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I just had a panic attack

Blogs > Mickey
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Mickey
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
United States2606 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-07-13 07:41:25
July 13 2010 07:39 GMT
#1
It was literally the scariest thing I've ever experienced. I thought I was going to die since it felt like I was having a heart attack.

I'm so grateful it lasted less than two minutes.

I'm sort of scared to go to sleep now as I have this fear I won't wake up.

Anyone have any panic attack stories?

edit: I said literally twice.

***
serenidite
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
Korea (South)505 Posts
July 13 2010 07:43 GMT
#2
-sigh- today. playing a C- on HBR today
didnt see a rax in the Terran's base so i thought PROXY 8 RAX. BBS.

heartrate increased, palms started sweating.
then i found out it was just a forward rax. he was walling in this natural :/
" Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway."
sluggaslamoo
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
Australia4494 Posts
July 13 2010 07:43 GMT
#3
Anxiety, the best way to to get over it, is simple, get over it. Don't be afraid of dying, and it will go away.

That said when I was young, I used to get them every night for 2 years.
Come play Android Netrunner - http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=409008
Mickey
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
United States2606 Posts
July 13 2010 07:46 GMT
#4
On July 13 2010 16:43 sluggaslamoo wrote:
Anxiety, the best way to to get over it, is simple, get over it. Don't be afraid of dying, and it will go away.

That said when I was young, I used to get them every night for 2 years.

How did you deal with that? I can't imagine what that must of been like for you.
p4NDemik
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United States13896 Posts
July 13 2010 08:01 GMT
#5
I'm severely allergic to cats. In high school I went to a party not knowing they kept 3 cats, and had to leave nearly immediately due to a strong allergic reaction. But even like 10 minutes after I went outside I could not get my breath, I was weezing, gasping for breath and I didn't have the emergency injection stuff that's supposed to counteract those sort of attacks, so I started to freak out. Somehow made my way back inside the party to find a friend so I could get some help, and we got in a car headed to the nearest hospital. By the time we got there my panic attack had gotten so bad I couldn't get out of the car and my friends had to carry me in.

When I got inside the ER they sat me down and a pissed off nurse came and looked at me for a moment, grabbed my head so I would focus on her and said "you're having a panic attack, relax." And like 30 seconds later I was back to normal. Weirdest shit ever.
Moderator
sluggaslamoo
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
Australia4494 Posts
July 13 2010 08:06 GMT
#6
Just like how you face any fear, don't be afraid , its a bit harder though because you can't actually "face" it. Basically your body is trying to manifest your stress into something tangible, the problem is it just makes the situation worse. In stone age times this was useful, because the dudes that were alert were more likely to survive, and often you could actually physically face your fears and conquer it, such as killing a lion.

These days you can't do that, so it never subsides and just gets worse and worse. Whatever is making you scared, don't be afraid. The sooner your body realises you just don't give a damn, the sooner it goes away.

It's easier when its something like you are scared of getting up out of bed because you are afraid someone or something is out to kill or torture you, or you are going to die (and you seriously seriously believe it). The best thing again, is to just face your fears and get up, go get something to drink or eat, and watch the TV or go back to bed. Whatever you are scared of, tell your mind to fuck off and just do whatever you want.

In my experience this was the only way to "face" it. I only started doing this after the 2 years of being shit-scared and was surprised how quickly it went away. It was bad, but somehow I don't regret it. I became much more confident when it subsided, because now nothing feels anywhere near as scary in comparison.

And yeah, even if its really bad, I personally wouldn't bother going to a psychologist, it will just be a money sink that does nothing to help, as it was for me. The only way you can fix it, is if you grow some balls handle it yourself.
Come play Android Netrunner - http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=409008
p4NDemik
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United States13896 Posts
July 13 2010 08:17 GMT
#7
It really is weird how while I was experiencing it I just felt totally paralyzed, I honestly 'felt' like I was going to die, probably the worst moment of pure fear I've ever experienced, but once someone who was level-headed and knew what what happening explained it to me I snapped out of it almost immediately. Strangest 180 degree turnaround. Well, actually maybe not the strangest I've experienced, but certainly up there.
Moderator
Tadzio
Profile Blog Joined October 2006
3340 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-07-13 08:31:49
July 13 2010 08:17 GMT
#8
I started getting panic attacks shortly after my mom's dad died. I was 21 at the time. The first one: I was driving home from the funeral (it was a long drive) and I started feeling light-headed. I pulled over on the freeway and asked my girlfriend to drive. She did. I rolled down the windows and starting breathing deeply, trying to do whatever I could to get the feeling to subside. My girlfriend mentioned that I was very pale. Slowly, I became aware that my muscles were feeling very relaxed, and my breathing was getting shallower and shallower. I told my GF that I felt like I might be dying. She began speeding to get me to the hospital. I passed out.

