Is this a panic attack?

[[Ho...]]

I've never had a panic attack before, but yesterday, after going all day with no symptoms, I was almost asleep and half dreaming.  There was an image of a very ordinary man, his face then flashed back and forth to a and from some hell-born demon. Now, I know thats just dreaming, but my eyes immediately shot open and I felt afraid. I tried to swallow, like we normally do when in fear, but I wasn't able to swallow. This somehow triggered me to gasp. My heart rate was out if control.  Like I said, I've never had a panic attack before, so I'm wondering if this sounds familiar to anyone.

[[No...]]

Sounds like it....the key words for me were, impending doom!

 

I had never had them before either until I started my taper. I learned to breathe through them. Very scary yet harmless.

[[Ca...]]

Yes, would love to hear some defining thoughts on panic and anxiety..??

 

[[Su...]]

I've never had a panic attack before, but yesterday, after going all day with no symptoms, I was almost asleep and half dreaming.  There was an image of a very ordinary man, his face then flashed back and forth to a and from some hell-born demon. Now, I know thats just dreaming, but my eyes immediately shot open and I felt afraid. I tried to swallow, like we normally do when in fear, but I wasn't able to swallow. This somehow triggered me to gasp. My heart rate was out if control.  Like I said, I've never had a panic attack before, so I'm wondering if this sounds familiar to anyone.

 

Yup it sure sounds like a panic attack.  So scary and not fun!

Most people with panic attacks experience several of the following symptoms:

"Racing" heart.

Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy.

Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers.

Sense of terror, or impending doom or death.

Feeling sweaty or having chills.

Chest pains.

Breathing difficulties.

Feeling a loss of control.

 

And then, when we're panicking what can happen is that we scare ourselves even more by wondering what the hell is  going on and if I'm having a heart attack.  So it can be really helpful to know some of the symptoms so that we can do some things to try to manage it all.  I usually start by focussing on breathing, slowing it down and trying not to breath too deeply. (don't want to hyperventilate that increases the tingling in the hands and fingers)  Then when the breathing gets a bit better the heart rate may get better as well.

Or you may have other ways of calming yourself.  There is lots of info on-line and reading some stuff before they hit can help.

And having a few methods to try before hand to see how they work.   Just throwing out a few ideas here that have worked for me....

Hope that this symptom becomes more manageable soon.

[[mi...]]

Definitely sounds like a panic attack to me. I can relate to the racing heart rate. That alone suggests a panic attack.