I think I had a panic attack today - at least, what I would think one is like. I was in my bedroom picking out clothing to wear this afternoon, when all of a sudden, it felt like the walls were closing in on me and I had to gasp for air and run out of the room and go downstairs to an open space.

It scared the hell out of me because I've never experienced that before and still kinda feel like I'm feeling the aftershocks.

Anyone ever have anything like this happen and how did you handle it?

that must have been very alarming.

I've not had one, but my sister in-law, who (probably like you) doesn't see herself as an anxious person, a few years ago went and had a series of cardio/pulmonary tests because she thought she was as relaxed as can be and NEVER in a million years thought her shortness of breath at night was anxiety related. She totally would not be able to get enough air and really really panicked.

She has a very stressful and thankless job (assigning housing to the homeless) and I would have assumed that was first thing to suspect

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[Edited 12/2/10 23:25pm]

1sexymf said:

I think I had a panic attack today - at least, what I would think one is like. I was in my bedroom picking out clothing to wear this afternoon, when all of a sudden, it felt like the walls were closing in on me and I had to gasp for air and run out of the room and go downstairs to an open space.

It scared the hell out of me because I've never experienced that before and still kinda feel like I'm feeling the aftershocks.

Anyone ever have anything like this happen and how did you handle it?

I've had many panic attack over the past few years. I can't tell u how to control them on your own but I can tell you that 'Clonazepam' is a very powerful anti-anxiety drug. But, take my word fo it from a person who has experienced this first hand, do NOT mix it with alcohol. "Lorazepam" is another, less potent anti-anxiety medication that can still kick your a$$ if used improperly

yes.

yes

Ive had panic attack before and it like you had, hard to breath. :hugs:

I had one a few years ago on a crowed Hot Subway here in NYC... I've never felt anything like that before and hope that it never happens again...

I haven't had a full blown one, but I have had symptoms of them and having to run out to calm down. I suffer with anxiety and depression anyways and have for years.

I started having panic attacks after 9/11. I worked in a building close to DC on a high floor and where I sat I could not see outside. I used to get them sitting at my desk alot and then I started getting them other places as well.

I went to the DR. to try to get something to help me with this. I didn't want to take a medication every day but wanted a lil something to take the edge off when this happens. My Dr. refused to prescribe me a medication because so many things are so addictive these days and told me that it is really something that can be controlled w/ your mind. Calm yourself in your head and breath in and out. I was mad at the time thinking he didn't take me seriously but am grateful now because this has worked for me and I hardly ever have them anymore

Good luck to you. I know when you are having them it feels like your gonna die and then that makes the attack even worse. Just tell yourself it will pass and you will be ok

I used to have them alot when I was younger... I just taught myself how to use my mind to control them and myself... Because really, its all just in your head...

Yep.

Yeah, it's good to practice controlled breathing in preparation so you can remember to do it when the panic comes again.

Hopefully it won't happen again, but chances are you will at least be nervous or tense and breathing exercises are really helpful.

[Edited 9/3/10 14:38pm]

I had one a couple years ago in a dessert shop with a friend. I was sitting there, happy as hell eating my ice cream sundae when this feeling washed over me that felt like I was gonna DIE.

It was pure panic I felt like I was going to collapse and pass out and die.

Then I breathed and it slowly went away. Regardless, not a pleasant experience.

I've had several of them. They're not fun

Not a full blown one but the start of one. I've always been able to calm myself down before it gets bad. It usually happens when I'm around a large mass of people and I feel like I can't get away. I feel the whole walls closing in thing and something as simple as someone bumping into me will throw me into "don't touch me" mode. And then I have trouble focusing.

Yes. Paper bag and a prescription for Ativan.

Keyumdi said:

Paper bag

That's what I used during my one panic attack.

yes, i have had many.

for years they ruled my life

after counselling, group classes and medication...they no longer rule

still overly anxious, but thats how im wired

JuliePurplehead said:

Not a full blown one but the start of one. I've always been able to calm myself down before it gets bad. It usually happens when I'm around a large mass of people and I feel like I can't get away. I feel the whole walls closing in thing and something as simple as someone bumping into me will throw me into "don't touch me" mode. And then I have trouble focusing.

im glad you have been able to stop them, knowing how to calm yourself is extremely important.

i have learnt to breathe through it, and to know im not in real danger, just perceived...and that the attack will subside.

unfortuanately, i think my son has picked up on my anxious traits. but, at least i can help him to breathe when he is getting worked up.

yes.

Number23 said:

