Does this sound like a panic attack?

[RainbowsLemonDrop]

I wouldn't say I'm a particularly anxious person but I had my first baby this year and I've been experiencing weird episodes more frequently since her arrival.

I'll get a pain in my chest or head and then I automatically start panicking, then i start to go light headed and then usually get an extremely tight chest/back, then I just have to concentrate on not passing out. I feel horribly anxious during these episodes and afterwards I feel wiped out, light headed and like I just need to lie down. They're really scary.

Even after it passes, I still have a light head and tight chest and feel on edge for the rest of the day/evening!

Does this sound like panic attacks?

Would love to hear anyone else's experience too

Sounds like one to me.
I frequently had yhem after I gave birth.
Worth checking out your not low on iron or something though 🙂

Yes

That sounds more like an anxiety attack to me. X

@neveradullmoment99 I was anaemic during pregnancy, I'll ask for a blood test! Did yours go away eventually?

The tight chest etc feels like such a real physical thing that it makes me think how can it be an anxiety/panic attack? :(

I feel so on edge now I don't want to be alone with my baby in case something happens to me

Sounds very like an anxiety attack. I always felt totally exhausted when I went through a period of having these - totally wiped me out.

Anxiety is physical - it’s not just a feeling in your head, it’s trapped energy held in your body. Did you have a traumatic birth or something that’s triggered the attacks?

Does sound like a panic attack but important to get this properly diagnosed and have a good check up.

Panic attacks can give a lot of different physical symptoms, mine usually manifest as chest pain, racing heart, vomiting/gagging and extreme nausea, diarrhoea, and that god awful feeling in your chest

Yes it sounds like one. Panic attacks are very physical and can make your chest hurt. The description of concentrating on not passing out sounds very much like how I experience panic attacks. I also tend to go very clammy and get a wave of heat/prickling across my whole body. And feel like I can't breathe. They're horrible!

I often feel drained for a long time after a panic attack, sometimes days.

I agree it certainly does sound like a panic attack. Have you experienced and pins and needles in your arms whilst you feel them coming on?

Many of these symptoms can be caused by fast, shallow breathing - a consequence of the building sense of anxiety. But that breathing pattern reinforces the unhelpful emotions and thoughts.

You might like to try five finger breathing. I'm not a HCP, but have had similar issues and it's a technique I find very helpful.

Spread one hand in front of you. Use the pointer finger off the order and to trace slowly up your little finger while you breathe in, paise at the top of the finger, then trace slowly down the other side while you breathe out. Continue for the whole hand, pausing at the top and base of each finger. As your fingers get longer, this slows your breathing down, especially the very long drop from index finger to thumb. You can do this as many times as you like, just make sure you pause.

I also find it helpful, especially if I have to repeat the hand, to widen my awareness so that I notice the way my body is breathing. Is my stomach going out and in? Good. Or am I just using my ribs? In which case, involve my stomach as well. This deepens and slows down the breathing.

@whataballbag I get diarhea too, an intense belly ache followed by sweats then I need to go to the toilet!

@Iwritethissittinginthekitchensink I didn't have a traumatic birth but when my daughter was born she wasn't breathing properly and everyone missed it - including me, she was rushed to neonatal at 8 hours old. She's totally fine now though and thriving so I don't know if that triggered it.

@Moonshine86 not pins and needles but I felt like my face was heavy/going numb today and then my jaw locked. :(

For those who do suffer these attacks too, do they ever go away?

@Dilbertian Thank you ♥️ ive screenshotted that for future reference :)

Sounds like an anxiety attack as described to me by a friend, but could be panic.
I've had panic attacks in the past. Could not breathe, heart pounding, cold sweat. Mine were as the result of a hormone imbalance (a side effect of surgery as my body worked out how to regulate itself after many years of being 'out of kilter ').
I had them for several months, and did pass out once from one.
They stopped, and haven't returned.

I had my very first anxiety attack in October, i couldn't breath, the chest pains, I fainted, the pins and needles down one arm in my hand as well the same hand was cold, I went pale I was having cold sweats I physically thought I was having a heart attack! I rang 111 I sh*t myself never ever experienced this before and went to the gp for bloods done everything was fine with my bloods, but my blood pressure was on the high side which again I've never suffered with high blood pressure even pregnant my blood pressure has always been perfect the doctor just said it could be anxiety just keep a close eye on when I get them 🤦‍♀️ I've not suffered with one since but I do suffer with dizziness like when im stood still it feels like im moving or going to fall it's very strange!

Try and get a GP appointment whilst you are still well enough to do so

Yes, mine were a bit worse. I haven’t had one since having therapy but I used to keel over. Sight was like I was looking down a light tube and hearing like I was underwater.

I've suffered for 18 years with anxiety and panic. It very much sounds like you're experiencing panic, but do see a GP as they can help with this and reassure you it's nothing more sinister.

Check out the below website as it gives some helpful info

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/panic-attacks/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqomemdqp_AIVx_ftCh250wCtEAAYASAAEgIpYfD_BwE