Woke up in the middle of the night with a major panic attack. Hadn’t had one in quite a while so I honestly thought I was dying. It built up slowly and my ears started to ring. Then my heart began to race and I had a hard time breathing. Then I felt like I was going crazy. My bp went up and I got up to go get some magnesium to calm down. My whole body was shaking. After about 45 min I finally calmed down enough to lay down and try to sleep but still feel nervous. I’m wondering how I’m going to be able to function tomorrow and what even triggered this. Anyone want to describe their panic attacks. The feeling of going crazy is the worst part of it.
Panic attack
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gadamsgrega2
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that's the thing about anxiety... it can come about for "absolutely no reason" sometimes... I got that same thing that happened beginning of Feb... heart was racing and I had to urinate excessively.. I felt hot, dizzy a little... it was scary... Sadly, this is anxiety that you had... What's your age/sex?
Female 63
gadamsgrega2
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Male/46.... and given the fact that you just recently dealt with a close relative (your father) passing... that would cause those thoughts... You may perhaps also imagine sad scenarios or that you may lose another loved one... That same stuff happened to me after my dad passed... I kept thinking I would lose someone else in the near term... but they were all fine...
Hurt&Hopeful
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Yes, absolutely! These are called 'intrusive thoughts' and they're very common. And no, it does NOT mean you're going crazy or that you're any more likely to do whatever comes into your head. Meditation is one of the best things for intrusive thoughts, but also something to talk about with your doctor. High stress can make them worse.
On panic attacks: My severe panic attacks don't come as often anymore - I'm female, 41. But I had one about a week ago while traveling. I got the shortness of breath, ears ringing, heart racing... And then it's like I get tunnel vision. L
And the tunnel just starts to close in and get smaller and smaller - there have been times in the past when I blacked out,but that was during an extremely stressful and traumatic time. I was also living overseas at the time, and I would get disoriented and lose my ability to speak the local language temporarily. It was very scary at the time, but knowing more about the body, panic attacks, and PTSD, I understand it more now. These days, they are nothing like that - just sweating, heart racing, and the feeling that the room is closing in. I will usually start shaking after and shake until it all gets out of my system.
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I've definitely have had these thoughts during times when I felt anxiety or was having an anxiety attack. Sometimes I would picture jumping up and destroying everything in the room with a baseball bat or that somehow my teeth were going to shatter in my mouth. Strange stuff that I didn't want to be thinking about but would pop up in my mind.
I have definitely had the same exact thing happen to me as well. When they first started happening I didn't understand or know why and it was super super scary. I would just randomly wake up and then start to feel very scared, my heart would race, my hands and feet would get super sweaty, I would have to pee like every 2 minutes. There was a period where I was so scared to fall asleep for fear that I would have another panic attack that I didn't sleep for almost 48 hours. Finally broke down and went to the ER where they gave me something to calm down/sleep. Now that anxiety/panic and I are better acquainted, I'm able to usually stop the panic attack before it happens or if I do get one it goes away pretty quickly. Once I start shaking that's when I know it's over because it's a signal that the adrenaline has left my body. After the panic attack subsides I'll put on the office of something funny to get my mind off of the fear and then go back to sleep. During a panic attack I find it useful to do 4-7-8 breathing as well as telling myself that it's temporary and that it will go away eventually. Lying on your stomach with a pillow supporting your shoulders and chest with another pillow to support your forehead is also a good way to calm down as it's a great yoga pose that helps calm the central nervous system. Don't worry you're not going crazy. Fear is actually a good thing when there is actually something to be fearful of as it's your body's way of protecting you. Have you gone through any big changes in life or have anything stressful going on? Mine started happening when I quit my job of 8+ years to go back to school and change careers. My partner also moved to another state for school, so I was going through a pretty stressful time. I don't think conciously I realized how stressed and scared I was, but my subconscious definitely knew.
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Absolutely have a very stressful job. Have had some pretty serious family issues that have come up over the last 2 years. Also just lost my father last Sunday. I noticed it getting really bad about the time the family issues started. While at work I experienced an episode of everything closing in and thought I was going to pass out, this came from nowhere. After CAT scans and stress test there was never a cause found . That’s when I started to realize that my anxiety was getting out of control. Went to my GP he wanted to start me on lexapro but I was reluctant to try it as I was completely against meds. Thought I could control it by diet , exercise etc. that didn’t work. The intrusive thoughts began Christmas Eve. That thought was I would just be better off dead . This threw me into a complete panic as I’ve never had any thoughts like that before. The next one happened late January on a Saturday going to work . As I was crossing a bridge the thought was to just pull over and throw myself off the bridge. That was the last straw I went back to my GP . Started lexapro 5 weeks ago tomorrow. I can say for certain that I’m a little more calm and the anxiety is not as intense but is still there at times. I still have the thoughts but I think they’re just part of my anxiety. My therapist seems to think so as well. Didn’t really mean to throw all this out there but sometimes you just need to air things out .
Hurt&Hopeful
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So glad you DID air it out! I've been there, too - I think most of us have. The intrusive thoughts are really scary, but they are just thoughts. It doesn't mean you are suicidal, though you did the right thing by getting some help before it went that direction. I also don't love meds, but I'm also on Lexapro, and I haven't had side effects (past the first couple of weeks). And being on it now doesn't mean you will be on it forever, right? You're taking care of your mental health now during a particularly hard time, and you will deal with the future when it comes.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
You really are going through a lot. You're not alone!I'm a new member and am hoping this will help me. I lost my first husband 19 years ago after married for 32 years. Married second husband 10 yrs ago. He got Parkinson's and I took care of him for 5 years. Put him in for respite care for 5 days and he passed away 18 days later at Hospice. Lost my best fiend 3 months prior to that to cancer we were friends for 40 years. After my 2nd husband pasted I kept busy for a year to cope with his lose. Winter came and did not have much to keep me busy. Panic attacks started 3 months ago. Thought I was dying been to ER twice had all the heart tests everything great. I am on citalopram only 5mg. Seemed to help after a week but now when i lay down to sleep my heart will race and I can hear my heartbeat in my right ear. This is driving me crazy and am unable to sleep. Been to my GP several times and therapist also. I do think the meds are part of the problem did not want to take but the panic attacks got worse. The anxiety has caused my BP to go up something I have never had before the anxiety issue. I'm at a lose as to what to do next.
Hurt&Hopeful
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You have really been through it - I am so sorry for your losses. It makes sense that you would struggle. I have had panic attacks since childhood, but it's not uncommon for them to come on suddenly at any age or life stage, especially after a trauma. I can only say that it can get better - there is help and treatment. The citalopram can take a while to work, so give it time. But therapy will be most important for the attacks. Hang in there!
Lanchparty7
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I had a mini meltdown/anxiety attack here at work this morning. Doing a bit better now but still feeling incredibly anxious. Hoping to get an emergency appt with my therapist because my next one isn’t until the 25th.
Lanchparty7
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Two days later and I am far worse today. Luckily, my therapist did have an appt today but I am not sure that will help at this point. I am terrified of the idea of walking into a hospital but I think I may be forced to sooner than later as I can’t take this overwhelming fear and anxiety anymore.