Turn it all on it's head...

[Calm_mama]

My teen daughter's friend just came over and told us a story.

Last night, she was walking down the street with her friend, a boy she's had a crush on for awhile. She was feeling a little on edge, but all of a sudden, she felt completely strange. Her heart was racing, she was having trouble thinking, she was sure she might faint, and she felt outside of herself, looking down. Her legs went weak, she couldn't feel her body, then she started feeling like she couldn't breathe. She was completely nauseous, and she felt like she might pee her pants.

These feelings dissipated, but some didn't completely leave her. She barely slept and continued to feel this way. Even today she is still feeling a little "out of body" and nauseous. She also feels like she can't eat. She hasn't eaten since yesterday.

Panic attack?

No. She took the plunge and kissed her crush. She's got all these feelings yet she's grinning, ear to ear. Literally floating around our house.

Is a panic attack really what you think it is? What makes it so different from a thrilling, exciting experience? Is it the interpretation of what's happening, and how sudden it comes on? Is it the scary thoughts that initiate it sometimes?

Maybe a few slight distinctions, but we can put those in the right perspective, I think. There's actually very little difference.

Start having different panic attacks. Thrilling ones. Exciting ones. Imagine you are kissing your crush when one starts up. Imagine something else that's equally thrilling and exciting. A roller coaster ride, an airplane jump, a solo free climb. This is one way in which you can stop fearing your panic attacks and believe me, you'll start to feel so much better.

Turn it all on it's head...

[Addds]

Love this! Thanks for sharing!

[Hidden]

Some schools of thought hold anxiety is just misguided excitement.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

The physiological reaction to "excitement" and "anxiety" is identical. The fight or flight phase consists of a sympathetic nervous system response, raised heart rate, deeper breathing, peripheral arterial shut down, (pale cold clammy skin), dilated pupils etc. The adaptation phase, release of hormones norepinephrine and cortisone.

Whether this is subjectively experienced as excitement or fear is how the situation that triggers it is interpreted.

I've little experience of panic attacks myself. One of the signs is hyperventilation which could cause dizziness and nausea. Since your daughters friends experience was clearly triggered by a specific event suggests it may have been an acute stress response though not necessarily a panic attack.

That she had symptoms for a while after is a little worrying but possible.

If it should happen again for no obvious reason, then sure, she should get a medical check.

[Calm_mama in reply to Hidden]

Hi Myrs31!

Thanks for your response! There's nothing to worry about The girl is on cloud 9! I'm illustrating a point. These types of observations have helped me to challenge my thinking about anxiety (and all it's offshoots and manifestations). I'm putting it out there for others to consider- A panic attack is physiologically the same thing as excitement, just ill-timed and misinterpreted. People recover from panic and anxiety when they start to see their symptoms differently and lose the fear of them. Panic IS fear of fear. There's no need to fear fear. Just start seeing your fear differently! It's just like excitement!

Ps she really did have ALL these symptoms. She was a *little* nervous, but mostly just consumed with excitement and anticipation

[Hidden in reply to Calm_mama]

OK, thanks for sharing. Your posts are very helpful. Hope the romance goes well.

[Clue]

This was an adorable story thanks for sharing.

[Anxietyst]

Sounds wonderful