What does a panic attack feel like?

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

I had an awful episode in the car tonight, was blue lighted to hospital and the doctor thinks it was a panic attack. I've never had one and didn't think my symptoms matched one. I was so scared. I felt so ill and the DCs were in the car terrified.

Please explain to me what one feels like for you and what I can do if it happens again . I'm frightened to drive or leave house.

[Squtternutbaush]

Sounds awful, hope you're feeling better.

I went through a phase of panic attacks a few years ago due to stress so I know its not a nice feeling.

In my experience how they "feel" depends on the level of anxiety, which didn't seem to correspond with anything in particular.

I had severe ones which left me literally gasping for breath, sweaty and light headed within minutes of it being triggered. I also had milder ones which again left me breathless but in a less dramatic sense more like a raspy breath like when your chest is blocked up if that makes sense, but no other symptoms.

[Squtternutbaush]

Oh as for what you can do I found the sitting down with a paper bag and focussing on my breathing for a few minutes helped with the mild/moderate ones.

For the extreme ones I had to lie down with my eyes close and really focus on my breathing and relaxing my chest muscles.

[fackinell]

Oh poor you and your DC. Panic attacks are terrifying. Mine usually start with a kind of doom like feeling followed by a rising fear, I can almost feel the adrenaline building up. Then
I often get tingling in my hands and feet, palpitations and sometimes pain in my chest. I then feel like I can't get a deep breath. It can go in for up to 10 mins or so so but feels like eternity.

It could be a one off for you, mine used to be very rare but I've built it up
In my head and it happens a lot now. Have you had a particularly stressful time recently?

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

I've had waves since but not as extreme as the first one this afternoon. It started as my arm hurting?!?! Then spread to my heart, light headed, tingling hands, absolute terror that I was going to die

I had to stop the car and called 999. I feel so stupid now.

But also I'm scared. What if it's not a panic attack. What if they're wrong and it's more serious?

I'm not more stressed than usual, just bloomin tired.

[fackinell]

Don't feel stupid, they are totally convincing that something is seriously wrong. It sounds like a classic panic attack to me, I had very similar (with the arm pain) and had a bit if a meltdown in a busy London shopping centre. I also freaked on the tube and insisted on taking a cab from Earls Court to Kings Cross. I felt incredibly stupid both times but I really couldn't help it. My DP as sympathetic but couldn't understand how just walking up a few steps could make me breathless. I'm off to GP today, I need some calming meds.

[zippey]

Hope you and DC are ok now. Mine happened when I felt owed in - in a packed car or going on aeroplane or helicopter flights, once when I first went outside of the airport in a hot humid country for example. Shortness of breath, not able to get a full breath, adrenaline pumping... and almost pulled myself off a long haul flight once.

I self diagnosed it as asthma do saw the doc for an inhaler, and in those situations some fresh cool sir from air conditioning or hand held fan eased things off.

Since finding out they were panic attacks and doing some online research which says it is mostly psychological, I haven't had one in years.

[NCISaddict]

Rapid breathing, chest pain, lightheadedness, tingling in hands and feet, hands can go into claw like shapes if it goes on for a while.
I find getting people to read something out loud at the start of a panic attack can help as it helps to control the breathing rate.
They don't necessarily have a recognizable cause ie you don't have to be consciously worried about something, they can hit totally out of the blue.
Did they do an ECG for you?

[wundawoman]

I have had them for years - scared me senseless at first, and yes even after reassurance from medical experts, believed there was something wrong with me and it was not picked up. There wasn't; 10 years on I'm still here and relatively healthy...

Now I recognize the symptoms: adrenaline rush, fast breathing, nausea, and anxiety,especially when I'm stressed. I breathe through it and talk myself into relaxing and tell myself 'it will pass'. And it does. Now it's just annoying and inconvenient.

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

They did do an ECG. So this morning I just feel silly.

As I lay in bed last night the feeling kept coming again. But not as extreme as in the car. So I'd breathe slowly and try and not panic about what was going on.

I don't understand, I'm a coper and do-er, I'm divorced and a lone parent and also work, it's been this way for 5 years now and I wouldn't say I'm especially stressed at the moment. I'm struggling to come to terms with what happened last night and feeling like I wasted everybody's time. But I felt so ill and was so scared. I scared my children too. And I'm frightened to get in my car again, in case it happens again. I don't know what to do. I sound pathetic.

[fackinell]

Have you got a babysitter that can stay with your kids while you have a short drive around the block?

The good news is that you now know you have no heart problem so the next time you will know it is panic. Distraction techniques help me, even just putting some laundry on, sorting out a cupboard etc. something repetitive that involves a little thought.
Forcing myself to breathe slowly helps too as the panic symptoms disappear if I'm not hyper ventilating.

There is often no apparent reason for them, it can be triggered by anything. I have an appointment on Friday and have been told to breathe into a paper bag until then.

