Panic Attacks

mellowyellow

mellowyellow

Well-known Member
pencil.jpg
Credit: Emma Towers-Evans, a hyperrealist pencil artist who writes:

My intention with this piece was to visualise the sensation of serious anxiety. The piece is called Helix - the shape of a helix reminding me viscerally of the feeling I get in my body when I’m having a panic attack. And the form of a helix features at various compositional levels throughout the drawing.
 

mellowyellow said:
View attachment 198090
Credit: Emma Towers-Evans, a hyperrealist pencil artist who writes:

My intention with this piece was to visualise the sensation of serious anxiety. The piece is called Helix - the shape of a helix reminding me viscerally of the feeling I get in my body when I’m having a panic attack. And the form of a helix features at various compositional levels throughout the drawing.
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I have to admit I doubted these existed when told others suffered from them, (such as one of my brother in laws, connected to alcoholism), until I suffered one myself about ten years ago!

If you're as sceptical as I was twenty years ago, I couldn't complain therefore, though if it helps I'll try to describe my panic attack as being akin to your mind/brain melting, (with associated pain in your head!). Recovery was protracted too, so definitely no fun at all. :)
 

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It’s good to know panic attacks go away over time, mine did anyway. My experience was driving in heavy traffic and the fear of having to stop stranded at the lights with no way out, sounds crazy but I would be so anxious my heart would race as I started to sweat. I could feel the fear starting to build as I approached a well- known bottle neck and just my luck, the lights would turn red and I was stuck. Someone told me about taking deep breaths and holding thet for as long as possible (until I was red in the face), which actually worked - it slowed my heart rate down and I was able to keep going. It was one of those times when things kept going wrong, but it eventually went away.
 
I would say that a panic attack to me at least feels like you are in imminent danger of having a heart attack, dying, or losing your mind. They are anxiety brought to a boil, and last for perhaps 15 or 20 minutes but seem like an eternity. Afterwards you feel drained and emotionally exhausted. Mine were triggered by a toxic work environment in which I felt unsafe and stuck between a rock and a hard place…
 
My daughter Paige is under a doctor’s care for her panic attacks which began shortly before Covid hit. She’s always been a somewhat anxious sort, but when her anxiety ramped up to the point that she began to feel physical symptoms, (she thought she was having a heart attack for example which sent her to the ER. Another was feeling like she had such a tight band around her chest that she couldn’t draw a full breath) I suspected panic attacks and encouraged her to seek help.

I suffered severe anxiety and periodic panic attacks when my son was deeply into his addiction, so I was familiar with the symptoms. Medication and a variety of mindfulness type exercises allowed me to continue to function, and as my son moved into recovery they subsided. The last full blown panic attack I had was several years ago when an ex DIL overdosed and I was frantic about my grandkids.

Paige is doing much better these days. The attacks don’t happen as frequently, and she manages them well. There was a period as her meds were being adjusted and she was learning how to deal with them, that she would call me (with my full support and encouragement) at odd hours of the night to talk her through the worst of her symptoms. It was bad. It really did sound as if she was dying. 😥

You’d have to know Paige to understand the depth she’d have to plummet to, to even CONSIDER calling me in the middle of the night, disturbing my sleep and worrying me. Add to that, she is an otherwise pragmatic, practical sort, doesn’t ruffle easily, is stable and efficient in an emergency, and the way she was feeling during the attacks was SO out of character for her that she became even more certain that there must have been something terribly wrong physically. But she was scanned and tested and had all manner of stress tests and other heart and respiratory tests and she was ridiculously healthy!
 
When I went through the menopause I had Terrible panic attacks ,
I couldn’t shop or queue up anywhere,
If I saw someone I knew, I would turn around and run off so I wouldn’t have to talk to them ,
And when I was caught in a situation, I would just go bright red and sweat..
In the end I just wouldn’t go out , and my dear husband done everything for me......
I couldn’t even sit in the drs waiting room.......I sat in the room with the receptionist , and they came into the surgery with me , I was a terrible mess, it went on for about 5 yrs.....
I then saw a councillor and they put me on a propanol anxiety medication which I’m still on after 16yrs.......I’m fine now , touch wood .....
Thankgod this doesn’t happen anymore , as I’m needed to do everything for my husband now
🙂😊
 
charry said:
When I went through the menopause I had Terrible panic attacks ,
I couldn’t shop or queue up anywhere,
If I saw someone I knew, I would turn around and run off so I wouldn’t have to talk to them ,
And when I was caught in a situation, I would just go bright red and sweat..
In the end I just wouldn’t go out , and my dear husband done everything for me......
I couldn’t even sit in the drs waiting room.......I sat in the room with the receptionist , and they came into the surgery with me , I was a terrible mess, it went on for about 5 yrs.....
I then saw a councillor and they put me on a propanol anxiety medication which I’m still on after 16yrs.......I’m fine now , touch wood .....
Thankgod this doesn’t happen anymore , as I’m needed to do everything for my husband now
🙂😊
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So glad you came through it charry, I also couldn't queue anywhere (especially at the bank) and the supermarket was a major hurdle. Good to know it's fixable and you are now able to care for your best friend..
 
