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.
You can find several related articles in the “Related Posts” list below. Click on the Categories tab at the top of the page for a complete list of all articles. And don’t forget the Google Custom Search field in the right sidebar, too!
Get free updates by RSS or email!
If you have enjoyed this article, please consider subscribing to article updates, using 
an RSS reader, or 
by email. It’s free and is a great way to make sure you don’t miss a single article! I also invite you to follow me on 
Twitter!
Why not share this article with others!
Share this article with your friends using your favorite social media service, such as 
StumbleUpon, 
Digg, or 
del.icio.us. Check out the icons below under “Share This Article With Others” for other social media, including Technorati, Sphinn, Friendfeed, FaceBook and MySpace! You can also email or print the article, and even tweet it using Twitter!
Related Posts:
%RELATEDPOSTS%
©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
- The Evil Trick Anxiety Plays on You and How to Turn the Tables
{ 3 trackbacks }
{ 96 comments… read them below or add one }
Great job Mike! No wonder who spent so much time writing yesterday :-)
I feel fortunate that I have never experienced a panic attack so it’s difficult to relate to it. Occasionally, I am bothered by large crowds like when I am in line at the grocery store but it’s not enough to stop me from functioning.
I don’t use the term “panic attack” when I’m stressed but instead say “I’m freaking out.” It never occured to me though, that the term could be insulting to otheres and I’m glad you pointed that out. I am, however, very bothered by how common it has become to place “tard” at the end of words to say it is stupid or idiotic. People need to think more about the terms they use.
Thank you for sharing what your own panic attacks feel like. Again, I respect your courage – that much have been difficult to write.
Is writing and sharing your experiences helping you?
Thank you for your comment, Kim. And thanks for the compliments!
Yes, sharing my experience helps, but I try to keep it to a minimum to keep the blog from becoming a moan-fest! Whether or not I insert explicit personal experiences into posts, most posts are informed by them. Researching and writing has helped me a great deal to understand my own mental illnesses.
Use and misuse of such words as “OCD” and “schizo” really are a sore spot with me. They illustrate and further the stigma of mental illness, which harms people in so many ways: from keeping them from getting help when they need it to the ways that insurance reimburses fees for mental health care.
I’ve written several posts about this. Clinomorphisms are the misuse of medical terms for exaggeration or effect. There is a two-part series on Scapegoating and the Stigma of Mental Illness, and a post about a recent survey in Canada about the stigma of mental illness.
Hello I am actually very glad I stumbled upon this site. I am 20 yrs old and recently started having “panic attacks”. When I was younger around the age of 15 I had a problem with all of a sudden losing my breath. Mostly at night and didnt last but maybe an hour. I was told by one dr. it was a panic attack, then told by another I had bronchitis. “hope I spelled that right” Any ways my point of sharing that is what I have recently went thru makes that of the past seem like a pleasant dream. The first was so horrible and yes I thought I was having a heart attack. I had if not most, every symptom on that list. What scared me the most was the tingling and numbness feeling to my hands and feet. I thought to my self ” This cant be a panic attack, these symptoms dont make sense”. After reading this it has really helped. The only thing I am still unsure of tho is that I did see my doc. He put me on Lexapro and another short term med. for this. The Lexapro really bothered me I had alot of bad side effects and stopped taking it. I felt better for awhile since I quit, but I am still having small panic attacks. I say small because they are not as extreme as the first. The first I was rushed to the ER because no one else understood what was going on either. I am very scared of having another one like that one. The ones I do have are still very troubling. If you have any comments for me please feel free to email me. I would like to hear from any one who might could help me understand what to do about this. Thank you.
Welcome, Samantha, and thanks for the comment! I’m sorry to hear that you are having such problems with panic attacks.
The “smaller” panic attacks may be what are called Limited Symptom Attacks (see Panic Attacks for more information). These have 3 or fewer of the symptoms of full-blown panic attacks.
Of course, panic attacks are terrifying, and it’s normal to be scared of having another one. But what happens is that we tend to avoid the situations where the panic attack happened, then avoid similar situations, and suddenly we wake up to find our lives severely restricted.
Fortunately, panic attacks are the most treatable of the Anxiety Disorders. Although medication will help with the symptoms, you need to see a therapist to learn how to manage your panic attacks for the long term.
I have answered you by email, but I wanted to give other readers a synopsis of what I wrote to you. I do hope you feel better soon!
Hi I am Glad I found your site and I will book mark it for future help. I am grateful to find others that go through what I go through not every day but in the winter time its pretty much 3 to 4 times a week. It feels as though a switch has been thrown in my head and I cannot get it back to normal until my body balances back out. I have found that light therapy from the tanning bed helps me in extreme cases. I also wonder if there is a certain vitamin needed in the body that I get from the suns rays that might be responsible for the calming process from fight and flight syndrome. I am investigating all I can because this is extremely difficult and my life it affected by this greatly. I have to go back to class but thanks so much for sharing and your effort to help others out there in the world.
Thanks Angela
Thank you for visiting and commenting, Angela! And thank you for the compliments!
What you are talking about is Seasonal Affective Disorder, in which a person starts feeling depressed in the winter. Indeed, light therapy can be very helpful. As far as the vitamins go, I believe that it’s Vitamin D that is provided by the sun.
I have done very little research about Seasonal Affective Disorder, since it is not among the Anxiety Disorders. My psychiatrist thought at one time that I might have it, but he decided after some testing that I didn’t. I do know it can be very debilitating, making each day a chore just to get through.
I hope you can get some help for your problems. Have you tried going to a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist? They may be able to point you in the right direction to get some relief.
Again, welcome, and I hope to hear from you soon!
hello,
im very fortunate to not have this problem but i do understand how people must feel. my boyfriend was diagnosed with panic and anxiety when he was 15, he is now 24.we started dating soon after he was diagnosed and he used to get them when he was awake and i was there alot when they happened….it was really scarey for me because there was no way to calm him down….it was almost like i wasnt there he was so distraught he couldnt focus on what i said to him.. he actually stopped having them for a long time..which was great. but recently we moved into our own house, he started getting them again but now he wakes up in a panic. its hard for him i just know it, but also for me because when he wakes up he shoots out of bed and almost always im awoke in pain….he unknowingly hurts me. alot of time’s i woke up with him trying to get up on my side and putting his full body weight on me. its been getting worse each time. a few times he jammed his thumb in my eye, another time i woke up and it felt like i was slammed in the chest with a sledgehammer. when i wake he is running for the door,usually he’s looking for a glass of water. his heart races, he is short of breath, feels like he was choking, and feels faint. one time he even had a blood spot on the white of his eye after a recent episode. i feel so bad for him and he will not take meds for this, is there anything he can do to relieve these feelings, or could this be something more serious? we both work night shift and have been doing that for 7 years and im wondering if its lack of sun or something like that. please help!
Thank you, Kel, for the comment, and welcome to Anxiety, Panic & Health!
It sounds as if your boyfriend is having a classic panic attack while he is sleeping. This is not uncommon. Aside from the distress it causes both of you, this kind of panic attack probably is not dangerous health-wise.
It would be good if your boyfriend could seek therapy from a mental health professional. Even though he is having these panic attacks when he is sleeping, he could learn to control his symptoms when he wakes so that the panic attack wouldn’t be so distressing and disruptive. It’s likely he could learn how to manage the symptoms without even getting out of bed. And he could get at the root cause of his panic attacks and maybe even eliminate them entirely.
