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Symptoms More Common After 1st Attack!?

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Posted 9/4/2017 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
Quick question!

The only symptoms I used to get when anxious was maybe a racing heart and feeling out of breath.

My first anxiety or panic attack caused me to having tingling and numbness all over my face, arms, and legs.

Since then, I get real anxious playing an intense video game or watching a movie or in a stressful meeting and I'll literally get some of that tingling on my nose and cheek! Sometimes an occasional skipped heartbeat.

Has my body just been more on edge the last month since attack? Or is it just normal to feel some of those symptoms now that I've experienced them once?

Post Edited (tpatrick30) : 9/4/2017 11:37:45 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/4/2017 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Tp,

I can definitely confirm that symptoms come on much more easily and often after an initial panic attack.

It is almost as though a switch gets flipped...and that first experience triggers more anxiety challenges thereafter.

That's the not so good news...

...the good news is that coping skills can help you to manage these symptoms, rather than ignore/suppress them...which is what gets a lot of people into trouble in the first place!

Work your Stress Relieving Exercises...(especially breathing exercises for the paresthesia) daily in order to feel your best.smile

Peace and progress!

S.C.
Posted 9/4/2017 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you! And I agree. After I took a phone call the other day, I felt out of breath and kept trying to take a deep breath but couldn't. Had a racing heart and tingling. I stopped, sat in front of a fan, and immediately went into stomach breathing.

It basically stopped everything, but always hate when something random like that happens! Like I always hear, embrace the way you feel, feel it...don't fear it and breathe! I hope in time with practice and patience these symptoms subside!

Thanks again!
Posted 9/5/2017 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
They will...

...keep up with your coping skills daily, and you will reach your management goals in time. 😊

S.C.
Posted 9/5/2017 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
They will...

...keep up with your coping skills daily, and you will reach your management goals in time. 😊

S.C.
Posted 9/5/2017 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks! You're a great resource and person! Very comforting and helpful.

I had one last question! I got that feeling a little while ago where you feel like you wanna get that one satisfying deep breath that makes your chest feel good. However, out of nowhere I can't and it causes anxiety. Is this sensation a fake feeling or response to anxiety? Naturally I wanna keep trying to get the deep breath which doesn't help and causes heart rate to go up.

What's the best way to curb this sensation and stop it? Stomach breathing? Deep breaths? Normal breathing? Thanks!
Posted 9/5/2017 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I have had this feeling too! The more you focus on it, the worse it can get...:/

Here is my favorite breathing exercise, and has helped me with the tight chest issues.

The Divided Breath:

Imagine your lungs as having 3 parts. The bottom third, the middle, and top third. 

On the inhale fill the bottom third first, then the middle and finally the third. Make sure that this is one continuous breath, but divided, with a slight pause in between each third.

 Hold the breath in for 3-5 seconds if possible. Exhale in reverse. First blow out the top third, then the middle, and finally the bottom third of your lungs until all air is expelled.  (remember the pauses) 

Repeat several rounds for a toatal of about 10 minutes. Practicing this every day will not only give you control and structure to your breathing, it will strengthen and loosen the thoractic muscles, allowing better, more productive breathing, and relieving the chest tightness

Hope this helps you too.😊

S.C.
Posted 9/5/2017 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
As Scaredy Cat mentioned the more you worry about it the worse it can get. I'm currently reading a book on anxiety and we are afraid of what we know anxiety can bring and we have a sensitivity to anything heightened emotion. Last weekend I watched some fights on PPV and had a insane anxiety the whole time. My body just recognizes any high emotion and automatically goes in anxiety mode. It sucks but being aware in those moments and using our tools is what is going to help.

Positive mantras have been helping me lately. Breathing is great although I feel like I can do better myself as it pertains to that.
Posted 9/5/2017 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys! Yea I heard someone mention that the anxiety makes you feel like you're not getting a deep breath when you don't feel that relief sensation, but technically you can deep breathe without that sensation.

Does everyone know that sensation? It's like when you get a full breath and it feels like it expands and stretches your chest. I really like it and I think when I used to do sports I would rely on that sensation to relax me after a tough work out.

I guess the anxiety takes over when I feel like something is stopping that breath. I think it's the air not fully making it to the chest, so that breathing techniques in thirds sounds helpful.
Posted 9/5/2017 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
I can say my symptoms have definitely changed over the years.

Age 10ish: Anxiety symptoms first seen. Only manifested as vomiting in the morning, every morning.

Age 22-24ish: Manifested as heavy breathing, racy thoughts (more mental than physical), rushing everywhere

*Age 32: Failure of medications. Severe panic attacks with shaking, hot/cold flashes, tachycardia, daily vomiting, diarrhea, sweats, heavy legs, DP/DR, fainting (some of this attributed to 4 different withdrawals).

I have definitely seen more severe symptoms come over time. I do think some of it comes from recognizing your own anxiety. Once you know what symptoms are associated with it, you're able to pick out the symptoms more easily.
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