Does this happen to anyone else with panic attack/anxiety? Please read

[Nicole0814]

Hi all! I posted this on another forum but didn’t get many responses so hoping for some help here. Does anyone have sudden onset of dizziness and blurred vision as the first part of panic attack? I did Friday and I am freaking out because usually you get dizzy/vision changes due to hyperventilating but I wasn’t. I was so scared I was passing out. My first symptoms were dizzy/blurred vision and then I felt the heartbeat increase, shaking, etc. I had to walk away (felt so off balance) to calm down and it took a bit before I could go back to what I was doing. I was at a high school football game. This has happened a few times. Anyone else experience this?

 

[Phillies Phan]

Absolutely. When I get a panic attack, first my vision becomes totally blurry and I’m dizzy to the extent I have to be seated. I remember once I tried to get up and move to the couch and I fell. I also break out in a sweat. Lasts 5-10 minutes or so.

 

[Nicole0814]

Absolutely. When I get a panic attack, first my vision becomes totally blurry and I’m dizzy to the extent I have to be seated. I remember once I tried to get up and move to the couch and I fell. I also break out in a sweat. Lasts 5-10 minutes or so.

This is reassuring but sorry you deal with the same. I was seated and felt like I was going to fall over or pass out. Then I thought “I need to escape” so I got up and somehow made it to the bathroom to try to get it to stop. It got a little better but as soon as I walked back out towards the bleachers I started feeling dizzy again so I had to sit down by the gate. I of course was thinking what if it’s a stroke and then I panicked more ughhh it stinks

 

[Jonathan123]

Hi Nicole. Oh yes, classic panic attack. All the symptoms you describe are pure panic. Now to tell you it is all completely harmless may not help, but it is. This is all fear based. Now what is your immediate reaction when you feel panic coming? You panic because you are panicking. Right? This increases the flow of adrenaline, the fear hormone, and so you begin to get all the symptoms you describe. First of all adrenaline has a limited life, so it will eventually die down. But it can be prolonged by giving so much attention to it. But who would not give attention to shaking, heart racing. breathless, feeling as if you will pass out? In all my years of experience with anxiety sufferers I have never heard of anyone actually passing out. You may think you will but you wont. When you feel it coming, stop, stand your ground and let all the feelings pass over you with utter acceptance. No, 'oh my god' or 'what if'.
No running away from 'IT'. If you do that it will die down. maybe slowly but it will.
It takes practice and perseverance to do it. Don't ever fight or struggle with 'IT', that's a battle you can never win. Eventually, even though the symptoms may be there, THEY WILL NO LONGER MATTER!

 

[MATD]

What Jonathan said.

 

[Nicole0814]

Hi Nicole. Oh yes, classic panic attack. All the symptoms you describe are pure panic. Now to tell you it is all completely harmless may not help, but it is. This is all fear based. Now what is your immediate reaction when you feel panic coming? You panic because you are panicking. Right? This increases the flow of adrenaline, the fear hormone, and so you begin to get all the symptoms you describe. First of all adrenaline has a limited life, so it will eventually die down. But it can be prolonged by giving so much attention to it. But who would not give attention to shaking, heart racing. breathless, feeling as if you will pass out? In all my years of experience with anxiety sufferers I have never heard of anyone actually passing out. You may think you will but you wont. When you feel it coming, stop, stand your ground and let all the feelings pass over you with utter acceptance. No, 'oh my god' or 'what if'.
No running away from 'IT'. If you do that it will die down. maybe slowly but it will.
It takes practice and perseverance to do it. Don't ever fight or struggle with 'IT', that's a battle you can never win. Eventually, even though the symptoms may be there, THEY WILL NO LONGER MATTER!

So, it starting with the dizziness and blurred vision is normal for some? I know the shakiness and increased heart rate but I was so scared because I was just sitting there and BAM my vision is blurry and dizzy. I appreciate your response so much! I have been dealing with anxiety for years and I know not to fight it but sometimes it’s hard! I had my panic and anxiety under control for years and then the last year it’s back

 

[Jonathan123]

Yes Nicole, perfectly normal, and not just for some. I would suggest that blurred vision and dizziness are classic panic symptoms. The eyes are very delicate instruments and can be badly affected by stress. It's often the case that an anxiety sufferer will go from one optician to another to get correct glasses, when the problem lies in anxiety only.
As I said before. Let it come. It won't kill you. But no fighting or struggling to 'get rid of 'IT''. Having setbacks in anxiety is, once again, normal. It's then we may despair. 'Oh God, will in never go?' If you use the same techniques you used before you will know how to come out of setbacks. Understanding is such a powerful tool in anxiety. We always fear the unknown, and when anxiety strikes for the first time we are lost because we have no understanding of it. The more we learn about it the better.

 

[Nicole0814]

Yes Nicole, perfectly normal, and not just for some. I would suggest that blurred vision and dizziness are classic panic symptoms. The eyes are very delicate instruments and can be badly affected by stress. It's often the case that an anxiety sufferer will go from one optician to another to get correct glasses, when the problem lies in anxiety only.
As I said before. Let it come. It won't kill you. But no fighting or struggling to 'get rid of 'IT''. Having setbacks in anxiety is, once again, normal. It's then we may despair. 'Oh God, will in never go?' If you use the same techniques you used before you will know how to come out of setbacks. Understanding is such a powerful tool in anxiety. We always fear the unknown, and when anxiety strikes for the first time we are lost because we have no understanding of it. The more we learn about it the better.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and respond. It means a lot! I appreciate it

 

[gadamsgrega2]

yea the dizzy thing is common... it's cause cause you don't get enough oxygen to the brain... How is your breathing? Shallow or a nice full breath each time? If you can't get that nice full breath than that's what causes that.. the shortness of breath is also anxiety symptoms... harmless too though.

 

[Nicole0814]

yea the dizzy thing is common... it's cause cause you don't get enough oxygen to the brain... How is your breathing? Shallow or a nice full breath each time? If you can't get that nice full breath than that's what causes that.. the shortness of breath is also anxiety symptoms... harmless too though.

No, I will be breathing fine just calm as can be and the dizziness hits out of nowhere. That’s why I was concerned because I wasn’t hyperventilating or anything

 

[Doug97]

Do you get any tinnitus? Ringing in the ears or any other ear problem?

 

[avocado]

No, I will be breathing fine just calm as can be and the dizziness hits out of nowhere. That’s why I was concerned because I wasn’t hyperventilating or anything

Sometimes you might not be hyperventilating but you could have still been holding your breath. Even being really tense can lower your oxygen levels. Also it’s not just oxygen, anxiety can affect your blood pressure which could also make you feel dizzy.