It is very possible that this therapy could help him without the need for the medications which he doesn’t like to take. I’ve been prescribed a drug to take for panic attacks, but I very seldom have to take it because I have learned through therapy how to control them.
As for the lack of sunlight, you are talking about Seasonal Affective Disorder. It causes depression and similar mood disorders. I do not think that it has anything to do with panic attacks.
Just from your comment, I think it could be that the stress of your having a new house and other big changes in life may be affecting your boyfriend unconsciously, causing him to have panic attacks in his sleep. A therapist could help him with this, too.
I hope your boyfriend is able to work through his panic attack problem so you both can get a good night’s sleep! Please let me know how you and he are doing. If you want, you can email me directly by clicking on the “contact” tab at the top of the page and filling in the form.
I need some serious help. THe first time i got it was at night and i didnt know what it was n i got so scared that i went to the ER. My symptoms were : fast heart thumbing, lost of touch, feels as if everything around me was fake, sweat, FEAR of dying . And then from there on i kept getting them… I also realized that the thoughts of death would get me even more scared. But now i get them while i attempt to sleep and it scares me even more. As i shut my eyes.. it feels like my head is twirling and i get so scared that i feel my heart thumbing fast and then i feel as if i’m going to die. Not only does that happen, however, i can be just talking to my friend and then i feel lightheaded n feel as if im going to faint n die which wakes me up and I’d feel shivers around my body n my heart thumbing even faster and i’m short of breath. I have no idea on what i should do. I’m really worried becauce i’ve been having this issue for more then 6 months now. I learned how to control my breathing but it still scares me. is this just a panick/ anxiety attack or am i going to die?? I’M REALLY WORRIEDDDD!! PLEASE HELP
Well, me too – I own a business and have normal stress I guess. Using if it we’re easy anyone could do it. I have all the classic denials and now I even manage the full blown episodes with telling my self I wont die. Seems to work however I walk around in a constant buzzy head. Hard for long term planning and I’m behind on everything it seems. I have some medications which leaves me in a state of I just don’t care. Not caring leaves my business in a state of no where. Everything I am about has been Blured by this sudden attack I got one day will sipping a expresso and munching down some mosho chicken. Life was not great but I obvoily was not depressed at the moment. Yes, i felt like someone pushed me over the side of cliff and that it was the end and had a very vivid feeling that this was how I ended.. it was over and I was in the last stages of death. Heart attack I was assured in my head was the feeling. Went to ER could not find anything.. went again the following night same sudden impact. Set up an appointment got tests for heart attack and some other stuff with blood. Nothing.. finally panic disorder came up for the first time as an issue.
I was perscribed some medications that totally elimated the panic.. some emergency pills and then some lower key ones. I sense have not gone back to re fill the order of pills..plus it made me lathargic and my business was suffering. I live by coffee and even stopped that. No coffee no great ideas for me or energy.
So I started back with coffee – I feel like I can start things again but I live is constant fear of an episode as well as a continuous buzzing in my head.
Im not going to edit this note as I really don’t want to read it again. Just shouting out – Im sure I need to do something outside of what Im doing.. I would really like to find me again without the drugs.
Thanks, itsme, for commenting!
I really can empathize with your symptoms and how your medications and coffee affect your business. I was in the same fix when I started having panic attacks: I could either take my medication and let my business suffer, or I could attend to business without medication and have panic attacks!
Eventually what worked for me was some good therapy. I learned to control the panic attacks without medication. I still have them, but I can recognize the early symptoms and deal with them so they don’t blow me out of the water. As time has gone on, I find that doing so has become automatic, so that all I feel is uncomfortable rather than panicky. I still have my medication, but have taken it in only the most extreme of circumstances for about two years!
Obviously, I urge you to seek therapy for your panic attacks. You can learn how to control and manage them for the rest of your life without medication!
It’s true. So many people out there become agoraphobic do to the fear that an attack will strike at any given time.
I think the key is knowing the strategies and tactics to combat the attacks on the spot. That alone will give a person the confidence that should an panic attack strike, they’ll be ready.
Personally, I used to suffer from nocturnal attacks quite often. I found that drinking sleepytime tea with valerian root before bed helped a lot.
Best of luck to all those out there suffering from this debilitating problem.
Editor: I removed a link to an article about nocturnal panic attacks from this comment. Although it is a good article, it is ultimately an advertisement for a system for alleviating panic attacks. I do not allow advertising in comments. Please see my “Comment Policy” in the right sidebar.
Thank you, Nightime, for your comments!
There are many things that can be done to help nocturnal panic attacks, including relaxation, clearing the mind, and — as you do — drinking a relaxing beverage. I am preparing an article with these and other tips for helping nocturnal panic attacks, to be posted soon.
I need some serious help. THe first time i got it was at night and i didnt know what it was n i got so scared that i went to the ER. My symptoms were : fast heart thumbing, lost of touch, feels as if everything around me was fake, sweat, FEAR of dying . And then from there on i kept getting them… I also realized that the thoughts of death would get me even more scared. But now i get them while i attempt to sleep and it scares me even more. As i shut my eyes.. it feels like my head is twirling and i get so scared that i feel my heart thumbing fast and then i feel as if i’m going to die. Not only does that happen, however, i can be just talking to my friend and then i feel lightheaded n feel as if im going to faint n die which wakes me up and I’d feel shivers around my body n my heart thumbing even faster and i’m short of breath. I have no idea on what i should do. I’m really worried becauce i’ve been having this issue for more then 6 months now. I learned how to control my breathing but it still scares me. is this just a panick/ anxiety attack or am i going to die?? I’M REALLY WORRIEDDDD!! PLEASE HELP
I have lived with anxiety since I was 15 years old. It all started because I tried marijuana, after that day my life would never be the same. I was “high” as everyone would say, and all of the sudden my body just felt unreal, my heart was pounding so hard it pulsed through out my entire body making me feel like I was experiencing an actual heart attack. I am now 20 years young and still feel these symptoms to only worsten every day of my life. I was at the ER this morning because I thought it was the end of my days, my anxiety has triggered my blood pressure and pulse rate to jump to unbelievable levels that you would never think a human being could with stand. I have been taking Klonopin since I was 17, I have had multiple ekg’s, ultrasounds, and ct scans ran on me. The doctors tell me, “Your fine, your blood pressure and pulse rate is just a little high”, I think to myself, Um ya reason I’m at the ER WILL I LIVE!!!!? I wouldnt give my anxiety attacks away to anyone, even if given the opurtunity, and honestly I never thought anyone else in the world could have anxiety as bad as me. Its really no joke and something not to mess around with. I had to file bankruptcy 2 months ago due to me being in debt 70,000$ on doctors bills, thats not a good thing for a 20 year old male with a child on the way. I was recently put on Metoprolol beta blocker after leaving the ER this morning and hoping it helps. I would give the world to have a normal life again. Im one of those guys people would say, ah his life is perfect…Never judge the book by its cover. And if anyone has any advice or help I would love to hear a way to beat this horrifying mental problem. Thank you all, and I will stay updated on here for any help given. -Kenny
Mike,thanks for commenting and reading my post. Thanks to all that have shared “The experience” Agreed not to be played with and it is serious masked in “Your not dieing” this is the kicker. You have to ask yourself is there a difference. I guess the difference is you live to die again and again. This makes me laugh a bit.
