Random Things Triggering/Worsening Panic Attacks; Can Anybody Relate?
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.
I forgot to mention, I've noticed that the sounds that trigger this kind of feeling in me are usually digitized/synthesized, adding to the 'not real/surreal' feeling that it gives.
@lightningbugl I definitely know what you're talking about, it doesn't manifest as a panic attack most of the time, but last night it did. It was a graphic description of something that doesn't normally trigger me, but it will yank me into a bad spot when I'm particularly vulnerable. One vivid memory I have is when I was in my therapist's office and I got a whiff of my ex's deoderant, and he had treated me really badly (understatement) so I felt less safe and couldn't keep going with the session.
I don't know if this is what you're talking about but I hope you don't feel alone in this.
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@lightningbugl
'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'
I do have similar feeling triggered by random things. It started when I was 5 y.o. I was on beach with my mom, it was a pretty hot day and despite that we were sitting under a large umbrella I really wanted to take a sip of water. I don't remember precisely what she said, but I felt like I want answer her, tell her something, tell her at least that I'm thirsty, but I couldn't open my mouth, felt this weird trembling feeling inside (like classic) and inside my mouth felt like desert. That thing kept coming back on different occasions and people, like in class, in a bus, during just walking on the street. So I know how it feels, you're not alone.