The term “panic attack” is part of our common language. We hear it all the time.
“When I saw the electricity bill I just had a panic attack!” Or, “I had a panic attack when I woke up and saw I was two hours late for work!” Or, “When I realized I’d just eaten a raw oyster I about had a panic attack!” All these statements are inaccurate uses of the term “panic attack,” and are what are called clinomorphisms, or exaggerated use of a medical term.
Panic attacks are no laughing matter, and people who have the real ones cringe when they hear the term bandied about in everyday speech like it was nothing. They know the feeling that you are about to die, the intense fear, and the sudden onset are far more than what most people think of as a “panic attack.”
So how does it really feel to have a panic attack? Few people, aside from panic attack sufferers themselves, really know. It’s the purpose of this post to give you an insider’s view of what it actually feels like to have a panic attack.
What exactly is a panic or anxiety attack?
Sudden surge of overwhelming fear
A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming fear that comes without warning and without any obvious reason. It is far more intense than the feeling of being “stressed out” that most people experience. A panic attack is marked by:
- Occurring suddenly, without any warning and without any way to stop it.
- The level of fear is way out of proportion to the actual situation, and is often completely unrelated.
- It passes in a few minutes, however, repeated attacks can continue to recur for hours.
For detailed information on panic attacks, please see the “Panic Attacks” reference article, For help making it through a panic attack, see the post, “Are You Having a Panic Attack? What Can You Do?“
What do psychiatrists say are the symptoms of a panic attack?
The “official” criteria for panic attacks
First, let’s get the “official” criteria for determining whether what you are feeling is a panic attack or not. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) of the American Psychiatric Association is the standard for diagnosis of mental disorders all over the world.
It requires that at least four of the following symptoms develop abruptly and reach a peak within 10 minutes for a diagnosis of panic attack:
1. Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
2. Sweating
3. Trembling or shaking
4. Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
5. Feeling of choking
6. Chest pain or discomfort
7. Nausea or abdominal distress
8. Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
9. Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
10. Fear of losing control or going crazy
11. Fear of dying
12. Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)
13. Chills or hot flushes
My panic attacks
Muscle constrictions, pounding heart, weakness and tingling, and fear of losing control
I hesitate to insert a personal side to this post, but since I have first-hand knowledge of how it feels to have a panic attack, I believe it is appropriate to describe mine. Each of my panic attacks is a little different, but all follow the same general outline: muscle constrictions, pounding heart, weakness and tingling, and fear of losing control and fainting.
My panic attacks start with muscle constrictions and tingling around the eyes, then the feeling spreads to my mouth and lower face. I develop a headache and feel a choking muscle constriction in my neck and tightening of my chest. There is a funny feeling in my chest, like shooting electricity. My heart starts pounding, my breathing is constricted and I feel very weak, especially in my arms and hands. A tingly feeling spreads over my whole body. I have a sense of unreality, of watching myself from a distance, and a growing fear of being unable to control myself. As things escalate, I desperately look for someplace — any place — to escape to. At its peak, I feel like I am going to faint and if things continue, I will surely die.
What do others say are their symptoms during a panic attack?
An informal compiled list of symptoms
Panic attacks are by their nature subjective experiences, and like all subjective experiences, are open to the interpretation and description of the sufferer. Following is an informal compiled list of symptoms from Wikipedia. They are grouped under “physical,” “mental,” “emotional,” and “perceptual” headings:
Physical
- A sensation of adrenaline going through your entire body
- Sweating
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Stomach Problems (spastic colon)
- Racing or pounding heartbeat or palpitations
- Chest pain
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Headache
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea or stomach pains
- Hyperventilation
- Choking or smothering sensations
- Hot flashes
- Cold flashes
- Tingling or numbness in the hands, face, feet or mouth (paresthesia)
- Feelings of “crawly,” “itchy,” or “cringy” skin sensations.
- Burning sensations
- Trembling or shaking
- Feeling of claustrophobia
- Feeling like the body is shutting down and/or dying
- Tremors in the legs and thighs
- Tingling spine
- Feeling like one is experiencing a heart attack
- Exhaustion
- Muscle spasms
- Feeling of physical weakness or limpness of the body
- Grinding teeth or tensing other muscles repeatedly or for prolonged periods of time
- Temporary blindness
- Sizzling or ringing in ears
Mental
- Intense and/or frightening realizations of reality
- Loss of the ability to react logically to stimuli
- Loss of cognitive ability in general
- Racing thoughts (often based on fear)
- Irrational thoughts
- Loud internal dialogue
- Feeling like nothing is real
- Feeling of impending doom
- Feeling of “going crazy”
- Feeling out of control
- Feeling like no one understands what is happening
- Vision is somewhat impaired (eyes may feel like they are shaking.)
- Feeling like you are going to die any second
- Avoidance behavior
- Agoraphobia
Emotional
- Terror, or a sense that something unimaginably horrible is about to occur and one is powerless to prevent it
- Fear that the panic is a symptom of a serious illness
- Fear that the panic will not subside
- Fear of losing control
- Fear of death
- Fear of living
- Fear of going crazy
- Flashbacks to earlier panic trigger
- Intense “scared” feeling
- Fear of failure
Perceptual
- Tunnel vision
- Heightened senses
- The apparent slowing down or speeding up of time
- Dream-like sensation or perceptual distortion (derealization)
- Dissociation, or the perception that one is not connected to the body or is disconnected from space and time (depersonalization)
- Feeling of loss of free will, as if acting entirely automatically without control
If you think that you are having panic attacks…
Panic attacks are not dangerous in themselves
If you are experiencing four or more of the symptoms listed by the DSM-IV for panic attacks within 10 minutes, you need to contact your doctor as soon as possible. Panic attacks are not dangerous in and of themselves, though you often feel like you’re dying. But the avoidance of the situations that trigger panic attacks can very rapidly lead to a severe constriction of your life, to Panic Disorder, and to Agoraphobia. The danger is not in the panic attacks, but in what they can lead to.
Panic attacks are one of the most treatable of the Anxiety Disorders, and many times a mental health professional can help you manage them without the use of drugs. The course of treatments is often not very long, and you will have the ability to control your condition for the rest of your life.
What do you think?
- Do you have panic attack symptoms that are not listed here?
- Can you describe your own panic attacks?
- What do you think of people who misuse the term “panic attack?”
What can you do now?
Your comments are always welcome, and are important to this blog’s community! Leave a comment now.
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©2008 Anxiety, Panic & Health. All rights reserved.
Resources used in this post:
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association. 1994.
Wikipedia. (2008). Panic attack. Retrieved June 28, 2008 from Wikipedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack
Related Posts:
- Are You Having a Panic Attack? What Can You Do?