I came to, still in the car with my GF. She was frantic, speeding to the nearest hospital she knew about. I'd been out for a couple minutes, but I didn't know that at the time. I felt much better and since I didn't have health insurance I told my GF to just drive home and I'd get something to eat/drink and see how I felt. She acquiesced because my color had returned, and I seemed to be in a better mood.

My next work night, I got in my car to drive to work and within 2 blocks I had another panic attack, I felt dizzy and disoriented, my heart _seemed_ to be beating irregularly. I pulled over and the feeling subsided. After a few minutes I decided to give it another shot. Almost immediately the symptoms returned. I pulled over, the symptoms subsided. I felt like an idiot.

Long story short, I couldn't drive for 6 months and my life was put on hold for the better part of a year. After 2 months my GF of 2 years got tired of driving me around and left me (we'd been talking about marriage prior to this). In month 4 my lease expired. I moved back in with my folks because the panic attacks had started hitting me at work, and in class, and when I went to the supermarket or visited with friends at a coffee shop. Pretty much any time I left the house. My parents had me visit some therapist-type-thing and he prescribed me some anti-anxiety medication (paxil) and I eventually got to a point where I could function again.

I still get panic attacks, though. They haven't gone away. I'm just used to them, I identify them faster and I've developed coping mechanisms to limit the panic. Fuckin' brain is evil, though. Keeps trying to fool me.

Keeping your mind occupied helps. I don't mean keeping busy. That can use up your fight-or-flight adrenaline so you don't pass out, but keeping busy alone won't keep you from thinking about how you could be dying, or how the panic attack you know you're having could make you pass out and your head could hit something and you could become a vegetable, etc.... but thinking about other things can help. Whether it's SC builds or math problems, or story ideas. Basically, intense day-dreaming, lol. Find something you can concentrate on and focus on it until the panic goes away.

That's what I do anyways.

With any luck your panic attack was a one-time thing and not the emergence of a full-blown anxiety disorder. Best of luck!
ironchef
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
Canada1350 Posts
July 13 2010 08:28 GMT
#9
I kind of had something like that during a lecture some time ago. I was zoning out thinking of depressing personal shit. It kind of boiled over and peaked in like a "wtf am I doing here" moment, and started getting light headed/slightly dizzy and had a hard time breathing. It didnt help it was a lecture hall with lots of people and the seats are locked in(like a movie theatre) lol.

Was just like, oh shit calm the fuck down lol.. tried to close my eyes and focus on breathing.. like prevent sensory overload from the lights/sounds. I dont think I was scared at the time, but sort of surprised, and it was definitely very unpleasant.
“Because your own strength is unequal to the task, do not assume that it is beyond the powers of man; but if anything is within the powers and province of man, believe that it is within your own compass also.” - Marcus Aurelius
Squallcloud
Profile Joined February 2008
France466 Posts
July 13 2010 08:29 GMT
#10
Funny i just finished watching all the seasons of The Sopranos and it's in part about Tony Soprano having panic attacks and seeing a psy about it.

Maybe if it happens often you should do the same?
Firebathero fanboy - It's not that i'm dumb i'm just controlled by a retarded infestor - Day[9]
JohnColtrane
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Australia4813 Posts
July 13 2010 08:30 GMT
#11
On July 13 2010 17:17 Tadzio wrote:
I started getting panic attacks shortly after my mom's dad died. I was 21 at the time. The first one: I was driving home from the funeral (it was a long drive) and I started feeling light-headed. I pulled over on the freeway and asked my girlfriend to drive. She did. I rolled down the windows and starting breathing deeply, trying to do whatever I could to get the feeling to subside. My girlfriend mentioned that I was very pale. Slowly, I became aware that my muscles were feeling very relaxed, and my breathing was getting shallower and shallower. I told my GF that I felt like I might be dying. She began speeding to get me to the hospital. I passed out.

