Multiple Daily Panic Attacks

[wilftex1989]

Hello all,

I new to this group. Long story short, in the past 2 weeks I have been suffering with multiple daily panic attacks. Before the past 2 weeks I have had 2 panic attacks my whole life and now they are consuming me. I went to the hospital about a week ago convinced I was having a heart attack. They gave me an ECG, Chest X-ray and ran blood tests. All came back normal. I then went to my GP who has booked me in for some more tests as they want to rule everything out. In the meantime I have referred myself to a psychotherapist and will begin meeting with them next week.

I’m just really scared all the time of when my next attack will come. I struggle to tell myself it’s a panic attack and convince myself it’s a heart attack. Even now I’m still not sure I believe it’s not to do with my heart, but I know that’s just my mind playing tricks on me.

I’ve been very emotional, and crying daily which is not something I’m comfortable with and it’s the 1st time my gf of 4 years has seen me cry.

I just want it to stop and go back to normal. I feel bad for my gf as she doesn’t deserve this.

I just wanted to eat everything out there in the hope there are some people to talk to.

Thanks

Tom

[Jeff1943]

You've got yourself into a bit of a state, Tom. Have you been under a lot of strain or pressure recently? That's what normally causes our nerves to become over sensitised and produce all these anxiety symptoms such as panic attacks.

You've been thoroughly checked over by the medics and they say you're fine. Believe them. They want to medical school for 3 or 4 years, you didn't. It's clear from what you say that you know in your heart it's not your heart.

Panic attacks can't kill you, disable you or send you crazy. They just frighten you half to death for their duration. They're caused when our nerves become highly sensitised through too much stress and worry.

Best thing to do is not to fight the feeling, that just causes more nervous sensitivity. Best thing is to accept it for the time being. That's right, accept it. But accept it without adding second fear to first fear. You see, panic attacks are all about fear, the fear we keep flooding our system with that causes more panic attacks causing more fear causing more panic attacks. Accept the attacks without fear and the attacks stop coming. Your nervous system has ceased to be over sensitive. That's how it works Tom. So next time you feel the wobbles coming on just accept them and release nature's own tranquillisers by slowly breathing in through your nose, hold it 5 seconds, then slowly breathe out through pursed lips. Repeat it slowly for a few minutes.

These panic attacks will pass. So long as you don't fight them and agree to accept them fearlessly. That's the story.