I had an attack of some sort last night, but I don’t know if I could classify it as panic, anxiety or neither. If pressed I’ll go into details but at present I’d rather not.
Has anyone else had either sort of attack? I couldn’t find any sort of good clarification from googling.
The name is anxiety disorder and the symptoms are panic attacks.
Yes, I have had many and at one time was unable to sleep without waking up 5 mins later with a panic attack.
Different people have different sypmtoms, but the most common are: breathlessness, disassociation, feeling faint, sweating, a feeling that you are just about to die.
Basically what is happening is the normal panic response (the so called fight or flight response) is being triggered for no real reason and your adrenaline is going through the roof.
[sarcasm]Well, gee, I saw something yesterday, but I’d rather not describe it for you. Any idea what it was?[/sarcasm]
Sarcasm noted but not amused by it. If you didn’t have something helpful to offer, then you shouldn’t have responded.
I wanted to know if other people have experienced these attacks and if so, then I could decide for myself what happened.
The most appropriate resource for getting help with this would probably be your doctor.
This site might be helpful in the meanwhile.
http://www.algy.com/anxiety/
QtM, MD
saramamlana, please don’t feel alone because you had an attack. Anxiety/panic attacks happen to a lot of people, myself included.
I’ve had exactly two attacks. The first occured about six years ago, when there was a string of death in my family. First, my Grandmother died, a few months later my Father died. Then five months after that, my middle sister died. Another six months later, my only remaining sister died. My system couldn’t deal with the shock and anxiety ensued. After that initial attack I went to my doctor and asked what I could do to prevent another attack from happening.
At first, he went for the ol’ prescription pad. I told him I didn’t want drugs, but that I wanted to learn how to control my anxiety and deal with it. He signed me up for a course in “Stress and Anxiety Management.” I attended each and every class, faithfully. It did the trick for me for a number of years. No more attacks!
Then in January of this year, a number of stressors hit me. On Christmas Eve, my stepfather was diagnosed with cancer. He spent his last Christmas in the hospital. It was terrible. On January 7th, my SO had a stroke. It was touch-and-go at first, and he was in the hospital for almost two weeks before they let him go home.
Three days after my SO had his stroke, my stepfather died. My mother fell apart, and I had to handle her affairs while dealing with a gravely ill SO at the same time. My mother had a heart attack a week after stepdad died. She was slow to recover and was diagnosed with Alzhiemers while in the hospital.
I dealt with all these things, got my stepfather buried in a blur, got my mom and SO home from the hospital and found home health workers to help out. Then, out of the blue; in April I had a second panic attack. I felt overwhelmed and doomed to die. I tried all the techniques I had learned in my “Stress and Anxiety Management” class to no avail. The feeling of doom washed over me regardless. I felt powerless in its’ wake. I went to my new doctor, who told me I had a “full plate”. She sent me home with a script for Lexapro and Xanax.
I must say the Lexapro has worked wonders for me. The Xanax I haven’t tried yet because I fear it’s addictive nature. But don’t hesitate to tell your doctor about your episode. There are treatments that work, I can vouch for that. You don’t have to suffer in silence, and you are not alone. Feel free to email me. And feel free to disregard panache45’s rather abrupt and rude post.
Self diagnosis is not easy. As the person experiencing these things you may have difficulty noticing some of them, let alone evaluating them.
I’ve suffered from anxiety attacks as far back as I can remember. At 5 or so, I knew that I had death phobia and social anxiety disorder. My family and friends had seen these things and recognized them too. But, I never realized that I avoided hospitals because they caused anxiety attacks. I was 16 and it came up in the daily schedule that somthing would be switched around “Because I know you don’t like hospitals.”. I knew instantly that Mom was right. When I asked my father and sister, they also knew that hospitals made me very agitated. But, until Mom had mentioned it, I’d never consciously realized this.
Self diagnosis can also be hampered by incorrect ideas of what a certain condition is. I’m obssessive compulsive when it comes to my dishes. They must be flawlessly clean before they are put in the drying rack. They must not be dried with sponges or cloth towels as these are rife with bacteria, food residue etc. Since it takes so much effort and time for me to do the dishes, the sink is generally filled with dirty dishes. The standards I set when judging whether a dish is clean, the time and effort I take to clean each one certainly fit most people’s idea of OCD. But, were somebody to judge me by my kitchen, they would assume I was a slob who placed no importance on cleanliness.
I can understand your reluctance to give details of the experience. But, when it comes to the mind details are everything.
