[Astraeus]

I know this isn't the place to discuss medical conditions and, as such, I am not seeking medical advice here - more experiences of the aforementioned condition.

Last week I was staying over at my girlfriend's house and was lying in bed, inactive, when all of a sudden I felt my chest tighten and my breathing become really short and heavy as though I was panting. I become really uncomfortable in the bed and was trying to throw off the sheets and move away from my girlfriend. My mind was racing and it was quite a panicky experience, most probably because nothing like that had ever happened to me before (save for asthma attacks as a youngster). This episode lasted for about 20 minutes during which time my girlfriend tried her best to calm me down. I got very thirsty, felt like I was 'burning up' and couldn't, no matter how hard I tried to control my breathing, stop the panting.

I wrote it off as a one-off until earlier today when, as I was sitting in front of the television, the exact same thing happened again. My heart began to beat much faster and I felt really short of breath - almost as though I'd just been doing strenuous exercise. Since this morning's episode, I've felt a faster-than-usual heartbeat and shortness of breath a couple of times.

Is this symptomatic of panic attacks? If so, have those of you who have encountered panic attacks sought medical help? I'm only 21 years old and so don't suppose this poses much of a risk to my long-term health but it's discomforting to think it could happen again.

Experiences please.

[Iccz]

I suffer from panic attacks when having to go to Hospitals, and I get close when visiting the GP but have managed to control these a bit better.

I'd be wanting to know what is causing your panic attacks, as they are usually sparked by something.

An ex of mine had agoraphobia for a while and often had panic attacks, having had them myself cause of Dr / Hospital in the past I knew a but about them and how they worked.

The tightening of the chest, short breath, fast breathing, dry mouth/thirst, sick feeling is generally normal, you can even black out - happened to me on my last hospital visit, I don't actually recall a single thing from it.

Woke up the next morning with bite marks in my right index finger from where I was apparently sat biting on my finger... for some reason.


Panic attacks can be horrible, but you can do things to help yourself by working a routine, breathing exercises, singing/humming to take your mind off it.

My ex always found that she felt safest in the bathroom with a glass of water, usually with ice, to rinse her mouth out.

I personally find that trying to control my breathing works best for me and trying to keep an active mind to avoid the attack coming on when going to the Dr.

Different things work for different people.


Kinda hard to seek medical help for it when it's the medical help that is the ignition
My ex however had therapy and councelling for her agoraphobia and anxiety, along with a course of medication.

[Ned Senior]

Must have been frightening for both of you...
From personal experience I know it is terrifying when through no act of your own you feel suddenly out of FULL control of your senses/body/life

Good luck

[fencer90]

I have suffered from Panic Attacks for about 25 years , I first had them in a similar circumstance to yourself,then I got them in the car and many other places.........
The first thing to do is go to your GP and insist on a Thyroid function test, there are a couple of thyroid conditions which will manifest themselves in this way, I actually had Hashimotos' syndrome which was undiagnosed for 10 years during which time I was put on every Happy pill you can think of none of which worked.
Eventually I got so bad I had facial symptoms which even my cretinous GP at the time could not fail to miss.Thyroid conditions are not the first diagnosis a GP will make when presenting with your symptoms.
It is important to check this as the disease its self will kill you albeit slowly, the main problem however is the thyroid plays a major role in the control of cholesterol, some 20 years after diagnosis I have had to have a quad bypass and take about 15 pills a day.
It is best not to lie in bed at night feeling your heart beating and think its anxiety sometimes it is not ..............want any more help please ask

[hopeless]

i get them occasionally, especially just before bed. im prescribed valium from my doctor, but drinking valerian tea is very effective too

goodluck

[Drd]

I realise you are 'not seeking medical advice',but you certainly should.21 years old or not there are potentially harmful causes of such symptoms.Though unlikely,you should seek a medical opinion through your GP promptly.Don't google it,see an expert.

[clockworks]

I suffer from similar attacks - have done for about 20 years. I went to see the doctor, and had some tests. I was convinced that I had something really serious. Was eventually put on SSRIs (Prozac), which helped. Once I knew that it wasn't anything life-threatening, it was much easier to cope with the problem, so I stopped taking the tablets after a month.

In my case, it was stress and mild depression that triggered the attacks.

See your GP and put your mind at rest - you'll be able to cope much better once you know what it is that's causing the attacks.