I came to, still in the car with my GF, frantic, speeding to the nearest hospital she knew about. I'd been out for a couple minutes, but I didn't know that at the time. I felt much better and since I didn't have health insurance I told my GF to just drive home and I'd get something to eat/drink and see how I felt. She acquiesced because my color had returned, and I seemed to be in a better mood.

My next work night, I got in my car to drive to work and within 2 blocks I had another panic attack, I felt dizzy and disoriented, my heart _seemed_ to be beating irregularly. I pulled over and the feeling subsided. After a few minutes I decided to give it another shot. Almost immediately the symptoms returned. I pulled over, the symptoms subsided. I felt like an idiot.

Long story short, I couldn't drive for 6 months and my life was put on hold for the better part of a year. After 2 months my GF of 2 years got tired of driving me around and left me (we'd been talking about marriage prior to this). In month 4 my lease expired. I moved back in with my folks because the panic attacks had started hitting me at work, and in class, and when I went to the supermarket or visited with friends at a coffee shop. Pretty much any time I left the house. My parents had me visit some therapist-type-thing and he prescribed me some anti-anxiety medication (paxil) and I eventually got to a point where I could function again.

I still get panic attacks, though. They haven't gone away. I'm just used to them and I've developed coping mechanisms. Fuckin' brain.

Keeping your mind occupied helps. I don't mean keeping busy. That can use up your fight-or-flight adrenaline so you don't pass out, but keeping busy alone won't keep you from thinking about how you could be dying, or how the panic attack you know you're having could make you pass out and your head could hit something and you could become a vegetable, etc.... but thinking about other things can help. Whether it's SC builds or math problems, or story ideas. Basically, intense day-dreaming, lol. Find something you can concentrate on and focus on it until the panic goes away.

That's what I do anyways.

With any luck your panic attack was a one-time thing and not the emergence of a full-blown anxiety disorder. Best of luck!


wow thats really sad :C she left you because you couldnt drive for a while? that's pretty mud, leaving you when you needed help the most. its probably a good thing you didnt marry her :C

i dont think i get panic attacks, i did get anxiety in the past towards stuff like health and disease, but i never got stuff like skipped heartbeats, pale skin or inability to work/function. i agree with keeping your mind busy. eventually youll start to realize that its just unfounded and youll get over it. maybe talk with a doctor or something?
HEY MEYT
Mickey
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
United States2606 Posts
July 13 2010 08:30 GMT
#12
Thank you all for all the stories. I'm glad people have handled similar instances well and are now better.
JohnColtrane
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Australia4813 Posts
July 13 2010 08:38 GMT
#13
dont be afraid to go to sleep, just watch a video in bed or something and try to drift off. the only harm thatll come to you is resultant of your stress and fear, just take it easy and realize that you are in good health and you arent going to die in your sleep or anything

might i ask where the attack came from?
HEY MEYT
Tadzio
Profile Blog Joined October 2006
3340 Posts
July 13 2010 08:41 GMT
#14
On July 13 2010 17:30 JohnColtrane wrote:
wow thats really sad :C she left you because you couldnt drive for a while? that's pretty mud, leaving you when you needed help the most. its probably a good thing you didnt marry her :C


I don't blame her. She looked at me as I was getting worse and worse and saw something she couldn't spend the rest of her life with. Plus, I had a very hectic schedule at the time (prolly part of the reason the attacks began). I was working 70 hours a week and attending class full-time. Sleeping 3 hours a night on weekdays. She had a part time job and was attending the same school. Her schedule was wrecked by having to drive me around. Which caused mounting stress. If we weren't living together, I don't think she woulda stuck around as long as she did.

