Panic attack? Came out of nowhere.

[Snooperdoop]

I had what I think was a panic attack on Friday night. But having looked a bit online at descriptions of panic attacks I'm not completely sure what was going on.

I was at the theatre. Not enjoying the play as much as I'd expected to but that's okay. Then suddenly it wasn't okay - I started to feel a little bit worried about how to say to my companions at the interval that I didn't think it was living up to all the local interest and excitement about it. Then at the end of the first half there was a musical section which was really loud with lots of bright lights and the only way I can describe it is that I started to find it upsetting that this stupid man with his stupid guitar was making all this stupid noise and everyone else seemed to be loving it (lots of whooping and cheering from the audience).

Then very suddenly all there was was noise and light and I couldn't breathe.

I don't remember noticing my heart racing although I imagine it was. I don't remember feeling what I would describe as fear; just an overwhelming need to get out.

I don't have a diagnosis of anxiety but I have been more anxious since perimenopause (I'm 48) and there is quite a lot in my life to feel worry/stress about. This has been the case for the last twenty years (children's health/disability issues, work stress etc) and I have had no choice but to grit my teeth and get through it all. Sometimes I wonder if this is now biting me in the arse.

But of all the things to be anxious about in my life, less-good-than-expected musical theatre isn't one of them, and I don't feel like I know what is going on any more.

[CasadeCoca]

I'm sure someone with more experience will come along. I would just chip in that I think I had a couple of these come out of an apparently clear blue sky (ended up at A&E for one as I did indeed have low oxygen levels). I was thoroughly examined and the Doctor wasn't 100% sure. But looking back I was under a crazy amount of long term stress on a couple of fronts, which wasn't even on my radar when I went to hospital, as I felt fine at the time, eg. wasn't 'worrying' and felt otherwise calm in myseIf, thought I was managing Ok, coping with a demanding job and caring responsibilites etc). So are there other things going on in your life which could be having a cumulative affect within your body, even if your conscious mind isn't feel panicky (if that makes any sense?)?

[CasadeCoca]

@Snooperdoop - sorry, I missed a critical line in your original post. Huge apologies for being an idiot and asking you something you have already described.

Snap! I had the exact same mix of inescapable long term stress (work and child with disabilities), and was in my perimenopause too, when something seemed to reset around anxiety etc. My guess would be there was something about being confined with that sensory stimulus that may have triggered you, but it may also be response to living in a long term state of being very close to overwhelm, which may have become entirely 'normalised' to you? I think this happens to a lot of carers?

[MumOfOneAwesomeHuman]

This does sound like a panic attack and they can come out of blue like that with no logical reason. Your nervous system was triggered by something about that experience. I've had a few and none were expected. Though I do know the base cause of mine. But v bizarrely your post stood out because exactly the same thing happened to DD last week. At the theatre, at a show we really weren't enjoying and at the interval she looked really unusual then told me what she was feeling (short of breath, tearful, panicky with no reason at all).

So I wonder if feeling uncomfortable about a performance and being in a crowded space with no way out (because leaving mid performance isn't something most polite people would do) could be triggering. Maybe the inability to escape and the injustice of others enjoying something you feel is not enjoyable?

I hope you are ok now and can get some help. EFT is amazing for panic attacks as once learned you can do it anywhere. I learned using a YouTube tutorial called Faster EFT and then also with a therapist who taught me a discreet way to use it publicly without anyone noticing.

I would definitely suggest therapy to explore the cause and trigger. I ignored mine until I was really bad but once I saw a therapist they stopped.

[Snooperdoop]

living in a long term state of being very close to overwhelm, which may have become entirely 'normalised' to you?

I think this is a really accurate way of describing how things are for me - and DH at the moment. Funnily enough in the past we have almost been able to tag team - one person's stuff isn't so bad so we can hand over and support, then the other way round. At the moment we are both feeling it and I think that is contributing.

Thanks both for your input - and very interesting that your DD had an almost identical experience in the same context.

[Snooperdoop]

Also yes, thank you I am okay now although sort of drained.