[FunkyMunkey]

I'd still recommend seeking medical advice, just in case it is anything more serious

[Steve N]

Originally Posted by Astraeus

....and couldn't, no matter how hard I tried to control my breathing, stop the panting.

There is a very simple and effective way to alleviate this which is called hyperventilating.
Best to see the doc though rather than take advice on here.

[pandemic]

I've suffered a couple of panic attacks, first when I was 15 and the second at the age of 16. Not had them since but apart from the symptoms already mentioned my vision was also effected, basically everything started to turn bright white and was impaired till I 'calmed' down

[Bill Hicks]

I used to suffer regular panic attacks around ten years ago.

They started when I became a bus driver in London, so it was probably the stress of the job and that fact that I felt trapped because I had to work a year as a bus driver to pay off the training costs.

The symptoms were the feeling that I was going to have a heart attack and that I couldn't breath due to my breathing being too fast (Hyperventilating!) And also that my vision would be effected also. It was for want of a better description like looking thru a goldfish bowl after an attack. Everything seemed a little blurred!

What really scared me was the sudden & random nature of an attack. One minute I would feel fine, then something could trigger an attack. And it could be anything.
What made them so bad was I tried to control the attack but I couldn't! In fact the more I tried to fight it, the worse they got!
They were like being stuck on a scary rollercoaster ride that I couldn't get off!
I just had to ride the thing out everytime!

I found that it helped at the time when I stopped all my caffeine intake and cut back on smoking.

Just remember that no matter how bad an attack you get, you will not be harmed because of it. You're heart will not stop beating and you will carry on breathing and that shortly the attack will pass.

If you do experience another attack and you're breathing pattern scares you, then try breathing into a paper bag as an increase of Co2 can help to regulate you're breathing and calm you down.

I found that changing my job and getting a bit more "grounded" help me greatly.

As for now I very rarely suffer any, the last time was around 2 years ago and they are not as intense as they used to be and I find them easier to control.

You'll be fine.

All the best.

[smelly]

Like previous posters I too have suffered from panic attacks, which are now under control. As you can see from the many replies here the reasons for them are varied and could be physical or mental or a combination of both, so you really do need to see a Dr.

I don't like taking tablets so tried other methods to control them - mine were caused by stress rather than triggers like space or fear of something. The fact they happened when I seemed to be relaxed, like watching tv or out with friends, was the one thing it took me a while to get my head around.

I went to an alternative therapist, I changed my diet a bit but the main thing was being taught relaxation techniques, as soon as I knew an attack was coming on I learnt the best ways of dealing with it. The obvious ones like breathing properly - but less obvious ones like having a bath or eating ice cream! (Yes I know strange, and I haven't a clue why it works but it does!)

Anyway, the thing is to seek proper medical advice, and take time to find the thing that works for you. And you will...Good luck!

[tracertong]

I used to get them but can now control them , breathing is the most important thing and once you have mastered this it will help a lot next time you have one..


Hyperventilation (overbreathing) panic attack symptoms / causes - course part 4

[Eddy.]

I used to have them a while back, as a side effect of anti-depressant medication I was taking...

They are pretty terrifying, especially the sense of panic and dread that overwhelms you.

In the end, I was prescribed small doses of diazepam which greatly calmed me down during an attack. Just knowing in my mind that I had a means of controlling the attacks was enough to prevent them recurring.

Also remember that scary as the attacks are, they are not doing you any damage...its a normal bodily function and it will pass.

[jon12355]

My girlfriend recently started getting them after drinking vodka red bulls. She was 20 and started getting them on quite a regular basis even though she never had them before. She is now banned from red bull and the attacks have started reducing thank god!! They were quite scary had to call an ambulance a couple of times.

[jamiesdad]

Astraeus i agree with the others that recommend that you seek proper medical advice

Most panic attacks have an underlying cause Eg stress emotional upset etc. and at 21 you are quite young and if they have just come "out of the blue" you should defiantly go speak to your doctor

Apart from the aforementioned hyperventilation (which as often as not is a symptom of something else as a condition itself)
there are other condition that fit your symptoms but as offering diagnosis' is against forum rules (I think) i will not do so

But I will say this Go visit your gp

Cheers

[hopeless]

it might be worth mentioning, try to avoid stimulants like caffeine, cigerettes etc, a couple of hours before bed

all the best

[unique]

MOD COMMENT


as others have pointed out, you should seek professional medical advice, which is the standard reply in these cases