What was this? Panic attack?

[NothingElse]

Sat in a big meeting today, felt fine. Sudden increase in heart rate and felt hard to breathe, face felt weird like I was sweating. Then my heart was pounding and racing and I felt like I would definitely pass out and my whole body was shaking which I couldn't stop.
Then it kind of all went back to normal but this was a good ten minutes or more.
It seems insane that such symptoms could be just psychological but, I mean, I'm fine, I think..

Panic attacks often strike seemingly from nowhere. You notice one symptom (heart racing) which panics you into getting more symptoms, which panic into more etc etc. It's cyclical but the best thing to do is acknowledge the symptoms without showing anxiety towards them. They pass because they have to pass; the body runs out of adrenaline.

It sounds like a classic anxiety attack. You poor thing, they are just awful! But please don't worry, all they are is a VERY inconvenient release of cortisol hormone. How old are you, op?

I didn't feel 'panicked', is that normal? It did cross my mind that I may be dying though. Obviously not, as I'm still here. In my 30s, why? Is that a usual age for this kind of thing?
Really hope it was a one time thing.

I had my first panic attack when I wasn't feeling panicky; which was why I was convinced I was ill/dying.

I later worked out what it was and read a book about panic attacks by someone who suffered them and had her first when sitting quietly watching tv with a milky drink. They can be disturbing.

I think what happens is (as previous poster said) some physical sensation happens that takes you by surprise, then it triggers other feelings. You say you were in a big meeting; maybe the first sensation occurred and your natural response was "ah! I can't do this in public, in a professional meeting" so you experience the adrenaline rush of a fight or flight reaction. You might have felt like rushing out of the meeting but instead chose to fight. So you try to fight off the initial sensation which causes more adrenaline rush which swamps through your body causing other symptoms which further alarm you so you make the, very natural, assumption that that is confirmation that you are seriously ill. Then the symptoms have climaxed and die down but you still feel odd after all that adrenaline surging through you.

Counter intuitively, as pp said, if it is a panic attack, you need to accept it can do you no harm, and basically ride the wave of adrenaline, not fight it or run away.

Discuss it with your GP OP. You need to rule out anything else going on, as well as trying to find out why they are happening if they are panic attacks.

Might be years of stress at work or home, and you can get medication possibly.

Hope things improve for you.

Tobee- which book was that and what makes one have a panic attack while doing nothing?? This is when I notice mine..sat doing nothing..everything speeds up and my body feels like it’s going into meltdown mode. Jus don’t understand the timing of it!!

Op- I really hope you’re ok. It’s just such a horrid feeling.

@Flossie44 The two books that helped me with panic attacks the most were Understanding Panic Attacks and Overcoming Fear by Dr Roger Baker and, the first one I read, Panic Attacks by Christine Ingham published by Thorsons. They both really helped.

Btw having a quick look I've slightly conflated the two authors experience in my memory.

Just checked both are still available from amazon.

Feel like this is a slippery slope, now I find myself worrying about it, becoming very aware of my heart beat and breathing especially when going to bed and then feel it getting worse.
To pp, in fact I did want to get out of there because I thought I was going to pass out/die but I knew I couldn't walk and would pass out if I stood up.
😢

Oh commiserations op; it's utterly horrible and frustrating, isn't it?

I found I had a panic attack once in a supermarket and then for a bit I kept having anxiety issues in the supermarket; all because of the memory of the first one. A vicious circle.

I went to see my g.p about mine who was able to reassure me that that is what the symptoms meant in my case.

I really took comfort from the books I mentioned above. It immediately gave me a measure of control.

The best book is Panicking about Panic, very quick and easy read