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Reply #76: I know exactly how you feel. [View All]

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StellaBlue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-05-06 11:24 PM
Response to Original message
76. I know exactly how you feel.
This happened to me at work (in the UK) in November 2004. Was scary as shit. I have no history of panic attacks, emotional instability, heart problems, etc. It just seemed to come from nowhere. I think I felt a bit dizzy for a moment due to having my period, not having eaten enough (low blood sugar), late in the day, etc., plus, looking back on it, I was going through quite a lot of stress at the time (though not on that particular day). I felt dizzy, then faint, then my heart started pounding and alternately felt frozen and on fire, and my hands drew up and and turned blue. My colleague called the paramedics, who said I was hyperventilating. They took my pulse, blood pressure, etc., and said I was fine. But for almost an hour I thought I was having a heart attack or stroke. I was 25.


The good news is, I haven't had one since, though I have had moments of dizziness, which I think, since I have been checked out medically, is just something I ama bit prone to when I have low blood sugar or am tired/stressed. I find that focusing on exhaling slowly helps immensely. I think, though, that I now overreact a bit because the attack was so frightening, so anytime I feel the least bit dizzy or faint I tend to hold my breath unconsciously (the paramedic explained that all the heart constriction started with my not exhaling properly, which is common, as most people, when panicking or finding themselves short of breath, assume they need to inhale more, which only makes it worse). On the flip side, though, now that I know I wasn't actually about to die, I am not afraid. If it ever did happen again, I would just wait it out. And I doubt it would last an hour, because I wouldn't work against it, you know?

Since this incident, I have realized that many people I know, from all backgrounds, and all seemingly inexplainably, have had at least one panic attack in the past. And they all thought they were about to die. Anyway, I hope that you are feeling better now and get some support if you need it.

