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I couldn't breathe.

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Posted 3/8/2007 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
I think this is my first post in Anxiety - Panic Disorders forum.

I had a massive anxiety attack today and I just feel so sick now. Well first I had a scene flash in front of me (I call them flashes). I can't tell you what the scene was about because it breaks the rules, but it wasn't good. I suddenly couldn't breathe and my chest was so tight I thought my heart was going to come right out of my chest. I was in the car when my breathing got worse and my mum didn't really care, she just drove me to work. When I got to work it got worse and my boss told me to go sit down and take my inhaler. That didn't do much for me so I had to try really hard to get some breath. I found I could get a tiny bit of air, but not much. I tried really hard a breathing exercise that my therapist taught me. After two hours I could breathe more freely and it was a relief. Right now I am still feeling sore in my chest and my breathing is still not normal... but I can get some air... better than before... its just really annoying me. With big ones like this.. how long until you go back to normal? Does anyone else have flashes and then get an attack? I just feel like I am crazy having these flashes. I mean, I have flash backs too and they do the same thing... but this was the biggest attack yet... and it was because of a flash of a scene...kind of like a flash of lightening in the dark and you see the picture for two seconds and its like of a really horrible scene. Anyway, my psychiatrist just told me that they are very normal... everybody gets flashes so don't be afraid of them... um... yeah. So no use talking to her about them. I just want to know does that seem NORMAL to you? I feel like a freak.
Posted 3/8/2007 7:57 AM (GMT 0)
Since I'm not sure what you're talking about with these flashes, I can't tell you if I think they're "normal".

Personally, I have what I call "fleeting thoughts". Some of them are disturbing, of course, but I don't think I am disturbed. I think probably everyone has thoughts they probably wish they didn't have. If you're creative and have anxiety disorder, they could probably be extremely vivid. It doesn't mean you're a bad person. I'm not embarrassed to say I have weird thoughts from time to time, and I don't even let them bother me on a moral level. I can't control what my mind comes up with, after all. But at the same time, if the thoughts occur during a panic episode (which they often do) they can make it worse. That's the truth.

Anyway, in my experience psychiatrists really aren't for talking. Maybe that's because the only one I went to wasn't any good, I don't know, but for talking things out I'd think you'd want a psychologist. If you're having a lot of "flashbacks" or your thoughts are genuinely disturbing you, I think that you probably do need to talk about them.

As far as recovering from panic attacks goes, mine aren't focussed on my breathing and I rarely have chest pain. When mine manifest physically it's in the stomach. With those, it just depends on length or frequency. If I have a really long one or a series of intense ones, it could be many hours before I feel normal again. You, however, mentioned you had an inhaler...do you have asthma or COPD? My mom has that and she can be sore for DAYS after a bad attack. Breathing under those circumstances must be extremely difficult.

Best of luck to you.
Posted 3/8/2007 8:03 AM (GMT 0)

  Even today I still get flashbacks from being in a warzone but they don't cause me to go into a p/a but tend to put me in a defence mode but a realy hard p/a well take me day's to recope from it, feeling sick and worn out, and your not a freak as miny of us with this disorder manafest differant symptoms from it and triggers that cause p/a's

  And wecome to the P/A Forum

  Cowboy up

Posted 3/8/2007 8:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your replys and welcomes. I have depression as well as anxiety. I did talk to my counselor about the flashes and she told me to tell my psychiatrist. Thats when I got told they are normal. I guess I haven't explained them properly, and I am sorry. They are like a hallucination... but not... but kind of. They aren't in my head, they are happening right in front of me. Anyway I can't explain properly so I'll just leave it. I do have mild asthma but its not bad usually. It was horrible not being able to breathe, but I am glad I can breathe a bit better now. Anyway thanks again for your replies, and sorry I can't explain it too well.
Posted 3/8/2007 8:36 AM (GMT 0)

  Thanks Willow but when I have flashbacks it like I'm right back in the middle of it and it is hard to tell it like it is but I do hope that thinks do get better for you and keep us posted so we can help you to learn more on dealing with your anxiety and P/A's

  Cowboy up

Posted 3/8/2007 9:34 AM (GMT 0)

  Willow do you need to talk as I see that you are on and off line?

  Cowboy up

Posted 3/9/2007 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks freezinginAK...

Its the next day now...I am still feeling ill today after all this and I am just so down today... but hopefully things get better soon.
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