Lately, I've been been experiencing times when my heart will beat faster and I feel a little jittery, a bit nervous and panicked. My roommate suffered panic attacks, but what I'm experiencing is nothing even remotely close to how she used to describe her attacks.
In one week my husband and I (we were married in April) are closing on our new house. I will be taking the Illinois Basic Skills test for teaching in November, and starting a master's program in March.
Could I just be having itty-bitty panic attacks that will go away once my life calms down? Or something more serious? Or am I not experiencing panic attacks at all?
2006-10-05 10:16:45 · 15 answers · asked by Pink Denial 6 in Health ➔ Mental Health
The episodes are certainly annoying, but I don't feel they hinder my life in any way.
2006-10-05 10:18:46 · update #1
I wouldn't say that these are strong attacks at all. I feel like I'm about to give a speech or go into a job interview, not like my heart is beating so hard it hurts. I breath a little faster, but I don't get breathless. I don't start sweating and don't feel the need to pace around.
2006-10-05 10:26:09 · update #2
I would not call those panic attacks so much as anxiety attacks. Face it, you have alot to be anxious about right now, you describe a pretty full plate there. If you just take a moment when you feel like that to breathe deeply five or six times and say to yourself, "this too shall pass". It will. Learn to deal successfully with the anxiety you feel now and you won't develop a panic disorder, which is much more severe.
2006-10-05 10:19:50 · answer #1 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Panick attacks are usually accompanied with anxieties or depression. If you feel like you're depressed or extremeley nervous all the time then perhaps you did have one. It sounds to me that you are going through a lot of changes right now so wouldn't be too far off if you did have a few minor ones. Its nothing that going for a bicycle ride or lighting some scented candles and meditation wouldn't cure. If you get to the point where you feel like nothing can be fixed then it may be time to seek out a psychiatrist or a councilor.
2006-10-05 10:30:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a panic and anxiety disorder and what your discribing sounds like mild anxiety attacks. AA's aren't as severe as PA's but they are still disrupting. Any recurring attacks should be concidered serious since they can easily escalate in to something far worse very slowly, you may not even notice it happening until BAH! its really bad. Or it can change practically over night. Talk to your doctor and see what s/he thinks. It is very likely that its just stress in which case there are some simple things you can do to elevate the attacks or it can be a sign of something more serious. Either way your doctor can help. Just don't be afraid to ask for help.
2006-10-05 10:24:23 · answer #3 · answered by Kay 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to get the same thing a couple of years ago...My heart would race, I would think that I was having a heart attack and thought I was going to die...they have subsided now...I was told they were panic attacks...I said that I didn't think I had THAT much stress...but apparently a lot can build up without knowing it...I would recommend taking some meditation classes...this works on stress (hidden and known) as well as blood pressure. And will most likely bring the panic attacks to a minimum...Most of all RELAX!!!!!!
2006-10-05 10:47:40 · answer #4 · answered by vargasmicus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i used to get panic attacks and i can only describe how they felt to me. my heart would slam in my chest all of a sudden and would continue for a long time, without any provocation. my life was going good so there were no stresses going on. think about all of the things going on in your life. write down each item, and then cross out all of the stresses you can fix. if the list contains things that are not able to be managed by you , then seek some psychiatric advice and ask the dr to prescribe, klomopin(clonazepam) for you. my attacks are now a thing of the past. hope you do ok. there is no such thing as a hopeless situation, so hang in there.
2006-10-05 13:27:12 · answer #5 · answered by SNAPPER 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suffer from panic attacks and I am also bi-polar. If you have more stress in your life than usual and feel completely 100% maxed out it could be an adverse affect to those feeling. I would contact your family doctor and see if maybe he could give you something for them. If you don't treat them you can make them worse by panicing about panicing. If I were you thats what I would do.
2006-10-05 11:43:59 · answer #6 · answered by GENNIFER B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be but you need to describe it a little better. WHEN do you get them?
It is very important to rule out "Palpitations"- the heart beating hard and faster. Does it jump in your chest? Do you feel breathless when you perform any regular activity? Do you ever feel like your heart skipped a beat?
2006-10-05 10:21:05 · answer #7 · answered by dr_nishis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like one. I get one of these maybe a couple of times a year. Always makes me think I'm having a heart attack, because my heart beats so loudly I can hear it. Actually, I feel it, but it seems like I'm hearing it.
Stressful times definitely can bring them on.
If they are frequent or strong, go see a doc. If not, you can either try to do whatever relaxes you, like laying down and listening to music, or you can make yourself really active with busy work to distract you.
2006-10-05 10:22:39 · answer #8 · answered by Uncle Pennybags 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like they are minor panic attacks. You sound like you worry alot. They will probally go away when all the stess goes . Try not to worry so much and relax. Just deal with the task at hand and not worry about what is to come. Goodluck!!
2006-10-05 10:22:29 · answer #9 · answered by zilch 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
these do seem like panic attacks and may stop or slow down over time
but, i also suffer from them and didn't feel in control until i got put on medication (25 mg zoloft) and talked to a counselor
i do still have occasional attacks but not debilitating ones like before
2006-10-05 10:19:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