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Panic attack - couldn't walk

5 replies

Onedayatatime24799 · 17/06/2022 08:14

I have been getting panic attacks several times a week recently.
Seen the GP and he recommended Talking Therapy which I'm on the waiting list for (he said he couldn't prescribe Beater Blockers due to my asthma).

This morning I have had had a panic attack was on a completely new level.
I felt myself getting anxious when emptying the washing (that wasn't the trigger - I don't even know what caused it - but I do have a lot going on at the moment and feeling low and tearful in general).
I started thinking "I don't feel right", which made me panic more. Started hyper ventilating, heart racing which made me feel dizzy.
I then started panicking thinking I was having a stroke. Tried lifting my arms up but that caused a really weird sensation. It was like my entire body went weak. I couldn't grip with my hands.
I tried to walk but found I couldn't move my feet. They were rooted to the spot.

Tried taking deep breaths and told myself it was just a panic attack.
I eventually returned to normal but was shaking uncontrollably.
It has passed now, but I have honestly never been so scared!

Anyone else experienced this?
I did google and found "Paralyzing Anxiety"?

OP posts:
Useranon1 · 17/06/2022 08:17

I have panic attacks though not quite like. Mine make me need to be at home or in a safe space.

Even if you can't have beta blockers you can have anti-panic meds like Sertraline or citralopam I was really resistente to starting medication thinking it was like giving in, and would mess with me. Best thing I ever did!!!

Wickywickyyow · 17/06/2022 08:20

You feel weak because of the hyperventilating, your oxygen/carbon dioxide keeps are disturbed and it affects your circulation to protect vital organs. The very worse that would happen is you would faint and breathing would return to normal which would actually make you feel better. I get them too.

Rafferty10 · 17/06/2022 08:34

I reccommend yoga. particularly learning to control your breathing, meds are only a temporary fix so start to do smomething for yourself to have a long term solution.

First, you won't die of a panic attack, know this, even though it is horrible. Repeating ....this will pass..... may help.

Second, find ways to get through it that heplps, maybe watching a slow hand of a clock and counting along knowing at what point it will have passed.

Third, for a long term solution CBT helps lots of people, but you may be waiting a long time, so you need to find coping mechanisms. I think yoga practiced daily is a game changer for any anxiety or panic attacks, learning to control your breathing takes practice but is such a massively helpful tool it should be taught in school!

Lastly try acceting the fact that panic attacks are currently a part of your day, (though not necessarily for ever) and as you get up in the morning, remind yourself that if one, (or three) happens you will get over it, get accepting of it when you are calm, don't avoid it that way fear grows and makes them worse.

When it starts, try to hold the thought..... that yep this is coming on, oh here's a familiar symptom ie weakness, dizzyness, this will pass, lets count backwards from 10 or 20, take a breath, new symptom, this will pass, take a breath...and so on. Keep telling yourself this will pass, l will feel fine again soon.

I had a year of panic attacks in my 20's (a long time ago) CBT helped to some degree, but ultimately the things above were the long term solution. good luck op.

Poochnewbie1 · 20/06/2022 18:50

Counselling has helped me but not CBT. I didn’t find CBT helpful at all. I needed a counsellor who worked longer term and was more relational and helped me get to the root of the problems causing the panic attacks whilst using other techniques to manage the symptoms.

To manage the actual panic attacks I used grounding strategies such as 5, 4,3,2,1 -
5 things you can see
4 things you can hear
3 things you can touch
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste

breathing in the pattern of in for 4, hold for 2 and out for 6

having a strong taste such a peppermint or citrus

holiding something cold

wrapping myself in a heavy blanket

picturing a safe place in my mind and ‘looking around it’ focusing on the details.

To try and get on top of the attacks and manage the anxiety I changed my diet and dropped caffeine and alcohol and cut back of sugar (I was terrible for bingeing)

I ran regularly and did a lot of full body strength and conditioning exercises. I found lifting weights really helpful.

I also downloaded meditation apps and used these.

I did also had medication - It took a while to figure out what but eventually settled on mirtazipine and a short term course of promethezine to break the night panic attacks and calm the physical agitation and shaking.

being caught in a panic cycle is horrible. Hope you find what works for you.

StarCourt · 20/06/2022 19:55

the first panic attack I ever had I ended up in hospital thinking I was having a stroke.
I used to get tingling in my arms and legs and my mouth and then complete numbness in those areas meaning I couldn’t speak or move.
it was horrific and scary. I could hardly eat and kept drinking water all day to make sure I could still swallow!
hypnotherapy really helped me and reduced them considerably. This was 16 years ago, I still get them but nowhere near as bad.

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