BTW-As I said, I have anxiety attacks and OCD. So does Guinastasia. So do a few other Dopers. More than one MPSIMS thread hs been started so oether Dopers with the same problem could offer their support. If you don’t feel comfortable with that, my e-mail is in my profile. I’ll offer what support I can and do hereby publicly pledge that should I breech your trust or share that which you ask me to keep secret[sub]*[/sub], the Admins are given the right to ban me permanently.
[sub]*[/sub]-This does not extend to a declaration of the intent to commit a crime, do harm to yourself or others, commit suicide, or to circumstances which are seriously harmful to yourself or others. In such circumstances, I would notify the relevant authorities. If you tell me the deepest secrets of your pysche, nobody will ever know. If you tell me that you’re going to go on a killing spree(and I have reason to believe that you’re serious), I’m calling the cops.
About 10 years ago I began to have pretty severe panic attacks, focused on fear of flying. Had no idea where they came from since I’d been flying regularly, & rather enjoying it, for more than 20 years before that.
I was in this state for about a year. My doc prescribed Xanax, which I sometimes took before a flight & in other anxiety-producing situations. (Work-related.) Never even came close to getting addicted to the stuff, just didn’t work that way for me.
After a year or so the panic attacks subsided & never returned. Don’t really know why that happened either.
I have no idea if any of this helps you. But to answer your question, yes, I know what panic attacks are like.
That also describes the symptoms of a heart attack quite well. I had a big one about 6 weeks ago so I know. Of course there’s also the intense physical pain so perhaps the above symptoms are all secondary.
I have had anxiety attacks and one (what I call) panic attack.
The anxiety symptoms included feeling of dread, butterflies in stomach and trembling knees. The one panic attack was/is difficult to describe - mostly I was terrifed. Luckily it hit just as I was getting into bed and after about an hour or so I fell asleep and was ok the next day (I atributed it to the stress of the situation I was in at the time.)
The anxiety issues I dealt with thru modern chemistry - I was prescribed a drug called Buspar (Brand name for Buspirone I think) - A really amazing, non-habit forming drug. It didn’t create any feelings, I just didn’t have the dread and fear - and after taking the stuff for a few months I never really went off the drug intentionally - I just kept forgetting to take the stuff (because I didn’t need it) and eventually figured what the hell - and stopped completely.
Buspirone is non- addictive and is even prescribed for patients in A & D treatment facilities.
truthbot, thank you for acknowledging that panache45’s comment was rude, I really appreciate that.
Okay, sigh, I guess I’ll talk about what happened. First of all, this has never happened before. I mean yeah I’ve gotten worked up and anxious about having a lot of schoolwork (or something) to do at one time, but nothing like this before.
I will readily admit I am afraid of the dark. Largely in part due to the movie “Poltergeist,” I still harbor a little fear of what’s under my bed, even when I know it’s just shoes.
Last night I was in bed, reading a magazine. I finished the magazine, and realizing I would soon turn off the light to go to sleep, I suddenly became nervous to do so. I did it anyway and rolled over on my side. I quickly became really scared that there might be something in my room, that something was going to reach out from under the bed and grab my foot or leg, or that I’d feel a breath on my ear. I was telling myself over and over that I know that can’t happen and that I’m perfectly safe but I knew I wouldn’t fall asleep. I turned the light on, went to the bathroom and took a sleep-aid. I went downstairs to my computer because I was hoping someone I knew would be online and would calm me down, but no one was so in the meantime I started writing in my livejournal. The more I wrote, my breathing got funny and I couldn’t help but cry. I started to feel kinda dizzy or woozy after about half an hour but that was because the sleep-aid was kicking in. I thought I might throw up but I didn’t. Eventually I got back into bed and conked out due to the sleep-aid.
I woke up feeling better, but as the day has gone on I’ve felt pretty lazy and kinda grumpy, but it is Sunday so the lazy part isn’t unusual.
Thank you all for your help, I know I’m in good company here.
saramamlana, you just described something that happened to me once, except I got really sick. Throwing up all night.
I would suggest you go to the doctor if you are worried. Does this happen often? In my case, I only had this happen once, so I chalk it up being sick. Maybe you had something similar. But I am not a doctor.
Only once! I mean yeah once in a while I get creeped out by the dark of the upstairs hallway at night, but never an episode like last night.
I had 2-3 full blown anxiety attacks 24 years ago. Hyperventilating, total panic for unknown reason, thought I was going to die. Called the paramedics twice. I was sure I was having a heart attack.(by the way, breathing in a paper bag like I was told to, never really helped me with the hyperventilating.)
The funny thing (funny now, but it sure wasn’t funny THEN) was that, for a couple of years, I lived in fear of having a panic attack again. Any tightness in my breathing and I would start thinking “Oh no, not again”. It didn’t happen, but it made things real weird.
