Have you ever called an ambulance because of a panic attack?

Not that I am able to remember, fortunately. Just a bit shaken sometimes, but never worth an ambulance.

 

I've never had to, but one of my siblings did. She didn't realize it was an anxiety attack because it was the first time she'd experienced one. She thought she was having a heart attack or some kind of asthma attack and she was at work at the time, so one of her colleagues called an ambulance for her. It was frightening I think for everyone involved.

 

My husband took me to the hospital the very first time I had a panic attack. I didn't know what was happening and I really did think I was going to have a heart attack and die. I was so scared I even said my goodbyes to my loved ones. When we got to the hospital, the first thing they checked was my heart because I was insisting that it was the problem, and they found absolutely nothing wrong with it. In fact, the doctor told me I was perfectly healthy, only then did I realize that I had just had my first panic attack. I've never had to call an ambulance after that, thank goodness.

 

When I had my initial panic attack I was with my mother and stepdad (thankfully because I don't think that they would have believed my panic attacks unless they saw them happening in the flesh). Their initial response was to take me to the local emergency room. They were ready to take me there because they had no idea what was going on with me. I was in the back seat of a car and my stepdad was trying to take the off ramp to take me to the hospital. Luckily I was able to speak and tell him that I was okay and that I knew it was a panic attack because I had sought treatment for anxiety attacks in the past.

 

My rooomate who has COPD did when he thought he breathing was being affected. One time his O2 was low, but the other times it was not. It was simply anxiety. Of course not being able to breathe would make almost anyone anxious. he takes meds now, to help, with the problem. It seems to be one of the ways he an can talk himself out of the attacks or calling the ambulance. It is simply mind over matter in most cases.

 

Lord a mighty yes. 3 times a year at least.

 

No, because my counselor explained to me what it was before a hospital visit could happen. He told me that all it was, was that I had been shallow breathing. My heart was just pumping faster to get air around the body. All I had to do was take deep breaths and hold them in for a few seconds and let them out again slowly. I tried what he advised me and found it really helps. This means I can deal with the situation myself and don't need to call for help.

 

No this hasn't happened to me thank goodness, when my attacks happen I try to take myself outside of the trigger. My friend on the other hand has called the ambulance several times so I can relate to you doing this @Kosta

 

No, but I did end up at Urgent Care once, and then some emergency doctor's appointments when I truly believed I was dying of one thing or another. I was lucky enough to have a doc at the time who would squeeze me in at the last minute, even though I didn't have a scheduled appointment.

As for the Urgent Care episode, I completely quit eating and drinking because I thought I had a tumor in my throat, wayyy down where nobody could see, including me. The Urgent Care doc simply sent me home with tranquilizers and told me there was nothing growing in my throat. He did check my throat out, and I was sure he would need to scope me or do some other type of invasive procedure....but as usual, I just ended up going home with a prescription for Xanax. My mind can be very convincing....my mind is a scary thing.

 

I
Iwent to a e with what I thought was a heart attack I cud not breath room was spinning my arms n legs shaking I cudnt stand up I was put on a bloody stretcher .it was just a panic attack! I thought I was dying?! Sent home 2/hours later all well bye bye

 

That sounds pretty scary @Jess91 especially if you don't realise what is happening at first.

 

I've never called an ambulance myself because of a panic attack, but other people have called ambulances on me for various reasons and I seriously can't count the number of times I've been hospitalized... It's so frustrating!!