- Conquering Your Panic: Dave’s Success Story
- Can Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks Be Cured?
- Anxiety Disorders: Just What Are They? – Part 2
- Anxiety Sensitivity Linked To Future Psychological Disorders
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Harry, I’m glad that your mind is relieved and that I was able to help you. You seem to be an accomplished young man, and I wish you all joy and good fortune in your life.
Thought I would post my experience with panic attacks. I’ve experienced what were probably Limited Symptom panic attacks since I was in elementary school. I remember feeling incredibly anxious, with nausea and tingling in my face. It happened every once in a while. Sadly this would occur more frequently when I would go over to a friends house. I have no idea why. Maybe separation anxiety that triggered LS panic attacks?
Anyway, I have always been very anxious, but I think there was a period of time where I didn’t experience panic attacks of any sort between maybe 5th and 7th grade. I started feeling chronically depressed. I experienced a full blown panic attack for the first time (in memory at least) in either 8th or 9th grade (at a friends house). I thought I was going to die. It didn’t make any sense at the time, because I had a lot of fun with her, and I had just gotten the ok to stay another day. Around this time I ceased being able to eat outside of my home/school because of LS panic attacks.
Increased anxiety in high school with what could be described as full blown panic attacks (but less severe than I would have later). You are right that avoiding panic attacks and triggers can ultimately lead to avoiding life. I spent most of my time at home. I started seeing a counselor because of (related?) depression and anxiety. Stopped seeing counselor after a few months of treatment. Continued feeling depressed, experiencing anxiety, a few LS panic attacks through the first few years of college.
A few years ago (‘06) I started having full blown panic attacks with increasing frequency. It was summer, and I was on vacation (on a boat) when I had a particularly bad one. I think this is partially because there was no physical means of escape. I was on a boat. With a bunch of people. On the ocean.
My symptoms.
Blood rushing from my face, tingling in my hands and face, nausea, shakiness,
the feeling that my physical face was constricting my actual face (I cannot describe this any better.), heart palpitations (ku thunk-a.. it felt like when you go over a bump and it feels like your heart/stomach drops), very tense muscles, time slowed down, noise was irritating (people trying to talk to me was VERY irritating.), heat in my chest and stomach, sharp breathing, tunnel vision, having to shake my legs. I’d like to add that because I am stubborn, I went out the next day on another boat, and to my happiness, I did not get a panic attack.
After that summer I had a very, very rough semester. Multiple panic attacks ( maybe one prolonged attack with recurring symptoms?) during a class. I dropped down to one course (this one course I loved so much, it was a workshop type setup. When I had an attack I could simply walk out of the class and get some air/ sit by myself until it passed).
They became gradually less frequent over the past few years, with incidental full blown panic attacks (maybe 4-6 in a year? it’s hard to estimate) and small LS panic attacks.
I most recently experienced a prolonged full blown one yesterday. I was on what would be a 4 hour car ride to Boston and back. Ugh. This time though it wasn’t that my hands tingled, but they BUZZED. My legs too. It felt like I had my hand on a car thats motor was running, or like my extremities were in a field of really strong static electricity (or that they were generating one). First time I had experienced that, and I felt it when my other symptoms had started to subside a little bit. I had experienced an LS panic attack about a week ago when I made the same trip.
At this point, I know that I am not going to die when I get one. I think knowing this helps. I usually get through them by trying to alter my breathing (this is usually not successful in that it stops the attack, but this can make it less intense for me.) I become aware of my heartbeat and try to slow it with my breathing (note that this is very hard to do when you’re experiencing a panic attack, but if you can do even a little bit, it does help). I have found it helpful to press on my chest about three inches below where my collarbones hit my sternum. Sometimes I will run a line of pressure from there down to where my sternum ends. I also find it helpful to press on my neck at the base of my skull and at the sides of my neck underneath my jawbone (maybe repeated activities help? I’m not sure why these would help otherwise). I purposefully bounce my legs to let off some energy (they’ll shake anyway, so why not). Strangely this last time since the radio was on I found it soothing to follow along in my head with the songs I know. Talk though, continued to be very irritating. Anyone else experience this?
I.D.K- I’ll try that next time if I’m near a faucet.
If I am not in a confined space, I find somewhere that I can dispose of the excess energy by punching the air, kicking, running, ANYTHING active.
If I have access to water I put it on my neck and my chest.
Anyway, sorry for the long post, just felt like writing.
Hi there. I’m 14 years old and i have Panic disorder and agoraphobia… my life has been so difficult and I’m glad I found this article. Its really quite pleasant to know that I’m not alone because ever sincei first started getting these attacks, I’ve felt like I was all by myself with it. I’ve been better lately but i still get random “break outs” of panic attacks. I think I’ve started another one and I must say, I’m very scared. I just cant seem to keep my attacks away..
DO you have any methods are techniques that you know of that work? Please and thank you.
Anni
Hi Anni,
I’m very sorry to hear that you have been having panic attacks, but I’m very glad to see that you are trying to reach out and do something about it! As you can see, you are not alone; there are many people that suffer from this as well as many who had suffered and have been cured. In fact, there are probably people that you know which suffer from this (teens and adults), but they just don’t talk about it.
There are several things that you can do to begin down a path of recovery and release from this disorder, many of which are listed on this website or have been commented on by Mike and others.
The first most important thing is this: begin to do something about this now; don’t let it continue to keep hold of you. The longer you wait, the harder it’s going to be and the longer you have suffered. I waited for 8-9 years before ever doing something about it. At that point, I was having severe panic attacks and was increasingly “home bound” (or at least somewhere “safe”).
That said, there are definitely some very good books on this subject, one which I found very good is “Overcoming Panic, Anxiety & Phobias” by Shirley Babior. I found it helpful to understand what was going on in my body and mind when I suffered panic attacks, so that then I could see that (a) I wasn’t going to die from them and (b) how doing certain things could help/hurt the situation. (p.s. I wrote quite a bit about this in a post found here ( http://anxietypanichealth.com/2009/01/08/conquering-your-panic-daves-success-story/#more-667 ) as well as in previous comments in this blog entry above.
I believe that what is ultimately necessary is to seek help from a trained professional that specializes in treatment of panic disorder (this would be a psychiatrist). They will help you through both gaining control of your current symptoms and then to get to the root of the issue that is driving your panic attacks.
So – another important thing – have you discussed your panic attacks with anyone or have you been keeping this all to yourself? Have you talked to your parents about it? If not, then you need to. If yes, then what has their reaction been? Are they supportive in treating this? Many people don’t know what panic attacks are and so they just brush it off. They just need a little bit of an education and then they will understand both how real they are and how horrible and controlling it is.
