Panic attack??
I am 43 years old and I have never has a panic attack until a week ago. My wife had to take me to the emergency room because I was scared I was having a stroke or something. I woke up at 4am and when I opened my eyes I was in the middle of an extreme dizzy spell and thought i was going to pass out. Within the next 30 minutes I had two more near fainting episodes and hot flashes. I was so scared something was bad wrong that is why we went to the ER. After being seen in the ER the doctor said he thought it was a panic attack. i had never even heard of this before. (panic attack).....now I am having 3-4 episodes a day with dizzyness hot flashes etc etc..........I need to talk to someone
I've had a few panic attacks that were medication-induced. I woke up in the middle of the night just as you did and started feeling terrible. I started developing a fear of being out in public in case i had a panic attack. I couldnt even go to the grocery store. I learned that there were things that I could do at home to help me. I started watching yoga videos on YouTube that ask questions to ponder while doing the half hour follow-along yoga. So questions like "What do you think of tattoos?" just to keep your mind busy while your body uses that extra energy. I still haven't found what to do in public to help me. Everyone has a way to cope that is different. Some people can talk themselves through it. I personally can't so I find moving my body helps. It's a vicious cycle of feeling symptoms and then thinking that you're having a stroke (or in my case dying) that in turn keeps the symptoms going. If you can intervene and redirect one of them it can cut the attack off short. This is just how i cope with it. Hope that helps and that you get input from other members.
I should clarify, when I feel the panic attack come on I immediately turn on the computer and watch a yoga video and follow along. I've tried taking a shower after having a panic attack but that made it worse. Something about the water I didn't like too much, but the yoga was nice and slow. It was almost like a moving meditation that also helped my breathing. Otherwise I had never done yoga or even considered it to be "exercise". It saved my life.
I have found yoga to be very relaxing. I don't really know what to do when panic attacks happen as I have never had one in a situation where I could do anything about it, but of it works for you keep it up :)
Thank you for sharing. It helps me to read about others experiences. After reading much about panic attacks I feel that my situation may be a bit different. My attacks are produced simply with thoughts. I am not having trouble with crowds or any phobias......my attacks just come out of the blue..like while watching tv or working on the computer. My attacks also do not involve any breathing problems. (feeling like I am dying) like you said is exactly what I have. I just used the term stroke because I couldnt find the right word to describe the fear. It feels like I am being turned off if that makes sense.....dizzyness and like the walls are closing in (very scary) and I have hot flash and sweat about my head neck and shoulders. It is obvious to me though that my attacks are provoked by my thoughts.......if I start thinking about it..((It happens)). What bothers me so bad is I am 43 and I have never had this and within a week it has taken over my life.
I have very similar symptoms, they occur completely out of the blue. When they first started I thought I was incredibly ill, so I went to the doctors just to be told that it was stress. Not very helpful when you have that horrible feeling of dread and impending doom.
I lose my breath when they happen as well. I get funny looks when i get them at work.
Shane, I am right there with you. I'm not even sure how to explain the feelings of an anxiety attack. I get the hot flash feelings as well and I have fainted once because my throat just kinda gets tight and chokes off. I was sent to the hospital then too. I also get a heartburn-ish feeling along with the clenched throat and occasionally cant keep any food and liquid down for a long time.
My anxiety attacks are almost always focused around my thoughts. There have only been a handful of times where it was spiked by a physical issue. Most of the time, if I am alone with my own thoughts and not really occupying my time with something, I can't tend to shut the thoughts off and panic attacks start. I have also randomly woken up with them and yes, the pain is just different then anything to put words to. It gets to the point where I can't lay down and even try to go back to sleep. And yes, mine have come super randomly as well. I'll just be going about my business then BAM, I am trying to get myself somewhere without making people think I'm flipping out for no reason. Songs, Movies, simple showering... I don't know. It really, REALLY sucks.
I know this probably sounds cliche, but try a small paper bag. When my panic attacks first started, my friend would always keep one of these handy. I thought it was kind of stupid and useless, but now - if im feeling one coming on, i tend to cover my nose and mouth with my shirt or anything close by to regulate my breathing. I tend to not start hyperventilating this way and I calm faster.
Anxiety attacks can be very scary and it can get really frustrating when doctors don't really have an answer besides it being possibly 'stress related.' You are definitely not alone and I completely understand. And don't let your age worry you. My father is around your age and gets them and mine first started when I was 16. I mean come on now, really?! When mine first started, it was really hard to control, but I started to recognize the feelings and worked on my breathing to help reduce the problems. If you feel it starting, try to do something with your hands. Wash dishes or clean. Keep your body moving for a little bit and it helps as a distraction from the thoughts.
Well, here it is 130am and I had to get out of bed because my heart is beating light and rapid with terrible hot flash and feeling like I am having a heart attack......I hate this shit and after going outside on the deck and pacing around I went back to bed only to have to get back up 5 minutes later because it started all over again. So I decided to just come on here and type. it is helping me already. THIS SO FUCKING INSANE that i feel like I am dying but if I occupy myself it goes away. I am feeling much better just after typing this paragraph. This attack was centered around a fluttery fast heartbeat and severe hot flashes that produce instant clamyness and sweat. I still do not feelgood.....i just stopped and read what i have typed and instantly started feeling bad again. So crazy so I will keep typing here. i do feel a little better about knowing that i had the most stressful day today that I have had in years and this panisc attack is happening today......atleast I know it IS a panic attack and I am not about to die. I still cannot wrap my mind around the fact that I have never ever had this until about 6 weeks ago and this is probably my 4 severe attack and the first one got me rushed to the hospital. I feel a little better that atleast I am empowered to try and calm myself down and occupy myself and it is just a panic attack.....but that in itself freaks me out because I am a mans man! i am sleaved in tattoos....i shoot and hunt, i love football (CHARGER FAN)......Ya know,.....i consider myself somewhat of a tough guy and here I am a full blown cheeze wheener panic attack weirdo....LOL. Unreal. i cant believe that now I am the dude with hot flashes constantly pressing two fingers against my juggular in my neck feeling my heart beat and tripping out...Is it beating?? Why is it beating so fast?? Why is it beating so shallow?? Then sweat begins to develope on my forhead...then I feel something weird in my head ......Am I having an anurizm??...OMG OMG whats wrong....This shit is for the birds man....I wouldnt wish these feelings on my worst enemy. Now i know that as long as I dont stop and read what I am saying that i can continue to make progress here.....feeling better..:)
maybe by logging my attacks on here one night in the middle of the night some person that is suffering with this and is freaking out will read what I am saying and it will help them or atleast help them realize that they are not dying and that it is just a panic attack. I hope so. I am going to try and go back to bed now.
Shane
