Are these panic attacks?

[mumtothreeeeeeeee]

I hope someone can help. I'm trying to understand a little better what is wrong with me. I have recently started suffering from anxiety and there are times when I am due to meet someone or am sat with a friend etc and a horrible wave of anxiety comes over me. I find it very hard to engage in the conversation properly, I give short answers etc. My heart is racing, I feel like I need the loo, can be clammy and sweaty too, feet sometimes feel numb. I feel really self conscious when this happens though sipping water seems to really help, I do eventually come out of it and then feel totally normal, if a little worn out! I have tried going on sertraline this weekend but it's made me feel so rough so I'm looking at educating myself and trying to improve in other ways...

Yes, bar any underlying medical issues, which seem unlikely, it sounds like classic panic attacks.

The important thing to remember about panic attacks is that they are annoying and tiring, but totally harmless. They don't even always have a clear cause. You just happen to be anxious one day and you get a panic attack. Frustratingly the more you think about it, about what triggered it etc the more likely it is to happen again. So the best thing is to carry on as normal, don't avoid any situations if you can and when one strikes remind yourself it is a panic attack and it cannot do you any harm.

Look into Mindfulness, a way of focussing on the present. There's good stuff on YouTube for free.

And don't forget that medication like sertraline has a role to play in successfully treating anxiety. The initial side effects usually settle down again.

madhouse thank you so much for your reply. I don't know why but it has only just dawned on me that these episodes may be panic attacks. For the moment I feel so much better knowing what is actually happening to me. I do hate them but kind of tell myself that here we go again and that it will pass, but they are still extremely unpleasant :(.

Unfortunately sertraline really isn't suiting me, I've felt extremely unwell with them and have only had 6-7 hours sleep in the last 3 days, all very broken. I am going back to the dr this week though so will see what he suggests.

You could try citalopram, it's fairly well tolerated