Mabey this is Jesus’ story – perhaps he suffered from this disorder. In his attacks he died and came back. While trying to explain the dilemma the “people” ran with it. As people do – perhaps the media of the day. I am joking of course but the issue is crazy. Yes, I manage the post symptoms with just the feeling that it won’t kill me. I still drink coffee, my business suffering but I’m managing. If I think to long term I get easily confused and buzzy. If I can plan a days work and get 70% done its a total success. Not to mention the months and years of planning I used to engage in with relish.
So its day to day – today is bad day. Well not bad but un productive as I’m writing in a blog and should be finishing some work. Perhaps this is help and needed.
Another part of this situation are the people that are around us. I don’t do much anymore I rarely go out if I don’t have too. I started playing a game world of warcraft which in itself is the curse of the devil. Because of my reluctance to go out the game keeps me in place. Well that’s an issue Ill have to deal with Iv been playing it for 8months now. Hours and hours at a time. But again – I’m venting a bit here. Back to the point on people not understanding what you’re going though.
My wife made a comment “back when you used to work” I won’t get into why she said it as it’s a longer story. Anyway my daughter laughed deliciously over this. I started thinking to myself why are they laughing.. I WORK; I work every day I stress over how much I get done. I have been very successful in the past.
Anyway, she laughed and my wife laughed.. then she said I meant to say “Back when you worked outside the house” there was no laughter on the correction.
They laughed as though this was an inside joke because there was nothing funny about to me. So I thought to myself that they are laughing at my ability not to do the things I used too.. not really appreciating the horror I’ve been going though. I was king at pulling yourself up by your boot straps – its only your fault etc etc. Now I’m getting it right back… The sentiment is get over it and overcome it and move forward.
GEZZ, they don’t realize I’m not even there anymore – I’m there but I can’t get to the surface – Me the old is fregin buried and like a living death because I want so much to be back on task. Focused and going places – instead I wear the same clothes every day, smell of coffee and cigars – hard to make a plea of not guilty when you look like this. But I do work, they fail to remember who pays the mortgage every month and a basket full of over bills.
Wow I’m really going on – well the short of is for me is – Once you get over the initial panics that send you out of this world – it can be managed… not like I’m doing right now but I have to get to that place.
I’m still stuck in getting back to the old me when I appreciably had a complete paradigm shift and there is no place back there anymore – I may as well have died..because I can’t find that blazing sprit.
I need a whole new way of life and convinced a whole new me that I like. – but dam how does one do that.. I haven’t committed fully or don’t know how to go about doing this yet. But i guess i understand what needs to be done or at least I think I do.
Writing about it helps – Reading other peoples nightmares helps you feel there is hope and you’re not alone. I’m not going to read or proof this message because I just won’t say what I think if I read it over.
I have bigger issues than the physical panics to address – Therapy is like very high as you can read I’m all over the place. (Fear and guilt) come to mind. Who can do anything with these as I should not be afraid and I should not have guilt. Or at least so much of it.
Thanks for reading.
To all that post – good luck and hang in there your not alone.
Sara, I answered your first comment in a direct email to you, but perhaps you didn’t get it.
Although I claim to have no psychological credentials, it definitely sounds like you are having panic attacks based on the DSM-IV’s list of criteria. You have all the symptoms.
I urge you strongly to seek out a mental health care professional as soon as you can. Your primary physician can give you some pills, but they are only a stopgap measure. What you need is some good therapy to help you learn to manage and control your symptoms for the long term.
As I have stated, my panic attacks didn’t start getting better until I learned through therapy how to control them. The medication I was given helped to some extent, but the help is only short-lived and is meant to be temporary.
Please, let me hear from you. The best thing to do is to email me using the contact form at the top of the page.
Kenny, I really can empathize with all your troubles. Panic attacks do feel like you’re dying, and it is common for people with panic attacks to make multiple trips to the emergency room. Your medical condition is fine, aside from the blood pressure, so you need something that will really help you with your panic attacks.
I strongly believe that you need to get some therapy in addition to your medication. The therapy will help you to learn to control and manage your panic attacks long-term. The drugs only help in the short term, and can do nothing for you while you are having a panic attack.
My own panic attacks didn’t start getting any better, despite medication, until I underwent therapy to learn how to control the symptoms. But it took me quite a while to realize that pills alone weren’t going to help me!
So, get to a mental health professional as soon as you can. The therapy doesn’t take long — usually less than three months — but its effect will last you a lifetime!
Itsme, I’m really sorry you are undergoing so much suffering at this time. It’s not helped by a family that doesn’t understand it.
My wife was very confused by my sudden change of behavior when I first started having Anxiety Disorder symptoms. She had learned to deal with my bipolar disorder symptoms, but this was something completely new to both of us. Imagine, if the Anxiety confuses you, how much it must distress those observing you!
I had to sit down with her and explain what was happening to me and what I was doing about it. I assured her that I wasn’t “going crazy,” but that I had a treatable mental illness that many, many people have. Frankly, I’ve had to repeat this sit-down several times over the years, but I’ve always found that it helped tremendously to keep her supportive of my struggles.
I think that the “working” remarks were a different issue. They don’t see you leaving the house for work, so in some way your work is not “real.” I have been self-employed much of my working life, and I always found it helpful for my family and myself to dress as if I were going to an office, to have regular “office hours,” and to try to leave my business cares and woes behind the closed door of my office. I don’t know your situation, but it might help.
Please keep me informed how you’re doing. You may make comments here on this post, or email me using the contact form at the top of the page.
Hi,
Itsme, Kenny, Sara, Samantha and the rest of you that are suffering. While all of our panic attacks are different, they are also all the same, so with that I say “I know how you feel”. I suffered with panic attacks for 12 years.
So many nights, days, mornings – hit out of the blue with an attack that put me on the edge of sure death. But… my last attack was more than 11 years ago! Yes, there is hope!
So I thought that I’d share my experiences with panic attacks and my freedom from them. My first comment, as Mike says, is that this truly can be beat! You do not have to continue to live in fear of yet another horrible, fear-filled episode.
I lived with panic attacks for more than 12 years. Went to the ER a few times; doctors too, checking to make sure I didn’t have cardiac problems; countless times of being so close to calling 911. Didn’t want to try drugs. Didn’t want to talk to anyone about it – too humiliating, too proud, too scared.
My wife and two kids didn’t know for several years. I think my wife didn’t know for probably 10 years. As my life began to become the “web” of panic attack “sites”, no place or activity was safe. When I’d say No to doing something with my wife, she thought that I just didn’t want to be with her, as there was no other explanation.
Finally after a few of my worst attacks, I decided that I couldn’t do it by myself and I’d have to tell someone. I told my wife. One of the first things that she did was find a book and got it for me; the book was by Shirley Babior on Overcoming Panic and Anxiety. When it arrived, I opened the cover to find that Shirley had signed it herself – wow, that alone made such a huge difference knowing that I wasn’t alone in this and that some other person actually knew what I was experiencing!
And since you’re reading this blog, you already know that to be true. That’s a good thing.
Well, that was 11 years ago.
