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Please help- panic attack

63 replies

Cosycardigans · 27/09/2023 00:12

Been going on all day. Trouble swallowing, keep catching my breath, light headed. Did some meditation, hasn't really calmed it down. Went to lay in bed and felt worse all of a sudden. I spoke to someone earlier and it calmed it down a bit but then I had to go about my day. Don't know exactly what I'm anxious about. These keep happening out of nowhere. Just desperate for some support.

OP posts:
Cosycardigans · 27/09/2023 09:13

Hey everyone. Thanks so much for making the night less scary. I eventually got to sleep around 4/5am albeit mind still racing. I had calmed down the breathing a bit before then but every time I fell asleep my brain would jolt me awake.
Done the school run and that helped a bit, distracted by conversations. Going to try and rest and catch up with sleep and then I'll call for a GPs appointment.

OP posts:
Cosycardigans · 27/09/2023 09:14

Btw Joanne, did help a bit, thank you

OP posts:
Bingbangbongbash · 27/09/2023 09:35

Well done! You did it - and you can get some support for next time.

Hersecretserviceyourmaj · 27/09/2023 09:46

Great update, well done. Yes, I always found conversations helped ease the breathing because you weren't focused on it. Goid luck with GP and hope you sleep better tonight.

MNetcurtains · 27/09/2023 09:49

I find Bach's Rescue Remedy really helpful. Just a couple of drops under your tongue as and when you need it.

BettyPhuckzer · 27/09/2023 10:17

Cosycardigans · 27/09/2023 09:14

Btw Joanne, did help a bit, thank you

Shes very soothing, I find 💜

Caerulea · 27/09/2023 10:52

Morning 😊, woke up thinking about you. Glad you got a little rest, worth reflecting on the fact you made it through again. Even in the midst of it you can remind yourself it is absolutely always a temporary experience, a horrible one, but always one you come out of. You may go through it again the next day but there's always a moment between & it helped me to remember that.

Hopefully you're having a nap now. For me (and it's always 'for me' cos we all experience this slightly differently) naps during the day don't come with the same jolting panic. Obviously that's not sustainable but worth letting yourself when it's bad like this.

There have been some really good suggestions here, it's worth bearing in mind these are all most effective if you can start them when your mind starts to kick off.

By the time I was fully in the fear & panic stage (shaking, faint etc) I had to take a diazepam, it was the only thing that worked at that point. Didn't use them otherwise, purely for that moment on recommendation from an emergency GP. Yeah. I ended up at A&E dead certain I was about to die lol. Like, I was in the car trying to tell DH I wasn't going to make it there but couldn't speak properly.

So things to do -

Cut out caffeinated coffee if that's a thing for you. Not necessarily forever but for the time being. Tea is OK cos the caffeine is absorbed differently.

Make a note of your absolute comforts. TV show, YouTube channel, food, blanket, smells. Anything at all.

Someone mentioned a cbd vape pen - that's not a bad idea at all. It forces calm breathing. There's nothing in there that will hurt you - the excipients are the same thing as is in theatrical fog.

Find your mindless game. It wants to be something with no timed targets & doesn't require you to think - no puzzle element. Something you can play on autopilot & can put down (fall asleep) any time & it won't affect the game. It wants to be engaging & cute. Ideally you get sleepy while playing & can let the phone just fall out of your hand as you drift off.

Get a 1000 piece jigsaw (I love the Colin Thompson ones). It's super benign & no pressure but requires your focus. If you're short on space, trying doing it on the floor under a rug so you can just pop the rug back over & it's secure.

Breathe in your diaphragm - so your stomach is rising & falling rather than your chest. In through your nose & out thru your mouth. At first don't make them too long as you can feel dizzy & that just makes everything worse.

Speak to your GP today. Be absolutely honest. Let them help you. Don't put off starting what they give you like I did. It will likely be sertraline at 50mg which is a very low dose (I'm still on that & it works for me).

For the first little while (maybe 4 weeks) you might get physical symptoms but it won't make the panic worse, it might just feel unchanged. It's common to lose your appetite, struggle to sleep &, if you're me, get uncontrollable diarrhea a couple of hours after the first tablet.

If you're REALLY lucky, that will happen whilst you're standing outside talking to your father-in-law.

If you're really REALLY lucky, you'll have eaten Chinese the night before with loads of red food colouring in & your poop will look like blood & you'll ABSOLUTELY think you're dying & be on the phone to your GP sobbing 🤣.

Thing to remember is it's all temporary & none of it is worse than what you went through last night. It's more irritating & inconvenient.

GP might want to do bloods to check anaemia, thyroid etc too. All stuff that can make it worse & easy to help with/rule out.

Yes, this is long but from experience I know that helps too. It's all about acknowledging what is happening to you then absolute distraction.

