Soooooo, if this was an anxiety attack - and I'm sceptical - what do I do about it?

[HonorMatopoeia]

Last night was spent mainly in A&E as I was having breathing difficulties. They were very good and checked my chest, took blood tests etc. It turned out there was no physiological reason for my breathing to be so shallow so the doctor said it was most likely to be an anxiety attack. The doctor then said I should go home and relax (he didn't have a 3 year old then!) and get some reflexology (was he offering to pay for this necessity !)
So, my questions are these: Wouldn't I have to be really stressed to have an anxiety attack? Wouldn't I at least have been able to have thought of what I was supposed to be stressed about? Because, apart from an energetic 3 year old and a non too taxing 7 month old, I can think of nothing!
If it was an anxiety attack, what do you do to stop them worsening? I really felt as if I had a tight band around my chest and I couldn't breathe. I'm a bit worried about what would happen if it occurred again and I was on my own with the children.
Anyone with any experience or advice?

I had an anxiety attack as a child and I really couldn't have put it down to any specific thing or even set of problems.
Do you feel generally very stressed? That would be the only thing I would consider prerequisite to having an anxiety attack.

I feel normal parent stress I suppose in that Dd1 is quite 'hands on' at the moment. I'm a little bit worried about financial matters but again, nothing major.

if you want a second opinion i think you should seek it.

if you are actually under a lot of stress but dont 'allow' yourself to express it then yeah, i guess it could come out in the form of an anxiety attack. maybe your mind trying to get through to the denial? speculation obviously.

i used to get these a long time ago, and i thought i was dying too. v scary feeling! i was advised to carry glucose tablets (i felt like i was blacking out when i had mine, v suddenly, and the boost to blood sugars would help to 'bring me back') and a paper bag, which youre supposed to breathe into when hyperventilating to limit the amount of oxygem going to the brain and making the dizziness worse.

dunno if that helps.

Your mind and body are very closely linked.

6 years ago I started to shake like a leaf and couldn't walk properly, I staggered around for a month. Had tests for MS/viruses. The doctor said to me eventually there is no physical reason and I should think about reducing stress.

I had never had any anxiety or stress related symptoms or mental health issues.

When I sat down and thought (and it's much easier with hindsight) my grandmother had died, the most important person in the world, I was being sexually harassed and bullied at work, my husband didn't love me and was screwing around.

As soon as I knew it was probably emotional I started to think about it and make changes. I had not thought properly about being an emotional or spiritual being.

Fast forward six years and I work as a counsellor/psychotherapist. I have heard many stories since then of how your body reacts to stress before your mind knows what's happening. Now if I feel stressed at all I get slight tingling in my arm to warn me.

Whatever you do try and thinkof yourself holistically, tune in to what you feel during the day, think about what was going on before the attack.

I had one just as you explained ,thought I was having a heart attack.

I wasn't stressed just woke up in the middle of the nigght terrified I was dying ,they did get really bad for about a year after I couldn't explain why they happened they just did and it was terrifying.

I still get them mildly now but have just had to learn to breath and tell myself I'm ok .
You can get medication but I have never tried it .

It sounds weird but the thing taht helps me is if I'm having a bad one I look up other peoples exp on the net and know I am not the only one feeling like it.

HTH and that you feel ok soon .

If it was a panic attack, then from exp I do know that they can start when you think you were feeling absolutely fine.

Sometimes the body stores things up, and bang things like this happen.

There have been times when I have felt anxiety/panic, stress and my body hasn't had these attacks, iyswim, where one would have been warranted.

It may not happen aagin. The suggestion of reflexology, or some sort of relaxing time is good. Your body just had an overload, and maybe youneed to focus on some deep breathing say once a day.

the stress i was under then seemed 'normal' to me too - it was just my life. i would have said the same as you i think.
there was no great recognisable anxiety in the immediate lead-up to an attack.

NG - Thank you, my Dad mentione the paper bag trick too, will have to track one down. Glucose tablets would not be a bad idea either, I did start to feel quite faint at one point.
Laurie - That is a wise idea, I'll have to have a good think about where I am. I know Dd1 is knackering me out, life with her seems to be a constant battleground atm. I know I'm worried about having to return to work full time and miss out on my being with my baby. . . I'm going to have a good think to see if I can pinpoint anything else near the event. Thank you

think you need to factor some being kind to yourself and some 'time off' into your routine somewhere. have a chat with dp/h. i think the fact you were hospitalized with a panic attack speaks volumes about your need for a break here and there.

'Tis true ng! The only problem with being a SAHM is the fact there is no such thing as a day off!