I went to my doctor, who referred me to a psychiatrist. He wanted to start me on a set of meds, one being Paxil. I tried it for 2 days and it wasn’t for me; my reaction was like I was on 12 cups of coffee. So I stopped the meds and just went through the steps of cognitive therapy – basically re-training my brain to not “react” to the various triggers that set off my attacks as well as learning how to control my body stress/tension to prevent a panic attack from getting out of control or even starting to begin with. This was done using bio-feedback and other relaxations exercises/techniques. I learned where I held the tension/stress in my body, how to feel when it was building up, and how to release it. In addition, a key thing was to getting back to knowing what my body was suppose to feel like when it was “normal”. With all of the chemicals that are pumped into our body during an attack (basically a fight-or-flight reaction when there’s nothing to react to), I always felt like my body felt totally “out of balance”. I had no idea what “normal” was. So, getting off of all caffine, alcohol, etc. (stimulants, depressants) as well as eating healthy and exercising helped in returning my body to normal.
The process took probably 2 years to get through, but I did make it! And I can truly say that I have not had any panic attacks since.
I’ve spoken with several people about it since then who have suffered from them, normally at a very early stage luckily. The way I picture the underlying cause for myself is like this: all of us have an “emotional bucket” that we fill up with “stuff” over time; good stuff, bad stuff, various things that we don’t want to deal with at the time. Everyone’s bucket is a different size, but at some point it can’t contain any more. What happens when it is full and begins to overflow? That depends on the person. Some begin to strike out at other people angrily. Some people act out in other “dysfunctional” ways. Others like us have physiological reactions; our mind strikes out at our body – we have panic attacks.
So obviously, emptying out the bucket and keeping it from filling back up is key to living free from panic.
Mike – thank you for having this site and helping to educate those in need about it. It is truly a blessing.
And remember Kenny, Sara, itsme, and Samantha, when you’re having an attack – this thing is not going to kill you – so, so hard to believe it at the time, I know. At times, I had to count to 10 or 20 or 30 or walk 10 feet, and then prove to myself that nothing really happened!
And See – we are all still here :-).
Take care,
Dave
Dave, thank you so very much for taking the time to write your story. It is heartening to hear how therapy helped you to control your panic attacks, so that you haven’t had one in years!
And it is also very good for readers to hear from someone other than me! Although I have my own story, people hear it over and over again. But hearing about the success that you have experienced will help many to get the help they need.
Your analogy of the emotional bucket is very good. It does feel like you just can’t contain one more thing, that you’re full to the brim and drowning in emotions. So many of us strike out at ourselves, harming our own selves, and indirectly, those around us.
Thank you again for writing!
I am happy I stumbled into this site. I had panic attack when I was 19 years and this lasted repeatedly for 6 months. It occured when I enter inside a room with many people. As a result, I could not attend classes for a semester in the school. After I learnt to manage it, the panic attack stopped but I always experience it atimes when confronted with some circumstances.
Recently however I had a panic attack that has been continuous and refuses to let go. I feel weak and dizzy, my heart keeps on palpitating, my muscles contracts and I have sensations in both my legs and feet. My mind is glued in some ugly incidents in the past and I seem to have lost touch of the real world. When I work, I feel I am not working with my real self. I can not concentrate and focus on my job and I avoid long conversations with people.
In fact I always think I am going to die or go crazy any moment. I feel so sad that nothing, even food does not appeal to me. My problem is that this is continuous and I need to deal with it otherwise it will affect my career and my prospect of starting a family soon.
I will like to get advice of better ways to deal with this situation. Actually this last one was tiggered by an ugly incident that took place that I was not happy with.
Mike, Dave, Louis
Mike, thank you for the help in general and yes the site is helpful as well, well it has been for me for sure. Not sure if I have started recovery – I take that back – I have because I’m being proactive in the learning part. Like Dave touched on – in my own words “What the hell is normal” My own take is normal was not good for me now – as It was effective at one time in my life. Basally relishing in the fact that I can handle everything and any situation – With anger and determination I could achieve almost anything. Another topic another day is “achieving the great American dream” as I think is a core component to my way of life” I was like “Bring it on” – achievement and success await you. Back to Dave’s point “my bucket” suddenly and without warning overflowed. This sent me into my first attack…911, im finished, this is the last moment in life.. yada yada. x4 or 5 times.
Now I think Im focusing on a cleaner body – to find out if I can get to some better physical and emotional state of mind, and perhaps discover a way to get back into life. One step at a time – As i find it hard to stop coffee and my occasional cigars. Sometime I don’t want to get healthy fearing that once I do – that’s when I’ll die. Haha funny how life can be great then its like “wtf”.
I’m ranting again as normal – but I would like to say.
1. Your not dieing – this should curb the full blown attacks with no meds.
2. Clear out your cache (computer terminology) so you don’t overflow with emotion and feelings you can’t control – this should curb the full blown attacks.
3. Once your not having the “big one” for those of you who remember Sanford and Son :). Write down all your thoughts on paper this helps me – when I can do it – to clear out stuff. You will find most of the “stuff” is garbage and you can safely cross it off the list. It really helps to actually cross it out your mind. One less thing for your “bucket” to deal with, you can also priorities some of the “stuff”. Move something a year out… because I find my stress is all the stuff I want to do. I think your brain is saying do it NOW, thus causing tremendous stress. Give it a place in the future to help your mind deal with it in is correct place. I find it hard now with long range thinking..yes easily confused and “buzzy” I think do this often as the list will change and you will find it helpful.
4. Try to stop a few of the destructive things. Don’t stop all together as some will automatically put off this step. Just try to slow it down. Drinking, smoking, fried foods and surgery stuff. Just one less here and there with step 5.
5. With step 4 – Start some “extra” physical activity walking or go to the gym make it a routine. Don’t think about it just do it. thinking about it causes stress – and none of want that!
Well that’s my contribution for today. Louis, hang in there buddy – Its a fight for life but I think it can be achieved. Ill post any progress I have with the steps. As they are for me as well.
Hey mike im just going to start off my saying thanks, i appreciate what youre doing.