I went to a doctor when I had the 2-3 attacks and was given tranquilizers, but refused any counseling help to deal with the attacks, so when I stopped the pills the old feelings came back. Ended up addicted to the damn pills. I got off the pills and with some counseling I’ve been fine now for 20 years. Some minor bad moments, but nothing near like it was. Until I read this thread I hadn’t thought of those attacks in a long time.
Good luck, I remember what it was like.
nebco9, I so remember the fear of having another panic attack! Rationally, I could tell myself “it’s silly to be afraid of getting afraid of (what’s basically) nothing” but that didn’t help.
I’d had panic attacks off and on probably since my teens but hadn’t realized what they were. About 3-4 years ago, I went through some tense times and started having them several times a week. Sometimes several in a day. The physical symptoms of mine were tightening of the chest, rapid breathing, sweating, and a sensation of heat rushing over me. Mentally, my thoughts would start racing and they’d be a rush of “if this happens then this {terrible thing will happen} then this {other terrible thing will happen} then… then… then…” My doctor described me as an algorhythm run amok!
It got to the point where I’d wake up thinking “will I get one of those attacks today? what if I get one in a meeting? what if I can’t handle it and freak out? what if my boss notices? what if she fires me? how will I live?” and there I’d be–having a panic attack out of fear of having a panic attack! When I started avoiding places and doing things where I’d had attacks in the past, I realized that it was time to get help. That wasn’t a cycle I needed to get into.
I’m pretty much attack free now. What helped was a combination of SSRIs and talk therapy. The SSRIs helped eliminate the panic attacks so I could actually have a rationale discussion with my therapist–something that wasn’t possible when I was an anxious, panic-striken mess. The talk therapy helped me learn of ways to deal with the anxiety and also a lot of what was causing it. But, honestly, I wasn’t in any shape to do that until I got the attacks under control. I’m still on the SSRIs (Celxa for me), but a much lower dose (20 mg).
I don’t know if I’ll come off the meds any time soon. Looking back, I had anxiety issues for a very long time. I just didn’t know they were anything out of the ordinary. And I don’t really mind being on a low dose of Celexa. I don’t have any side effects I can’t handle (I get a bit sleepy after taking it so I make sure I take it before bedtime). It doesn’t change my personality. I can still get excited, angry, happy, sad, etc. And, believe me, I can still get really nervous–if I have reason to. I just don’t have the attacks any more. And I really don’t miss them!
THAT WAS IT EXACTLY! Trying to be rational about it didn’t help at all. Total feeling of DOOM with no apparent reason.
By the way, I should give a little more information on my “pill addiction”. At the time of my first attack I would probably have been classified as a heavy drinker with a little weed tossed in. Slowly working my way towards full-blown alcoholism. Of course I didn’t tell the doctor how much I drank.
He prescribed Librium 25mg 3-4 times a day. I liked the effect, so I started taking a few extra, and drank on top of them (I didn’t have to drink as much while taking the pills.
Lucky I didn’t OD.) So my “addiction” was caused by my mis-use of the DR’s RX. Also I would go to no therapy to to learn to deal with my attacks.
Just a clarification.
I’ve found that rational thinking and logical are no use against the monster under the bed. You know it’s not there, but you keep picturing it, hearing it etc. I’ve had success fighting irrational emotion and figments of the imagination with irrational emotion and figments of the imagination. Monster under my bed? No problem. I just close my eyes and picture the monster in as much detail as I can. Then, I picture Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, or another hero effortlessly defeating the monster. There is no monster capable of standing against my childhood heroes. Pinhead? Hulk smash. Freddy? Puhleeze, like he’s any challenge for Professor X.
I’d just like to say that I slept fine last night, partly because I took a sleep-aid to ensure that I’d conk out (but I took it much earlier this time). I’m still kinda baffled by what happened. sigh
The one panic attack I had was preceded by weeks and weeks of severe anxiety, (actually preceded by years and years of moderate to severe anxiety and depression) in which I felt afraid all the time even when there was nothing specific to be afraid of. The attack consisted of uncontrollable crying for hours. I did see my doctor, and we tried out Paxil for the anxiety (which worked). She also gave me a prescription to deal with a panic attack, just in case. The pills are still sitting in my medicine cabinet. It gives be a good “safety net” to know they are there, but I’ve never had the need to use any. I am very fortunate in that my doctor is a very good listener; I hope yours is, too. There is no reason to suffer when there is help. Sleep aids can be useful, but do be sure to tell your doctor about any sleep difficulties. Some sleep aids can cause dependency, so you have to be careful.