I feel like I am the only person with SEVERE panic attacks

[JeepWoman]

I have suffered wit panic for as long as I can remember, it’s horrible, I can drive to work and around town probably a mile away from home is about all I can handle, I live like three blocks from my job I see a counselor and I’m on medications, but when I start to have a panic attack, I start to freak out and if I haven’t already taken a klonopin then I take one it’s the one definite that helps me feel somewhat normal, I could still never drive very far from my home. I have these horrible thoughts that come to my head and panic because I’m so scared that went on in my head basically fear of losing control I’m so scared my blood pressure has gone up, I feel so damaged

[AnxiousSilver]

Did you ever have a driving incident in the past that caused you panic?

[JeepWoman in reply to AnxiousSilver]

When I was 9 years old a lady babysitting me kind of pressured me into driving, because said her kids did it so reluctantly I did and I just remember seeing a pole and purposely running into it, no one was hurt really bad but two of the girls in the back of the truck were bleeding a bit and I just remember feeling shook up as well, I mean I guess I was going at a decent speed because it totaled the truck I wdont think I was going more that 25 but really don’t remember the speed

[Cheshire21]

Me too!!! This was actually my very first symptom. I had a random panic attack while driving back in 2014 where I felt like I couldn’t breathe and blacked out for a minute. Thankfully was able to pull over and have someone get me. But to this day I cannot drive anywhere unless I take a klonopin in the morning. Even with klonopin I still can’t drive on highways or over bridges. Bridges make me feel like the guard rails are closing in on me and highways I convince myself I’m going to have a panic attack again and wreck my car which of course puts me into an attack. I feel for you I really do. ❤️

[JeepWoman in reply to Cheshire21]

Your response has me in tears, I can’t believe other people feel like me, it’s such a horrible feeling, people that don’t have panic attacks tell me just do it, there’s nothing to it, I like to use something that maybe they can relate to, such as telling them imagine the thing that scares you the most in the world snakes, spiders etc and your deathly afraid of them and you are tied up and just have someone pour them all over your body, I explained my fear this way to my counselor and she was like ew no. People don’t understand some of us can’t control these things and your own mind can be your worst enemy ❤️

[Cheshire21 in reply to JeepWoman]

You are so right, people who have never experienced anxiety or panic attacks have no idea what it’s like and it’s very hard to explain to them. Please reach out if you need, and know you are not alone💕

[JeepWoman in reply to Cheshire21]

Thank you, I’m sorry you have to go through this but it feels comforting to know I’m not alone with this

[Adlon57]

I started panic attacks about six years ago, especially with directions, suddenly these wild absolute feelings maybe going through a door, I loose all sense of reasoning all sense of directions, heart rate goes up, Lisinopril for high blood pressure. I have juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, set off by worry and anxiety, I feel so scared and I am damaged!😣😒 I had a double seizure in 2018, which caused brain damage, I have had over 400 seizures since 1970, but those ones were set off by a mixture of panic attacks and new medication. I'm now diagnosed with terminal epilepsy, the panic attacks seems to be getting worse recently, although have not had a seizure since Dec. 2019 [but I can almost hear the reasoning in my brain, don't panic!]

[JeepWoman in reply to Adlon57]

Oh my goodness seizures on top of panic attacks, that is brutal, I take Lisinopril. Do you take anything for your panic attacks?

[Adlon57 in reply to JeepWoman]

Nope! I usually have auras before seizures, so that was an exception as on new medication for epilepsy, I've only had about six panic attacks, since 2016, but since 2021 realised that a bad panic attack, could in reality be fatal, by setting off a seizure, I had one 11th July after a MRI appointment, a slight one😒so I have to stay real cool the less pressure the better, I am in the process of full retirement, a distinct cool time!😎

[JeepWoman in reply to Adlon57]

I wish you the best!

[Adlon57 in reply to JeepWoman]

😎👍

[Adlon57 in reply to JeepWoman]

I take lisinopril for high blood pressure, but have had two panic attacks in last month, maybe will disappear in the relaxation of retirement and downsizing🤞moving from an area not noted for it's relaxing areas?

[secrets22]

Are you sure its panic attacks and not anxiety attacks? Many people have just one or two panic attacks in their lifetimes, and the problem goes away, perhaps when a stressful situation ends. But if you've had recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and spent long periods in constant fear of another attack, you may have a condition called panic disorder.