Hi, im eric, 21, and here is my story. I dont know what is goin on with me. i quit smoking pot 3 weeks ago after doing it for 5 years on pretty much a daily basis. The reason i quit because i was starting to feel like i was “too” high and then i would break out in a panic where my heart would start racing and i thought it was due to the marijuana. a week after i quit i soon realized i started having these panic attacks i tihnk thats what it was and they were worse where i couldnt fall asleep and id have this weird sensation in the back of my head and felt like i was literally GOING CRAZY and that id pass out and faint at any minute.. Its hard to explain but it feels like im going to pass out and i think im going to break out in a seizure or something. Ive contemplated going to the ER during these but i know when i FINALLY get to sleep im fine, until a couple hours after i wake up basically. the first “attack” i got wasa week after i quit the dope i coulddnt sit still and i was pacing back and forth in the basement with my mind going a million miles a minute, walking up the stairs, getting a drink of water every minute and felt like there was nothing i could do because i couldnt sit still or i couldnt lay down without my heart racing a million miles a minute and it felt like i was gunna break out into a seizure or something. Its really hard to explain what was going on in my head all i can tell you was that my heart would be racing and my whole body just felt uneasy like i couldnt lay still in my bed or i couldnt just sit still on the couch and watch tv, i had to be pacing back and forth.. that happpened for a few nights straight and then i finally cried to my mom telling her what was going on and i calmed down that night, i made a tea and we watched a movie and i started to feel a little bit normal i guess u can say. Christmas came along and we were having people over.. i got up took a shower and then when i got upstairs i found myself doing the same stuff, like i couldnt sit down on the couch so i went downstairs and walked around a bit and it sucked cause my brothers and sisters were upstairs thinking “what the heck is going on with Eric” Eventually i went back upstairs but it was wierd i started to feel more calm when my dad, aunts and uncles showed up but it was still like i wasnt enjoying myself like i did prior christmas’ I went to church with my brothers and sisters and when i was in there i felt like i had to run out of there and leave but i was too embarrassed to do that cause people would be thiking “this kid is disrespectful” so i sucked it up and stayed even though it seemed like “it wasnt real” or like i was in a dream or something…. probably the worst feeling ever. we came back home and i was feeling kind of depressed until we started playing this game that i go into but as soon as that was done and everyone left i felt depressed again especially after my ex called me to wish me a merry christmas… that night was brutal i couldnt sleep…id fall asleep at 7am then wake up at 4pm and i wouldnt answer phopne calls or anything. finally i stayed up a whole day and tried getting my sleep schedule back on track and did so.. i felt much better the next few days i wasnt panicking or anything and started going out to a friends house and started falling asleep at a regular time byut only getting a few hours of sleep, id wake up at 5am after falling asleep at 1 and then i would nap around noon for a few hours and i always felt worse after waking up from the naps and i dont know why? I even had to cancel going to a hockey game with my dad (who i dont live with) and it kills me inside because i dont see him much but i couldnt sit there in that arena and be normal it seemed so i just told him i was sick. So it was new years eve and i wwasnt even going to go out for that but decided i should or my friends might start asking questions… i drank heavily that night and after feeling good for the past few days i felt the worse i have ever today, not only cause i was hungover but it was in my head too like i couldnt concentrate and i couldnt sit still again, like i said above, and was pacing around worrying that i was going to die again.. i felt like i was just gunna pass out and have to be rushed to the emergency room which is the scariest feeling in the world. I know this sounds like im a hypochondriac but i did look up some research on the internet and i feel like i have type 1 diabetes because i have alot of the symptoms and the main symptom is urinating frequentyl which i do ALOT and im not just saying that because im paranoid, i really do pee alot and even my friends have mentioned to me, “hey eric, why do u pee so much” the other symptoms are dry mouth, always thirsty and your feet start to get this feeling in them like a tingly feeling which i have every now and then. Im going to the doctors today and im pretty scared of what the outcome is going to be, im really scared that i could be dying because this feeling im getting is so bad like nothing can help it. Please if someone can write me back or relate and tell some stories because the ones above really calmed me down.
Eric, I am a diabetic, and some of the symptoms you describe fit diabetes — the frequent urination, always being thirsty, dry mouth, tingling in the feet and legs. Be sure you tell your doctor all your symptoms so that he/she can make a good diagnosis.
Although I am not qualified to make any diagnoses, it sounds as if you are having panic attacks and/or another Anxiety Disorder. The extreme restlessness, the dissociation (feelings of unreality), and other things you describe are common to both panic disorders and other Anxiety Disorders.
I am an insomniac, too. And it seems that my Anxiety symptoms get worse or better along with the insomnia. And insomnia can actually cause Anxiety! See my post “Chronic Insomnia Can Lead to Anxiety Disorders for more information.
I recommend that you have a good physical checkup to make sure that there are no physical reasons for your symptoms. Then, if you still have unexplained symptoms, see a mental health professional to get some help with them. You do not necessarily have to take medications. Counseling or therapy can teach you how to manage and control your symptoms in a relatively short time. And the relief will last you the rest of your life!
It sounds as if your pot smoking was covering up some problems that might have been building for a while. When you stopped, those problems reared their ugly heads. Note that I said the pot was covering up the problems, not solving them! There are a number of self-medications that seem to “help” but just mask the underlying symptoms, such as cigarette smoking and alcohol. You need to get to the real reasons for your discomforts and symptoms so you can have some peace of mind!
Good luck, and keep me posted on your progress either here in the comments, or by emailing me using the Contact tab at the top of the page.
Another great post.
What is the difference between “panic attacks” and “anxiety attacks”?
When I was 5, I would have (what I always called “anxiety”) attacks where I would wake from sleeping feeling something was horribly wrong. My mom would have to come and comfort me. We would always have to pray, because I thought I was dying. Somehow, I grew out of them and don’t remember having anything like that after that year.
When I was pregnant with my third child, I started having these again. I would wake from a sound sleep feeling odd. I am an emetophobe, so naturally the first thought would be, “Why did I wake up? Am I going to be sick?” There was some added pressure with this pregnancy: My husband was finishing his degree and I felt people would think it an irresponsible time to have another baby; I was anxiously engaged in my career as a birth doula and having a baby would mean I would have to stop for a year or so; and finally, I didn’t plan him! I planned the other pregnancies, but this pregnancy was a surprise, and that was a shock for me. I know this all factored into the attacks.
I had a routine for coping. I would wake with an attack. I would go to the living room, sit in the rocking chair, turn on the tv, and grab my fan. As I rocked myself, I would fan my face and chest, and focus my attention to the tv. I knew the more time passed, the better I would get. I would have to do this for about an hour, but the first 10-15 minutes were what I really had to get myself through.
I had some other issues going on, too, which at the time were my full reality. Forgive my non-techie-ness, but here is a link http://www.chicodoula.com/2/category/depression/1.html. I am a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, and in my classes I stress that hormones can facilitate awesome changes in our bodies — good and bad. I know I had the help of those pregnancy hormones for my cognitive distortions.
Stacie’s last blog post..Random Doula Question #3: Am I Smart Enough?
Hey Mike, I went to the doctors and was just put on the drug Paxil. Do you have any information about this. I researched it on the internet and about 90% of the people are saying how its such a horrible drug and that i shouldn’t be taking this. People are saying how it is habit forming, can make me gain weight and the worste part is says i can affect my sexual performance. Has anyone heard of this druge and if so can you give me your honest opinion about it. Thanks alot guys.
Eric, I’m very glad you have seen your doctors about your panic attacks. I hope that it leads to your learning how to control them. You didn’t mention whether you are doing therapy or not. If not, I would encourage you to do so. Read Dave’s comment to see what kind of relief it can give you.
I looked up Paxil on MedlinePlus. There is no mention of its being habit-forming. It can, though, cause weight loss or weight gain, and it can change your sex drive or ability. Click the link to find out more.
I would caution you to take with a grain of salt the “testimonials” you see on the internet. Remember that only one in a thousand will write a comment, and those are almost always the ones that are dissatisfied. The 999 satisfied users do not write comments. Paxil is a very effective and popular medication. If it had the dire effects some people attribute to it, it would not be on the market!
Every medication affects every person differently. Dave said that Paxil made him extremely nervous. Others may have stomach upset, and still others may have no side effects at all. If you are having unpleasant side effects, ask your doctor for a new medication; there are many out there, and one of them is the one for you.
Hang in there! Get some therapy if you can. And don’t give up just because Paxil may not be for you!
