned for my mental health. I went to therapy when I was getting panic attacks every day and unable to function properly. I swore I was going insane. I went through prescription medications until I found the right one for me. And then after a few months I felt better, I was getting my life back, I was "happy" again. I started to feel myself UNTIL tonight. I have not had a panic attack in MONTHS until tonight. And it came out of nowhere. I am wondering why this is happening when I thought I had battled that chapter in my life and was rid of them for good. I had to take Diazepam tonight because I did not want to have a full blown panic attack. I have calmed down now, obviously.

 

Anyway, who else suffers from this and how long has it been going on for you?

 

I have experienced panic/anxiety attacks since I was 17, over 10 years now.

 

The first time I had one was in college, just walking to meet my friends in the canteen area...had to divert to the ladies toilets and sit in a stall and catch my breath. It felt like I was going to die, wanted to throw up and pass out, teamed with tunnel sound and vision and a pounding heart and dry mouth.

 

I have managed to control my reaction to having them, I have learnt not to freak out if I have one and accept fully that it will pass- they always do!!

The scary thing is that they will most often return again and this reoccurance can be habitualised by the way we try to deal with an attack.

 

I think visualisation is a great technique. I will sit still, close my eyes and try to feel where I'm actually feeling that anxious knot in my body. It's mostly in my chest and upper abdomen. Once I've located it, I imagine it as a little ball of static electricity giving off sparks. I visualise clean, cool water pouring over the ball and diminishing the sparks one by one until it's just a smooth silver sphere.

 

To anyone who's not experienced panic attacks, this kind of technique may sound bonkers, but the proof is that I have had fewer and fewer attacks as the past 2 years have gone on. If I do have one, I try to make a joke with myself about it and laugh.

 

I read once that fear and excitement are basically the same emotion, I really think there is something in this and try to be mindful, if there is an imminent social event or trip I am attending, that my fear is also because I am looking forward to the precipitating events and that held me relax in turn.

 

I drink chamomile tea, use Rescue Remedy by Bach (it may be a placebo but I don't frankly give a rats ass) and also meditate.

 

Anxiety can also be further intensified by lack of confidence. I watched this video recently and was astonished at just how much it helped me and my anxiety levels.

The part where the speaker, Amy, is talking of power poses is particularly amazing- I have tried these power poses and have felt like giggling at how good I felt afterwards!

 

This is the 20 minute video, I highly recommend, however, the 5 min video is also just as useful!

 

I really hope that this post will help, wishing you peace.

[deckard11]

I posted about this in another section and got no responses. So it's good to read some of yours and figuring out the symptoms. I've been stressing at my new job lately. I dread going in there and now every time I do my stomach gets these burning pains. I also feel discomfort in my chest and the other night when I was working my left eye began to twitch a lot.

[Apparition]

Hi again, ladies and gents.

 

 

 

It's great to see a bundle of people who suffer from panic attacks comment on my thread. I thought I would share something I realized I didn't mention, it popped into my head as I was reading your posts. Well, panic attacks and worrying was never my thing until I experienced one when coming off medication for my depression, so I was put back on it. Ever since then I have not felt my old self. I'm on Mirtazapine and have been for 3-4 years now. I've tried to come off it and suffered horrible withdrawal symptoms so had to go back on it. I had panic attacks every single day I wasn't on it. I feel like it's sparked the panic attacks and now that I'm back on it I only occasionally get them once in a blue moon. However, I am always worrying in the back of my mind, reading into my mental health, diagnosing myself with various illnesses. As soon as I feel myself getting pains in my head, such as headaches or sharp pains that last seconds, I always diagnose myself with a brain tumor and think, "maybe this is the reason for all this change". Anyway, I know it isn't logical thinking but part of me wishes it was a brain tumor causing all this then at least I'd know it's not just me...it's something that can perhaps be fixed. It sounds wrong, but it's like having a broken leg and you can just walk into the hospital, get diagnosed with a broken leg and have it all bandaged up or whatever. Then you go home and heal...and you're back to your old self. This isn't like that whatsoever and it's irritating.

 

 

Did any of you get rid of your panic attacks completely? And did you use medication to tackle your anxiety?

[losangelena]

Did any of you get rid of your panic attacks completely? And did you use medication to tackle your anxiety?

 

I have not had one in a very long time. I've always had an anxious disposition, and about five years ago had my first panic attack out of the blue. I thought I was dying of ... something, I didn't know. I made a coworker take me to the ER and the doctor there said to try and cut out caffeine and reduce stress.

 

I had no idea what he was talking about, because I didn't feel stressed out. Looking back, I can see that I led a very stressed lifestyle—I drank coffee until lunch, switched to beer in the afternoon; I worked a full-time job and on the weekend was involved in a lot of activities. I never let myself really rest. I didn't like my job, was under a lot of financial stress and had trouble saying no. I really do think the panic attacks were my body's way of saying SLOW DOWN.

 

Those first few launched me into a year-long struggle with hypochondria and cyberchondria. I would obsessively look up health information online. I'd google heart palpitation and fear I was going to have a heart attack. I was convinced that I had cancers and liver problems and heart problems. I went to the ER four times and to my GP's office dozens of times.

 

Treatment-wise, I took a small dose of Xanax (1.5 mg a day, which I eventually weened myself off of), I saw a therapist once a week and I started doing meditation/breathing exercises twice a day. I changed my diet—cut out caffeine and booze, took a lot of supplements and avoided anything with a lot of sugar or processed ingredients. Moreover, I had to learn to not fight my physical symptoms, which was scary, but letting them kind of wash over me and NOT reacting fearfully was probably the quickest way to get my stress levels back down to normal.

 

"Quick" is a relative term, by the way. I was a mess for about a year. I consider myself lucky, because a lot of people struggle for much longer. Now, I will still get physical manifestations of anxiety if I am not being watchful of my stress. I'll get that tightness in the chest and the tensed muscles. I've had occasional panic attacks here and there. They're still not fun but I know they're not the end of the world. I don't see them as things I will eradicate forever, but things I can work on managing.