I didn't mention her to get people to bad-mouth her. She still, years later, represents "the one that got away". I just wanted to make it clear that an anxiety disorder is something you have to address, headon. Whether through therapy, drugs, excercises, coping mechanisms, friends and family, whatever, if you try and let it run it's course, it can run you into the ground.
sluggaslamoo
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
Australia4494 Posts
July 13 2010 09:04 GMT
#15
Tadzio's story makes me weep
Come play Android Netrunner - http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=409008
NeonFlare
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
Finland1307 Posts
July 13 2010 09:39 GMT
#16
I have had one rather strong and a whole lot of lesser ones (usually when I'm already pretty badly sick), for me it seems the uncertainity of conditions when sick and sudden changes in condition caused unneccesary stress and anxiety which led to them. Fear of death, fear of losing control etc. all strike a lot harder than they should during such, light-headedness and difficulty to breath weren't unheard of.

Actually I calmed down a lot when I heard some relatives had similar symptoms and problems and they said to get some light medication if you can't relax past it. The more often it occured, the easier it started to become distinguish and handle. When confronted with anxiety or panic, there isn't much else to do than relax, listen some music or give a call to someone you haven't chatted with recently, even if the heartbeat would feel horribly strong, if it doesn't come with excruciating pains it should be just passed as bodily reaction to the situation.

While panic/anxiety attacks for me mostly were pretty weak to rather mediocre, they lasted long, which made it horrible during the first some times.
micronesia
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
United States24644 Posts
July 13 2010 10:54 GMT
#17
My sister used to get them due to a medication she was on that was screwing with her apparently... they changed it around after that and she hasn't had a problem.
ModeratorThere are animal crackers for people and there are people crackers for animals.
condoriano
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States826 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-07-13 11:29:29
July 13 2010 11:04 GMT
#18
Had them since 4 years ago, a lot of stuff similar to what Tadzio wrote. Mickey, you have no idea how many people have to deal with this (maybe you do now), and every case is different. You need to read some good literature about it and maybe visit a specialist before it develops further.
Ridentem dicere verum quid vetat?
Servius_Fulvius
Profile Joined August 2009
United States947 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-07-13 11:40:34
July 13 2010 11:38 GMT
#19
I've had anxiety attacks for the last ten years and panic attacks since the last three. They're both pretty similar: panic hits you like a truck and doesn't last long, anxiety grows a lot more slowly, but soon spirals out of control and takes FOREVER to settle down. In college I attended some meditation sessions and saw a therapist for a few years. With that, I learned a few things. Let's call this sf_t's hard counter to panic and anxiety:

1). No one has ever died from a panic attack
2). Telling someone "just don't worry, you have no reason to be" is absolutely useless
3).#2. makes #1 useless during a panic attack
4). Your body will be pumping adrenaline nonstop
5). The attack may become self-perpetuating (panic about panicking) and last longer

What you should do, first and foremost, is not sit still. With all that adrenaline you're just going to go nuts. You need to start getting rid of it. Get up and start walking around. Take a walk around the block, pace a vacant lot, just don't sit still!

Call someone or bring someone with you. They're going to distract you. Start talking about life. It will be hard at first, so try and get them to lead the conversation. You can bring up the panicking, but don't dwell on it.

While talking, make sure you're breathing. It's easier to have the friend remind you. A body can't be in a state of hyper-alertness and relax at the same time. Deep breathing forces your body to relax, and when the energy starts to go down so does the panic.

Squeeze something in one hand. It could be a toy ball, a wad of tissue, anything really. The point of this is to further distract yourself. Instead of dwelling on anxiety you're walking, talking, squeezing, and breathing. Give the attack as long as it needs to settle down.

In addition to using this myself on several occasions I also helped a friend through persistent anxiety by talking with him over the phone. I was also an RA for three years and in that time I helped one resident with a really bad panic attack and one more with persistent attacks. It works, just not on your time frame.
Happy.fairytail
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States327 Posts
July 13 2010 13:00 GMT
#20
sf_t, those are very interesting tips...