If you need to talk to anyone anytime, feel free to PM me.
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  -Severe Panic Attack RetroLounge  Jan-05-06 08:04 AM   #0 
  - No....  Spider Jerusalem   Jan-05-06 08:06 AM   #1 
  - not one of those -- i have other issues.  xchrom   Jan-05-06 08:06 AM   #2 
  - Yes, RL, and there was nothing I could do  Sugar Smack   Jan-05-06 08:09 AM   #3 
  - If it's not a chronic thing  prolesunited   Jan-05-06 12:08 PM   #31 
     - That is so true.  Sugar Smack   Jan-05-06 12:11 PM   #32 
        - They gave me a 10 day supply of Xanax.  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 12:41 PM   #37 
           - It is. And it totally takes away your panic.  Sugar Smack   Jan-05-06 12:52 PM   #41 
  - Yeah and they scare the fuck out of you  khashka   Jan-05-06 08:17 AM   #4 
  - oh, god  threehensandacow   Jan-05-06 08:21 AM   #5 
  - You too? I was a regular at the infirmary at my college.  Sugar Smack   Jan-05-06 08:32 AM   #8 
  - so true  threehensandacow   Jan-05-06 10:55 PM   #72 
     - "breathing and counting and finding an anchor"  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 10:58 PM   #73 
        - something that takes me back down  threehensandacow   Jan-05-06 11:40 PM   #78 
           - "something familiar that i know is safe"  RetroLounge   Jan-06-06 08:17 AM   #82 
  - Thanks  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 09:09 AM   #14 
  - I woke up in the middle of one a couple of years ago  wildhorses   Jan-05-06 08:21 AM   #6 
  - ooh, yeah  threehensandacow   Jan-05-06 11:43 PM   #79 
  - Yep. You need to destress in a big way.  Vash the Stampede   Jan-05-06 08:27 AM   #7 
  - Yes ,they suck!  purji   Jan-05-06 08:36 AM   #9 
  - I had my first one about a year ago  bigwillq   Jan-05-06 08:42 AM   #10 
  - Wow, buddy. sounds scary.  Shine   Jan-05-06 08:45 AM   #11 
  - Thanks, it was pretty freaky...  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 11:07 PM   #75 
  - I hope your day goes better today RL  auntAgonist   Jan-05-06 08:52 AM   #12 
  - My daughter's had them since she was 12  lizziegrace   Jan-05-06 08:58 AM   #13 
  - Wow, lizziegrace  Mad_Dem_X   Jan-05-06 02:33 PM   #52 
  - I can sympathize  alarcojon   Jan-05-06 09:17 AM   #15 
  - oh yes, my friend  bicentennial_baby   Jan-05-06 09:18 AM   #16 
  - Thanks my friend  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 09:58 AM   #20 
     - I never knew that!  oneighty   Jan-05-06 10:26 AM   #23 
     - just be aware that there are other ways to deal with this  tigereye   Jan-05-06 12:55 PM   #43 
     - Xanax is pretty awesome  Mad_Dem_X   Jan-05-06 02:35 PM   #53 
  - Every day n/t  TK421   Jan-05-06 09:18 AM   #17 
  - I get them every time I'm about to drive somewhere.  purr   Jan-05-06 09:21 AM   #18 
  - Oh, yeah.  BushIsAPooHead   Jan-05-06 09:21 AM   #19 
  - Hugs for you, RL  LynzM   Jan-05-06 10:06 AM   #21 
  - No, and I'm sorry you did  MissMillie   Jan-05-06 10:12 AM   #22 
  - Yes and they're no good. Sorry you had to go through that RL.  jane_pippin   Jan-05-06 10:33 AM   #24 
  - My dear RetroLounge......  CaliforniaPeggy   Jan-05-06 11:03 AM   #25 
  - How are you doing today?  Sugar Smack   Jan-05-06 11:14 AM   #26 
  - Doing better today at work  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 01:18 PM   #44 
  - Hey, pal.  swimboy   Jan-05-06 11:17 AM   #27 
  - Thanks  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 05:28 PM   #64 
  - get your thyroid levels checked eom  fishnfla   Jan-05-06 11:32 AM   #28 
  - sorry to hear that...  Mrs. Sniffa   Jan-05-06 11:38 AM   #29 
  - I remember when you posted while you were having one.  Sugar Smack   Jan-05-06 11:42 AM   #30 
  - since i was 12 or 13  kagehime   Jan-05-06 12:13 PM   #33 
  - Yes - it was hell.  RevCheesehead   Jan-05-06 12:14 PM   #34 
  - Thanks  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 12:50 PM   #39 
  - Often. :^( I have started taking meds to help with that and so far it  GreenPartyVoter   Jan-05-06 12:15 PM   #35 
  - Yep. Panic disorder is hell. Good for you for getting help ASAP.  BlueIris   Jan-05-06 12:37 PM   #36 
  - THANK YOU!  Oeditpus Rex   Jan-05-06 02:20 PM   #46 
     - He put me on the 1/2 mg tabs, 3 times a day.  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 03:04 PM   #55 
        - I'm not comparing me to you  Oeditpus Rex   Jan-05-06 03:14 PM   #56 
           - My body has also been free of any drugs or booze  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 03:18 PM   #57 
  - I had one once  Will Robinson   Jan-05-06 12:47 PM   #38 
  - I have these . Had one early Wednesday morning .  CarolinaPeridot   Jan-05-06 12:51 PM   #40 
  - I'm so sorry  demnan   Jan-05-06 12:53 PM   #42 
  - Yes. I used to have them. The first time it happened I thought I was dying  Rhiannon12866   Jan-05-06 02:04 PM   #45 
  - Had one at work before Xmas.  graywarrior   Jan-05-06 02:23 PM   #47 
  - Yep.  WeRQ4U   Jan-05-06 02:23 PM   #48 
  - Not so much anymore  Ariana Celeste   Jan-05-06 02:29 PM   #49 
  - Welcome, my friend...  Mad_Dem_X   Jan-05-06 02:30 PM   #50 
  - Dude....big man hug to you  Taverner   Jan-05-06 02:33 PM   #51 
  - Had one about a year ago  puerco-bellies   Jan-05-06 03:02 PM   #54 
  - I have had them.  Left Is Write   Jan-05-06 03:18 PM   #58 
  - Oh, yeah  no option   Jan-05-06 03:24 PM   #59 
  - Read the whole thread...  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 03:49 PM   #61 
  - Gotcha  no option   Jan-05-06 06:01 PM   #67 
     - No problem, takes a while  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 06:06 PM   #68 
  - This is a very real and terrifying thing that can happen to anyone.  Rhiannon12866   Jan-05-06 06:38 PM   #69 
  - Too much caffeine and not enough sleep gave me one...  dethl   Jan-05-06 03:38 PM   #60 
  - "Too much caffeine and not enough sleep "  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 03:50 PM   #62 
     - Oh my goodness, RL!  LaraMN   Jan-05-06 11:05 PM   #74 
        - Now there's a nice idea...  RetroLounge   Jan-06-06 01:42 PM   #84 
  - I have, but have largely overcome them.  LoZoccolo   Jan-05-06 04:26 PM   #63 
  - Actually I should qualify that...  LoZoccolo   Jan-05-06 05:31 PM   #66 
  - I experienced those when I had three kids under the age of five...  Zookeeper   Jan-05-06 05:28 PM   #65 
  - Yes, I have.  flamingyouth   Jan-05-06 08:05 PM   #70 
  - Thanks...  RetroLounge   Jan-05-06 10:43 PM   #71 
  - I know exactly how you feel.  StellaBlue   Jan-05-06 11:24 PM   #76 
  - Been there done that  MadisonProgressive   Jan-05-06 11:37 PM   #77 
  - You'll Be OK, There's a Reason for it Happening  specimenfred1984   Jan-05-06 11:47 PM   #80 
  - Big hugs RetroLounge...I feel less alone....  vajraroshana   Jan-06-06 12:02 AM   #81 
  - Been there  cedahlia   Jan-06-06 12:31 PM   #83 
  - I had them daily when I was on meds  Lilith Velkor   Jan-06-06 02:26 PM   #85 
  - Had one & doc said it was a mania and that I was bipolar  Patiod   Jan-06-06 03:41 PM   #86 
 

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