Panic Attacks

Mofongo

Anybody else have 'em? I've had them since my early 20's, i'm 31 now. I don't have them super often, but man they still suck!! I had a horrible one earlier today, out of the blue. I'm able to calm myself down a little with deep breathing, self talk and Zanax, but they are still so scary to me! I just felt awful, like something bad was about to happen.My heart was racing, i felt tingly and hot/cold and sweaty. My H does not understand - worst of all he's a physician . Please share your experiences so i won't feel so crazy!

FutureMrsDudley55

I've been having them for about 12 years now. Mine are pretty bad. I've actually been having them in my sleep lately, which has never happened before. With mine, I start by having trouble breathing and I can't get rnough air in my lungs, then from then on I don't remember what I do or say for the duration of the attack. It is almost as if I faint while I'm awake. It sucks and I always have to ask people around what I said or did.

[Deleted User]

does your h not understand because he doesn't have them, or does he deny their severity?

FutureMrsDudley55

enough**

whitsy

I have them occasionally but they're always stress induced. My heart races, I hyperventilate, and sweat like crazy. I can't imagine your husband, being a physician, not understanding panic attacks!

Mofongo

Jill - he's never had one or had any sort of mental health issues. He knows they're real, but he just doesn't understand how debilitating and awful they can be i guess. He's sympathetic (b/c he knows he should be) but he just does not get it.

Mofongo

Ha - well, i guess there's a reason he did not go into psychiatry. I find with docs that unless someone is having a life/death type of problem, they don't get too worked up. I guess it's hard for someone to understand that at that moment, it FEELS life/death to me?

julie22685

I thought I had anxiety disorder and so did my doctor. It turns out that I have a heart condition that in people my age is often misdiagnosed as anxiety. It causes dizziness, fatigue, IBS type symptoms, palpitations and I have about twenty thousand extra heart beats a day which can sometimes feel just like a panic attack. We had assumed it was anxiety because my mom suffers from it and I am in my 20's. Now just understanding what is actually happening in my body helps me feel so much better. When I was panic attacks I was always afraid that there was something physically wrong with me. It turns out there is but I am not in danger and knowing that helps so much. My mom has been checked and knows hers are purely anxiety. Assuring herself that she has a clean bill of health helps her calm down when it happens because she is always afraid she was in danger because of the sensation she gets in her heart. Breathing correctly also helps a lot.

whitsy

Oh ok! Well I took it to mean he doesn't believe in them, or something like that.

Mofongo

Julie - sorry to hear that! Like your mom, i know mine is anxiety and it just sucks b/c for those moments you really feel like something is physically very wrong. I thought about calling 911 today, but luckily i was able to calm down enought before i did.

aimerzkd214

I do not have panic attacks but i have general anxiety disorder which  basically means I feel anxious all the time.  I honestly can't remember what it feels like to not feel anxious My shoulders and upper back are always tense,  by this time I am so used to feeling this way i don't really think about it.

bobbileighb

You're not alone I get them and started getting them back in high school at least thats when I remember them being very bad.  Mine are induced by stress or anxiety from a plethora of situations I find uncomfortable.  In high school my mom sent me to a psychologist to walk me through them and help me understand when they get very bad and what triggers them.  They aren't as bad now but its only because I know what situations to minimize to not bring them on.

l_disciple

I've had them since I was in middle school. Like yours, they still scare me, because I hyperventilate so badly. You are definitely not crazy.

Mofongo

Thanks guys! I guess i just needed a little reassurance today.

Mofongo

I am feeling better that i am not the only one I am already on Celexa, which has helped greatly, but i still have some break through attacks. I appreciate all of the feed back. It can be so debilitating to live with.

jessiegirl_98

Julie- The same exact thing happened to my FI! He kept saying "but I don't feel anxious" the dr said it was anxiety and gave him Xanax. They found out that it was his heart that was mimicing his symptoms (sorry, can't spell tonight). Mofongo- Do you see a psychologist for this?