I don't personally deal with anxiety/panic attacks, but a friend of mine had a severe attack during a trip to Peru, triggered by her intense phobia of bugs. (We were deep in the jungle, no electricity or running water, so there were countless of mosquitos everywhere... brave soul, she is)

It was pretty bizarre, because it was a few weeks in on a night just like every other, right as we were going to sleep in our mosquito net covers. All of a sudden I just hear her taking these huge irregular gasps, like she was struggling to even just breathe. We were confused and concerned, and I think that just made her panic even worse...

I was vaguely familiar with panic attacks thru my psych major, so I saw what was happening and tried to talk her down, but it just wasn't working. Literally an hour went by of just telling her, "It's okay, everything's alright, just focusing on controlling your breathing." But the irregular intermittant gasps kept echoing in the dark, and she was getting light-headed and losing sensation in her hands and feet from the hyperventilating.

There's a bizarre ending to the story-- someone started singing, and almost immediately her panic attack subsided. But I guess that makes sense, given what you said about distracting yourself and not dwelling on your anxiety. Maybe telling a joke might've been even better? =P
Zyrre
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Sweden291 Posts
July 13 2010 13:16 GMT
#21
On July 13 2010 20:38 Servius_Fulvius wrote:
I've had anxiety attacks for the last ten years and panic attacks since the last three. They're both pretty similar: panic hits you like a truck and doesn't last long, anxiety grows a lot more slowly, but soon spirals out of control and takes FOREVER to settle down. In college I attended some meditation sessions and saw a therapist for a few years. With that, I learned a few things. Let's call this sf_t's hard counter to panic and anxiety:

1). No one has ever died from a panic attack
2). Telling someone "just don't worry, you have no reason to be" is absolutely useless
3).#2. makes #1 useless during a panic attack
4). Your body will be pumping adrenaline nonstop
5). The attack may become self-perpetuating (panic about panicking) and last longer

What you should do, first and foremost, is not sit still. With all that adrenaline you're just going to go nuts. You need to start getting rid of it. Get up and start walking around. Take a walk around the block, pace a vacant lot, just don't sit still!

Call someone or bring someone with you. They're going to distract you. Start talking about life. It will be hard at first, so try and get them to lead the conversation. You can bring up the panicking, but don't dwell on it.

While talking, make sure you're breathing. It's easier to have the friend remind you. A body can't be in a state of hyper-alertness and relax at the same time. Deep breathing forces your body to relax, and when the energy starts to go down so does the panic.

Squeeze something in one hand. It could be a toy ball, a wad of tissue, anything really. The point of this is to further distract yourself. Instead of dwelling on anxiety you're walking, talking, squeezing, and breathing. Give the attack as long as it needs to settle down.

In addition to using this myself on several occasions I also helped a friend through persistent anxiety by talking with him over the phone. I was also an RA for three years and in that time I helped one resident with a really bad panic attack and one more with persistent attacks. It works, just not on your time frame.


These are great tips. I rarely have this anymore, but when I do I know it will go away fairly fast. Before I found out about the stuff you just mentioned, I was having a really hard time dealing with it from time to time.
"Take the risk of thinking for yourself, much more happiness, truth, beauty, and wisdom will come to you that way."
Pawsom
Profile Blog Joined February 2009
United States928 Posts
July 13 2010 13:31 GMT
#22
My friend used to get panic attacks from time to time. Holding and gently squeezing her hand seemed to help. As did just reminding her tp take deep breathes.
Kim_Hyun_Han
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
706 Posts
July 13 2010 16:34 GMT
#23
I have had many many panic attacks

mine are very annoying, my mouth gets crooked and i feel a pressure in my face and in my whole torax.

My breath shortens and i feel overly anxious , god, the first time i had it i thought i was having a heart attack
Mickey
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
United States2606 Posts
July 13 2010 16:40 GMT
#24
Well I did wake up and I just want to clarify things.

1. This was my first panic attack and while I did go through a week or two of heavy depression almost a month ago. I am now almost back to normal and don't feel I'm suffering from anxiety/mental issues.

2. The attack was brought on by a heavy drinking/stressful day and compounded by the fact that I freaked out thinking I had cancer. I know this is completely idiotic, but it's what happened. I want to be truthful.

I don't think I'll have anymore, but looking up information about panic attacks and hearing your stories will definitely help me later on if you do have them.