Take care Anni! I’m sure we’ll all talk more… :-)
- Dave
Thank you so much! :)
To answer your questions,
yes ihave talked to my parents and most of the teachers at my school. My mother had panic attacks as well when she was younger. I’m also on medicationfor it and i do see a pyschiatrist. I’ve gotten panic attacks my whole life but was only diagnosed 2 years ago. The difficult thing about my attacks is that i get bouts of them. Sometimes i wont get them for a really long time and then ill start getting them everyday for a few months. I just really need to find out if there is any way of gaining full control for long-term amounts of time. And i feel as though, im the only person who gets these phases… So if any one else does, please let me know and tell me what you did about it. Im really quite desperate. I barely go out to see my friends because its just so hard for me to lewave home and im afraid of having another attack…
Thank you TONS,
Anni
Sara, thank you so much for your comment. Your description of what you do to dissipate a panic attack are very interesting, and I’m sure will be helpful to others. And no, your comment was not too long!
Many of the things you are doing — your breathing and the areas where your apply presssure — remind me of the Alexander Technique, a technique of body re-education and coordination. I learned about the Alexander Technique from a professor in music school as a way to relieve tension. I’ve applied them all my life, particularly as a way to reduce headaches and to head off a panic attack.
I’m sorry it’s taken so long to reply. I got involved in the big “Surviving the Recession”series and got way behind on comment follow-up.
Hi, Anni! Thank you for your comments. I want to be sure you know you have friends here who understand what you’re going through and want to help you.
One of the cruelties of Anxiety Disorders in general and panic attacks in particular is that you feel so all alone, like you are the only one in the world that is having these horrible experiences. But like Dave says, there are lots of people who have panic attacks and just are not showing it — have you thought that you are having panic attacks and not showing it to the people around you?
And you are not alone in having panic attacks! Up to 17 million Americans have panic attacks! That means that one in every 16 people you see has panic attacks! That also means that in every classroom you sit in and every mall you go to, you can look around and know that you are seeing someone else who has panic attacks!
One of the main bad things panic attacks do to you is to make you avoid the situations that cause them. But avoidance only makes the panic attacks worse — really! The mind focuses more and more on all the places and situations that you could have a panic attack, even though you have never had one in those places and situations. And guess what? You avoid those. And the mind thinks more, and you avoid more. As you can see, it gets worse and worse.
There are lots of techniques for calming a panic attack once it starts. There have been lots of good suggestions here in the comments on this post, particularly those of Sara. I’m sure your Mother and your psychiatrist can offer more. In addition, the reference article on Panic Attacks has a section toward the bottom entitled “What is the treatment for panic attacks” that has some helpful information.
But the thing I most want to emphasize to you is that you need to work on not letting your mind fantasize about all the places and situations you might have a panic attack in! All that fantasizing will do is to make you avoid more and more situations until you become a virtual prisoner in your own house!
Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. We are here for you, care about you, and want to know how you are doing!
P.S. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to respond immediately to your comment. I got way behind because I was working on a big project that took up all my time. Even my dog didn’t get petted like he is used to!
Dave, I just want to take a minute and thank you for all the help you have been to so many people on this blog! Not only the story of your successful treatment for panic attacks, but especially for all the comments you have made to help others. Your generosity and caring concern are an inspiration to me and to the many, many others who read them!
Hi Anni,
I’ve been thinking about your questions and how they related to my experiences. I definitely went through high and low times of panic attacks (high and low being more/less frequent as well as more/less severe). This was most likely traced back to what was going on at the time, how I was handling it personally, etc.
As you look at how this is happening in your case, you should be aware that your immune system does play a part in keeping your anxiety under control. When either your immune system is depressed (or under attack such as is the case with stress) or you are emotionally depressed, your anxiety levels may increase and the chance of a panic attack are higher because your body can’t “fight it”. This is sometimes counter-intuitive because we think of being “depressed” as not being anxious (just want to sleep, no energy, definitely not “hyped up”); almost seems like the opposite. But it works against us in this area. So for instance if you are run down, sick, having lots of homework or having relationship issues with friends at school, parents, etc., then these can all lead to heightened anxiety and contribute to an outbreak of attacks.
And many times, we may not “feel” stress, but the stress is felt sub-consciously (it’s there but we are unaware of it).
I was just talking about this to one of our friends who is 19. She deals with a lot of anxiety; one of her techniques for relieving herself from this is to work out a lot. But of course this is only a technique (which is actually a good thing assuming that it is not “over done”) to deal with the realities of her life.
One thing that I learned to do was to understand how tension/stress built up in my body physically. For me, I tend to hold it in my stomach and my shoulders. I was aware of my shoulders, but not my stomach for quite some time. Even right now as I’m writing this, I noticed that it is/was/is (ooops) tense :-). I’ve then also learned to relax these areas when I begin to feel the tension building; it’s become second nature for me at this point, but I had to focus on pro-actively relaxing – pretty much constantly at times.
I think a key thing here is to recognize this cycle in your body early on and keep it from increasing in strength before it turns into an attack or series of attacks. Yep, that takes “training” in order to do that, but it definitely can be done.
Are there certain techniques that your psychiatrist has been teaching you? Have some worked? Some not? Since you are still liking to stay home where it is “safe” (rather than go out with friends), he/she will need to guide you back out of this to where you are “free” again to enjoy the world. Have they started to do this with you yet?
Take care,
-Dave
Well ive taken quite a liking to yoga but unfortunately that technique isnt available to me when im, lets say, in class ,for example. And I think a lot of my stress is sub-concious because currently, i dont feel overly stressed at all. Perhaps i just need to get more in tune with my body and mind. I also feel like i get break-outs of attacks after i have a particularly bad one…which happens for very obvious reasons. Really, I just think that im not fully practiced in dealing with all of this yet but I believe that I can get through and i find that that belief is the key to winning.
Thank you tons for all your help, its given me so much hope!
Thanks again,
Anni
Hello my name is Paula and I had a panic attack a couple days ago. I actually had my first one about a month ago, I freaked out and went to Urgent Care where a Dr. said it was just that. It came out of the blue, I was at a birthday party eating pizza and I felt like I was going to faint suddenly, then everything else dizzyness, tingling fingers, short of breath, heart racing, disoriented, nausea. The only thing is that I actually am not stressed or anxious, could this be something else? I have 3 children (7 years, 3 years and 11 months) and I know if I were to get one while they are all home I would loose it . The Dr. prescribed Xanax and I did take one the 2nd time it happened a couple days ago. But that one was more intense, how can I stop them from getting worse? Another thing is I don’t have med. ins. and open enrollment is Aug. and won’t kick in until 2010. Does anyone know of low cost or free therapy for Panic attacks??
