Symptoms

[jessicab]

Hello all! I have been suffering from panic attacks for ten years. They used to be infrequent, but did the last nine months, it's almost a daily struggle. My main symptom involves my throat. It feels stuffy, tight, swollen and like its closing up. This tightness causes my panic to be more severe, as I am worried my throat will close up. It never does. Anyone else have this issue?

[DragonLilly]

Hello Jessica and welcome!

I used to get panic attacks on a daily basis too, it's awful! Anyway I haven't had the experience of my throat feeling swollen like you but I do get the feeling I can't breathe and that I am going to pass out, and just like yourself I end up freaking out about it and end up making it worse! :blush:

One thing to look into though if you are worried is asthma. Asthma can be triggered by stress and can cause the throat to close up and make it hard to breathe. I have asthma and on occasion my stress does sets it off, though most of the time it's all in my head and I just have to calm the heck down! XD

Obviously you can speak to your doctor about ways to manage this but in the meantime why not try a few tactics to help you have piece of mind! One idea might be to carry lozenges with you that can help your throat, they don't hurt you so it may help you overcome the fear. Second is to breathe slow and deep, if it were asthma this should help as it gives you more air even with limited breath, not to mention it helps calm the body.
Even if it turns out to be the panic that creates this feeling it doesn't hurt to try a few things to help you calm down and feel less freaked out. I do things like this all the time to help my stress. :)

Well good luck and hopefully you will manage those pesky panic attacks over time! ^^

[jessicab]

Thank you! I have been to the throat doctor and an allergist. I do have sever allergies, but my panic attacks never start until I am aware of my throat. When I don't think, it's fine. But that's the hard part, I always think about my throat.

[DragonLilly]

I know the feeling! I get seizures from stress... and me freaking out about having a seizure gives me a seizure because I'm stressing out so much. I can't win! XD

It can be hard because it's like: Is it all in my head or do I have a serious health problem?
I personally want to calm down but I don't want to find out later I have been ignoring something serious so I begin to panic and pester my doctor. I swear they think I am a hypochondriac some times cause I'm always getting things checked out. I guess I just need the satisfaction that I'm ok. *shrugs* :)

[jessicab]

I also go to the doctor a ton to get reassurance about my throat. I'm flying tomorrow and stressing tonight because I am scared I'll have a panic attack on the plane and be stuck. It's awful.

[DragonLilly]

I have to say I am terrified of planes and flying. So you have my luck cause I would probably be freaking too!

Good luck and have a safe trip! :)

[BexterBlue]

It sounds like it could be a touch of hypochondria. I should know. Over the last 8 years, I've been dying from everything from swine flu to polio to rabies. Your mind can play horrible tricks on you. Looks like you need to take a deep breath and remind yourself that as many times as it has happened before, you are always okay.

[jessicab]

I have horrible hypochondria. I look at issues onljne about the throat and think everyone of them is happening to me. I recently started seeing a psychologist. I hope it helps.

[karbear]

I am a 34 year old Mother of three beautiful children, two girls and a boy. I have been suffering from panic and anxiety attacks for 8 years now. I have been seeing a therapist not only for my panic attacks and my anxiety disorder. I am totally convinced that anxiety and Panic attacks cannot cause how I'm feeling. I get dizzy lightheaded feel like I am going to pass out unreal feeling I feel like I have a brain tumor or something is really wrong with me mentally. I just can't understand how I can be feeling so good and Bam all of a sudden it hits me and I am dizzy and lightheaded shaky feel like I'm going crazy...