Need to know I'm not alone...

[JJ1980]

How do you feel when your having a panic attack???

[Lakewolf]

For me, it starts with severe lightheadedness, progressing to chest pain and trouble breathing.

Everybody’s different, though.

[JJ1980 in reply to Lakewolf]

I get shakey and lightheaded then my mind won't stop telling me something bad is going to happen to me! It is so scary!!!

[Lakewolf in reply to JJ1980]

That’s a panic attack, all right.

The biggest indicator is the sense of dread. I overcame that early on, but it took me over a decade to manage the panic attacks so that it didn’t interfere with my day to day life.

[JJ1980 in reply to Lakewolf]

How did you manage it?

[Lakewolf in reply to JJ1980]

I am unique, so I’m going to tell you first to NOT do it.

I made my panic attacks worse..which short-circuited them.

[Strongheartforever]

You’re likely magnesium deficient. And the anxiety also comes from the mind giving you a distorted picture of a future which doesn’t exist. Deep breathing floods the brain with oxygen and brings you back into the present and your body. The future doesn’t exist and going there is an illusion that doesn’t serve you. I go to YouTube and put on a video of a guru to get me into a good headspace. Louise Hay, Christiane Northrup, Mel Robbins, Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, Zig Zigler, Dave Ramsey, Tony Robbins, TedTalks, Master class, subliminal hypnosis, lots of good self-help there.

[JJ1980 in reply to Strongheartforever]

Thank you!!

[kvolm2016]

For me it's the mind racing and feeling like I can't catch my breath. Thankfully I have learned to use controlled breathing and capturing the thoughts to reshape them. Is this a new thing you are experiencing?

[JJ1980 in reply to kvolm2016]

No. I have been struggling with this for years and has become worse since my divorce and all the change. I don't do well with change

[kvolm2016 in reply to JJ1980]

And I hope you know that change, and especially a significant change like a divorce, is such a common cause for anxiety released through panic attacks. Before the divorce, how were you able to recognize and handle an attack?

[JJ1980 in reply to kvolm2016]

I didn't have any attacks before the divorce. The last times were after my kids were born

[kvolm2016 in reply to JJ1980]

Sorry I misunderstood. Do you know what the trigger was when you had them before?