Have any of you?

Question

ever had Panic Attacks, can you describe it for me please?

Answer 1

I have unfortunately, on a number of occasions, and they can vary, it can start as a general fear, of what isn't always clear, shortness of breath as though you can't breathe, which in turns to panic, the adrenaline is pumping around the body at a rate of knots, causing the heart to beat much too fast and that just increases the panic. It's bit difficult to explain it properly, but when it happens it's really dreadful. The only answer is too sit as calmly as possible, getting the heart rate under control, sometimes people are advised to get a paper bag to blow into, inhale, exhale, slowly, thus decreasing the heart rate, which slows down the attack.

Answer 2

I have had many panic attacks over the years, and brought
about by low blood sugar attacks, called Hypoglycemia. This
is often a precursor to developing Diabetes. The symptoms
all have previously described mimic those of a Hypoglycemic
attack. When sugar levels in the blood drop fast and you
need to remedy this right away by eating something sweet
to jack up your sugar levels and restore your energy. The
first attack I ever had, was in a dental chair and didn't know
what was happening to me. I hadn't had lunch, and so that
may have added to my condition. I was nervous to begin
with in the dental chair with a dentist I'd never gone to before.
He'd left me and my novocaine was wearing off as it had
been too long I guess. Or maybe he didn't give me enough.
But anyway, I realized I'd been there far too long and he'd
gone off to help someone else and was coming back to me.
So anyway, I got the shakes and I broke out in a sweat, but
not my palms. And I began to feel weak, and weaker still and
got the fear I was sinking down into myself. I know, that's a
strange description. Finally I thought to ask the assistant if
anyone had any orange juice on hand. And they found some
luckily or some juice anyway. And it was just the thing to help.
It steadied me and the dentist came in and finished his work
finally and then I was able to go. I guess apprehension and
perhaps even fear of being confined, brought on the attack.
I was just glad it didn't get more worse than that.
I am diabetic now and often get these attacks. Some are
worse than others. But food with sugar or juice will bring me
back to normal again.
So I hope those of you who have had panic attacks have
a blood sugar sample taken to determine that there isn't
anything behind the panic attacks that could be stemming
from a blood sugar disorder. Because if there is a low blood
sugar reading, you can prevent Diabetes to some extent.
By being on a nutritional diet and not eating the junk food
that often brings about this horrible disease. Usually if some-
one in your family has diabetes, you are predisposed to
get it yourself, or your children. So it's important to take care
of yourself at a young age to prevent your inheriting it. But
being overweight can bring in on after the age of around 35
too. As well as the less common type A when one is younger.
Maybe this information will have helped to prevent one more
inheritor of this disease, if one of you has it without knowing.
It doesn't happen overnight. And with me, I believe it took
about three years from the first symptoms that I knew nothing
about being related at the time.
Take care, everyone.

Answer 3

Fortunately it's pretty much stopped now, but flying used to do if for me. The least little bit of turbulance would get it started, and from there on, there was no control. My symptoms were much like the ones all the others here have described. For the longest time I dreaded having to get on a plane, but finally realized that I had become more afraid of the panic attacks than flying itself. Once that realization hit home, I became able to work on the problem and confront it head on. Since flying is the only way I can see most of my family, I couldn't let this keep me away.

Blessings.

Answer 4

I have. Usually they are mild as a result of claustrophobia and feel better once outside. About a year ago I started having bad panic attacks.

It's difficult to describe and I don't recognise the early signs yet until it's too late to control. I get tense and agitated, feel trapped and want to escape. I start to feel stuffy in the head, the breathing gets fast, start gasping for air and feel as if I'm not getting any. There are thoughts of dying, or going mad or having a fatal brain disease, feeling disconnected, total confusion, also one of the worse things is a feeling terror but not knowing why, and that no one understands.

Fortunately, although you feel alone, panic attacks are not uncommon and there are some very good books and CBT courses to help understand and control what's going on.

