Sudden Attacks

[MrsM4]

I periodically have these dramatic panic attacks that I call death attacks.
The first time it happened I thought I was having a heart attack, the ER doctors hooked me up to heart machines and said I was fine but never have me any information that it could possibly be panic attacks. My heart races, chest is on fire, hands shake, I'm dizzy, feel like I'm dyin. Every symptom even remotely related to panic attacks I have at once.
The problem is they come when I'm calm. I have had a lot if stress as a young adult, most I couldn't overcome emotionally, but my current life is pretty peaceful. If I'm upset about something, I usually react at the time. Sometimes in a rational way and sometimes not at all.
But these attacks come on when I'm just relaxing watching tv or doing my make up or sitting with friends.
I'm confused and want them to end.

[sez]

Hi, what are you thinking before and during these attacks sometimes its hard to pinpoint and remember what you were thinking right before it happened but it may help if you can try to do this the next time it happens make a mental note of what your thoughts were. Also what do you notice first? As in first symptom heart beating fast?

[MrsM4]

Actually I'm not thinking anything.
I'm a stressed out busy mom of two kids in a total of 5 sports and a husband who relies on me for food and water and changes of clothes.
I feel completely normal if I'm running haggard or yelling about cleats in the tub, they happen at times in watching tv, or playing a game on my phone or once when I was shaping my eye brows alone in the bathroom completely calm.
The first symptom is I feel hot, like very sweaty. Then I need to keep using the restroom because I feel like I need to pee.
Then my heart starts thumping really bad and I get dizzy and ten minutes later it's full panic where I know on the outside I'm not dying but I have trouble telling the inside me. And when I have them I check my pulse like every minute. ;(
I can never stop checking my pulse when I'm having an attack.

[sez]

Perhaps your brain is now conditioned to set off this chain of events whenever you feel a little bit hot its amazing what the brain can do. how we think determins how we feel. So maybe you notice you feel a little bit hot then you subconsciously or consciously think oh no this is a panic attack and you know how that goes so your body makes it all happen as your body thinks its something to fear kicking off your adrenalin. You would probably really benefit from some talking therapy maybe CBT, I myself have been seeing a registered hypnosis and CBT practitioner and I find it really helpful. I think the key is distracting yourself as soon as you notice the first symptom whether that is feeling hot or thinking 'I might feel hot' distractions could be breathing exercises, word games in your head or repeating a statement to yourself my statement is 'I am calm and comfortable' you need to say it to yourself in a convincing way (in your head not out loud). But next time you have one maybe try letting go and observing it that way you may not be as afraid of it and instead find it interesting and try to see what thoughts are going round your head at the time.

You may also want to look at reducing some of the stress in your life though aswell cause some people seem to think that anxiety is caused by a build up of stress be nice to yourself and let yourself relax if you feel you need to!

[MrsM4]

Ok. I will, thank up!!