I am going to try to make this as short as possible. Sorry in advance if it is lengthy. Ok so I am a 24 year old female with a 2 year old son. I have been through a lot with a custody battle for him. I have joint custody with my ex boyfriend. I am now married to a wonderful man. About 14 months ago I went to the OB/GYN for a checkup. My pap came back abnormal and I had to have a colposcopy. It came back fine. The very next day I had a strange episode or “attack” as I call it. I was at home watching TV and all of a sudden I got a tingling in my left arm. Shortly after that I got hot all over and felt like I was going to pass out. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and my chest was pounding. I got my sister to call 911. An ambulance came out and said they thought I was having a panic attack. I didn’t go to the hospital that night. I was still feeling crappy the next day and VERY scared so my fiance took me to the ER. They did EKG, chest XRAY, blood work, and a CT scan. Everything came back fine. I wasn’t too worried after that until these “attacks” kept coming back. In the past year I have seen a Cardiologist for chest pain, two Neurologists for headaches and several regular doctors who have found NOTHING wrong. I have an MRI, a stress test, an ultrasound of my heart, and several other tests that have been fine. I have also seen 2 psychiatrists as well. Most of these doctors say it’s anxiety. Sometimes I can go months without feeling bad at all but then I have another “attack” and I will feel symptoms for weeks afterwards. Like strange headaches, trouble concentrating, irritability, weird chest pain that goes from a burning to sharp pains and seems to change when I switch positions. I also have trouble breathing from time to time. I have tried many medications that doctors have prescribed and have spent SO much money (which I don’t have a lot of) trying to figure out what’s wrong. I just want to feel better. I hate living my life like this. I feel I am too young to have so many problems all of a sudden. I have been a very healthy person my whole life. I am 5′4″ and weigh about 130lbs. I am just finding it hard to believe that anxiey can cause all of this. I really feel something else is wrong but isn’t it strange that I’ve had all these tests done and NOTHING has shown a red flag??? I just want some answers! Anything info would be wonderful. Thank you.
Rachael, thank you for visiting! And don’t worry about the length of your comment. If I were worried about comment length I would restrict it.
Anxiety can and does cause all sorts of physical symptoms. There are a number of posts on this site about how Anxiety can make you sick. And panic attacks expertly mimic real physical symptoms.
It is typical of panic attack sufferers to have endless tests for physical ailments, and to visit the emergency room multiple times before seeking help for their panic attacks.
Although I am not qualified to make diagnoses, it certainly sounds as if you are having panic attacks. All the symptoms fit.
I urge you to seek help from a mental health professional. That help may involve medication, but it doesn’t have to. Therapy is very effective in teaching you how to control and manage your panic attacks, and doesn’t take all that long.
To get an idea of how therapy can help, read Dave’s comment above.
Just realize that mental ailments are just as “normal” as physical ailments, and that there is no shame in having panic attacks. Don’t let shame or denial hold you back from getting the help that you need! There is no need for you to suffer!
Ok and the past few days I have been having HORRIBLE trouble breathing. It’s like shortness of breath and it’s so bad sometimes I go into a panic. I just want to feel better. I’m tired of living like this. It’s been going on for over a year now and I don’t understand why. I mean, if it IS anxiety which I am not doubting it is because I do believe I have that, then why won’t the symptoms go away after a few minutes or even hours? I thought panic attack symptoms only last a few minutes then go away. My symptoms can last for days or even weeks. Then go away for a little bit but they always come back. I’m so scared something else is wrong with me and that I’m going to drop dead at any minute. Sounds so stupid but it’s true. And I know I’m driving my family and husband nuts when I get these feelings. They look at it like well you’ve had SO many tests done and NOTHING has shown up so you must be ok. I want to believe that but can’t help but to think something more serious is wrong because of the severity of my symptoms and the simple fact that they wont go away. I take Xanex and Lexapro but still have trouble managing the symptoms which is another reason I feel like it’s more than anxiety. I’ve seen a therapist and I always had to stop because of financial issues. I don’t understand how I’ve been so healthy my whole life and now this happens all of a sudden and has been happening for over a year. I am so scared I won’t be here to watch my son grow up and I won’t be able to take care of him. Do I sound crazy or do you think that it really could be something more serious regardless of the MANY tests that I have had done and the doctors have found nothing….. Thanks for all your help. Talking about it seems to help a little!
Hello, Rachael, and thanks for expanding on your previous comment!
You do not sound crazy at all. It’s only normal to worry about symptoms that seem to continue despite everything that’s been done.
It is true that a panic attack generally lasts less than 30 minutes, but the background Anxiety it causes can last for hours, or even days. It seems, too, that your Anxiety is in a heightened state due to your continual symptoms, and that the panic attacks arise from this state.
In my own experience and that of others, medications can help take the edge off Anxiety and panic attacks, but they do nothing in getting at the root source of the problem. Only therapy can do that.
I’m sorry that you have not been able to afford continued therapy. You might want to check again with your insurance company, since a new Congressional act just a couple of months ago made mental health coverage on a par with physical health coverage mandatory.
Please keep me informed of your progress, either here in the comments, or by email — just click the “Contact” tab at the top of the page.
Thank you so much for your advice. I am going to see my primary doctor this afternoon because of the shortness of breath I have been feeling the past few days. I hope she can figure something out and not just say it’s anxiety because no other doctors including her can figure out what’s going on with me. I’m really scared and I want to try therapy again if that’s the only thing that is going to help me through this. I still am not convinced it is only anxiety and I really wish I could get some answers. But thanks again for your concern and this website!
Good luck to you Rachael! I hope your doctor can figure out what’s happening and can give you something that will help.
I can empathize with your fear — you’ve been through a lot. But I hope that fear will diminish when you can find out what’s going on.
Hang in there and keep in touch!
Hi Rachael,
I agree with Mike that your symptoms from an attack can last for quite a while; I’m sure this is different from person to person. I remember that when I’d go through a bad period, I would have lingering symptoms for a few days. I’m not really sure exactly what is going on at that point; I thought of it as the “left over” chemicals/etc that is pumped into your body during an attack. Almost felt like some “chemical imbalance” to me.
Keep pursuing it; you can and will find a way out of this!
- Dave
p.s. Mike asked me to write up more of what I went through to gain control over my attacks. See Conquering Your Panic: Dave’s Success Story.
Thank you for your advice. I feel like I have some mysterious rare disease that all the tests and doctors I have seen have missed and something really is terribly wrong with me. It’s awful. I hate it. It’s like one day I was fine and then the next BOOM out of nowhere this is happening and my life is a daily struggle since then. I feel like no one understands what I am going through or even believes me for that matter. Like the boy who cried wolf or something. It’s ridiculous and I just want my life back. Sound like panic and anxiety to you? EVERY day I deal with this. Every single day.
Hi Rachael,
I have to agree with everything that Mike has stated above regarding what you’ve said. Of course, there could be something else going on as well, so that can’t be ruled out. Only trained professionals can figure that out.
Regarding panic attacks in general, I think that it helps to understand what your body is doing during these times and how those series of events result in symptoms that you feel.
Think of what happens when you walk into a room and someone jumps out from behind the door and scares you horribly. Right when that occurs, there is a “rush” that goes through your body – it’s the “fight-or-flight” action kicking in. Your body immediately mobilizes into action, instantly preparing to fight the danger and/or escape quickly away from it. In either case, it’s trying to prevent you from harm or death (replace the person with a grizzly bear and you get the point).
