Is this 'normal' in a panic attack?

Hi gemchicken,

The feelings that you have and the questions that you're asking here and in your other post are quite common with panic attacks - The body and mind are in emergency mode - ready for fight or flight, it's as if your body is getting ready for expending a lot of energy. It's the body's natural, instinctive response to a perceived threat.

People experiencing panic attacks often wonder if they're losing control or going mad - It's actually just that your unconscious mind is taking control, to make you act quickly and so things are managed safely in a different way.

If you haven't already I think you'll really benefit from the Panic Attacks website which explains some of the questions you've asked and gives advice on how to feel calmer in those challenging situations.

Best wishes.

Hey there gemchicken i know how u feel i have suffered fo 5 years now and i dont stay on my own for more than an hour and that freaks me out but u hang in there its good that u r trying to tackle it on ur own good on u but remember ur friends and famiy love u and wont mind helping u when u need the support its is scarey when ur on ur own all the best and take care big hugs .annette

Thanks Michael and Annette for replying! I know my family don't mind sitting with me to get through a panic attack, but I don't get them at home as I honestly feel that I am relaxed there. I get them at Uni/Work and I keep thinking that its unfair to rely on other people to calm me down when they have other important things to do, I don't know if this is a self confidence issue or just me not thinking straight when its happening. I am so determined NOT to let these runi my life, just sometimes I don't know how to change things. I am studying Psychology and some issues do come up but a like I say, when I am having a panic attack it's like I just can't think, and so I can't put them into practice! I'm hoping one day I WILL be normal and this will be a thing of the past, then maybe I can even help people in this situation (you never know stranger things have happened!) anyway I hope you are all ok, and Annette, keep trying hunny, we'll both get there in the end, big hugs to you too, Gem x

Hi gemchicken

Funny how we sometimes find it hard to ask for help!

I keep thinking that its unfair to rely on other people to calm me down when they have other important things to do

Now if one of YOUR friends asked you to help them through a panic attack, wouldn't you just rush to do it, very happy to be able to help? Don't you think your friends might LIKE to help you? It gives them a chance to do something really great for you!

Kathleen

Hi gemchicken,

When I read your post I was glad that someone feels the same of me. I hate having panic attacks in school because all the teachers find out and ask me how I am and stuff and make wrong assumptions. I have a hundred fears about having them in school, all to do with what others think. What if they think I'm crazy? What if they think I'm attention-seeking? What if they all talk about me? What if they think I'm being a nuisance? The list goes on! But really, all that matters in the moment is YOU and how YOU feel. No one else. If you think about them all, you'll only panic more.

What I do when I have an attack is completely slow myself down. Jump out my body and look at myself. Challenge the panic attack. Ask it questions. If I can just remember to say to myself "I am having a panic attack, now what can I do to help me calm down?" I can think about what I can do. Breathing and distraction are usually my first ports of call when it comes to an attack. To combat shaking and restlessness and general nosy people looking at me, I go for a walk whenever possible. Though my therapist swears again this? lol. What if you asked some of your friends if they would help you through a panic attack if it were to happen? If they mind? You could even have a list of their phone numbers (ask them first!) to call to help calm you down. That way you could tackle the having them alone issue. I do really think though that you could do with some help about this. You don't want to have panic attacks forever, and using someone as a safety net could serve to prolong them. Have you had any therapy?

I, like you, get very flustered when I have an attack. I remember I sat down in a lecture and I have having really bad intestinal spasms and I had a huge panic attack and that feeling of trying to get out before it starts is so horrible. I remember stepping on peoples toes and stuff to get out! This is a normal symptom of anxiety. your mind clears - You don't want to THINK about being eaten by a bear you just want to run away. You don't need to think to run away, lol.

Hi Kathleen and Junglemonkey,

I understand what you're saying about my friends wanting to help me, but I feel, when I'm at uni, especially when I'm under pressure with exams or coursework, they seem to be happening so much more, and it would be like I'd NEED someone with me all the time, and thats what I don't think is fair on them!

I need to beat this myself only I don't know how to go about it, I also don't really like asking for help as I feel there are other people who deserve the help more than me. I mean, I feel as though panic attacks are caused by me, as though I maybe think about things too much or worry too much which may bring them on, so therefore only I can stop mine, or does that sound really daft?

Thank you for replying though and I hope everyone is well
Take care
Luv
Gem
x

PS Sorry if this post doesn't make much sense, I'm not well at the moment and my brain isnt working as good!

Well' it's not surprising that your stress increases at exam time, gemchicken! However, things could ease up if you KNEW you had someone to call on and wouldn't have to deal with it all yourself. This knowledge would be so helpful to you, that you would be LESS likely to have an attack, so you certainly wouldn't need it all the time.

I often hear the same comment you made "other people deserve the help more than me". The thing is, your friends aren't at that moment rushing to help some more deserving person, are they? So they could just as well help you!

It may be true that you think about things too much - and we know that too much rumination causes stress and depression (you have read the Depression Learning Path haven't you?). So another way to take action for yourself would be to cut down the time you spend thinking about the problems you have. Set yourself a time, and a time limit (15 mins max) every day to think about it. During your 15 mins, write down all your negative thoughts. When time's up, stop. If you find yourself drifting back to ruminating during the rest of the day, just stop again, and remind yourself that you've done that for today, so you don't need to do any more. It works!

Kathleen

I am really glad that I stumbled across this site.

I am not sure if I am having panic attacks, but my symptoms sound very similar to Gemchickens. It first happened for no apparant reason (other than I was feeling a little run down after a cold), my heart started to race, and I thought I was going to pass out. The trouble is I now associate the shop this happened in with this awful feeling, so although I do still go there I still get that dry throat and feeling of not quite being there.

It's good to know your not alone!

Hi Issy - we're glad you stumbled across it too!

Your experience is really common - associating the PLACE where it happened with WHAT happened, and then feeling worried about such PLACES - as if it was the place that caused it!

But of course it isn't the place!

Have you had a look at the Panic Attacks course?

It's free!

Keep posting with us!

Kathleen

Hiya!

Thanks for the advice Kathleen, I think I will try and take some time in the day to write down all my worries, then do what you say and when I find myself thinking about things, try and stop myself. I think maybe if I'm busy too, it takes my mind of things, at the moment I'm on holidays from Uni and so much time to do so little in really gets to me! When I go back, hopefully I will start feeling better especially as there are no exams for a while (I found out I passed the first year by the way..a 2.1 am so happy and much less stressed now! ) Also I'm studying Psychology, believe it or not, a panic attack sufferer studying that, so I feel as though I should be able to find some way to help myself.

I know what you mean about my friends not rushing to help other people so they can help me, I just feel with us all having exams it would be unfair or selfish for me to take up their time! At least when I go back everyone should be more relaxed!

Anyway I'd better go don't want to ramble on too much, thank you for your help and Issy, welcome to the boards, I hope you're feeling ok right now, you can pm me anytime or msn me and I'm always willing to lend an ear!

Hope everyone is well and happy,
Take care
Gem
x