Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav
lightningbugl
1 90 M Embraced
PathStep 1 Compassion hearts8 Forum posts2 Forum upvotes11 Current upvotes11 Age GroupAdult Last activeSeptember, 2018 Member sinceJune 27, 2018
Bio
Recent forum posts
lightningbugl profile picture
Random Things Triggering/Worsening Panic Attacks; Can Anybody Relate?
Anxiety Support / by lightningbugl
Last post
 August 28th, 2018
...See more I've searched everywhere to see if anyone can relate to this with panic attacks but I haven't found anything similar to what I'm talking about anywhere. Basically, sometimes I'll find myself starting to have a panic attack triggered/worsened by a random person, sound, or object, different from what a panic attack normally feels like for me. For lack of better words, it feels like I'm choking with clay in my mouth and I haven't brushed my teeth in a month, unlike just a heart racing, heavier breathing, and, well, panic like I normally do in a panic attack. It feels almost surreal, like I've just realized I'm living in a dream or that the person/object/sound isn't real or something like that. It's very difficult to explain. It's terrifying and downright terrible, especially because this kind of panic attack in me can get worse or is triggered by random people, including people I'm generally very calm and comfortable around. For example, way back in middleschool, this happened in biology class, where the trigger became my teacher (Again, for no reason in particular. She just was). I couldn't look at her or even in her direction for the rest of the class because of how bad it was, which was especially inconvenient when I had a question that I just couldn't ask because the horrible feeling from the panic attack wouldn't let me. I've had this happen with a friend during a normal conversation too, and I felt horrible when I all of a sudden started feeling overwhelmingly uncomfortable being near them but couldn't explain to them why all of a sudden I wasn't looking at them and cutting them off. Has anyone ever had the same kind of thing happen to them? Does anyone know what a potential cause could be, or an official term for this kind of anxiety? I know there's no way to simply "make it stop", so I'm not necessarily asking for help. I'd just like to know if I'm not crazy or alone.
Search more from @lightningbugl
Considering Therapy?
Talk to an expert therapist
Badges & Awards
6 total badges
Hand Shake First Post Reaching out Helping out First Compassion Teammate
Report an issue