Fyrefox said:
I would say that a panic attack to me at least feels like you are in imminent danger of having a heart attack, dying, or losing your mind. They are anxiety brought to a boil, and last for perhaps 15 or 20 minutes but seem like an eternity. Afterwards you feel drained and emotionally exhausted. Mine were triggered by a toxic work environment in which I felt unsafe and stuck between a rock and a hard place…
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I have a dear friend who has anxiety attacks. I didn't understand the depth of them until I read your post.
Thanks for explaining them.
 
I had a panic attack when I suddenly had muscle seizures all through my body. Somehow, I managed to get out of bed, shower and get dressed. I had to call my then-husband to come take me to emergency. I could barely manage to get into the truck. On the way to the hospital, I started to hyperventilate. I was given oxygen and put in the cardiac ward. There was never a clear diagnosis. I had recently had a bout of asthma, and had been put on too many different meds. I then was told I had pneumonia. I think they were grabbing at straws. It lasted about 2 months.

That was over a decade ago. Have not had a panic attack since.
 
Fyrefox said:
I would say that a panic attack to me at least feels like you are in imminent danger of having a heart attack, dying, or losing your mind. They are anxiety brought to a boil, and last for perhaps 15 or 20 minutes but seem like an eternity. Afterwards you feel drained and emotionally exhausted. Mine were triggered by a toxic work environment in which I felt unsafe and stuck between a rock and a hard place…
Click to expand...
That is the way it felt 14 years ago, but it lasted about 6 hours...it was torture. The damage had been done and it left me in a state of high anxiety and depression, and some suicidal thoughts that went on for about 8 months until I finally went to see a Doctor. I didn't have a GP for 20 years.
I think I was in deep denial over my father and best friend/s deaths. I buried the loss and grief for a couple years, and then one night...BOOM. The meds have caused IBS for 13 years...so it completely changed the future i imagined I would have in my older age. Everyday I deal with IBS which has similarities to the symptoms the panic attack had. Crazy.
 
Oh yes, I had them and they were not funny. They were so bad that I thought I was having a heart attack and my wife drove me to the hospital. My heart was racing and I broke into a sweat. Not funny at all and rather very frightening. They stopped a couple of years ago. Most doctors don't know what to do with them but I came across a lady pharmacist who told me there are 3 drugs that might help me. She gave me Lorazepam 0.5 mg. The last time I was given a prescription was November 18, 2019. Since then I have used 9 pills so I guess it's not a very serious problem with me now. As religious people like to say, "Praise the Lord."
 
mellowyellow said:
So glad you came through it charry, I also couldn't queue anywhere (especially at the bank) and the supermarket was a major hurdle. Good to know it's fixable and you are now able to care for your best friend..
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Thank you.MY .........I still can’t go into certain supermarket,my husband says it could also be the florescent lighting .....
Also I only take a basket around and never a trolly......the basket is easier to just put down and walk out .......
 
charry said:
Thank you.MY .........I still can’t go into certain supermarket,my husband says it could also be the florescent lighting .....
Also I only take a basket around and never a trolly......the basket is easier to just put down and walk out .......
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I agree Charry that stores and shopping malls are bad for you if you might get a panic attack. The noise, the push of the crowds, the advertising, the line up to pay are all proof of being in a bad place for a lot of people. They say, "Stress Kills" and I believe it. If it doesn't kill you it sure as hack not going to make sing this song from the musical, Oklahoma:

Oh, What a beautiful mornin',
Oh, What a beautiful day.
I got a beautiful feelin'
Ev'erything's goin' my way.
 
mellowyellow said:
It’s good to know panic attacks go away over time, mine did anyway. My experience was driving in heavy traffic and the fear of having to stop stranded at the lights with no way out, sounds crazy but I would be so anxious my heart would race as I started to sweat. I could feel the fear starting to build as I approached a well- known bottle neck and just my luck, the lights would turn red and I was stuck. Someone told me about taking deep breaths and holding thet for as long as possible (until I was red in the face), which actually worked - it slowed my heart rate down and I was able to keep going. It was one of those times when things kept going wrong, but it eventually went away.
Click to expand...
I had this for about 10 years, considered it as a phobia but I guess basically the same thing. Then one day I had read a piece in the Sunday paper about phobias, and how easy they actually are to treat. With just that bit on knowledge my driving phobia melted away...haven't had any problem with it in over 25 years.
 
