Can we talk about Panic Attacks please? ?

Hello. I had some panic attacks soon after I was widowed. There was so much to do, and I had huge issues selling my house. Several times I just seized up and couldn't move. Heart racing, feeling sick and dizzy, difficult to breathe. I can feel when I am starting to lose control and now I have ways to calm myself down. The main thing I use is classical music - just turn on Radio 3 and sit down, close eyes and listen. If my breathing speeds up, I breathe in and out of a paper bag (always have one in my handbag...) I did go to GP and was given beta blockers for a while. They did work to calm me down (zoned me out completely, nothing was a worry..) but interrupted my sleep and made me feel like a zombie, so I weaned myself off them and don't take anything now apart from camomile tea.

Thank you Dempie
I didn’t think of classical music;
I’ll remember that.

I haven't had any myself, but I have taught children who have. I used to tell them to breathe in for a count of seven and out for eleven. That helped them regulate their breathing. I would ask them to think about five things they could see, hear, touch. That helped distract. I would repeat as often as was necessary. I hope that helps

It was really really severe.
I thought that I was having a nervous breakdown.

It lasted nearly three hours.
If it had gone on much longer I’d have called 999.
I packed my bag ready as soon as it started as I knew that something awful was about to happen.

The GP came out to see me yesterday to check me over.
I’ve got very high blood pressure (I don’t usually) I’ve got to check it twice a day and get back to them.
I’ve also got to have blood tests.

If it happens again the GP said ring 999.
He also said that I’ll be referred to a neurologist.

Sorry to hear that FC.
Are you on medication for your high BP? I don’t think I have ever had a panic attack, so can’t help you there, but I suffer from anxiety. I get anxious about anything and everything. When I feel my anxiety levels are soaring, I go down, make a hot cup or tea, take it upstairs and ask Alexa to play me the sounds of the Rainforest, or some soothing music.

Oh Fanny I feel for you. Isn't it frightening? I won't make this about me but it may be of help to know you are not alone. I've had them for years, thinking I'm going mad on occasion.
I think your GP will help by the sound of things. About two years ago I found myself in the GP's office shaking and crying with my BP through the roof and my heart rate soaring. I haven't been given anything that helped me but your GP sounds more interested. Wishing you luck.

Bad luck FC.
My son had one a few years ago, and he said he genuinely thought it was a heart attack and that his wife would come home and find him dead. He did call 999.

I had my first panic attack yesterday morning when I heard of the death of another friend hence my meltdown over my GP surgery .I had another while I was with the GP who was very kind and helpful.
I had a third while speaking to my daughter on the phone and my breathing problems caused her to call her Dad and get him to come home .
I hope I never have another again ,it was scary.I know whats causing them so I have to deal with it in a different way than I was,
I hope you can find the cause and an answer to put an end to yours,its a horrible experience
.For the first time in my life I'll accept that staying strong isn't the answer and finding someone who isn't too close to you to talk things over with or even screaming at the moon might be better .
My very best wishes for you

Hi H
It’s the first time that my bp has been high, in fact I need to test it myself soon.
I’ve had Generalised Anxiety Disorder all my life; but I’ve never experienced anything like what happened on Saturday.
I’m finding it quite hard to talk about and describe.
It was really physical, like I had lost control of my body. Which I had.
My arms and hands were leaping about and my head kept jerking backwards. And my shoulders were going up and down, sort of rolling.
All of my muscles were really, really tense.
The only thing that I can compare it to is things that some people with Tourette’s do; or the tics that some people with ASC have - only more so.
It was bonkers.

Thank you Lucca, Kate and Paddyanne, I was typing when you replied.
I’ll read your posts now

It's awful. I too suffer from general anxiety due to life events.
Yes it sometimes feels with these things it's as though your body takes on a life of its own.
Last week I was at the theatre with my daughter which should have been lovely. I started to have a panic. She handed me a drink at the interval. My hand started to shake violently. My.drink went all over my dress, coat, the floor. It was horrendous. My poor daughter having such a mother.

Has the GP prescribed you anything? They usually give you beta blockers so that when you feel one coming on or heart racing type stuff you can take one and it takes the edge off.

I think one thing to remember is to close your mouth and only breath through your nose.