Thank you all.
Zurles
Profile Joined February 2009
United Kingdom1659 Posts
July 13 2010 17:17 GMT
#25
I often get apathy attacks, breath deep and try to think logically about it is all the help I can think of.
sluggaslamoo
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
Australia4494 Posts
July 14 2010 06:39 GMT
#26
On July 14 2010 01:40 Mickey wrote:
Well I did wake up and I just want to clarify things.

1. This was my first panic attack and while I did go through a week or two of heavy depression almost a month ago. I am now almost back to normal and don't feel I'm suffering from anxiety/mental issues.

2. The attack was brought on by a heavy drinking/stressful day and compounded by the fact that I freaked out thinking I had cancer. I know this is completely idiotic, but it's what happened. I want to be truthful.

I don't think I'll have anymore, but looking up information about panic attacks and hearing your stories will definitely help me later on if you do have them.

Thank you all.


Yeah usually its something dumb and is your brain trying to conjure up reasons for you being stressed.

I used to think every night aliens were going to abduct me or torture me, literally. I used to freak out every night, feeling paralyzed and not able to move, not able to think straight, for what felt like ages. Once I stopped caring and said "fuck it, the aliens can do what they want, good night", after a few months everything went away. Now I think its just stupid.

I only now have very mild anxiety/depression issues (nothing like it used to be), but that's because I just know its just a different manifestation of the same thing, so its relatively easy to handle and goes away again. IMO its all about having ways of not letting it spiral out of control, like everyone else said.
Come play Android Netrunner - http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=409008
BottleAbuser
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
Korea (South)1888 Posts
July 14 2010 06:46 GMT
#27
Wow, this sounds like a whole lot of suck.
Compilers are like boyfriends, you miss a period and they go crazy on you.
QibingZero
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
2611 Posts
July 14 2010 08:34 GMT
#28
On July 13 2010 20:38 Servius_Fulvius wrote:
I've had anxiety attacks for the last ten years and panic attacks since the last three. They're both pretty similar: panic hits you like a truck and doesn't last long, anxiety grows a lot more slowly, but soon spirals out of control and takes FOREVER to settle down. In college I attended some meditation sessions and saw a therapist for a few years. With that, I learned a few things. Let's call this sf_t's hard counter to panic and anxiety:

1). No one has ever died from a panic attack
2). Telling someone "just don't worry, you have no reason to be" is absolutely useless
3).#2. makes #1 useless during a panic attack
4). Your body will be pumping adrenaline nonstop
5). The attack may become self-perpetuating (panic about panicking) and last longer

What you should do, first and foremost, is not sit still. With all that adrenaline you're just going to go nuts. You need to start getting rid of it. Get up and start walking around. Take a walk around the block, pace a vacant lot, just don't sit still!

Call someone or bring someone with you. They're going to distract you. Start talking about life. It will be hard at first, so try and get them to lead the conversation. You can bring up the panicking, but don't dwell on it.

While talking, make sure you're breathing. It's easier to have the friend remind you. A body can't be in a state of hyper-alertness and relax at the same time. Deep breathing forces your body to relax, and when the energy starts to go down so does the panic.

Squeeze something in one hand. It could be a toy ball, a wad of tissue, anything really. The point of this is to further distract yourself. Instead of dwelling on anxiety you're walking, talking, squeezing, and breathing. Give the attack as long as it needs to settle down.

In addition to using this myself on several occasions I also helped a friend through persistent anxiety by talking with him over the phone. I was also an RA for three years and in that time I helped one resident with a really bad panic attack and one more with persistent attacks. It works, just not on your time frame.


This is extremely good advice. Both moving around and having someone around you during the time it happens can make all the difference. I would really stress that you know the person well if possible, because if you do have a rational reason for an anxiety attack, for instance, it's very important you're able to sort it out. If it's irrational (in my experience most panic attacks are, though at the time you will think it's rational), your friend will realize that and be able to distract you and eventually bring you back to reality.