So what happens when you are faced with danger like this? There are both instant physiological changes as well as those which happen over the hours afterward. In preparing to do battle, your body does many actually amazing things such as getting more nutrients to your muscles, sharpening your vision and awareness, stopping energy-consuming activities in one part of the body in order to conserve it for the battle, expelling unnecessary weight in order so that you can run faster, etc. These are all accomplished by the brain triggering these actions resulting in the release of chemicals and hormones into the bloodstream, adrenaline being the most prominent, but many others as well. This release then causes the heart rate and blood pressure to increase, the digestive system to shut-down, but also expel what’s in there, etc. Your body also continues to shut down other activities over the next few/several hours in preparation of potential injury, pain, etc.
So, a panic attack is essentially your fight-or-flight mechanism kicking in when there is actually no reason to. All of a sudden it happens and your body goes into gear to do battle when there is nothing to do battle with. There is the “rush” that happens, heart rate goes up, blood pressure increases, your chest is bounding and you feel hot and sweaty all over, your digestive system goes into fits which might make you feel sick, your awareness of your body and the things around you changes…but it’s confusing because it’s happening out of the blue so to speak.
It’s a bit ironic that when we experience a panic attack, we think that we are going to die, when the physiological reaction that’s occurring is meant to actually prevent us from dying.
For me, coming to an understanding of what was actually going on in my body during a panic attack helped me to focus on the fact that I really wasn’t going to die from this (which I know is so easy to write here, but so hard to do at that time…).
If any of you are into the physiology of this, a great book to read is “Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers” by Robert Sapolsky. It is focused on stress, stress-related diseases, and coping. It’s not a book on panic and anxiety disorders, but everything in it is directly related.
Rachael, I think that it’s not surprising that you feel constant anxiety, which can begin attacks at any point. As I mention above, the remnants of an attack can leave you vulnerable to another. Your shortness of breath (or perhaps described as a “suffocating feeling”? – I felt this way) could just be another symptom caused by the above.
Lastly, you mentioned “I’ve been very healthy all of my life.” – Why me, why now? As Mike has said, the underlying causes of panic attacks come from things that have built up over time, not some “illness/disease” that you just suddenly caught (like getting the flu, and infection, etc.). It just happens that you’re one of us who’s body responds/deals with these issues through panic attacks (I guess that it’s sort of like when you have eaten something bad and your body wants to get it out of your system, so it forces it out through vomiting, etc.; similarly a panic attack is your body’s defensive mechanism kicking in to “eject out” the stuff that it can’t deal with any more). This is why Mike says that Meds are only treating the symptoms; the key to ultimate relief is to get at the underlying cause through various types of therapy, learning how to cope with stress, etc. The process will be sort of an “unwinding” of what has occurred, so the longer this goes on, the longer and more complicated the unwinding process will be – like learning how to walk – first crawl, then stand, then take a step, another step, ooops – I’m on the floor – get back up, more steps, etc. until you can really walk again.
Hope things are better today for you.
- Dave
Wow Dave, thank you so much for that comment. It means a lot that you took out the time to write all that out for me like that. I really related to what you said and you put it in great words that I totally was able to understand!!! It all makes so much sense. I do agree that it is anxiety and it’s so strange because my symptoms can go away almost as quickly as they came. But a few days later they will start all over again. I’m scared to leave my house sometimes but then other times I don’t want to be home because i fell cooped up. ;)
I guess what’s the main issue bothering me at this point (which seems to be all I think about lately) is the possiblity of something else being there BESIDES just anxiety/panic disorder. I mean, I know you aren’t a doctor and you can’t give me a precise answer but does it seem silly to you that I am still so worried about something being so terribly wrong with me? Like a strange sickness of some sort? Like maybe the docs missed something or didn’t perform a test they should have? I don’t know. I feel like all I do is go to the doctor and have tests done. Don’t you think by now if something other than anxiety is going on in my body SOMEONE whould have found it? Thanks again, Rachael
Hi Rachael,
No, I don’t think that it’s silly for you to still be concerned about your health. I know that I was worried for quite a long time about if there really was something wrong with my heart, etc. and it wasn’t until I got control of my panic attacks that I actually had some “relief” from worrying about “but what if”.
Perhaps the best (non-professional) advice that I could give is to concentrate on solving the problems that you do know about now, rather than worrying about the things that you don’t know.
It would not be good to have your focus on the unknown take you away from solving the things that are facing you now. Especially since they are “fixable” and the symptoms that are due to the anxiety issues are multiple and can be “indirect”. So if you solve the anxiety/panic attack issue, then these symptoms will also go away, leaving you with a much clearer picture of your overall health. Then at that point, you may have no other symptoms (which would be of course awesome and the most likely, but not guaranteed, outcome) or you may have something else to then delve into and resolve.
Make sense?
Take care,
-Dave
I have had panic attacks ever since the first time I smoked weed. That night I felt like I was dieing. Ever since then I have had lots of panic attacks; I feel like they mostly correlate with stress. I feel like my head will explode, i shake, my heart pounds and I cant calm down. One way for me to calm down is to run cold water over my wrists; Im not sure why it helps but it does. It really helps to read this website with the symptoms and personal stories because it makes me feel less crazy. Reading things like this while in the middle of a panic attack make it easier for me to believe that I am not dieing and in fact having a panic attack. I have tried medicine but I hate taking medicine and will stop taking it before I give it a chance to work. However, I feel as if I really need to give it another try.
I’m very happy to have found this, though I’m still unsure if what I’m experiencing is a panic attack. I’ve been experiencing this for as long as I can remember and have not told anyone except my husband (last night) due to a very bad episode, about this. This only happens when I am alone, or when I am in a room that is silent (like taking tests in school). I am not aware of being stressed out by anything when they happen, and I really feel fine just before and after it happens. Out of the blue, it seems, time speeds up, everything is going really fast, usually I can just try to ignore it and it passes after about 10 minutes though it’s usually really annoying. I also experience a buzzing in my head. I’ve noticed that talking to someone seems to “snap me out of it” so my early “experiements” to try to see if I really was going fast, or if it was just perceived didn’t work. Last night I felt like things were getting too fast. The cat was walking around on the bed too fast to be natural, the sounds around me were overwhelming – cars whizzing by, the woman walking around in the apartment above us, I couldn’t think. I tried taking a deep breath to calm my self down but that seemed to speed things up even more. It wasn’t until then that I felt like I was panicking so I called my husband, late at night (woke him up) with, “Do I sound okay?” Now he was panicking! anyway, I tried to explain what it felt like and had a difficult time thinking or talking until the episode had passed, about a minute after I was on the phone with him. He has urged me to find out more information on this so here I am…has anyone else had this happen? Why would it only happen when I am alone or in a quiet room? Can panic attacks occur when one isn’t stressed? If it isn’t a panic attack – then what is going on? ~Thanks for any help you can offer.
i just wanted to say i am glad i found this site and i too need serious help as i to suffer thougght of dying al to much and it is affecting my social life work life and sometimes want to stay in bed as i think this possibly being my last day on earth.i am currently taking lorazapam for the mild days xanax for the really bad days and it seems i am having more and more of those shiurderls hurt tightness of the chest blurred vision out f body experience like i am lookkink at myself and life in genereal.I AM VERY VERY SCARED!!!!!!! please help if you can because i am getting to the point of no return and the only keeping me here is my to best dogs in the world!!!!!!
Steve,
I’ve been in your shoes (way too many times) and I think I probably know how you’re feeling. Please first, do not do this on your own. For me, just talking through this with someone else that knew what I was experiencing was a relief to me. And you are not alone; there are many of us here that either are experiencing or have experienced what you’re going through.
