3. You’re scared you will have them numerous times a day:
When I was 14 I started to notice chest pains on the left side of my body and for sure thought I had a heart condition. My mom took me to the ER many times to try to figure out what the cause was. All my test results would come back normal. It wasn’t until my grandfather passed away that I realized my chest pains were caused by upsetting situations. ( I won’t go into detail of all of them but those were the causes.)
With all these situations happening, I wasn’t able to take care of myself or my stresses so they bottled up and caused severe anxiety and panic attacks. I would start breathing heavy. I wasn’t able to focus on anything that was going on around me and my chest would be come tight and painful. My heart would race as if I just ran a mile. My head would get dizzy and sometimes I would start crying depending on what situation was happening. One got so bad that I passed out and still woke up gasping for air.
These attacks would last an hour to a few days depending on the level of stress the situation caused me. I always felt like I couldn’t turn my brain off at night which is when they mostly occurred.
I made an appointment with my doctor and told her about me passing out and her about past attacks and what caused them. She decided to put me on some anti-depressant and anxiety medication to help control my symptoms.
I also tried seeing some therapists but none were successful.
I have since weened off all medications but I still struggle with it everyday. My husband and father have taught me some breathing techniques they had learned through karate training. I have also picked up Yoga which has helped.
It is difficult living day to do with it but It’s all about how you manage it.
4. You feel absolutely trapped:
My first one I had was probably the most severe. I thought I was having a heart attack. My chest felt tight and I couldn’t breathe. I went kinda numb on one side of my body.
Now I can always feel them come and I will do breathing exercises. I also have a watch that tracks my heart rate so I can focus on that and watch my heart rate slowly go back to normal.
I don’t get them as much anymore but I was getting them 2, sometimes 3 a week. I was prescribed Xanex at one point to help with my anxiety.
Panic disorders and anxiety are treatable, but, they are also not curable. Psychotherapy and medications have both been used to help treat patients either combined or separately. Relaxation techniques can further help someone get through an attack, as well.