Anni, I’m so glad this discussion is helping you!
A lot of panic attack therapy is geared toward getting more in touch with your body and your mind. There are several available besides yoga: meditation, and learning to relax come to mind right away.
And you are right! Belief that you can get through panic attacks and learn to control them is the biggest and most important step you can take. There are lots and lots of people who have done this, so you do not have to be a victim!
Please keep us informed of your progress! And remember, we are always here for you!
Paula, thank you for your comment!
I’m sorry you’re having panic attacks. They do come out of the blue seemingly for no reason, and are very frightening and confusing. But panic attacks are one of the most treatable of the Anxiety Disorders, and there’s a very good chance that you can learn to control them in a very short period of therapy.
There’s a lot you can do before you are able get therapy, though. Here’s a few things:
I would recommend you read my reference article on Panic Attacks for an in-depth understanding of what they are and how they affect you. There are some tips there too for dealing with them while they are happening. The article Are You Having a Panic Attack? What Can You Do? has more insights and some of the same information.
There are three things you can do immediately to help your Panic Attacks: 1) believe that youcan overcome them, 2) list your symptoms separately so that you can learn to deal with them one at a time (a therapist would have you do this), and 3) always remind yourself that a Panic Attack is not medically harmful, that you’re not dying, and it will go away in just a few minutes.
Your request for information on free mental health care has inspired me to write an article about it. But in the mean time, here are some resources for you, all free:
A guide to find education and screenings locally: Mental health education and screenings
A great article full of resources: Where can you get low cost/free Mental Health Care?
Some ideas about where to find care: Affordable Mental Health Care: How to find free or reduced-fee treatment in your area
These are all national resources that will help you find local mental health care in your area. There are many state organizations, too, but since I don’t know where you live, I didn’t list them. I found all these with a quick search on “free mental health care” on Google.
I wish I could help you more, but I hope this information will get you started.
Please keep in touch, either through the comments on this article, or emailing me directly using the “Contact” tab at the top of every page.
My husband has been having a number of different symptoms. Feeling like his heart is going to stop, numbness in his back, insomnia, nausea, etc… He has been to every doctor with everything coming back normal, several have put him on meds for anxiety that he has not taken yet. He has set in the hospital parking lot night after night just in case something happened. We also have two small children that he can barely be around because he starts having an “attack” Every doctor has told him hes okay and I believe it but unfortunately he can’t , what do you suggest>?
Charlotte, thanks for the comment. I’m really sorry your husband is having such a hard time.
You say your husband has had panic attack-like symptoms and has been checked out by physicians, and even given prescriptions that he hasn’t taken. It seems to me that he is somehow denying to himself that he has a mental condition that must be addressed. He is willing to entertain all sorts of dire physical conditions, but not willing to admit that he might have a mental condition.
This is very, very common. Denial is probably the biggest reason why people don’t get treatment for mental illnesses. I’ve written an article entitled “Denial: Why People Don’t Get Treatment for Anxiety” about the subject, so won’t go into it in depth here.
Panic attacks are one of the easiest and quickest of the Anxiety Disorders to treat. The best treatment is to see a mental health professional for therapy. It generally takes only a couple of months of weekly therapy sessions to learn to control panic attacks for life. Incidentally, the medication is intended to give your husband the space he needs to seek out more long-lasting help. It will not be a “cure” in the long term.
Urge your husband to see a mental health professional. I know he probably is very resistant, but he will not get better until he does. If you can, get him to read “Conquering Your Panic: Dave’s Success Story”, which describes a man in a situation that seems to be very similar to that of your husband’s.
Please keep me updated on his progress. You can use the comments here, or email me privately using the “Contact” tab at the top of each page.
I am 27 and have only been suffering with panic attacks for a year. Yes, i have always been somewhat hypochondriacal, but never where it has interefered with functioning. I feel like i have OCD of the mind. I have been in therapy for over a year and it has really helped, but i have a phobia of high blood pressure and from time to time experience weird bodily sensations. Sometimes i can avoid them and other times it is too hard.
Recently, I have had tingling around my mouth, eyes, and forehead. Yes, it does get better when I am not thinking anout it, but that is hard. I think i’m going to have a stroke and make myself worse. I have a feeling i am subconsciously hyperventilating. How do i make this feeling stop? BTW i am a psycholgisy myself, how ironic?!! This has happened last year and now has returned. I am getting depressed and uncomfrtable.
Thanks for listening!
I’ve suffered from panic attacks since childhood. I’ve done everything treatment wise and have been on multiple medications. I’m doing fairly well with an antidepression and Xanax for periodic episodes but I’m engaging in more avoidance behavior. Even though I feel very little panic, the fear of the attacks is now the problem. My life is becoming restricted. How do I track down a therapist willing to do out of the office exposure therapy?
Sir,
I’ve just come across this site today. I am 21, and have been suffering from very severe ‘panic attacks’ since I was 15. I still do, and have seen many psychiatrists, had blood tests, and taken every drug you can think of – for ex. lithium, anti depressants, seroquel, conazapam, ect. None of them have worked, my family doctor & psychiatrist told me that ‘depersonalization’ and ‘unreality’ are not apart of anxiety. I have been in and out of hospitals off and on. Attended therapy classes, with no avail. I try my best to avoid to any events/people/places that may trigger it, or make me feel anxious. This year has been horrible for me, it has gotten worse, and my doctors and psychiatrists have no explanation. Since, I have tried almost every drug you can take for anxiety, they told me I do not have much options left.Over a year ago, I had Reiki done with success, but unfortunately followed by traumatic experiances shortly thereafter. I’m currently not taking anything.
Can you please help me?
email: nancydowns1996@live.com
thank you, for taking time to read this.
I remember my first panic attack, in fact it is something that you never forget. i was in a very abusive marriage at the time, and it was one morning, i had got up early to catch the first train back to my home town about 25 miles away. I remember stood waiting for the train and as it approached the platform i noticed i had this very odd feeling, but didnt know what it was. i got on the train, but as soon as the doors shut, i felt an overwhelming need to get off, i felt so trapped. Of course at that stage you think you are having some sort of heart attack or the onset of some breathing trouble like asthma. i managed to stay on the train, and struggled all the way to my home town. when i got off the train i felt much better and just put it down to one of those things (as you do) went about my day visiting my friends and relatives. Then it came to going back, i went to the train station, but this time time i was gripped by some overwhelming fear. The train came, and i just couldnt get on it, so i pretended to be waiting for someone. This happened for about six trains and i just said to myself ” dont be stupid” so the next train that came i got on, sat down, and waited and waited for those doors to shut, waiting as if it where for my death sentence. The bell rang to signal that the doors were about to shut, and i had this uncontrollable sense of fear and doom that i just shot up and ran off the train. I had 25 miles to travel, and was so lost not knowing how i was going to do it. I did get back though by travelling on the bus, comforting myself that at any time i could get off at the next bus stop, which is how i did my journey, stop by stop.
