[Closed] Panic attacks

Yes, I have had them intermittently, at least I think that's what they are. Sometimes I wake up in the night and it feels like all the oxygen has been sucked out of the room and I am gasping for air. It scared the hell out of me the first time. I have found for me its mind over matter, but it can be a real fight. First off, I know there IS air in the room. I know what is happening is to some degree an 'illusion' or I would have died from them years before now. I force myself to breath slowly. It its really bad, I open a window, which is only a 'head' trick and not an actual benefit. For me its a matter of waiting it out, knowing that my body will calm down in the end if I can keep my reactions calm and as laid back as possible.

Gets tiring though!

I only have them at night now, the space between relaxing on the sofa and going to bed is when they usually kick off. I think I'm just too busy to notice during the day

I think I'm just too busy to notice during the day

That's the key, it's not that you don't notice it, it actually isn't there at all until you start thinking about it! I attend a lot of panic attacks and coaching breathing, re-assurance and taking the patients mind off it normally works.

Have you seen anyone re techniques to combat them?

l did when I was younger, although I could/should possibly revisit that.

You're right about them not being there during the day though

What actually happens during yours?

I used to get them badly. They are mostly controlled by diet and exercise, and not getting drunk is important too, I get really bad panic attacks the day after. I just try to listen to what my body wants to eat, and make sure I get out on the bike every day.

I get the same kind of thing as midnighthour and find opening the window, saying to myself ' ok I'm having a panic attack, just be calm' helps to get a grip of it. Then I try to think of some completely random but happy thing that completely diverts my mind to something else. I'm never sure what I'm panicking about when I get mine but I also am prone to them when booze has been involved at some point. Deep breaths and ultra happy/random thoughts get me through.

Lying here now, stomach is a big knot, can't sleep, but soooo tired, had the thoughts of 'god I'm having a heart attack' and hyperventillating.

I hate the few days that this gets the better of me! gah!

GP ?

Hey
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is, I think though INAD, the current weapon of choice for dealing with these things. It makes you sort of....talk yourself out of them before they happen. But then it's used for specific triggering activities/events/actions and it doesn't sound like yours is, it sounds like you get to the end of the day and your body melts down when it finally stops.
I'd second asking a GP for help. If nothing else, you must be absolutely knackered.

my g/f suffers terribly with panic attacks.. a combination of meditation, medication and often massive change of routine helps..

I think the breathing exercises of meditation and yoga are the best quick fix short term help though..

Not sure if it's the same thing but I get them sometime on my commute on the train - I get very irrational and panicky about being closed in with lots of people around me. Gradually getting worse and horrible.

It's all sweet again. Much better at dealing with this than I was 10 year ago, just now and then, I get a few days worth, usually after working too long, being poorly etc, which yesterday, I was both,

Cheers for your support all
x

Oh bugger.!

Yup, citalopram and waiting for cbt. I generally avoid situations which may bring them on - Crowds, unfamiliar people etc.

Tbh I think it is the anticipation that I could put myself in a situation where I could gave one that brings on the butterflies and knots rather than the actual situation itself.

They have pretty much killed my social life but I'm not too bothered with going to bars and stuff anyway so I'm not really bothered.

My last one happened in Bognor of all places about 18 months ago and it was the worst one I'd had, wiped me out for days and left a bit of a psychological scar even now.

Throw the microwave through the window, or saw/hammer something to bits. very helpful, works for me. Possibly not very helpful for you though.

Hmm, that came across as a bit glib, sorry. When I first left the army I was diagnosed with ptsd, cos I had panic attacks, over the years I've been diagnosed as being bi-polar and having a dis-associative disorder. However the panic attacks have remained a constant companion.

For me, the panic attacks seem to be the result of being agitated generally, which maifest itself in me getting really stressed about doing, well almost anything at all sometimes.

The way I've dealt with it recently after twenty years of being as mad as a bag of snakes, is through mindfulness CBT, which is a combination of relaxation / breathing techniques and cbt, seems to work for me. I Still get panic attacks, depressive / manic episodes and whole days where either I do stuff I can't remember or can quite clearly remember doing stuff that on reflection and conversation with friends, I in fact didn't. The Mcbt, does make the panic attacks manageable though.

Good Luck with 'em anyway 🙂

only once, in winter, when in a sleeping bag liner, which was in a sleeping bag, which was in a bivi bag, in a small tent. I suddenly had a massive panic attack trying to fight my way out of all that shit, all zipped up, drawcords pulled in etc etc. I couldn't get out fast enough, the more I lost it, the more I got all wrapped up. It probably only lasted 20 seconds, but I will never forget it, I felt like I was drowning.

When I was at uni 2 years ago (took a placement year, going back in a couple of weeks), my gf's housemate used to have regular panic attacks, compounded by asthma (which I suffer from). She called me several times in the middle of the night in the middle of a panick attack, I went over and just calmed her down, provided company and a safe surrounding, I think thats one of the main things to subdue an attack, calm the person down and reassurance. This was just my approach though, others may differ. (I'm a little pished so apologise for any speoling mistooks) 🙂

Yep citalopram here, 10mg a day for the last 2 years! I get bad anxiety which if bad enough manifests into a panic attack. Anxiety/panic is a terrible feeling which most that havent experienced cannot relate to.

How do i deal with them? Well the citalopram generally keeps them at bay but i always carry xanex (sorta like diazepam) in my wallet which i can take to stop them and that psychologically stops me from having anxiety over having anxiety!

Well. It's that time of day again! 🙁

I've had a couple in the past, not nice. The positive thing is, I've managed to help people at work having a panic attack.

Had the odd one in social situations - really, truly unpleasant - had to just wander off into the night hyperventilating and make excuses later.

If you're having them just sitting by yourself at night, perhaps a brisk walk (sounds Victorian I know) at the point in the evening when you know it's likely to happen might help? And yes, visit the doctor.

I had quite acute ones a couple of years ago.

Not a nice feeling.

Over the last two years I have suffered from mild anxiety, which has been "cured" by prozac and counselling.

Not sure which was worse, the acute attacks or the prolonged "mild" anxiety attacks.

My only advice is go and see your GP as either end of the spectrum is not pleasant at all and there are cures out there.

It's that time of day again

If they follow a pattern like that, then I would have thought that should make it much easier to deal with/find a solution.....if you know what to do of course !

I reckon professional advice is your best long term solution. Speak to a sympathetic GP who should point you in the right direction.

Short term, keep reminding yourself that they don't last, it will pass, and you won't always feel like that.
All of which is of course, completely true. Good luck.

I had one just before an interview at Southampton University in March.

First one I've had in a few years, but I get anxious before occasions like weddings for some reason.

Cheers all.