I've had two. The first was bloody terifying as I had no idea what was happening - and I was stoned out my tights, so that tuned-in intensity certainly didn't help. I was in my pal's house with a few of the chaps, enjoying a smoke, chuckling away at something someone said, when right out of nowhere I had this odd thought that I could 'feel' my own breathing. I said this to my mate who gave me a funny look. The thought took over my mind and then my heart began thundering like a train. I was overwhelmed by an urgency to get out of the room - then I realised I couldn't breathe. It was like I was sucking up all the air in the room but none of it could reach my lungs, like it was liquid choking me. I certainly 'paniced' then. I muttered something out having to get outside and staggered down the stairs and out the door to a freezing 3am darkness. I lived just across the road so it didn't take long for me to power walk back home. I just crawled under my sheets fully clothed, battling for control of my mind over thoughts of this liquid air that was going to suffocate me. My heart felt like it was going to explode - I remember thinking there was no way it could beat so fast and hard without going into cardiac arrest. I ended up taking my kecks and shoes off under the sheets. Tossing, turning, sweating, spinning, choking, walls closing in, certainty of imminent death, all that. I just had no idea what was happening - I'd heard of panic attacks, but mornically thought they were just the preserve of highly strung women. So, once again overwhelmed with this madness, I had a thought that I didn't want to die alone. If this was it, I wanted to die with my pals. Holding that sentiment, I bounced out of bed - t-shirt, boxer shorts, and socks - and just walked right out the door back over the road to my mate's house. I don't even remember it being cold. The wee party was still in full swing - I got odd looks though when I walked back in the room in my pants. I didn't care. I told them I was going to die, my heart couldn't take any more beating, I couldn't breathe and the air felt like steel. The Beatles were on the stereo. One of my pals who shall remain nameless told me what I was having was indeed a panic attack and that he had ended up in the hospital with one after he passed out, thinking he couldn't breathe. This didn't help my anxiety. Anyway, the Beatles. I knew that I had to get my breathing correct. I was stoned so my thoughts were intense but illogical. Like the thoughts linking thoughts, ideas, inspiration, initiative - to another. Not solid, but like fragments of information jumbled in a windtunnel. One of these zooming notions was to sing. Sing a line of a song - then breathe. Sing a line, breathe. So I did. It was the Balled of John and Yoko. 'Christ you know it aint easy...' Breathe. 'You know how hard it can be' - breathe. Chanting along, sitting in my pants. My pals were more than amused. However, it began to work. I was soon calm, albeit covered in sweat, and - completely insanely - rolling another spliff. I got a pair of tracksuit bottoms from my pal and that was that. Bloody weird experience and didn't have anything like that for another 10 years. Until last month, infact. I was with work collegues watching Predators in the cinema. I was calm, collected and enjoying the film. Bear in mind I haven't taken any drugs for a long while and that I only drink occasionally now, and quite moderately. I also don't get emotionally effected by horror movies or anything - so it certainly wasn't that. So, again, right out of nowhere the wee lights on the cinema ceiling - usually so dim you barely realise they're there, suddenly increase in brightness in my eyes. Odd. Then I felt my heart beat. Sinking feeling in my stomach. I began freaking out in my head. Oh fuck, am I having a panic attack? Couldn't breathe again. Certainly couldn't start singing a song halfway through Predators. I was also with work collegues - I'm their boss and if I had ran out of that picturehouse like I wanted to I'd have lost respect and been the talk of the office. I shifted in my seat. Panting hard. I hoped the guys didn't notice. The battle was on. I was either going to pass out or deal with the situation. I clenched the sides of the seat with my hands and closed my eyes - explosions and stuff from the film filling my ears. My heart was pounding. The air felt like solid mass once more. Then, as suddenly as it came, it began to ebb. I attempted to tune out of attack thoughts and into the movie. Slowly, my heartrate retracted, I realised that as I was alive, I must have been breathing fine all along. It was all in my head. I even managed to enjoy the last 30 minutes of the film - but I was certainly freaked out. No idea whatsoever what sparked it. So, in answer to the question, yes, two.

For me the difficulty to breathe is not usually the main thing. It's the horrible sinking feeling as if I'm going to implode and the desire to escape, even from my own body. I almost wish I'll pass out.

It's strange how it can get triggered by almost nothing, isn't it? I guess watching people get their spine torn from their backs by a spike-faced alien isn't the most low stress thing you can do, but considering how much real life pressure we're usually under it seems like an almost aribitrary timing. I think maybe the pressure just keeps building up and sometimes it's when we finally try to relax and lower our defenses that it washes over us.

retina said:

Yes. Square-breathing will take care of that bullshit:

1. Breathe in, through your nose, for 4 seconds.

2. Hold it for 4 seconds.

3. Breathe out, through your mouth (4 secs.)

4. Wait 4 secs. and repeat until you calm the fuck down.

yes a few times...mostly involving my kids and them getting hurt...

i panic first

then i breath

then i think

always in that order 2

Number23 said:

And no, I dont think Predators was a trigger. I went to see Inception last wek - the first time at the movies since the Predators freak-out - and admit to being a wee bit hesitant incase it happened again. then I realised that it bloody would happen if I thought it would, so tuned myself in to the movie instead. I felt a bit funny when the fell to the third layer of the subconcious. I got a similar feeling when I read Moondust - great book about the astronauts who went to e moon - and it was describing looking back at Earth. I was flying to America at the time and felt a bit spaced out and anxious at the thought of leaving the planet. Not quite a panic attack, but a overwhelming rush of my own tiny insignificance in the scheme of things.

You might be onto something there. Overthinking things and getting stuck in the big perspectives can definitely be a trigger, at least for me. People who never dedicate a single thought to those kinds of things rarely seem prone to panic attacks (or even depression).

I've had it on a milder level. I gave up smoking last year and my breathing kept on going tight-thought it was just some short term curative process. However it got worse and ended up haveing ECG tests-my heart was fine. The doctor suggested it was anxiety. The problem with this like most things is that fear begets fear-once you have had a panic attack you panic you might get another. My chest and back often hurts thru anxiety-like I have been doing sit ups with my rib cage