In my personal experience, I had panic attacks at a very young age. Ironically, it was linked to the fact I was absolutely immersed in math, and whenever I did a lot of it before I went to try and sleep it would bring them on. Thinking back on it, it was like an altered version of the movie Pi, starring myself at age 5. I remember it clearly. Difficulty breathing accompanied by a rhythmic and pulsating tone in my head. Soon the air itself became heavier and heavier, and it was crushing me from every angle. I could barely muster a yell...

Just thinking about it brings the feeling back. It also shows itself whenever I'm weak of constitution for whatever reason (sick, etc), though by the time I was 10 or so I had learned to fight it off.


The past 15 years since, I've only ever had anxiety attacks, which in their own way are almost worse. You'd be surprised how long you can freak out about something even while pacing around outside like a madman. Can the adrenaline really flow that long? Still, I can't imagine not moving. When it comes on, I have to use that energy, and often I feel like I have to 'get away' so that helps doubly.

These actually surprise me, though. I'm a very flexible person, who doesn't need a strict schedule or routine, and who loves to travel. Normally any anxiety I get has more to do with not liking what's going on in my life rather than simply 'change' (which is what sets off anxiety in others I know). Yet somehow even situations like being in a new area wherein I only know a few people can set it off. It's rare, but it happens.
Oh, my eSports
igotmyown
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States4291 Posts
July 14 2010 10:37 GMT
#29
A few years ago there were sporadic nights I was half-asleep, then suddenly my heart started racing and I felt paralyzed for about 10 seconds. The first I thought I was being electrocuted (had my laptop on me), but then after I had discounted that I wasn't sure what was going on.
I didn't exactly feel panicked, more confused about what was happening and impatient for it to go away.

Were those panic attacks? Otherwise, the idea of anxiety doing anything other than indirectly affecting me is beyond my understanding. I'm very curious how it works.

Edit: there were times when I was young and got headaches, took a tylenol, and had a tremendous sensation of vertigo.
Servius_Fulvius
Profile Joined August 2009
United States947 Posts
July 14 2010 12:57 GMT
#30
On July 14 2010 19:37 igotmyown wrote:
Were those panic attacks? Otherwise, the idea of anxiety doing anything other than indirectly affecting me is beyond my understanding. I'm very curious how it works.


It sounds like they were a mild form, yes. When most people describe a panic attack it's mostly like the OP. A lot of people feel pressure on their chest, the air getting thin, they're having a heart attack, or they're about to die. Feeling paralyzed, though, could be another way. I'm jsut askign myself the question 'why not?' and can't find an answer! Then again, I'm no therapist, I just know how to help people going through it.

Regardless, from experiencing it myself I can say this much. Whatever you're anxious or panicking about is probably not the real problem. For me, I'll worry that I'm going to become sick to my stomach. Most times I'll be going through a stressful school situation or family issue. Like most people I keep an enduring attitude and try not to let it bother me. Sometimes that's not enough. I'll get a pain in my side, start to dwell on it, and five minutes later I'll be breathing hard, hyper-alert, and trying to convince myself that I'm not sick. Notice that the reason of the attack has absolutely nothing to do with what's really bothering me. Knowing this, though, is a great tool since it's my anxiety trigger.

The downside of your anxiety trigger is that when the situation pops up in normal life it will provoke an attack. If it's flu season and I have a stomach ache I will have an anxiety attack just because my body is experiencing the trigger.

Panic, on the other hand, hit me in a slightly different way. I remember the first one clearly. I was sitting in calc 4, ten minutes to go before the end of class, and I feel this half-burp, half-hiccup, half-gag. I thought it was strange, but tried not to think so much of it. 30 seconds later I had an overwhelming amount of adrenaline moving through me. The last ten minutes of that class were some of the longest ten minutes of my life. I felt like I was fighting for my life, terrified of some invisible source that was out to get me.

A lot of people with disorders say they 'suffer with general anxiety disorder'. This is what I have too, but I prefer to say 'I live with it'. It's a part of me I know is always there. It doesn't have to be an antagonist. Most the time I can use it to my advantage. I didn't realize how much I used it until I started medication and noticed that paying attention in class was more difficult. I lived with anxiety for 8 years until the panic attacks hit and my life was disrupted so much that I went to the health center and asked for medication. I could talk about the pros and cons of medication at length too, but this is getting pretty long, so I'll stop there! But anyway, what all what it's like living with it in my life.
Bright]
Profile Joined March 2010
United States118 Posts
July 22 2010 08:15 GMT
#31
Figured I would bump this thread because the discussion alone is wonderful. It definitely helps to know that even hardcore TL members/gamers have them too!