Panic attacks are real, medical events. As a newly minted psych nurse, I had a patient with sky high blood pressure. His pulse was so fast I couldn't count it. He was sweaty, looked like hell, and I was afraid he was going to code out. If he had walked into any ER, and they didn't know his history, he'd been placed in a cardiac critical unit. But the staff MD knew him, and that he was having a panic attack. He got medication to calm him.
Some people think psych problems are sort of make believe, and not real. They are just as real as heart problems, kidney problems, etc.
 
When I had my panic attacks I would sweat and then need to go to the bathroom immediately. I lost so much weight during this period, my therapist put me on Xanax to ease the symptoms. This was back in 2005. I have since overcome them, but panic attacks are very real and can affect you psychologically and physically.
 
I found the best way to address panic attacks. I increased minerals like ionic magnesium because I found I was deficient. No more panics or sleepless nights. I also take tinctures of passionflower, California poppy (legal), Ghost pipe (Monotropa uniflora) and occasionally Wild Lettuce before bed. These make me literally pass out for hours with no side effects or pharmaceuticals. Magnesium helped me with relaxation and sleep as well. Now I sleep like a baby and my mood is up! Ask a medical professional before taking any herbals. Some may conflict with medications you may be taking. There are a lot of good videos from Dr. Eric Berg on YouTube. He is great and has helped me lose weight on a fasting regimen too. His advice on fasting, vitamins and minerals has made me feel energetic and young again.
 
IFortuna said:
Dr. Eric Berg on YouTube. He is great and has helped me lose weight on a fasting regimen too. His advice on fasting, vitamins and minerals has made me feel energetic and young again.
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Eric Berg (c. 1972–)[1] is an American antivaxxer, chiropractor, cholesterol denialist, conspiracy theorist, scientologist and ketogenic diet advocate. Berg promotes pseudoscientific health advice and quackery.[2][3] Berg is not a medical doctor.[4] Berg practiced chiropractic for 29 years and is now a full-time YouTube blogger who has made thousands of videos offering health advice. Berg has over 4 million subscribers and claims to have made over 5000 videos.[5]

Read more:
https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eric_Berg
 
RadishRose said:
Eric Berg (c. 1972–)[1] is an American antivaxxer, chiropractor, cholesterol denialist, conspiracy theorist, scientologist and ketogenic diet advocate. Berg promotes pseudoscientific health advice and quackery.[2][3] Berg is not a medical doctor.[4] Berg practiced chiropractic for 29 years and is now a full-time YouTube blogger who has made thousands of videos offering health advice. Berg has over 4 million subscribers and claims to have made over 5000 videos.[5]

Read more:
https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eric_Berg
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Why does this matter? He has helped me in many ways. Many chiropractic doctors are better than medical doctors who have, of late, not helped me at all. Because of him my life has been lengthened. But, you do you and I will do me. : )
 
My anxiety/panic attacks are frequent and brutal. I have PTSD, and enemies who want my head on a spike. Mainly, 3 really bad dudes I put in prison. They're out now, and undoubtedly seeking revenge. Also.... ex gfs and wives who would like to see me suffer. Not sure which I am more scared of. Probably the women.
 
I remember the first one I had. It was in 1983. I had know idea what was happening. I thought I was going to loose my mind and wanted to be handcuffed to a tree. It scared me so bad I lived in fear of having another one for about a year. During that year I had many. It felt like I was walking on a razor blade. On one side was death and the other side was insanity. Worst year of my life.

I kept it to myself for a long while because I had no idea of what it was. I thought if I mentioned it to anyone they would think I was crazy. He// I thought I was crazy. I got lucky and talked to a complete stranger about it and he said he had gone through the same thing. It felt like a ton of weight had been lifted from my shoulders to find out I was not the only one who had experienced what I experienced. He also put a name to it 'Panic Attack". Now I could research it. The internet was not an option them.

He referred me to a certain psychiatrists that he said had helped him tremendously. At that point I was willing to try anything to shake the feeling I had every time I had an attack so I scheduled an appointment. The two things I got from the psychiatrist was that a panic attack is just a feeling and at the first sign of one concentrate on controlling my breathing. I became really good at recognizing the early signs of one coming on and immediately started controlled breathing. That works for me to this day.

Now days I rarely have them when awake they like to pop up while I am asleep. At first my fear was I was having a heart attack but after many episodes I was still alive. After some internet research I realized I was having nocturnal panic attacks .Once again the controlled breathing helped to calm me down.

I added a description of nocturnal and daytime panic attacks for those who may be interested.

From the Mayo Clinic website.
Nighttime (nocturnal) panic attacks can occur with no obvious trigger and awaken you from sleep. As with a daytime panic attack, you may experience sweating, rapid heart rate, trembling, shortness of breath, heavy breathing (hyperventilation), flushing or chills, and a sense of impending doom. These alarming signs and symptoms can mimic those of a heart attack or another serious medical condition. Although panic attacks are uncomfortable, they are not dangerous.
 

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