That was 8 years ago now, i still get the attacks in very hard times, when there is a lot of stress about. I get them mostly when im driving and have to stop at traffic lights (that trapped feeling) but i never give in to it, i never avoid something. Thats the key really, “Feel the fear and do it anyway” .
Warm regards
steve
I’m not even sure if I’m in the right column or not,but I felt like I neded to post my abbreviated version of my anxiety situation.Maybe someone out there can relate.I have suffered through this anxiety BS.for 20 years not exactly knowing what was causing my chest pains,sweaty palms ,racing mind,inability to think straight,headaches from the base of my neck to the front of my brow,pulling away from friends,not wanting to do anything but to get relief from the mental anguish that this causes.I’ve been to the hospital a few times thinking that I was having a heart attack.They always ruled that out from treadmill tests and blood samples and such things.I tried many antidepressant drugs that were prescribed to me to see if they would help,,truth is they made me feel more zombielike than anything else and I “lost” my old self on these medications.I went to my primary care doctor and told him that I had been through the whole gamut of psycotropic serotonin reuptake type drugs and would stand for no more of that.He prescribed xanax at 1 mg every 8 hours.Wow,this helped immediately .I was back to my old self within hours.I felt great{No I was Not High}that worked for me for many years,my thoughts were as they should be and I felt no pain in my chest from anxiety.My mind quit racing and I had a new life,,I was back to normal.My friends even wondered why I was not so standoffish and reluctant to talk to them.I never told anyone about how I was feeling because they might think things like mental problems or the like I just lived with it and stayed away from any close contact with them besides chit chat conversations to get them away from me ,,they had no Idea how my mind felt.The Xanax was helping for many years but it got to the point that I needed more to remain”sane”.I told my doctor that I am getting too used to this medicine and maybe we should try something else that might last a bit longer so that I would not be tempted to take more than I should in a day’s span.We went to Klonapin which does do it’s job very well,it’s been a year and the dosage had been set from an equivelcy table to xanax.Well it does work ,but it is still not enough.Th eqivilancy table was an exact duplicate of the old meds.The old meds were not enough so why would this be if it is supposed to be an exact replica or duplicate of the prior medicine?I’m going to my doctor once again to re-evaluate this.I personally think that I need at least one more dose during the day since it wears off too soon and I feel horrible when the morning dose wears off and am waiting for my nightly dose.I am not drug seeking ,,I just want to feel like my old selfand I do when the medicine is “on”,but in between doses I revert back to my extraordinary pain which I do not deserve and can not find a reason for.We’ll see what happens with him when I go in next week.
I never knew i was having panic attacks. The pain was unbearable in my chest it got so numb someone could punch me and i wouldn’t feel a thing. Then it felt like my heart stopped and i thought i was having a heart attack. Then it raced so rapidly i couldn’t breathe. Is it normal for an 18 year old to be experiencing this?
Today was the day that i died! I did not understand what was going on at the moment. I will admit that i have been smoking a lot for the past couple of months. I guess you can say that i lost reality for a while. When the attack occurred i was on an isle in a Best Buy. My friends thought i was joking, but i was serious. I thought i literally was going to die. I sat on the floor as i watched each and every soul walk by me. to them, they saw an abnormal African American guy on the floor in the fetal position. To me, my life was slipping away slowly. I felt pain in my heart and i could not control my body. My friend rodney was there to save me. i told him if he was not there, i would died on the floor of best buy. I was scared and lost. The only thing i could do is rock back and forward singing ” Jesus loves me”. i thought to myself, ” god i am not ready to go”. Please give me another chance. I get up and walk out the store. The ironic part about this is, i was not controlling my body. It was like a force leading me out the store. From there it all became clear. i was shown a world. A full world out there, waiting to be adsorbed. Yet, i live my life in the drug world. I personally feel that God gave me a second chance at life. It may be a panic attack or i could have been dying, whose to say. I have never experienced what i did today. I left my old ways in Best Buy, and now i can start living.
Amen Carlos!
Hi all, I hope you can shed some light on some experiences I have been having. I will try to be brief. About 3 years ago I started having these weird episodes. They come completly out of the blue, I may be in stressful situations, or could be completely calm. The initial phase happens rather fast and includes an awareness that it is going to happen, yet I feel a bit detached from myself. (I know, goofy!) Then I have this rush of tingling, electrical feeling that runs down from the base of my head into my chest, that occassionally lingers (as long as 30 to 40 minutes, but usually much shorter. ) While this is happening and immediately after I feel terribly yucky and like I will faint. (On several occassions I have passed out,. Do people actually pass out from a panic attack??) Once the feeling passes I feel weak and washed out, sometimes for up to a day. I do feel frightened when these occur, that I might keel over dead, but I don’t feel out of control, or like running away, etc. I would also like to note that I can get the same feeling from ephinephrine (sp) at the dentis. (Which I don;t take anymore.) I’ve been to a cardiologist and while I do have Mitral Valve Prolapse, he sees nothing that could be causing this unknown thing. Just the idea that they can’t define it makes it more unsettling. I think my GP is thinking I am crazy, I have even asked them if it could be panic attacks and they don’t know. I would appreciate any advise.