You aren't alone, you're not weird, you're not dying & you do ALWAYS come out of it.

longtompot · 27/09/2023 14:53

I've only recently had my first panic attack. It came out of the blue in the middle of the night after I had an iron infusion. I woke up with a pain in my back which I realised was going through to my front and then my mind, quite calmly was thinking is this what a heart attack feel like? It then went through when I should call an ambulance, how to let them in without my dog barking the house awake. On and on it went. I went to the bathroom as I felt really sweaty and clammy, but shivering freezing cold. My heart rate was really high as well. I googled it and what to do and tried really focusing on my breathing and that was the thing that really helped me. When I stopped concentrating on my breathing then my heart rate shot up and I had to go through the whole process again. It took a few hours to get it under control and I must have just fallen asleep doing it.
I had another recently, for the same reason and did the same thing again and again it helped.
I hope your GP can help you out💐

Cosycardigans · 27/09/2023 22:02

Thank you for the kind comments. Someone else recommended rescue remedy to me. I've got lots of Bach's but not the rescue remedy so I'll have a look. Woke up too late to call GP but I'll hopefully call tomorrow if I get a decent sleep tonight. The breathing is normal again but I'm still struggling swallowing. Just taking tiny mouthfuls at a time of food for now. Scared to go up to bed. Not because of anything untoward but scared of having another panic attack. Hopefully it won't be the case.
Think my brain feels unsettled after so much change again. New school, new routine, new people- trying to catch up on jobs, child's new personality now she's at school all day. We've never been early morning risers either. Just used to wake up naturally between eight and nine and start out day slowly. She always started nursery at 10 or did afternoon sessions and was off for months this year before starting school. Feels strange waking up and rushing to get my daughter away from me every morning and running around trying to keep up every day and be back for a certain time. İt is better for her, as she has more friends now, and more to do than the odd toddler group and park, but I'm find it so hard to adjust and the pressure every night of knowing I've got to get up and get her presentable, probably put me in fight or flight and that's bringing up old trauma of not so nice times I've been under pressure.

OP posts:
Cosycardigans · 27/09/2023 22:04

Mad me smile- thank you

OP posts:
Notesonanervousplanet · 27/09/2023 22:49

Thank you for starting this thread OP as it's been helpful for me to read others experiences of panic attacks! Makes me feel less alone.

It really doesn't surprise me that your anxiety attacks are following a big change in your life- a different routine, different sleep patterns, all the emotions brought on by a child starting school. I find my anxiety goes a bit wild when a shift in my life happens- like my brain needs to find it's rhythm again!
As other people have mentioned, medication is likely to be the route suggested by the GP. It may make you feel weird for a few days, but it does pass. I would also request a small amount of 'as needed' medication. They will likely prescribe diazepam, which has the ability to make you feel super relaxed in just a few minutes. I find just knowing I have it keeps the worst of panic at bay- knowing I can take it and feel better in a few minutes stops me feeling as though I'm going to loose my mind.
Definitely avoid caffeine if at all possible, and large amounts of sugar in a short space of time. Also alcohol etc!

I really feel for you, as it is the most disconcerting feeling. It will pass, as lots of people on here testify!

IsTheOffDutyDoneYet · 27/09/2023 22:59

I suffer with anxiety and panic attacks OP, you have my sympathy. I’m on Escitalopram long term, and have propranolol for the panic attacks when needed. For me these are quite effective, and they seem to stop a panic attack after 1 or sometimes 2. I think my panic episodes are linked to my hormones, as I regularly get them at certain times of the month. I hope you’re feeling less panicky soon and are able to get in touch with the HO tomorrow.

Cosycardigans · 28/09/2023 12:41

Notesonanervousplanet · 27/09/2023 22:49

Thank you for starting this thread OP as it's been helpful for me to read others experiences of panic attacks! Makes me feel less alone.

It really doesn't surprise me that your anxiety attacks are following a big change in your life- a different routine, different sleep patterns, all the emotions brought on by a child starting school. I find my anxiety goes a bit wild when a shift in my life happens- like my brain needs to find it's rhythm again!
As other people have mentioned, medication is likely to be the route suggested by the GP. It may make you feel weird for a few days, but it does pass. I would also request a small amount of 'as needed' medication. They will likely prescribe diazepam, which has the ability to make you feel super relaxed in just a few minutes. I find just knowing I have it keeps the worst of panic at bay- knowing I can take it and feel better in a few minutes stops me feeling as though I'm going to loose my mind.
Definitely avoid caffeine if at all possible, and large amounts of sugar in a short space of time. Also alcohol etc!

I really feel for you, as it is the most disconcerting feeling. It will pass, as lots of people on here testify!

I'm glad it's helpful for you :) I'm happy to keep it going if it helps to talk about anxiety. I know this is helpful for me so far. Haven't really spoken to anyone about it in real life, as I'm seen as the happy jolly confident one. Which I am generally. Just my brain doesn't seem to like certain parts of life.

Managed to eat a whole sandwich today without thinking about swallowing. I'm trying to be more aware of what my brain is up to in those moments to see what's causing those triggers/projections. İt was super helpful for me to read the comments above which explained about it just being an uncomfortable and annoying reaction in the brain and actually I'm fine. Well, in actual fact, every single comment has been hugely helpful and I'm massively grateful to everyone.

I've got so many appointments atm- a blood test which I've had to reschedule twice because of parent life getting in the way, physio for my hypermobility which I've had to reschedule once when my daughter got sick, jabs for my daughter, a check up for my daughter for a foot injury she got early summer. All in between trying to settle into this new routine, keep up with food shopping, school uniform laundry and have enough bits in every day for my daughter's snack- AND whilst looking for a job/trying to make some extra cash. The school have a fancy dress day next week too, so have to make a costume on top of it all. İt seems like the more I'm trying to resolve things, the worse it's making it, but hopefully by Christmas everything will settle down. I have my period too, so don't know if that is triggering or if just being the tired part of the month makes everything harder to keep track of in my head.

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