Panic

[Evanna13]

I have always been an anxious person and I have had a lot of trauma in early life. I have panic attacks quite often. Often they happen in a busy place where it would be difficult to escape. Today I was at a christmas concert in my child's school. As soon as the children started to sing my heart started beating very fast and I was feeling a bit faint. I felt like I needed to escape but I would make a scene if I did during the performance. This can happen during church, at the theatre etc and it's worse if I am standing because my legs shake and I can't hold on to the chair etc. If I am in a crowded place with people coming and going etc I am usually fine. Just if everyone is listening to something and I feel I cannot make a noise or leave etc I panic. Has anybody experienced this and have any advice? Thank you.

Have a look at this video on panic attacks (disclaimer; I trained with Tim)

OP you have my empathy and understanding as I too suffer from them, since taking Sertraline I haven’t had one in nearly a year though. But I haven’t forgotten how utterly terrifying they are. I was having mammoth ones and calling myself an ambulance as I thought my death was coming! I find box breathing helps, internally reassuring myself, something to fiddle on my wrist like a hairband and actually being aware of a route to get out should I need one, knowing where exits are etc.

Last year in the depths of my attacks I went on a training course in London which was held in the basement of the office! No windows I felt awful and was dripping with sweat, but I did it.

Would you consider Propranolol? Have you had any therapy?

Big cuddle of solidarity xx