At the weekend I experienced a headache, I took painkillers and it went away, but i took it again the next day and again I took painkillers and it went away. On monday I woke up with a slightly light head but i went to school and while sitting in class a dizzyness came over me and everything in the room was spinning, it only lasted a few seconds but i felt very light headed after and I had to go home. A few days into being off school the light head hadn’t went away and i started thinking that it could be something serious like vertigo or even more serious, a brain tumor as a boy in my had taken in our first year of secondary school. These thoughts kept going through my head and i started experiencing ‘panic attacks’ I couldn’t sit still in my own house, i felt so uncomfortable, my whole body would shake, my headache got worse, I would feel like I needed to be sick and I found it difficult to breathe. I’ve went to see a doctor 3 times now, the first time he checked my blood pressure and temperature etc but everything seemed normal, he gave me painkillers for my head and ‘anti-sickness’ tablets. I only took the anti- sickness tablets cause I didn’t think i’d need the painkillers, as it wasn’t an actual pain, it was a light headed feeling I had. These didn’t work and I found that I could no longer get to sleep, I would be shaking and nothing would take my mind off what was wrong with me. My dad took me to the hospital one night and again they checked my temperature, blood sugar levels and looked into my eyes etc. Everything seemed fine but the headache was still there and i still had a nervy feeling in my stomach. After another panic attack my mum thought i was having a nervous breakdown and she took me down to the doctor, he gave me diazepam to give me some relief from my nerves, they worked, but only for a short while but i was able to get some sleep and got a good breakfast this morning and thankfully my headache has completely gone away. But even though the headache is gone and there is probably no chance I have a brain tumor I still don’t feel comfortable, I keep fiddling, I can’t stay still or relax I’m always on edge, I’m afraid of feeling the way I did while taking these panic attacks or in other words, feeling sick or dying. I know I’m not going to die, it’s stupid, but for some reason I just can’t seem to relax, and when feelings build up I end up crying because i can’t take it anymore, I just want to feel normal again, I’m only 15 and I’m afraid I’m going crazy, please help :(
Dear, Lauren,
Im only a year younger or maybe less…than you. I understand what your going through. Ive had panic attacks all my life. I think the most important thing right now is to bring up the possiblity of having panic attacks to your doctor and ask abouta medication called Prozac. I got Prozac and it helped alot! Also you need to be able to help yorself without medication. I think all you need is just constant reassurance. AS you stated yourself, you KNOW that your fine and youre not going to die! You need to remember this when your in an attack. No, its not going to work instantly, you need to repeat yourself and truly believe yourself. Also, sometimes thinking of your attacks as a person can help. Like when you get in an attack fight with this person, tell them to leave you alone and that they are wrong and theyre lying because your fine and you know that!!!! This technique has really worked for me, my “person” even has a name! Of course, im not normal and i dont believe i ever will be. But thats okay! i can still have a great life and be able to work with my attacks. I hope this helped :) Respond if you like. And remember PERSISTANCE!!!!!!
Hey Ive been recently feeling out of it(not necessarily like I don’t exist just an uneasy feeling). I feel lightheaded almost all the time and my vision seems kind of distorted.. nothing too bad but its noticeable. I’m pretty tired most of the day, and all of these feeling come in waves. Like for a while Ill feel fine, then for a couple of hours ill feel weird again. I was just wondering if these are signs of anxiety or if I’m actually going crazy haha… I also was at the movies today and I had what I believe to be a panic attack… I was just sitting there and lost concentration. Then I was like whoaaaa… because the people in front of me just like appeared or something… Then I was having thoughts like Nothing was real and I couldnt get any help… and it lasted for about 10 minutes… I thought I was gonna lose my mind or die the whole time and I had a loss of feelings so to speak.. like I didnt feel much pain at the time(I pinched myself and it didnt really hurt at all… and thats something Ive been thinking lately like I hope I dont go crazy or something… I was just wondering what these “symptoms” are pointing to? does it sound like depression or anxiety? I’m only 18 and thats what really is worrying me… It really sucks having to feel like this. Any response would be greatly appreciated.
Blake, I think you have General Anxiety. Which sounds normal but its not it is a disorder. I have a bit of it as well. Sometimes i feel like im a bit off and then itll go away and then some days its back. That experience at the movies was for sure a panic attack. Just relax, dont worry too much, its all good. You may just be going through like a phase or something. But if not you can read what i wrote to Lauren. I think its helpful. And maybe talk to your doctor?
Feel Better :)
-Anni
I have been a long time sufferer of panic attacks, they started when i was 16, am now 28. My panic attacks have many different symptoms each time, but every single time it feels like something is seriously wrong with me and I am about to die. My panic attacks were constant, multiple an hour for months on end. As a result, depression and severe agoraphobia developed along with mild OCD. I was afraid to not only leave my house but to leave my bedroom. Thankfully I have gotten so much better, but the trauma it has caused me will never leave.
Something I’d like to note, I think it’s more common with us anxiety sufferers, an intense fear and paranoia of pills. Even with my panic attacks under control I have a huge fear of taking them, that they will kill me, or make things worse.
I’d also like to comment on the article talking about the misuse of the term panic attacks. It almost insults me when I hear people say it, or hear them talk like they actually had a panic attack. I wouldn’t wish one on anyone, and those of us who have gone through it know how scary it is and how much strength it takes to deal with them, when someone uses it to describe an every day fear it’s offensive.
im only 16… i have only experienced 1 panic attack so far.. i never want to have that feeling ever again… it started at night just after i smoked some drugs… the feeling of me shaking for no apparent reason got me so scared… i was constantly talking to myself about how the world started and how we were all individual….. then i got this feeling.. a kind of joy but horrified at the same moment.. i was looking all over my room, it looked bigger than it was, i started to hear and see things.. i couldn’t close my eyes, even though i was scared and very tired i wanted to close my eyes but i couldn’t it was impossible to close them… i had a weird feeling a tingling feeling coming from my back all the way to my mouth.. while this way happening a thought in my head got my terrified… ‘i was dying’ i was scared i kept talking to myself telling myself, i was going to ‘die’… i had a feeling that when i wake up the next morning that i was going to be another person.. i didn’t know who i was anymore… i could only close my eyes when i heavy pain came up my body.. then everything got slow…. i had problems breathing and i couldn’t stop shaking…. this lasted for more that an hour… when i was on my last minutes of myself thinking that i was dying i could here people talking, i didn’t want to turn back, suddenly when i was looking and my wall i saw a white light that slowly turned into a dark orange then back to a white…. i heard a harp playing in the back ground…
then the last breathe came from my lips, i felt empty, everything went quite and my eyes slowly drifted to a close….
For New years eve last night i took too many drugs a lot of booze, speed and ecstasy. I didn’t sleep all night and was feeling worried about my mum and her partner coming home and seeing me in such a bad state, when i heard them come in I hid in my room for 3 hours getting more and more anxious, I tried to sleep but no luck, so stupidly took a sleeping pill to take off the edge of the speed etc. Straight afterwards I started getting shooting pains in my chest and my heart started racing and thumping, this made me panic and i thought I was reacting to all the drugs and was going to overdose and die. My breathing got ristricted and i started sweating, i’ve never been so frightened about my own health ever! I continued to panic all day my heart raced and slowed down all day for no reason i’ve only just settled down now. I suffer from anxiety quite often but never had a panic attack it really is a truly horrifying experience.
pinkrino89,
Well, not so sure I would call this a “panic attack”; I would call it “too many drugs” ! :-)
Seriously, what do you think is going to happen when you take this?
I’m glad you made it through this alive. Perhaps a good New Years resolution for 2010 would be to stop doing this? :-)
I’m not saying this to be judgmental or something. Just trying to speak the truth.
Alicia,
Hope things are ok with you now. That experience sounds like it was quite scary and no “fun” to go through.