Answer 5

Yes. The others have described the symptoms well. Claustrophobic causes some of mine. When I go home to WV, I go through 2 tunnels and it takes a concentrated effort to be able to breathe. If I have a CD playing I enjoy, it helps. Once they had construction going on and I was stopped inside the tunnel. I also have very bad allergies/sensitivities and all cars fumes were getting to me. I could see the inside of the walls were chipping away and I knew I was in this hole dug under/through the mountain. All I could do was pray until I could go out the other side.

Another really bad one I had was when the guy came to hook up our DSL & was wearing cologne, I'm extremely sensitive to it-migraines, nausea, heart racing, irritable feeling, etc. The only way I can describe it is if you've ever seen a bug sprayed with bug spray and watched what happens to them. Anyway, my husband was helping the guy and didn't notice my panic, until he left. I had my vinegar/water spray out spraying everywhere. I was crying and talking to myself about how I'd been so careful to keep 'smell' out of my house and now this. I was running around like a woman possessed. By the time he left I was in a fetal position on the floor. I was crying so hard it took my husband awhile to figure out what was wrong. I'm not sure what causes yours, but my sensitivities contribute to a great deal of mine. Best wishes.

Answer 6

Tc had a panic attack that was SO bad that we both remember the exact date!! This, unfortunately was the first of many.....May 1st 1989. Description: Pounding heartbeat, breathing difficulties eg like asthma attack, pains in the middle of his chest, down his left arm and in his chin, sweating profusely and a feeling that he was going to die.....from my perspective his colour was a nasty ashen grey and he looked scared to death. It was May Day Bank Holiday and we'd taken our, then 6 yr old to the seaside for the day. I managed to flag a taxi down to take us to the local hospital. Tc was attached to an ECG machine and they thought he was having a heart attack! After several hours and loads of tests later it was established that he hadn't had a heart attack, thank goodness, but he'd had a very severe panic attack. Since then he's had several panic attacks though none of them have been as severe as that first one. Unfortunately, severe panic attacks mimic all the symptoms of a heart attack which causes more panic. Over the years we have both learned what can trigger them and some situations are avoidable but others aren't. I have to keep him as calm as possible whilst he goes through it and have to help him control his breathing. They can be very dibillitating.

Answer 7

Yes I have had many panic attacks, I suffer from acute agoraphobia and have done for almost 60 years ever since I went to secondary school. I was off school for a year while I had treatment, but it never cured me, It has always made it difficult for me to travel around, but eventually I started my own business and then I had to force myself to travel which was very unpleasant. You never know when a panic attack will come and it can be totally disabling, symptoms are rapid heartbeat, sweaty hands, feeling nauseaus and giddy,difficuly in breathing and swallowing, fear of choking, a feeling of unreality, thinking you are going to die at any moment, Extreme fear, and hopelessness.You will do anything to escape the situation, facing up to the fear is really the only way to make progress, but you don't really know what is causing the fear.

Answer 8

Yes...you're right up my alley now. I've had them..probably all my life..but didn't know there was a name for it. I get "frozen" and of course"paniky"..breathing heavy..full of fear..feels like I stuck my whole body into a wall plug.. or like needles are sticking in me..sometimes like knives jabbing me..sometimes sweat or shake (depends on how severe they are). The only thing I've found that helps..and even prevents them is half mg of risperdal. I also have PTSD..and it helps with that. Don't take more than half mg..or you'll be disfunctional. Sometimes a fouth mg will do the trick. Risperdal is the first thing I've found that really helped..after years of trying other medications.They give it to Viet Nam & Iraq vets in low doses to help with panic attacks and PTSD. In higher doses it's used for psychosis.
EDIT.What Gracie said is true..the FEAR OF A PANIC ATTACK can sometimes be almost as bad as the attack itself.!!

Answer 9

As a person who worked in the surveillance, control center of our casino, I had to handle many emergencies. Calling an ambulance for those who were suffering panic attacks was as much of an emergency as was calling one for someone who was having a heart attack.

I pray that I'll not suffer from that.

Answer 10

I do not ever have Panic attack , sounds new to me. Is it you feel panic all of a sudden ? Is it mental ? Hope you well.

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