[NCISaddict]

Go and see your GP and tell them what happened. They can give you medication or referral to other services that can help.
It sounds like your body has decided to do the panicking that your mind doesn't do.
You haven't wasted anyone's time, look on it as getting an MOT, you now know nothing is wrong with your heart so that's good. We go out to a lot of people who are having panic attacks, you are not an unusual case so don't worry about that.

[fackinell]

Also, you can explain to your kids exactly what happened now and reassure them that nothing is wrong. Maybe they can help distract you if you feel that way again. This way they are put then in a position of power and not helplessness. I have to admit that it's scary to see from an outside POV but it's not exactly like you could help it.

[fackinell]

Sorry, also to add, if you suffer from anxiety attacks you're supposed to inform the DVLA of them. I haven't as when I'm driving is the one time I am guaranteed not to suffer. It's the distraction of having to stay focused and alert that takes my mind away from it.

That said, if my GP tells me I have to then I will, grudgingly.

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

Thank you for the advice. I use my car for everything. I dread to think if I lost my license.

ExH has the kids today so I could try a drive. I think I'll try and get some more sleep in a bit too.

[CharlieBrookerScowl]

It's not about being strong etc. Most people could have one in the right circumstances.

The first time I had one I'd been crying then suddenly I just could not breathe. I was sure I was dying or having a heart attack, but as I'd seen a friend have one I guessed what it was. It didn't make it any less terrifying though. Then you worry about having another which can bring on another. I get the sensation that I've been electrified almost (the adreniline hit can make every extremity feel like it's gone numb/tingly and it can make you shake quite violently if you're having a bad one).

Look after yourself They are horrible. I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy. And beta blockers help greatly temporarily. Slow your heart rate down so it's a lot harder to have one or to have such a bad one.

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

Thank you. I am going to have to see my GP aren't I?

Can being peri menopausal cause them? I know I'm creeping into that stage due to many symptoms in the last year.

[CharlieBrookerScowl]

And when they come out of the blue it's usually just a sign that you are doing too much. Even if you don't think you are. Your body/mind does.

Try not to worry too much about another PA/them becomming a regular thing/ I went through a phase after that first one of having a fair few for about 4 months, then with a bit of help they tapered off. Haven't had one since. It was a sign I was just quite bogged down as a single parent and if anything, I just needed to slow it down and go easy on myself for a bit. Hope you feel better soon.

[CharlieBrookerScowl]

I would. Beta blockers had no side effects for me and helped greatly. Really took the edge off any general anxious feelings too. And there are lots of other things that work for different people etc.

My DM had a few, along with hot flushes before she had her hysterectomy (she was Peri-M too). May be worth mentioning? Just go easy on yourself and try to remember if you're not very prone to anxiety or the like that it's very likely to be a temporary thing

[CharlieBrookerScowl]

And they are very scary so don't feel silly for bein afraid of another or anything. Or feeling shaken by the last one. I had no idea they could be that bad until I had one myself and it literally does feel like you're dying. The oxygen supply to your brain struggles a bit during one which means it's hard to be super rational about it. Which makes it worse in a way.

May just be a one off anyway If you're not very stressed as you say. Though being a single parent with small kids is stressful, even if you're used to it. You just get used to being a bit stressed I think. Good luck either way!

[MorrisZapp]

I used to be woken up by mine. I would 'hear' a loud banging noise, then realise it was my heart. I've never had a heart attack but panic attacks feel exactly how I imagine a heart attack would.

But with added fear and dread. They are utterly horrific. Beta blockers didn't work for me, but I'm on ads now and haven't had one in years.

The slow breathing is great if you can remember to do it.

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

I didn't realise they were so common.

Hearing your experiences and advice is helping me so much. Thank you for supporting me. I'm too ashamed to tel people in rl

[TheRealNightsWatch]

I had a similar episode driving to work one night. I thought I was going to have a heart attack and was terrified.

I had been going through a stressful time but was also a coper and a do-er and it crept up on me.

I went to my Gp and started on propranolol and it really, really helped. I was on it for about 6 months and now, although I still have anxiety, I am well in control of it.

Hope you feel better soon.

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

Just rung the GP. It feels like fate. Managed to get one tomorrow morning with my favourite doctor at 8.50. Unheard of. Next available one was on the 11th Sept, so someone must've cancelled.

[CharlieBrookerScowl]

Agree that BBs won't work for everyone. The GP will have seen it all before and be able to judge best. Try not to feel embarassed. It's a horrible thing to experience, and you can't help it. It's not a sign of weakness/not coping. It's just a strong, physical reaction to being a bit overloaded, in whicever way it is. Can be emotional, or sometimes just out of exhaustion and just not giving yourself enough down time.

There are lots of good breathing exercises floating around the net that can help to memorize in case you need them during another. Mine is the four square one. Maybe have a look if you do end up having any more/see what your GP suggests

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

I was on ADs for a year a while ago. I didn't think I was depressed again but did feel a little low. My body obviously disagrees with my self diagnosis!