Perhaps this event can be a warning to you and others; taking drugs like this is just playing with fire, with the consequences being either death or getting totally screwed up for the rest of your life.
I had an experience like this when I was young. Scared the ^%$# out of me and I didn’t take drugs after that. Lots of signs before that which told me to stop, but I didn’t. It finally came to that…
Life was much better after.
Anni,
Meant to tell you after your Nov post that I was very glad to “hear” from you on this blog! I was wondering how you were doing since April. Seems like things are going better for you now? Hope so…
- Dave
Dave,
I had the attack about 9 hours after i’d taken the drug so it wouldn’t have been an effect of that but how i was feeling ‘coming down’. I know this was a panic attack and don’t think you have the right to make me feel small because i’m not ’silly’ and ‘niev’. You saying ‘Seriously, what do you think is going to happen when you take this?’ Is not helpful as i know its a risk i’d taken I’ve done this before many times without the panic attack afterwards.
I mainly posted my story to just get the experience out of my head and writing it helped, maybe i shouldn’t have posted it on web but i wasn’t expecting a lecture about drug use. Sometimes people should keep such ’strong’ opinions to themselves? especially when you don’t even know their first name.
Hi Pink,
First, I’m sorry if I insulted you. This was not my intention – really it was not. I apologize for that. And I’m sorry that you had to go through the experience that you did. I don’t wish that on anyone.
Yes, it’s very true that I don’t know you; only the very little bit that you posted earlier. And you don’t know me either (although you can read a bit about my story at http://anxietypanichealth.com/2009/01/08/conquering-your-panic-daves-success-story/#more-667 ), but this is just a small view. I’ll just say that I’ve had plenty of experience with drugs and alcohol plus 12 yrs of panic attacks, very severe for quite a stretch. And plenty of bad drug experiences, one of which I was probably lucky to make it through.
This all happened to me in my “younger years” – 25-30 years ago. So I’ve had quite a bit of time to look back at it, think about what was going on for me at that time, what was “ok” to do and what was basically “stupid” for me (and I definitely did plenty of those…).
I can tell you that towards the end of my drug use, the drugs seemed to trigger anxiety and panic attacks. It was actually one of the reasons that I stopped using them. Hopefully this won’t start happening with you.
So it was with this in mind that I commented on your post. As my father-in-law likes to say “when you hang out in a barber shop long enough, you’re going to get a haircut”.
So true with taking too many drugs, drinking too much, etc. When we do that, it’s really only a matter of time when bad things are going to result – get hurt, hurt someone else, lose your job, lose your marriage, lose your family. When we’re in it, we really can’t see that happening and we easily rationalize our way to making it all still “ok”. But that’s just denial of the facts and our inability to “walk away” or “reclaim our life”.
I guess the last thing is that your story is one of many many on this blog who have experienced and continue to experience panic attacks related to drug use. Yours is not an isolated event and chances are extremely high that the two are interlinked. So I think that if we all look at this broad group of experiences, we should probably all admit that this is a “Big Warning Sign” for those that wish to venture into this (i.e. do these things and this is one of the possible outcomes (that nobody wants to or expected to experience). You felt it yourself; definitely NOT a fun thing. Quite frightening. And perhaps (and I obviously don’t know) you may only have had a moderate attack when compared to what can actually be experienced in a full-blown attack (i.e. it could have been worse). Hopefully you’ll never have something to compare it against!
Again, sorry for taking you back a bit. I really just want to pass on knowledge and experience that I’ve been through in hopes that others can avoid them and/or find their way back to living again.
- Dave
Dave,
Im doing alot better thanks :)
Pink, these are facts not opinions.
Thats not a judgement or anything either…
I started having panic attacks about 30 years ago, just before my son was born. The doctor tried to load me down with Valium, which I wouldn’t take for obvious reasons. (Think Thalidomide babies)
But I did find that when I felt an attack coming on, if I did some vigorous exercise (speed walking, calisthenics) the attacks lessened. My theory was that the attack itself was a result of the buildup of adrenalin and the exercise burned the excess off. I still use this method–even though the attacks have lessened over time.
Hey I’m 22 years old and I just been having axiety attacks for about a few weeks now and its an awful experience and I’m glad I’m not alone especially not the youngest who has this horrible experience I feel like I’m diying or have a horrible disease which I went to the hospital and they did x rays and blood test and heart and breathing test and find out I was fine until the doctor prescribed me a low dosage of axiety pills thinking it was the diet pills that’s causing me to have these symtoms which I believe its not I have been feeling electricity pain on my chest area and chocking and stiffness around my neck a lot and headaces and numbness on my fingers and rapid bad thoughts that sometimes that doesn’t make sense especially when I’m trying to fall alsleep I also have bad dreams and i sometimes wake up in the middle of the night but I always end up falling alsleep I went to my family doctor and she said that I’m fine to take advil for the chest pain but I don’t think I’m fine and the doctor understands me I been feeling very emotional latley like I’m useless and crying like a baby for any little thing I get nervous around people so I try to stay home I’m not motivated anymore to do anything is there anything I can do to make this go away please somebody help me!
i honestly think i’ve come to the end of my rope, i have gotten to the point where i need alcohol to get through the day, the panic attacks are so intense, i have taken every medication under the sun and none seem to help, i am being prescribed klonopin and zoloft atm and they do not help, if anybody has any suggestions or advice it would be much appreciated, i don’t want it to end like this.
Mon,
You are not by yourself on this.
There are many of us who read this blog and have gone or are now going through exactly what you are experiencing.
All of our hearts go out to you, please know that!
Your life is precious. YOU are precious.
And it has a purpose. I’m sure that you will one day be able to help many many other people who are going through severe panic attacks like yourself – you’ll be able to come along side of them and help them through it. But you can’t do that if you aren’t here…
Mon – please let us know how you are doing this morning. Hopefully you are getting some rest right now.
- Dave
im almost 21 years old and ive had panic attacks for 2 years now. In august of 08 i was taking a cna class and had to go get a tb test done and i was scared to death i went by myself and had it done. I was fine til after i had the test done i got the worst feeling in my stomach ever and i got real hot and my ear started ringing and my vison went black i was so scared i had never had this feeling before in my life i think i almost passed out. so now ever time get hot or my ear ring or if i feel the least bit light headed i freak out and panic. i cant go anywhere that much im teriffied to drive anymore. im supposed to be getting married in may and im afraid il have a panic attack or pass out. instead of it being the happiest time in my life its the hardest i cant even think about the honeymoon. i dont no what to do ive been so depressed lately i feel lie im never going get over this if anyone has any tips or techniques please comment back. than you for listening may god bless you
Hi Amanda,
I’m very sorry to hear about your struggles with panic attacks and anxiety. Have you talked to your fiancée about this?
