First panic attack in almost a year

[Alan]

I too was once plagued by anxiety attacks.

At my very worst, a few weeks after a very traumatic experience when I was beaten unconcious outside a pub in the early nineties, I spent a few days experiencing a wave of them - one every twenty minutes! Yes, one every twenty minutes, just sitting in my armchair! I couldn't even sleep and I was so exhausted I really thought I was a goner. The onset of clinical depression set in shortly afterwards. I had to have some heavy medication for a while.

I have had the occasional attack over the years, usually when queueing in a supermarket or bank (my favourite places for panic attacks). Usually, I have been under some stress or I've not been getting enough sleep. I just slow down and talk myself through it. A good trick is to count backwards from a hundred in multiples of three - this usually concentrates my mind on the numbers and not my panic. I'm still happy when I'm out of the shop though!

My only advice to you gsdx is to do your best to treat this attack as a 'one off' occurence. If you dwell on it too much you're likely to trigger more of the darn things! And you must re-visit the place where you had your recent attack soon.

I don't think I'll be ever free of them totally, but I have learned to live with them. And when I have spoken to other people about them, I found out that just about everyone has suffered from a panic attack at sometime or another.

Best of luck.

Alan

 

[gsdx]

I'm sorry that this happened, let's hope it doesn't happen again. They can be very terrifying.

They're only terrifying until you know what's happening. When they first began years ago, I thought I was having heart attacks. Scared the shit right out of me. Now that I know what they are, they're more embarrassing than frightening.

 

[buzzj]

gsdx, it looks as though you have a lot of company right here at JUB. I hope you feel better for having talked about it and gotten feedback from your friends!

 

[1st love ron]

There doesn't have to be a reason for them to happen.

Are you sure?

I had them until I moved out of my tension-filled parents home. My home life was unbearable. That was over 25 years ago. Never had any since (no meds or counciling either).

 

[frankfrank]

I've been there too, gsdx - been quite a few years, though.

I was having then around once a year, and usually I could relate them to periods in my life which were very hectic and stressful (even when it was "good" stress).
I cut my workload three years ago, and I haven't had one since, but they were elevated to several a year during the early and mid 1990's when I was trying to do far too much. I think my last one was in 2001, and they never lasted more than 10-15 minutes.

I've always assumed them to be a warning sign that a nervous breakdown is possible, and I've always then tried not to do much for a couple days afterward.

 

[gsdx]

I know there are a lot of people here who suffer from them, but it seems to be something that many feel must be hidden beneath a basket in the back yard. I've mentioned panic attacks several times since I joined JUB, and each time there are more people who respond.

I knew I wasn't alone in this, but it's nice to see so many people opening up about their own situations and, what's more, the interest and support from those who don't suffer from them.

Thank you to all of you for your wonderful responses.

 

[just_mills]

Sorry to hear that Gs.
I was unaware they could occur without even feeling remotely uncomfortable before-hand! wow!

 

[Joshua_me]

OK,

I'll share a bit more.

Describing a 'panic attack' is nearly impossible, if only because of the word,
'panic'.

'Panic' is a natural human emotion. We've all experienced it from time to time. You panic 'cause you think you've lost your wallet, or are about to
lose your job and have no idea where next months' rent is going to come from... Or something like that.

We've all been thru that.

The difference between that kind of 'normal' panic and a 'panic attack' is the
difference between a slight breeze and a hurricane.

That is, instead of being able to identify where the panic is coming from specifically (IE, the lost wallet) it instead comes from everywhere and no where at the same time. Plus, it's not just a mental thing, it can feel VERY physical as well. Speaking for myself, my heart races, my skin gets clammy and sweaty, the room starts spinning and getting smaller and smaller at the same time.

I wouldn't wish this feeling on my worst enemy. Death, I say with out a trace of exaggeration, would be preferable.

That's not to say that panic disorders don't have outside triggers, they usually do. Mine is driving on the Interstate... Probably because that's where
my worst one ever happened... To the point where I just pulled off the nearest exit and just sat in my car and shook for the next four hours or so...
I had it in my mind that if a state trooper should pass, I'd just flag him down
and tell him, "Just tow my car somewhere....I really don't care, just get me out of here, please."

To be in that state of mind is again, indiscribable. (Fortunately, I suppose,
no cop ever drove by, and *eventually* the feelings passed)

Josh

 

[pills]

They're only terrifying until you know what's happening. When they first began years ago, I thought I was having heart attacks. Scared the shit right out of me. Now that I know what they are, they're more embarrassing than frightening.

Ugh...I suffer from panic atacks as well. Was on Xanax for a while until someone actually told me that I was having panic attacks. Then I just stopped having them...for a while. I got them less and less frequently, but still have them now and again. Just had one at work tonight. :-/ Luckily I was working late and nobody was around.

For me, it just feels like I am going to die. No pain, no trigger, just all of a sudden I feel weak like I am going to pass out and I feel an overwhelming sense of dread and think to myself "this is it." Then after I recover from the blood draining out of my face and eyes darting around to make sure I am still alive (and vertical), I realize that it was another panic attack and everything is fine for a few weeks. Very odd.

You are right on the money when you say they are more embarrassing than frightening. Especially if people are around. They witness a mini-freak out in front of them. It feels a lot more violent on the inside compared to what people see. My friends just say I look like a sleeping cat that got surprised...lol. Just trying to get my bearings. I can laugh about them after, but for a few seconds I am terrified.