I find that if you are in a place where you can sing REAALLY loud to your favorite song, it definitely helps. Also, count down from 100 (or whatever number you choose) in increments of 3. It definitely helped me.

For me personally, if I watch a movie that deals with death in a very personal way it can get to me and trigger a panic attack (the first and the worst when I went to the ER after watching Will Smith kill himself during Seven Pounds).

AFter that though, a few have happened but I have been able to control it due to rational and logical thinking, songs, and walking around alot when it happens.
Track 1
NeonFlare
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
Finland1307 Posts
July 22 2010 10:19 GMT
#32
I had pretty hard one just recently (About few days ago), most likely triggered by having troubles to sleep, struggling with the infection on my foot and having lots of unneccesary stress and overreacting to feelings of disgust and some pain.

It ended up walking franctically in circles at middle of night, hoping my body wouldn't fail... shaking uncontrollably, feeling cold and disgusted. The worst thing was, I was almost certain it was panic attack from the beginning, but your body and rest of mind listens very little to reason when they have gone all hyper.

I ended up calling a relative of mine that I expected to be awake and had a short chat until my body finally stopped shaking. Then I took some vitamins and stuff, just in case the lack of had been one of triggers or the cause of overflowing disgust. Whether they had any physical effect remained unknown but mentally that also helped me to calm down.

Overwhelmed with disgust and hoping not to receive any more of them in short timespan I listened some relaxing music and eventually fell asleep.

I belive the major cause for this incident was my inability to define if all the disgust and annoyance was caused by stress and whatever or if they were body's reaction to medication I recieved to the infection.

The longer the periods without the attacks, the harder it seems to hit when it suddenly does.
CharlieMurphy
Profile Blog Joined March 2006
United States22895 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-07-22 10:47:12
July 22 2010 10:28 GMT
#33
I was talking on vent about panic attacks and pretty much half the people in there has had one at least once in their life.
It's pretty common for young adult males apparently, as 1 guy in the vent said he was discussing the issue in his psychology class. He also said that since males hold in their emotions and stresses in their chest and back and head, when they are released it can give the feeling that one is having a heart attack. Heart pounding, tunnel vision, breathing problems, muscle tightness, etc. All this shit is so abnormal that it makes you think you are dying.

I personally had one in a beginning intro class to photoshop / graphic design. I think maybe it was brought on by the fact that the teacher was a young lady who seemed to be new to teaching and feeling very awkward and disorganized and the fact that I felt like I was making a huge decision taking this for a direction for the rest of my life. I also remember I was angry for having finding out the class was using only mac computers.

Anyways, in like 2003 When I was 19 or so I was a tad late to the class and sat dead center front row, so I already felt a bit on the spot as I excused my self to my seat. After a few minutes I started to feel really stiff, and sweaty hands. The class was dead silent and it was about 4:30 or 5:00 a late class. Then I got tunnel vision and felt like I was going to pass out. The teacher addressed me for a question and I probably sounded ridiculous responding. And I think she asked me something again a few minutes later. After a while I felt like I was going to die and was thinking about if when people die if they unload their bowels. And then I felt like I had to shit my pants or was shitting my pants lol. All I wanted to do was get out of the class but it felt like if I moved or disturbed the order of the class I would die. So I just sat there for what felt like an eternity and just rolled these fucked up thoughts around.
When class was finally ending I finally got a sense of relief and skated out of there asap. I remember walking home in the fresh cool air through the field and I felt refreshed and fine, although a bit shaken up. I dropped the class because I read something about staying away from places that bring on anxiety/panic attacks at least for a while.


Also I stopped smoking weed regularly when I was 15 because it wasn't fun anymore and sometimes when I smoked it would bring on similar feelings. A couple times I remember just laying in my bed and my heart just thumping, shaking the bed.
..and then I would, ya know, check em'. (Aka SpoR)
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