Length of a panic attack???

I am confused about something  . In a LOT of articles, and on some other websites, they say the symptoms of a panic attack usually come on fast and only last about 10 mins???? I have had panic attacks that can last for at least an hour( will have racing heart...sweating...dry mouth..etc) . They make it sound as if these attacks just stop in about 10 mins. or so. Now I have had , what I call, minor anxiety attacks that have only lasted about 10-20 mins..but a major panic attack for me usually lasts at LEAST 45 mins. So why do these magazine articles and such only say it should go away in 10 mins??? And how long does your panic attacks usually last?

Oh btw...I usually have anxiety symptoms ALL day long too( not just when I am having an attack). Like if I am nauseated that day it will last most of the day off and on...if I am having chest tightness, it will last all day off and on. Is that how it is for others here as well?

Thank you! God bless!

Dawn

Hi there Dawn! Thanks for the reply. I too get so sick and tired and fed up with dealing with all these symptoms all the time. It just makes me feel so irritable, restless and hopeless at times. And I HATE feeling that way! I used to take .25 Xanax three times a day, and to be honest, I never really felt that much relief. Now the doc wants me on Klonopin?? I filled the prescription but am too afraid to take it. I DETEST medicine. I dont know why...I just hate to take anything.

Does your anxiety seem to be worse at certain times of the day??? Mine is usually bad in the mornings and at night...for the most part, during the day I can deal with it better than I can at those other times.

Nice to meet you !! God bless!

Dawn

shorty's girl said...

Hi - seems we sahre not only a name, but the same kind of symptoms too

My anxious feelings usually only last about 20 min or so, if they continue, I usually take a xanax - my full blown panic attaks have like you lasted for an hour or so, sometimes even after taking a xanax, I will have to take another..

Seems like same with my chest hurting and nausea as you too -

Maybe they put these articles together to make us "feel" better, cuz they obviously never experienced a full blown attack like some of us has..

Sorry, hating the world today, tired of having this disorder

take care & glad to see ya here..

Dawn

btw also have cyclothymic disorder ( close to BP I)

have a nice day - I'm trying

Hi Dawn's, guess what?  My name is Dawn also.  My not too bad attacks usually last about a half hour.  The bad ones for longer.  I usually shake during mine, sometimes so bad I can't walk.  Hope y'all are feeling better soon.

mine have lasted for hours on end before

 (especially in the beginning)

it freaked me out cause i thought it would never end. i also was confused when it said they only last a few minutes. it made me think that it couldn't be  panic attacks. the medical  books think they have all the info down about PD but they don't. 

You can also have generalized anxiety all day long that will make you feel crappy .... all day. An attack does last for about 10-30 minutes but you can get so worked up into one that you can have another following right after. That has happened to me for about a hour period. Hope you all are havig an anxiety free day.

I hear ya! I am the same way. For the longest time I would just be really dizzy off and on all day, with no other symtoms. Then one night, this past Summer, it just hit me...I felt like I couldnt breath...my heart was racing..my mouth was soo dry..etc. I thought I was having a heart attack. I PACE when I get my attacks..it is like I just have to keep moving. I am the same as you. I seem to be the worse early in the morning and then at night. The dark makes everything seem so much more intense..doesnt it?

Anyways, thanks again for sharing your experience.

Jndejmes said...
My panic attacks last longer than 10 minutes too.  I am also getting so tired of these.  I've had them on and off for years, then for a long time I never got them, then bam, here I am again.  I get so mad - but I am getting them early morning or late at night, ususally when everyone is asleep. I come online to "chat" because it keeps my mind busy and distracted. 

Heh, I came here to just ask that question.

I started feeling nauseous and generally bad/sick yesterday morning and came very close to having a full-blown panic attack. I took 0.25mg Xanax which prevented the worst, I suppose, but continued feeling on and off crappy throughout the day. Took another 0.25mg at night. This morning it started again with the nausea and general crappy feeling, took the same amount of Xanax twice more, but it's still not completely gone.

I also kept reading that panic attacks only last 10-15 mins and that has just been freaking me out more - being afraid that it's not really a panic attack but something else, especially since my blood pressure has been pretty high since yesterday (it was in the lower range the last few weeks).

Oddly enough (or maybe not so odd after all!), after reading this, I feel quite a bit better physically. So thanks to you all! (:

I know what your mean about panic attacks seeming to last much longer than the "professionals" claim them too. I think what happens is we get back-to-back attacks which makes them seem like one long attack.

Then for many of us there is the general anxiety that lasts for days afterwards (or can be a regular day to day occurance).

Relaxation, CBT and meds (SSRIs) can help get rid of or at least reduce the general anxiety.

Karen

I seem to get both types of attacks the quick onset and hard on my body and mind as well as the ones that I have all day and just cannot shake at all until
I do something or I have to resort to my meds
You take care
I think we all are the same yet different you know
Lyn