Just had a panic attack

[yarncakes]

Earlier on, I had severe heartburn which I believe was caused by drinking strong coffee on an empty stomach. Then I started getting a weird feeling in my back and my arm and then immediately thought I was going to have a heart attack as I suffer from health anxiety. I had to sit down at work and began to hyperventilate. Usually when I feel a panic attack coming on I pace up and down rather than sit and calm down. My oxygen levels was 90% at this point, heart rate was 160BPM, sweating profusely and then I told myself I have to sit and calm the fuck down before I end up in hospital which I want to avoid so I sat and started to breathe slowly, ignoring the pain I was having in my upper back and stretching to relieve it somewhat.

My oxygen has gone back up to 99% and heart rate down to 60bpm but last time this happened, I was so scared I was going to die. I'm sorry I'm posting here, I just need to let it out. I honestly was scared and glad I managed to calm down. I had to go and lay down because I was dizzy and felt a bit off.

Well done for getting things back under control.

Sorry to hear that you've got health anxiety. Is having a Blood Pressure monitor at home helpful, do you think? Or does it feed into your anxiety.

Panic attacks are the worst - well done for controlling it. And now you know you can 😊

Are you getting any help for your health anxiety?

Are you sure it wasn’t a heart attack? Sounds pretty bad. Hope you feel better soon OP

I've health anxiety too and have had regular panic attacks. My focus is all things cardio and I fear a heart attack.
I have Gerd and the pain often sets me off in a panic.
Can I ask if you've ever had a heart monitor though? To rule out a potential cause.
Do you think this would feed your anxiety?
It would very likely provide reassurance.
Not much advice. Just wanted to let you know you are not alone. It's horrendous.

Thank you all I feel a lot better than I did. I had to lay down and have a sleep because I felt like I was going to set off again. I am getting a bit obsessed with my oximeter though so I've put it well away. A heart monitor would definitely fuel my anxiety even more. Unfortunately I've suffered for over 15years and I've managed to cope without any intervention. I had counselling but I didn't find it helpful. It's only since the covid 19 pandemic it has started back up again and it has got very bad this time. I have tried accessing help but it is impossible so I'm just relying on Mumsnet (thank you!) and a few other forums on the Internet.

Forgot to say I've been hospital a couple of times and had an ecg done which showed up fine, just another panic attack and I also GERD symptoms like the poster above. It is worse when I'm feeling like this. I'm having a really tough week and I just sometimes wish I could sleep and just let it all end there. I don't want to suffer a horrible death. I keep thinking about what did I do so bad to deserve that.

I am the same OP. Since lockdown I've had some terrible panic attacks. You are not alone.
Well done for calming down.
I saw a video that said breathe in counting to 4, hold for 6 and breathe out for 8. That's what I always do and it always works after a few breaths. It helps to practise it when I'm calm too, as it makes me have less panic attacks.

I've been prescribed propranalol which I can take to help with heart rate and blood pressure when I feel myself getting stressed. You could ask your GP for these. I take a very low dose as medication is one of my big triggers!

This page has got some great leaflets in panic attacks and health anxiety:

web.ntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp/