What does a panic attack feel like for you?

[[Ca...]]

I posted this before but in the wrong forum... Basically wondering what a panic attack feels like for y'all. I havnt had one in w/d (or maybe I have but it was back when I did my CT.. Basically it's been a year)....my chest gets heavy & burns in an icy hot way... My legs cramp up & buckle & spasm. I feel like I can't focus on anything but the attack & breathing is hard... Yet my heart rate doesn't go up too much. I took a cold shower the other night & it made the muscle cramping stop & the feeling like I wanted to rip out of my body lessened... The actual attack lasted maybe 30 mins but it took hours to recover then the whole next 2 days- as well as waking up on the 2nd morning w/ terrible cramping to the point I couldn't walk & my body just spasmed until I could get to the cold shower- then I was fine. This is all new symptoms for me. Would love to hear feedback. It's hard to believe a few months ago I was feeling 75% :/

[Guest [jc...]]

For me, the panic attack entails my heart racing, hyperventilation, dizziness, disorientation, d/r, d/p and a feeling like I am going to lose control....a really intense fear that I am losing my mind and everything is spinning out of control.  I've learned how to get through them somewhat with floating and breathing techniques.

[[Cl...]]

I had 2 horrible panic attacks when i went cold turkey on alprozalam, by then i did not know  they were due to w/d. I am not able to go to supermarkets for many years due to my anxiety but twice i felt brave and went very early on a sunday on my own the first time that experienced a horrid panic attack. I was already in a supermarket parking, after paying, when i realized that a big liquid soap bottle was missing by then i was very anxious...i mean, did all the shopping, long wait for paying, animically exhausted...the soap missing!!!, to go again into the supermarket! Nooo! But i did! once inside the cashier girl sent to me to find an office and i was on my way there when suddenly i lost the control of my body and mind and fall suddenly to the floor secreaming like crarzy, completely on the floor, even my head, moving my arms secreaming "you are stealing me!!!, so stupid of me to believe in you!"..then people around me triying to help and i shoutting "do not touch me! You will steal everything from me!, they called an ambulance but when the doctor arrived i was a little bit more calmed, something like 15 min i was inside the ambulance, they gave me one pill...and went very happy driving home. The second time, few weeks after, i went with my mother to other supermarket, once inside i could not manage my anxiety, gave my Mum the list of what i was going to buy, the money to pay and wait for her outside. But my Mum stay in there for so loooong and me calling her and she never heard the ringing of her cel, i was exasperated was on my way inside...my Mum was already going out with two supermarket cars, por my Mum...there were so many people at the door that i went crazy again, at last i managed to take the heavier car and started to cry silently first and then screaming crying, ayyyyyy, on the way to my car, my Mum very scared, shoutting and screaming put all the shopping in my car and once inside i screamed louder, my Mum had to hit me on my face, she call her doctor to go to her home and stopped a taxi, and i do nor know how but instead of taking the keys out i put the car on and i crashed the back of my car with a lot of empty supermarket cars. Fortunately my Mum was already out speaking with the taxi driver, my Dad and the doctor arrived, but very soon after the crash i was very Wellington again...in both cases it was like outbursts after a short period of extreme stress...after the outbursts i feel so WELL so happy, so relaxed. Very strange taking into account that i have a very stressful job, perhaps i enjoy my work and haré supermarkets.

Best wishes for you, i hope you never have these panic attacks i had!...apart from the felling afterwards...

[Guest [jc...]]

Wow Clona, that sounds really intense!

[[be...]]

Super duper anxiety and the feeling that I am having a heart attack. I also felt that my heart would pound out of my chest.

[[Cl...]]

Yes JC! Since then i dont do supermarkets, my Mum and my friends do it for me...it is funny that when abroad, i have to travel due to my work, i can go to supermarkets and i go very happy! Take an hour to buy just a refreshment!

[Guest [jc...]]

Interesting, Clona.....for me the idea of getting into an airplane makes me very anxious.

[[Ca...]]

My attacks seem so different from others...

[[Bu...]]

Funny you should ask that question.  My husband ask me what panic attacks felt like.  I said, it's like when you are driving along minding your own business and somebody comes out of no where and cuts you off.  Heart pounds, adrenalin rushes, fear is overwhelming, knees get weak and for me, I go into a dis-associative state.  Fainting always feels like a possibility too or a heart attack.  What fun!

[[Ca...]]

Sounds about right bunny- except all my muscles cramp & tense up as well. How often do you deal w/ these attacks? Mine have been gone for nearly a year & I didn't have them prior to benzo's (not anxiety).

[Guest [Lu...]]

Just an all encompassing fear of doom, like you have no senses about you whatsoever. You just encountered a bear on a walking trail type feeling. Lol.

[[pa...]]

It's as if your body is responding to an imminent danger which doesn't exist.  The most overwhelming sense of dread coming over you very suddenly.  As if you're walking down the street and you see a car run off the road, coming straight for you.  You think, "OMG this is it!!!"  But there is no car, there is no sidewalk, there is no road.  You're completely out of harms way.  You are in no immediate danger, but something clicks off in your mind to REACT!  You only have a split second!  The air gets heavy, you become disoriented as this surge of adrenaline pumps through your body.  Your palms began to shake, you become light headed & sweaty.  You begin to feel like you're gasping for air.  "OMG forgot how to breath!"  "Oh no!  Gonna pass out!"  Another surge of adrenaline!  You become hyper aware of your surroundings.  Everything has a sharp contrast.  Colors and lights seem vivid & brighter.  Sounds seem louder & clearer.  Like you're a wild animal, your senses began to overcome you in order to assist you in this false danger.  "Have to get out of this situation, RIGHT NOW!"  You start looking around, frantically, you're very uneasy.  Your legs feel like they're about to give.  Then, you make a break for it.  You're outside, in fresh air.  You can suddenly breath again.  Your heart rate goes down.  Your hands are still a bit shakey, but you're beginning to feel calm again.  You're away from it.  You did it.  You saved yourself from the danger which never existed.

[[pa...]]

Yes JC! Since then i dont do supermarkets, my Mum and my friends do it for me...it is funny that when abroad, i have to travel due to my work, i can go to supermarkets and i go very happy! Take an hour to buy just a refreshment!

 

I've always had trouble in supermarkets, as well!  To be honest, any place that has fluorescent lighting.  Don't know what it is about that certain type of lighting that drives me up the wall!

[[Bu...]]

Cadl264, I haven't had a panic attack in a couple of years and thank God, I haven't had any since I started tapering.  Knock-on-wood.  Since tapering I've had the waves of anxiety, that's usually when I start praying and get up and walk around.  Seems to help.  This tapering thing is just hang-on-to-your-britches situation.  It's going to get better. 

[[...]]

For me, the panic attack entails my heart racing, hyperventilation, dizziness, disorientation, d/r, d/p and a feeling like I am going to lose control....a really intense fear that I am losing my mind and everything is spinning out of control.  I've learned how to get through them somewhat with floating and breathing techniques.

 

+1. Im getting them daily now