Well Now..."normal" panic attacks.

I've had panic disorder for some time now. Was diagnosed four or five years ago. But the thing is, I never really experienced panic attacks like most people have. Now and then some chest pain, but that was about as normal as I got. It always hit my stomach really hard, though.

But in the past few days I've had two episodes in which I could not catch my breath and got dizzy and weak in the legs. It felt like I was dying. Very quickly I knew what it was, though, and the same relaxation techniques I use to keep me from throwing up helped me to regain my composure with the breathing and stuff. Very strange experience. It comes on very quickly and goes away very quickly, too, but it sorta rings around in your head for a while after it happens.

Thing is, my anxiety is generally under control. I still get nervous for no reason, but not as much as I used to. I still get sick to my stomach, but not as bad as I used to. I still have health anxiety, but not as bad as I used to. I find it strange that with all this improvement I've been thrown a curveball and something I've never really experienced just shows up out of nowhere.

And it's a symptom that you can't "gut out". You have to deal with this one or else I assume you'd pass out or something, right? How do you guys deal with it? I drive a lot in my business. I also have lots of meetings with people. I need to know what to do if this happens while I'm driving through a construction zone in heavy traffic at 70mph, unable to pull over. Since it's only happened a couple of times, I'm wondering if there are warning signs I've missed? I can't wreck my car or have these episodes while I'm meeting with clients and prospective clients. I need to minimize this risk, so if there's any advice you may have for me I'd certainly appreciate it.

debaser,

I know you have overcome your anxiety and deal with it well the majority of the time.

As you know, episodes of anxiety can occur for no apparent reason. With a panic attack, you experience  sudden and intense physical symptoms that can include a pounding heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, numbness, or tingling feelings caused by overactivity of the body's normal fear response.

I have only had 2 panic attacks that I can remember but they were similar - the overwhelming fear and not knowing what to do to stop the feelings. I experienced the panic attacks years apart but remembered the feeling from the first one very well. I could not stop crying from the fear of thinking I had finally lost control.

Journaling may help you through the bumps in the road.  Whenever you have passed through the panic attack, write down in your journal the time, what you were doing at the time the attack occured and any foods or drinks which you took before.

Once you have written a certain situation and it's causes in your journal, then it is less likely for a panic attack  to occur under the same situation and causes again. 

Please know I am here for you and this is the place to vent and share your fears and frustrations.  Which reminds me, my anxiety goes up every time I play Trivia................

Thinking of you on this Valentines Day.

Kitt

Hang in there D.B. I think we are all having some struggles right now! I have been fighting big time....something in the cosmic atmosphere? Lol, but really keep up with the relaxation/breathing, I'm going to carve out some extra time for these today!!!

We can do this!;)
S.C.

Debaser,

The fear of having an attack like this during driving through a congested area, in my opinion, is rare because your other body defenses will kick in for the survival instinct. You feel it coming on but your defenses will get you to a safe area before it can take over or probably make it go away altogether. I have had these bad attacks for years and didn't understand what they were and they would freak me out and that made them worse. Now that I understand what they are, they aren't as intense. Although I do have my days and probably always will. You said you don't want to journal about them because you are afraid they will become cemented in your mind...they already are. None of us experience these frightful episodes without being able to recall them vividly. Journaling will help you deal with them, get the thoughts and emotions out there and help you release those fears. I hope you're feeling better.