Dave
yea i have talked to him about it and he always there for me. i dont no what i would have done these last 2 years if he hasnt of been there. ive talked to parents they try to understand but theyve never had them so they dont no how it feels to have one. does stress cause painc attacks? my parents are not liking that im getting married they think im to young but ive been with him for 5 years now and ive prayed about it and i no he is the one for me. me and my dad has always been close and he dont want to let go. also ive been feeling overwhelmed about planning the wedding im getting married in may of this year and havent got 1 thing for the wedding because i cant hardly go out places and im having to take online classes this semester because of my panic attacks. Also im going become a step mom. ive got so much on me do u think this is why im having my panic attacks please help. im so sorry it was so long and it probley sounds crazy but i just needed to vent alittle lol thank you for listening. may god bless you
Suffered from panic attacks for years. However, I can go a year or more without having an episode. I’m having one right now though and it seems to have lasted for the last two weeks. Is that possible? In the last week I’ve had a stress test, been to the doctor twice and ended up in the ER yesterday. I should know it’s panic bur the pain makes me positive that something missed. My gall bladder was even checked. I have low blood pressure and good cholesterol. Is it normal to have a panic attack last for some long and be concerned the doctors are wrong.
Hi Susanne,
Most of my panic attacks last for 45 minutes to a few hours. But there is the “after effects” which could last for a few days.
When you say that “it’s lasted for 2 weeks”, are you saying that you’ve been running at an increased level of anxiety for that long or you’ve been experiencing full blown attack symptoms for that long? I assume that its the former.
Dave
Hi there,
I really loved your article. Thanks for sharing.
- Charlie
P.S. I just posted an article also.
Overcoming Social Anxiety
tsssssss it was crazy i was gettin high with my friend on real pottent weed high quality outside of my building as we finish smoking i head up stairs they left when i get to my elevator everythings still cool and what not when i reach my floor and as im walking to my door EVERYTHING feeeeeels different i start gettin scared as im opening my door as if my mom is gonna come out her room any second while im walking to my room i start feeling real scared as soon as i step in my room i turned off the lights because i thought my mom would see them on and wake up and walk towards my room at this moment im really panicin and im also very thirsty so as scared as i was i left my room walked to the kitchen starred drinking sink water then i walked back to my room and i go in closed my door got on my bed and started feeling really weird i had a shortness of breath and my heart was pumping really fast i was hearing it my chest was feeling really weird and my stumach felt like it was goin in circles also my head started hurtin this light pain @ the back of my head and i had gotten my self to believe i was having a heart attack my legs were shaking i had this funny feeling in my back as if my spine was cracking and i felt weak very weak i couldnt even hold my self up i felt like i was to heavy for my body so immeadiatley i know im panicin and im gettin thirstyer by the minute so i walk to the bathroom starred drinking off that sink then as im walkin back i took a deep long breath and as im doing this my i start seeing like blackcurtains closin up away or if i am in a tunnel i was blacking out i tryed walking it off that work and i got back to normal a lil bit and it was 3 am wen i smoked its already 5 and im too scared to go to sleep so i got in my bed put a movie to distract my self but the movie felt weird as it was scaring me even more and a lot of the guys in the movie looked demonic i felt so realistic as if things that have always been right in front of me i havent noticed them and i started thinking back at alot of things and seem to understand them more clearer and it felt all so weird and i felt like a whimp as if i had never been through anything and i started thinking about my mom and how ive always lied to my dad and how i should call him and confess before its too late or if something was to happend to my loved ones and i wouldnt be able to apologize and say the truth i would be really sad and i was just going crazy i really lost my mind i hadnt ever felt this way the first time i had ever paniced a lil over the temporary high panic was after i took e pills i stopped taking them because i felt different it took me about 3 weeks to recover from the way i felt after e pills i just didnt feel like my self at all now that im good again this happend is this because of my overweight or what?
Hey my name is zack im 18 years old. For the last 5-6 months i have been smoking that legal stuff aka k2, spice, and all these other names. Well i smoked this legal shit everyday . I also smoke ciggs al least once are twice a day. Well im a very healthy person i work out and all i do is smoke weed and fake pot. Well one day i go and buy some weed from a friend. That night i didnt feel to good so i rolled up a blunt and smoked hall of it. I couldnt finsih the whole blunt because i started to feel a over whelming of fear. I then felt a chill down my spine then i started to swet nonstop as if i ben running for hours. My heart then felt like it was going to explode i couldnt control my self. I was shaking like i was having some type of seziur. I then ran outside and started to run around my neighbor that was the only thing that i could think of doing that would make me feel normal. I ran for about 15 minutes. Then i start to feel a little better but as soon as i thought it was over the over whelming of fear came back and was 10 times worse then before. I thought i was dieing i thought i was having a heart attack. I go to take a shower thinking it might make me feel better but all the shower did was make me panic even more. I tryied to go lay down in my bed but as i was laying down it felt like my whole body was spinnig and i couldnt do anything to stop it. it has been a hour since this has started and it sill has not eased up i think im going fucking crazy. My heart is beating so fast that my stomach is jumping up and down. I tryied to go to sleep but my mind wouldnt let me. I then felt like throwing up so i threw my guts up for like 15 minutes i had a little bit of relif after that. my friends came over and they had no idea what was wrong with me so i tryied to hide what was realy going on. After talking with my friends i started to feel better. My sleep meds finaly kicked in then i passed out. The next month and two weeks i have been having the worse panic and anixety attacks of my life since that first attack that night. Can that one panic attack lead to all this a month and two weeks later. oh yeah i havent smoked since that night either so could that be a reason for my anixety and panic attacks?
I have suffered from panic attacks for the last 10 years. I was sure that I was suffering from a major illness or disease as the sensations brought on by an attack are so extremely, horrifyingly powerful. I have seen many doctors and have had just about every medical test to determine whether or not I have some kind of disease and it is so baffling to me to find out that I am actually quite healthy. It may seem strange to say this, but when I’ve read statements that panic attacks are one of the scariest experiences in life, I feel like I belong to a special group of survivors. What is very strange to me is that I am not a particularly “panicky” person in emergency situations outside of myself. I am always the calm one who goes into solution mode. Why I am afflicted with this disorder is still a mystery to me. It brings a strange comfort to know that I am not alone in my suffering as many people are dealing with this disorder. I tell people I would much rather go through giving birth 50 more times than to have just one panic attack! It has been a few months now since my last attack and I am hoping they will not return. I am just so proud of all of us who deal with this. Someone wrote somewhere that “panic attack sufferers were some of the bravest people I know”. My heart goes out to all of you who are afflicted.
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