It’s going to be ok; I know that it’s so hard to imagine that, especially when things get real bad. But this will all pass and you can take steps to take your life back.
How long have you been experiencing this?
- Dave
Hi Jennifer,
I saw your post a couple of days ago, but have been out of town and wasn’t able to post until now. Your symptoms are “unusual”. I’ve don’t remember ever reading something like that, but I can imagine how it could be related to anxiety. But I am not a professional; just a fellow “panic attack sufferer” (but cured now :-) ).
In my case, I don’t think that I ever experienced your same symptoms, although as I think about it, perhaps I did but just mildly.
A couple of things that I can offer is this:
- Stress: Just because you don’t “feel” stress, doesn’t mean that you aren’t under stress. Stress is a very tricky thing and can continue to build up “silently” without any symptom until it causes some symptom(s). That happened to me more than once.
- Panic triggers: It is very common to have the site of or experience of a panic attack trigger another attack when you re-visit that same location or experience. So for instance, in your case you have experienced these when you are alone or in silent rooms. This “memory” of your experience drives it to occur again because your brain has been “trained” to respond in this way. So the fact that it occurs in this setting may be simply because this is how you first experienced it and has nothing to do with the actual “environment”. If it happened when you were driving a car, you would be more likely to have other attacks when driving a car again just because of that experience. And the more it happens, the stronger that training in your brain is. I would think that this is possible for your symptoms as well; something is triggering some physiological reactions in your brain and then in your body which results in your symptoms. The question is: is this stress or is something else going on.
My personal opinion is that you should talk to a trained professional about this; someone who specializes in anxiety disorders (which is the #2 treated thing behind depression). I personally would want to stay away from just “throwing some medications at it” because this will just treat the symptoms and not the underlying cause(s).
And you should do this immediately. The longer this goes on, the more “invasive” it is going to become in your life and you don’t want that.
As you find out more, it would really be helpful to everyone if you could post what you discover here, so that it can be shared by everyone. I’m sure that there are others which are on or will be on the same search as yourself.
Take care,
Dave
Hi Jennifer,
So right after I wrote that, I was looking back up at the top of this post and Mike lists the common symptoms of panic attacks. These include:
- Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
- 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
So your symptoms are indeed part of the criteria for panic attacks! Never noticed that before…
What I said above still applies.
Jennifer – simply by talking about this with others and searching for answers is leading you down the road to recovery. Keep at it; you’ll get there!
- Dave
hi to dave and jennifer i want to say thanks very much i am glad to find someone out there other than me dealing or have dealt with this fear.to answer everyone i have had anxiety since my father died of a heart attack and since have let it fester so bad that i now have severe panic attacks so bad that i am actually having as i am typing but it seems to calm me a little as i am typing.i am forty and my father died at fifty but had an open heart surgery at the age i am now as he past on 16 yes ago yesterday the 10th.this is not a good month for me as my mother died on the 19th of this month.so i guess what i am trying to say is which is no excuse is a real bad month. i was at work today and about 5 pm mst i started getting the cramps in the stomach racing heart and this horrible fear of all the sudden dying right there on the floor of a heart attack.i wanted to go home so bad and have in the past and its ruining my job and relation with my boss and his wife,as they are like family to me as i have none left.i have tried everything from prozac to cymbalta which i cant afford without ins. i have tried the lucinda bassett tapes and they did not work.as people know when u have no ins. doctors like to seem they care but dont.xanax seems to help as i take it for the worst ones like now and lorazepam every day just to keep me calm i am scared and helpless. hope to hear from someone soon and i really like this site.
Hi Steve,
I’m glad to hear from you tonight. You had me worried a bit today…
I’m very sorry to hear about losing both of your parents. I have not had to face that yet, but I know the day will come. Sounds like a very stressful month for you.
So did I read that correctly – you’ve been having panic attacks for 16 years? Wow – and I thought that my 12 years was a long time… 8-|.
You know, your heart is not your Dad’s heart. That he had open heart surgery, etc., this does not mean that this is going to happen to you (although, yes it does put you into a higher risk category – just like me due to my family history).
But, you see that you are still reading this, 16 years after your first attack, and some number of minutes since your last one. My point is simply that your attacks have not killed you; sounds funny to say, but for me, at some point I had to recognize what was really going on, know/focus on the fact that what I was experiencing was not going to kill me (i.e I was not dying). Yes, very hard to do, but it is critical.
I know that you already know this, but you really need to find a psychiatrist that can help you get to the bottom of this. I do not know how to go about finding help when you don’t have insurance, but perhaps Mike or others have good ways to do this. Your attacks are your body’s way of dealing with the emotions built up inside you. One of the keys to stopping this is to deal with that. You will also need help in “unwinding” the training that your brain has had as it has experienced your attacks over the last number of years. Again, a psychiatrist will help with this as well. They will also help you to learn how to feel and then control the stress build up in your body and how to prevent an attack from starting.
If you haven’t already, look at my post in this blog on 1/10/09 if you want to learn more about what is going on in your body when you have an attack. It is sometimes helpful to understand why you feel what you do, otherwise you are tricked into thinking it is something that it is not. It is your fight-or-flight mechanism kicking in when there is nothing to be fearful of or fight with. As I said in another article, here the very thing that is built-in to our bodies to prevent us from dying makes us feel like we’re dying when it happens for no reason at all (i.e. panic attack) – rather ironic.
Ok, what else can I think of here…how have you been treating your body? When your body is strong, your immune system is better and can suppress the attacks (to some degree). Anything that you each which is either a stimulant (caffine) or depressant (alcohol) is not good. Eating healthly is good. Exercise, walking, running, etc. are all good in that they help get that stress out of your body as well as making it stronger; (of course I can easily write these things now, but it was honestly very hard for me to personally do back then…but I did stop the wine and the Pepsi … :-) ).
I hope that you have had a better night.
Take care,
Dave
Ok well im 15 and in my last year at school. i’ve just researching symptoms on internet as at the moment i don’t feel so good as i will constantly loose control of feet and sweat a lot also i keep thinking i see things out of the corner of my eye and it really freaks me out and until i’ve gone over every explanation in head i cant move at all and my senses have heightened greatly. also when i am typing i am saying it in my head and miss words out when i’m typing as i hear them. i really just feel constantly on edge and it only happens in the space of around 10 minutes which is why i am writing this because i don’t normally think anything will happen to me but i think its worth trying to find out. i am currently under stress due to exams and girls but i don’t know what is happening.
Hi, Harry! Thank you for your comment.
Exams and girls are very stressful, and it seems you are having some normal reactions to them — but maybe too many “normal” reactions. The symptoms you note could be signs of a panic attack, or maybe a Limited Symptom Panic Attack, but 1) I couldn’t tell without more information, and 2) I am not medically qualified to make any diagnosis.
The best thing you could do is to take your concerns to a mental health professional who could properly diagnose what you’re going through, and give you some help if necessary.
Incidentally, I’m 62 years old, and I’ve seen things out of the corner of my eye for all of my life. I used to get very upset about it, but my eye doctor explained that I have very wide peripheral vision, so I see a lot more out of the corners of my eyes than most people. Even though I’ve gotten used to it, I still am startled by motion or a suspicious blob seen at the edge of my vision.
ok thank you it has put my mind to rest that i am not going to suffer from this dreadful condition.