Dealing with panic attacks

[Leavic]

Hi everyone

2 years ago, I suffered with health anxiety. After some councilling, it did seem to go away. Last year it came back for a short while but it wasn't as intense as before.

2 weeks ago, my dad nearly passed away by anathalactic shock (he's fine now thank goodness), and this has set off my anxiety again, quite badly. Only this time, it has come with panic attacks.

I have had some mild ones in the past...it feels a little harder to breathe, my chest hurts a little and I become all clammy and sweaty and hot. A few days ago I had one which terrified me. I was driving and I was on my way to a camping trip so I felt calm but excited. It came out of nowhere. I couldn't seem to catch my breath, so this panicked me a little, because I thought, there's something wrong with me. Then my heart started beating really fast and I could almost feel it in my chest. Then I became really hot. And clammy again, and what scared me the most is my whole body just started tingling and felt a bit pins and needly, even on my tongue. The whole time, I thought I was having some sort of heart attack or stroke. I pulled over and waited till it finished. Afterwards I was a bit shaky and took a propranolol.

Now these past couple days, I have been at work and all of a sudden, I will feel a bit weird again, like the beginning of a panic attack, but then it dies down. But this panics me even more. I think in the back of my mind, I am scared to have a panic attack again, so it's almost like I am giving myself a panic attack. Then because my heart beats faster and my chest starts to hurt, I think I'm having a heart attack!! It's a vicious circle.

Does anybody else experience something similar to this? And what do you to calm yourself?

Thank you

[JAYnLA]

Hi Leavic. The experience you're having is very common and, believe it or not, it's not dangerous at all. The best advice I can give you is to find the books by Dr. Claire Weekes about anxiety and panic. Her audiobooks laid the foundation of my understanding in regard to anxiety. Understanding can be the foundation of your recovery. Thanks for posting.

[Leavic in reply to JAYnLA]

I will look at these books, thanks so much

[surber17]

You said that the thought of having a panic attack ends up giving you a panic attack. That is exactly what I’m dealing with right now! Mine happens at work when dealing with high level executives. I am terrified that I’m going to have a panic attack while in a presentation.

[Leavic in reply to surber17]

Yeah it's horrible... Or my heart starts pounding and I start mentally preparing myself for a panic attack... I'm going to my mums 50th party next weekend and I'm really looking forward to it and not anxious about the party at all but anxious that I will be anxious!! And then having a panic attack!!