Is this what they call a panic attack?

Question

This is only like the 3rd or 4th time in my entire adult life that this has happend. I will be 49 next month. The last 2 days, I suddenly feel like my heart is beating at MILLION miles/hr. - It happens a lot when I am at the computer, either yahoo answers or wrting my sister or a friend, or It happens doing laundry or dishes...And I try to retrace all the issues in my life - my husband's medical problems, my daughter is sick (heat I think) and my cat is sick.. yet I think of all these issues and none in particular causes this.. I't almost like my heart as a brain of it's own and just decides to do this to me.I have anxiety problems and I am on meds for it. Lexapro
1 yr, Klonopin a few months -a very low dose as I am sensitive to it. I used to worry aobut all the "what if's" in life. Until yesterday,I hadn't felt this in about a year. Is this a panic attack? Or jsut my imagination? I am under a Dr's care but not supposed to go back unti the end of Aug.

I didn't feel this way last week and all the same problems that I have today were there a week ago... Can the meds do this?

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I will call the Dr in the morn and I will definately ask aobut anxiety therapy.

To straight & narrow I read the Bible as you suggested and noticed that whenever I concentrate on something my heart races. Weird..
Thanks and God Bless all of you for the wonderful responses.

one more question though? Do panic attacks just appear out of nowhere? My husband has had these same health problems for 25 years!

Answer 1

Sounds to me like a mild panic attack. I am also on Lexapro (7months) for panic disorder. Even though I am on meds , also Xanax, I still have the occasional panic attack. I think on top of taking medication, it's good to see a therapist. Sometimes we alone can't deal with our inner issues and neither can meds, they're just a blanket. When I get my "occasional" panic attack, it's more than a pounding heart, it's that and nausea and the feeling of going crazy, shortness of breath, trembling, just complete PANIC! Don't worry. Talk to your doctor when you see him in August about it.

Answer 2

You could be experiencing a eurythmic heart rate, and untreated, it could be deadly. I wouldn't mess around with this. If this is really worrying you, you should see a doc right away and don't wait. I also have a brother who is bipolar that has had several diagnosed panic attacks over the last 5 years or so. He has described the ame tyoe of symptom, but it also accompanied by a hot sweat, and irregular breathing. In any case, I would still see a doc asap. No need to worry yourself about something that you don't have to. your meds may just need to be changed or adjusted.

Answer 3

Short answer: yes. You mentally review a list of problems and 'what if's' and your heart races.

There is nothing wrong with your heart; it is just reacting to the adrenaline that your brain orders to be released in response to the stresses in your life. It's called 'fight or flight'.

Not to second guess your doctor, but I would look to cognitive therapy before drugs; or at least as an adjunct. What you are telling yourself about your stressors is affecting how your body reacts to them. Change what you tell yourself, and the symptoms of stress will abate naturally.

I used to have panic attacks, so I can relate to what you describe. When I started trusting God and changed my thinking about the stresses in my life (and especially when I stopped being afraid of the physical symptoms of fear), the panic attacks stopped.

Answer 4

Sounds like a panic attack alright. They make your heart race, you might start to sweat & feel like you can't catch your breath. I've had my share & don't like them at all. I take Ativan, which is a cousin to Valium. It helps relax me, slows my racing heart & allows me to chill out. When there's a lot going on in your life as it sounds like there is, you can have an attack. Age plays NO part in it as I've heard of teens having panic attacks.

Anxiety attacks are also related to panic attacks & BOTH can mimick a heart attack. When I had one in Jan of 04, I thought I was having a heart attack. My chest hurt, my left side went numb, I felt like I had to fart or burp yet couldn't & I could barely breathe. The paramedics gave me baby asprin & a shot of nitro under my tongue. Nasty stuff, both of them! Once at the hospital, I was rushed into X-ray for a look at my heart. Blood was drawn while I awaited the results. I was also given an Upper GI cocktail that had Mylanta, lidocaine & some other green goo that helped me pass the trapped air. Thank goodness, NOTHING was wrong. I was told to start taking Gas-X with Mylanta inside, purplish pink capsules. I was given a perscription for Ativan then & have kept it up ever since.

What caused all this? I was about to start work for a collection agent job & didn't want to really take the job. That stressed out my mind & body thus resulting in an anxiety attack.

Call your doctor up & go in to be seen on an urgent visit. Tell him/her what happened & discuss some stress reduction ideas.

Answer 5

I have some experience with anxiety and panic attacks. That's exactly what it sounds like. Panic attacks are not life threatening. I've been told that the best thing to do is not try to fight it off, it just makes it worse. Just try to relax and breathe through it. It sounds like you're trying to control a lot of uncontrollable issues in your life. Anxiety can manifest itself in different ways and panic attacks are definitely one of those.

I don't know where you are in terms of spirituality, (I'm a follower of Jesus Christ) but when I began to deal with anxiety, although I had issues in my life that I was concerned about, I learned that it really was revealing my deepest questions about God. I pray that you will begin to find peace in your life and consider a different way of doing things that will allow you to release these things that are causing you to feel so out of control.

Answer 6

It could well be panic attack, do you feel like you are going to die? I have a family member who had panic attacks but has overcome them. The more you worry about it and think about it, the more likely you are to have another one. Just the thought of having one can make you have one. You do need to see a mental health professional and tell them your symptoms. Panic attacks can happen right out of nowhere, my family member who had them was in middle school when she first started having them, it was sad. At first we didn't know what it was, but now , we are informed about it. She had medication and counseling and is now doing well. You need to learn ways to deal with all of the stress in your life. Good luck.

Answer 7

Do you feel like someone is sitting on your chest? Everything is tight? It would be a panic attack. You can get them for no reason. I can be watching tv and all of a sudden I get one. I lived with them for about a year till I finaly went to the Dr. Thank goodness I did. I went from having none to like 5 a day. I was hating it.
Go to your Dr, and talk to him about it k
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Answer 8

If you have already been diagnosed with a panic disorder, more than likely that's what it is. It could be a side effect from the medication or it could be due to the stresses that you have going on in your life right now. In the mean time, try to have some time to yourself to relax.

Answer 9

Sounds like anxiety to me. Nothing in particular has to spark an anxiety attack. Maybe you need a greater dose of Lexapro. You can build a tolerance. Or, you might have a low dose of Xanax prescribed for specific instances like you described.

Answer 10

Have some Faith in God, when God puts your Soul to rest, then your mind will be at ease... Read the Psalms for comfort.. Psalm 23 is a very nice psalm... and after God brings you Peace... recite Psalm 100... PRAISE THE LORD