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Mind totally goes blank during panic attack...anyone else?

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Posted 4/2/2013 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, when I have a panic attack....which is about 6 times daily....my mind totally goes blank and I cannot even speak. If I try to talk, nothing makes sense that I say. It's horrible. I mean my mind literally goes blank and I am overwhelmed with very intense symptoms of anxiety (heart pounding/cramping intestines, etc.). I honestly cannot get sensible words out...sometimes NO words at all!! People are starting to notice, and I can't cover anymore with dumb excuses.

Does this ever happen to anyone else and what the heck is it? Very scary and embarrassing. Thanks for any replies!
Posted 4/2/2013 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!!!! YES THIS HAPPENS TO ME!! I dot have them as often as you, but everytime I have one I can't speak. Sort of feels like I'm "blacked out" or unconscious. I have been told I've put my head through cabinets Etc during attacks... But I never remember! I guess it's just an overload of stimulation or something?
Posted 4/2/2013 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
When I have a panic attack my mind races as I am trying to figure out what is happening to me.  My mind is trying so hard to identify what it perseves as a threat to me that I cannot slow down long enough to make sense out of what is happening.

Learning breathing techniques and positive self talk has helped me tremendously.

Be well,

Kitt

Posted 4/3/2013 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
We all have some of the same symptoms, with a few variations in my case I feel like im in a glass bubble and everything around me is not real or relevant my fear shuts everyone and everything off.

Here is a place of reassurance, help, solutions dig deep drink from the knowledge these people
who have been in your shoes and emerged from despair, living wittiness to life and recovery.

Prayers!

Larry ***
Posted 4/3/2013 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
As you can see you are not alone in this!

The body is busy dealing with its business of fight or flight during a panic attack...it is not concerned with being able to communicate so much as being in combat or running away!

If you are concerned about the embarassment of being tongue tied, you could try to excuse yourself from your present company when you feel an attack coming on.

You could also practice a short phrase that you always use in a panic situation such as "Give me a second." This will give you a little time to collect yourself, or make an exit.

Being upfront with your co-workers, friends and family is also something to consider. Having panic is nothing to be ashamed about...and others may find it easier to understand if they have some information as to what you are experiencing.

I hope that you can use your coping skills to help you get through the worst of your anxiety worries, so that this won't be such an issue for you in the first place.;)

Keep posting, we understand and care!

S.C.
Posted 4/3/2013 8:08 AM (GMT 0)
definitely not alone with this one.. im very anxious just now and im really struggling with even holding a conversation, someone starts speaking to me and I am thinking oh no what if I start panicking and have to run away mid conversation, it makes me feel stupid and a bit pathetic and then I don't even know what the hell they are talking about!
horrible symptom!
Jenna x
Posted 4/3/2013 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I'm new here and I'm so glad to see I'm not alone. I thought it was beginning of some kind of early dementia. (I'm 60). I get so I can't effectively communicate. smhair
Posted 4/3/2013 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sen.60 and welcome!

You are in good company here. Keep posting, and I am sure that you will find much care and support within our community!:)

Looking forward to getting to know you better.

Scaredy Cat
Posted 4/3/2013 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you. I just moved to a city of 1.2 million and Istill feel alone. Finding this website really helps me.
Posted 4/3/2013 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
I have had episodes of this that have made me panic even worse! Not realizing I was really anxious to begin with, I was thinking it was something like a mini stroke or something, even though I didn't have any of the other symptoms. Scary to say the least.

Its nice to see we are not alone in our suffering and these are people that understand what we are going thru. I also, like Jennab14x, worry I won't be able to finish a conversation and will have to run away mid sentence. I haven't done it yet though! :) Just fear it.

I hope you can find some relief from this soon.

Posted 4/4/2013 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, thanks to all who replied! I feel somewhat relieved because I seriously have been very frightened by the seemingly odd symptoms. Like someone else said, I have been worried it's some type of dementia...very, very worrisome. My mind simply goes into overdrive and I cannot speak or make any sense. Happened again this evening while I was grilling burgers...my 17 y/o son asked me something, and nothing remotely normal sounding came out of my mouth. It's AWFUL. Thanks again...
Posted 4/4/2013 5:46 AM (GMT 0)
I can definitely relate to saying the weirdest things when someone has asked me something. I have fibro though so I have the lovely fibro fog. I tell hubby to pick up shoes and put them in the refrigerator or other bizarre things. I too thought I was going crazy at first and in turn that also increased my anxiety. As Scaredy Cat said, the mind and body aren't thinking of the proper thing to say at the time, they are thinking of the best way to combat what's happening. That fight or flee response is very strong.

I know for me that I have learned to listen to my body more and I can usually tell when I'm about to have an attack. I can usually then breathe through it and realize that oops I forgot my supplements. Being in tune with my body more helps me to remember what works and what doesn't. I also say things over and over to mayelf. Things like "okay this is just anxiety and I have had it before and I didn't die so I will get through it this time also" and do the breathing techniques.

Of course there are times when nothing works and I just have to ride it out. It actually helps me to get over an attack faster if I have people around that know what I am going through. Okay I have rambled on again. Take care and I hope things get better.

Much love and hugs,
Lynn
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