You are bound to be shaken. They really are quite awful and I sympathise with everyone on here who has them

It sounds so horrible FannyC, I’ve never had a panic attack thank goodness but when I was suffering from severe anxiety, my DD showed me one that they use for anxious children. Very similar to Grandmabatty’s. It’s simply using the fingers of one hand and running your finger up each finger in turn and down the other side, breathing in to a count of five as you go up and out to a count of five as you go down. Changing hands so that you do it ten times. After a while I found I could do it without using my fingers and have occasionally been able to bring it down before having it checked by the doctor.

I resort to it at 3 am sometimes to try to get back to sleep.

I'm so sorry, FC. Panic attacks are horrible and yours sounds particularly unpleasant.
I used to have them, following the break up of my relationship and would always happen where there were lots of people and noise, like supermarkets for instance. I couldn't breathe, sweat profusely and had chest pains and simply had to get outside as soon as possible. I really thought I was going to die.
Eventually I had cognitive therapy for six months, in a group, and learned about how to breathe properly and relax and tell myself that this would not kill me. And it worked eventually.
I rarely get them now.
I do wish you all the best and hope you never have one again.

P.S And I was prescribed an anti-depressant which I took for about eighteen months.

That sounds very distressing Fanny. I am also a very anxious person and have had a few panic attacks, but thankfully not for some years, and not as severe as you describe.
To help me control my anxiety I learned to meditate some years ago, and attend a group regularly.
It has helped me tremendously. It takes a bit of practice, but I am now more aware of unhelpful negative thoughts and how to manage them.
Learning how to breath through an attack is also helpful, and there are some excellent suggestions up thread.
What a good GP you have, seeing you, taking you seriously and referring you.
I hope things improve for you.

Panic attacks are awful FannyC. I feel for you right now. I’ve had them in the past. Not only are they scary in themselves, they make you more frightened because you don’t know (a) how long they will last and (b) how many you will experience. Illness of the mind is terrifying. At least with a broken arm you know it will take ‘x’ number of weeks to heal. No such reassurance with a panic attack.

Time heals.
They will lessen in intensity over time but even then, thinking about them seems to be on the edge of bringing one on.

I’ve been there.

I found putting a radio on to try to distract me helped. Walking with a friend. Having a ‘lucky’ talisman in my pocket - that made me feel ‘safe’ and was a comfort when I reached for it.

I do know that sounds pathetic (and daft) to anyone who hasn’t experienced them.

They make you feel so scared. That’s because you’re not in control (and can’t be). Chatting to people helps, a bit.

I so feel for you and hope the tsunami passes soon. x

A very reassuring and sensitive post Urmston.

Thank you Kate1949.
I found having them helped me to understand the scared feelings others were going through. My reassurances over the years have helped a few fellow sufferers cope better during them and cling to the realisation that they would, in time, fade and go.
They are so totally debilitating.
At the time they are the sole and absolute preoccupation.
It’s hard to describe to anyone really.

Yes you have it exactly.

Fanny I don't have panic attacks but my nephew does and have seen how frightening they can be. He has anxiety attacks and depression but finds routine and work help him cope . He has trouble sleeping he can get to sleep but after a maximum of 4 hours he's awake and can't get back to sleep. He's in his early 30's and suffered since he was a teenager . He has been on various drugs but doesn't really like taking them as they cloud his mind. He finds model making for role playing games helps he . He is a talented artist and brings his models to life.

Hopefully you can get the help you need . ?

I can remember peeling potatoes at the kitchen sink years ago and feeling okay ... then BAM!
Out of nowhere and totally unexpectedly I’d experience another.
Each time I thought ‘oh no’ and was frightened.

I had my first (and only) panic attack abroad. Following a stressful experience, I collapsed, was unable to move, had pins and needles in my legs and my BP was sky high. I was 'blue lighted' to hospital where I had an ECG, blood tests, chest xray and brain scan. All proved to be normal. I recovered within a couple of hours without any treatment. I now try hard to avoid any stressful situations at all costs. It was a terrifying experience...I thought that I was having a stroke.

I’m not going to the theatre or cinema these days but when I did I always had to sit at the end of a row because I needed to be able to get up and leave if my heart started racing. I once booked a seat at the end of a row but I was closed off and I had to get everyone to stand up so I could leave.