Is this an anxiety attack of some sort? And, if so (or even if not), please help

[losingitagain]

I suffer with depression which has been pretty much under control for the past few months but has caused me to be hospitalized in the past.

This evening, after a very upsetting day, I went to bed. As I lay down, my heart was, for no apparent reason, pounding. So much so that my whole body was moving. Maybe I was having some sort of psychotic episode and was imagining that but it was soooo hard and loud, it scared me. Since then, my chest has felt really tight.

I can't see my Dr/ psych for several weeks and can't really discuss this with anyone anyway. I just wondered if it was a panic attack (although I wasn't panicking about anything) or something. And, if so, what do you do about it? And how can I avoid having another one?

I think I am slowly losing the plot again so this is just another thing to worry about... I really don't want to go down this road again/

You poor thing - it sounds like it. Why can't you see your Dr/Psych for several weeks though?

anxiety and depressuon are common partners and you don't need to have been subjected to an anixous moment to have an attack.

sounds like it to me.

It does sound like a panic attack. Would echo 2sugars - why can't you see a doc sooner?

From what I have read about panic attacks is that they feel really scary and that you might die. The main thing to try to remember is that you won't. Try and breathe slowly and evenly, I think breathing into a brown paper bag is supposed to help.

Maybe try getting some Bach Rescue Remedy to see if that helps a bit.

OK, thanks for your replies.

I think I'll see if this becomes a pattern or if it was a one off.

It was a bit scary at the time - I felt like my heart might burst but I knew it wouldn't really and that it would all stop so it didn't completely freak me out. I just had this sinking feeling that it is yet another sign than I am sinking into a deep depression again.

How fast was your heart actually beating? I used to suffer from supra ventricular tachycardia (SVT) and it felt exactly like this (heart rate will be between 150 and 250 beats per minute if it is). It used to be more likely to happen if I was very tired/upset. There are various techniques to bring it back to normal such as putting hands in ice cold water or massaging the veins on your neck. If these don't stop it then you should report to A and E. When I was reading up about it the thing that convinced me it was what I had was the description of: couldn't hear anything over the sound of my heartbeat.

It's entirely physical, so I wouldn't worry about the depression link. It is also usually entirely curable!

Oh goodness, that sounds scary. My heart felt like it was beating normally - perhaps a bit faster but not racing although it has done that in the past. It was VERY loud though! I was very upset and very tired though.

I had my heart monitored last year and it seemed to be fine, I think (other than the thing it was being monitored for, which was a temporary problem which is ok now). Would it have been picked up on a EKG?

If it was the right speed then I'm on entirely the wrong track! And yes, it should have been picked up on an EKG. The first thing I always do if my heart feels odd is to take an actual number for my pulse rate to reassure myself that its not doing it again to me.

Ok, that's a relief, I think. I feel a bit more comfortable with it being a psychological thing rather than a physical one! If it happens again, I'll try to check my heart rate. That sounds like a sensible thing to do

Sorry, for panicking you even more!

Hi losingitagain. Sounds very like a panic attack (although always worth having a general physical check with gp.)

If it happens again try putting a hand on your abdomen and breathing through your stomach. When we panic we shallow breath and you'll see your chest going up and down. You should see your hand going up and down (rather than your chest.) If you do a search on google for relax breathing you should be able to find lots of exercises.

Also try something like counting backwards in threes from 300. Or describing in real details your surrounding (so eg. be very specific about the pattern in the wallpaper.) Just to bring your mind back to now and not let it get carried away in the panic.

Hope you are feeling a bit better x

oh and sorry just to repeat the others but you should definately try and see someone sooner. ring your docs and ask them to move the appt forward. If you get desperate just turn up and your surgery and if you make enough of a fuss they will contact the psych office for you.
x

Sorry - just going on. but back to your original post. My panic attacks very rarley happened when I was actually feeling anxious. They would literally just come out of the blue - even when I was apparently relaxed.

sjmilly, you didn't panic me, don't worry!

Kizzie, it is reassuring to see that other people have had them when they don't feel particularly stressed. I think that's what threw me. My chest felt tight this morning but I have been ok for the rest of the day. If it happens again, I'll try to get an appointment sooner or at least email.

I have SVT, and used to have panic attacks, and IME, they feel pretty much the same. And both came out of the blue most of the time. It was actually quite nice being diagnosed with SVT, because nobody (except the drs) figured out I was having a panic attack, I just passed it off as having one of my SVT "episodes".

Hope you're doing better.

I suppose the advantage (if there is such a thing) with SVT is that it is a physical thing - much easier to pass off in public than to explain a panic attack. Scarier perhaps though.

funnily enough, just as I am thinking about going to bed, my chest has tightened. I'm wondering if this is linked with knowing I won't fall asleep which always makes me frustrated because I'm so bloody tired!

one day, I'll just be normal

I totally know what you mean about the frustration in knowing you won't sleep. I used to be the same way, and would be in a terrible frenzied state before I even got to bed.

Nothing scary about SVT at all. Like my cardiologist said, if one is going to have a heart problem, it is the one he would choose. You're not going to die from it, and most people eventually "outgrow" it.

That's reassuring, I suppose Dooneygirl.

It seems so ridiculous that bedtime can be so stressful. Especially when I really want to sleep.