Panic attack

[Blue]

A panic attack is a period of intense, often temporarily debilitating, sense of extreme fear or psychological distress, typically of abrupt onset. Though it is often a purely terrifying feeling to the sufferer, panic attacks are actually an evolutionary body response often known as the fight-or-flight response occurring out of context. Symptoms may include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest pain (or chest tightness), sweating, nausea, dizziness (or slight vertigo), light-headedness, hyperventilation, paresthesias (tingling sensations), and sensations of choking, smothering and dreamlike and disconnected sensations. During a panic attack, the body typically releases large amounts of adrenaline into the bloodstream. Many first time sufferers of a panic attack believe they are dying, going insane or having a heart attack. Many say panic attacks are among the most frightening experiences of their lives. Repeated and seemingly unprovoked panic attacks may be a sign of panic disorder, but panic attacks are associated with other anxiety disorders as well. For example, people who suffer from phobias may experience panic attacks upon exposure to certain triggers. People with panic disorder often can be successfully treated with therapy and/or anti-anxiety medication or antidepressants.

More Info & Souce:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack

[CrazyDog]

My first panic attack was while I was in college. I was sitting in class listening to a lecture and my heart starting racing, felt as if I was choking, and that I was most certainly going to die. It was the only time that I left class while it was in session. My panic attacks usually last over an hour, although the norm is supposedly about 15 minutes.

[lefty]

I know I have just joined and am already posting like crazy, please forgive me if this is annoying...

I can remember one of my first panic attacks happening when I was in 4th grade. I was so scared I tried to explain to my teacher and it ended up with my teacher calling child services and the police and all kinds of horrible stuff. Seems she thought I was being sexually abused. I suppose that is why that attack sticks out most in my mind. I cannot remember a time in my life ever that i haven't had panic attacks. Unfortunately, I never knew what they were until about 2 years ago when I started seeing my pdoc. Mostly I was just humiliated on top of being terrified by the actual attack because I thought I was some sort of freak.

You know what, rereading that made me remember a panic attack I had when I was about 5. For some reason I had this horrible idea that my mom was going to get taken away in an ambulance and I can remember standing there for so long so scared I couldn't even move. I even pictured the whole (imagined) incident so vividly at the time that I can still remember it.

[CrazyDog]

Having your first panic attack in the 4th grade must have been terrifying! I am glad you and your pdoc are sorting this out.

[[[Hugs]]]
CrazyDog

[Alx B]

Yep, thought I was having a heart attack the first time I had a full on panic attack- Bloody scarey!!!
One thing I've learnt in counselling, which I have found very useful, is that panic attacks are usually associated with there being too much oxygen in the blood stream (It's part of the body preparing for the "fight or flight" response apparently). This means that if you can reduce this excess of oxygen when you start to become aware that an attack may be on it's way, you can quite often head the attack of, or at least calm things down a bit.
The two ways which were mentioned to me were to: go and do some vigorous exercise, or to hold your breath for as long as feels comfortable; either of these will reduce the oxygen levels in your blood, and should help prevent the onset of a full on panic attack.
Hope that's some help to someone!

[ithurtz]

The first I knew I had a panic attack when I felt like I was choking on a lump in my throat that just would not go away no matter what. I thought I was getting a cold but it felt sort of different as well. I couldn't believe it when she tried me on Valium and it helped it. I was getting hiccups because I was breathing so weird because of it.

A blood pressure test was done and indicated a problem there as well.

I was prescribed Effexor and have not really looked back.

[Blue]

The first I knew I had a panic attack when I felt like I was choking on a lump in my throat that just would not go away no matter what. I thought I was getting a cold but it felt sort of different as well. I couldn't believe it when she tried me on Valium and it helped it. I was getting hiccups because I was breathing so weird because of it.

A blood pressure test was done and indicated a problem there as well.

I was prescribed Effexor and have not really looked back.

I had the same thing once, except the lump would not go away, I thought I had cancer or something , so I went to the Doctor and he referred me to a throat specialist who put a tube down my nose.... all was clear ... but looking back now that lump in my throat feeling was just a form of severe anxiety which lasted for weeks, it was horrible!

I take effexor and yes it is great I reckon ... also take seroquel and xanax for panic attacks, but I have not needed xanax for ages which is great!

[ithurtz]

Thankfully they started me on Valium without having a whole lot of physical tests. The doctor said I was case book if ever she had seen it and it worked. When it seemed that it was going to be ongoing, they changed me to Effexor and I have not regretted it at all.