[JeepWoman in reply to secrets22]

It’s panic, it often comes on without any warning

[Peaceloving]

I hear you. I had pa if attacks and extreme gripping fears and anxiety about 30 years ago; a combination of things helped me to get rid of them, overcome my fear of flying, of riding metro etc. It took the right psychologist who asked the right questions and made me think and change some of my perceptions/beliefs.. He asked me tough questions, like “do you love your busband?” Or “does your mother love you?” Or “who is responsible for your life?” “What do you get from others by being sick?” (There is a theory that for some people it is easier to be sick than take responsibility for their lives). “Why do you think you need to continue to be sick?”, “what are you feeling now?” (I remember having difficulty identifying my true feelings- like rage, anger, grief, pain, etc)””what does. being an adult mean?” Everyone has a different story: I believe that a lot start in childhood- how we think about ourselves, what we think about life, how we learn (or don’t learn) to regulate emotions, how safe we felt growing up. Trust me- there are different ways for you to feel better and recover. Think about what recovery means to you. . I recently had life changing and anxiety provoking events and my scary thought started again… this time I decided to try DBT. Good luck! You will get better. It takes trust (in God and yourself) and hard work (looking into behavioral patterns, working with feelings of guilt and shame, etc) I remember my therapist asking me “what does REALLY” bother you?” -when I told him about my irrational fears. That question helped a lot to identify true feelings.

[JeepWoman in reply to Peaceloving]

Thank you for this, I feel hopeful

[Bill181]

Same here if I dnt get my anxiety down I get full blown panick you're not alone

[JeepWoman in reply to Bill181]

How do you get it down?

[Bill181 in reply to JeepWoman]

If I can walk I do it and I talk to myself in my head alot keep telling myself I have to bring it down because people in the world will need someone to guide those with same problems might sound dumb but I do that or simply play music from YouTube just sit and close my eyes I might smack my thigh here n there but it works for me

[JeepWoman]

Sometimes we’ll a lot actually it’s so hard to function when I work when the panic hits it’s so horrible

[history-nerd]

I cannot imagine, or maybe I can only imagine how horrible it is for you. I know how my mild panic attacks make me feel. I’m so sorry. I also get the difficulty in trying to explain it to someone who’s never had a panic attack. Back in March 2012 I went to a convention in Washington. I was in college at the time. I was 49 & in college, I say that because it is relative to my story. Anyway, I was at this convention with young women. I didn’t mind, I had great relationships with my classmates. So, me and another person decide to go to see the MLK memorial. Right before we got on the metro, I could feel the panic escalating in me & I didn’t have my meds. Tight & enclosed places will start an attack in seconds. I started telling my friend, I can’t do this I have to get off here. There we are in a place where I have to get back on the metro. I had no choice. They sat with me, and it turns out they had their meds with them. They gave me one & sat with me til I started to feel better. It meant the world to me that they understood. We were acquaintances before that, but since that time we’ve had this really tight bond. I have little in common with them, but the fact I understood them too… Sorry, I tend to go on & on…. My ADHD doesn’t help that either. Anyway, apologies.

[JeepWoman in reply to history-nerd]

You are good, I’m of course glad and sad that someone understands

[AnxiousCanadianChic]

I feel like this too. Both my parents had anxiety and my mom was REALLY bad(although I’m worse) and she wouldn’t drive outside our neighborhood(luckily she worked in the neighborhood). I always heard her talk about how dangerous driving is etc. and I never got my license. I know there are many anxious people in the world but I feel like mine is worse(and gets worse with age).

I went for an eye exam about 5 years ago and I didn’t take any anti anxiety meds because I had eye exams before and thought I knew what would happen and it was close to home. Well when I got to this new place, the optometrist informed me that they’d be doing the puff test and my anxiety went sky high. I did the test and was told my eye pressure was very high and I needed to get all sorts of other tests done. I was then ever more anxious and did the tests plus kept having to do the puff test too. He did all the tests and my optical nerve was perfectly fine and I again stated I had bad anxiety and he said ‘I’ve never had someone have high eye pressure due to anxiety’. I was then told to come back in 3 months.

I did not want to go back to him so I made an appointment at another place, told them what happened and asked if I could take Xanax before the tests and they said sure. I went for the test totally calm from Xanax and my pressure was 100% fine and has been since(I always take a Xanax now before an eye exam).

I feel like a freak sometimes with how bad my anxiety is and the issues it causes.

[JeepWoman in reply to AnxiousCanadianChic]

You’re not a freak, I believe everyone suffers from one thing or another, this is what was handed to us, unfortunately…..I hope you have a good day