is every panic attack different for each person?

[robert629]

So I have a question for everybody out there, and I think there would be a lot of people interested in everyone's response. My question to everyone is, can you post what your panic attack feels like? Mine is definitely hard to put into words. The reason why I am posting this question is to see if these are really panic attacks that I am having, and to see if anyone else has had the same symptoms. My doctor diagnosed me with anxiety a long time ago, about 15 years ago, but I refuse to take any meds, and I also have a very hard time accepting physical symptoms and chalking it up "anxiety" or "panic attacks." Last night was a nightmare and I fought every urge to not go to the emergency room. So I was laying on the couch on my back watching some tv, when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I felt like a thump, just a single thump in my chest and heart area, and it felt like my body was going to shut down on me. Then I had like a cold flushing feeling through my body, and it was like I felt it moving thru my body from my head to my toes. I tried to get up and walk it off and just couldn't seem to shake the feeling. This was at about 9:00pm. On top of all this, I started having really bad palpitations, ones that would kind of jolt my body if that makes any sense. So at about 10:00pm, I decided to go upstairs and lay down to try and sleep it off. I was finally able to fall asleep, but still woke up in the middle of the night having palpitation. I finally woke up this morning and felt ok, and had no more palpitations which in turn, relieved my anxiety. But I am definitely terrified about lying down again tonight and trying to go to sleep.

Like I said earlier, I'm not totally convinced that this was an anxiety or a panic attack, and if it was, why do other ones sound so much worse than mine? I read a post earlier about a guy that had to have the ambulance come and others that hyperventilate during panic attacks. Does each person maybe have different symptoms?

I look forward to reading everyone's response

Robert

[alliew]

when i have an anxiety attack i can normally feel it coming a bit because i will begin to feel very overwhelmed. my thoughts will be racing, and i'll start to feel like it's hard to breathe. i get a huge adrenaline rush, which around other people means that i get the "fight-or-flight" response, ending in me doing anything i can to get myself alone (often thinking someone might see me having one makes it even worse). i've never had to go to the hospital but i do have trouble breathing and may hyperventilate sometimes. i also typically curl myself up into a ball and will rock back and forth, none of my physical movements feel voluntary while i'm in the middle of one.

i hope that helped. i don't have the worst attacks, i know some people have it worse than i do, so i know where you're coming from. but if you think it was an anxiety attack it probably was, i would go see a licensed professional to talk about it with.

[Kirk]

Welcome to the forum. Panic attack symptoms can vary for each individual.
Palpitations can happen for no reason and once you get anxious about them,
they can worsen.

[aml0017]

Attacks can vary for each person but your experience is quite similar to mine. I tend to get palpitations a lot, especially when I am lying down. It feels like my heart but per my doctor it may actually be a spasm of the esophogeal sphincter above the stomach (makes sense because I do have issues with acid reflux). But I get that strange cold flush as well then my heart starts pounding a mile a minute and I may feel dizzy and get tunnel vision, tingling/numbing sensation in my hands and ringing in my ears. It never gets better it is always terrifying but now after so many years I am always aware of the fact that it is just anxiety, even in the most terrible moments. I do have issues with panic attacks at night. I am very good at coping with (or ignoring?) my anxiety during the day but if I have a bad night's sleep or bad dreams it will wake me up. I find the only thing is to distract myself by reading/watching tv/even just getting out of the bedroom.

The problem with nighttime anxiety is it often becomes a self perpetuating anxiety. You are already primed to be anxious about going to sleep, so the minute you lie down the anxiety starts to escalate, even if you felt totally relaxed before then. Even if you are able to fall asleep easily, you may wake again in the middle of the night or sleep fitfully. And so on and on.... I find I start a relaxing bedtime ritual, like a warm bath and some sleepytime tea. Then I watch tv for a while and read until I just can't keep my eyes open. I find reading especially distracts my mind from my thoughts.

[careyon]

Wow that must be a horrible experience. I actually have not had a panic attack. But my daughter did at a very young age. She became very distraught, shaking and breathing quickly. It only really happened to her once. I know this isn't much help. Sounds like you should visit your Dr. again. Praying for your healing

[tlonist]

Yes, they seem to vary quite a bit. For some people it's a heart thing, others it's a breathing thing, other it's a cerebral experience.

There are a wide range of experiences for sure. I've had them a few different ways. See a CBT therapist if it continues. It will help condition you to accepting and moving through the symptoms.

[save_adopt]

Mine go like this...

Nauseous feeling or twinge in throat. Gagging. Heart starts racing as i try to stop heaving. Arms and legs go numb and tingly. Wave of cold and i start shaking. breathing gets difficult and i have to Force myself to breathe. Tunnel vision and losing most Of my focus on everything. Muscles stiffen and i cant move my fingers easily. Afterwards im exhausted and super tired.

[Boo Bass]

You'll find coping strategies for panic attacks somewhere on this forum.

They are horrible but always end after a few minutes.

If they continue see your doctor. There doesn't have to be any reason for them.

[Nowuccas]

Hey Robert,

Although everyone is unique, and may experience some symptoms of panic attacks that differ, one of the factors in common is the time limit of the effect of adrenaline hormonal stimulation, which is around 25 minutes.

From a previous post:

"There are some differences between anxiety and panic attacks. While books are written on this topic, the following will attempt to summarize some basics here for a brief overview".

Anxiety Attacks:
An anxiety attack, sometimes referred to as a panic attack, is an unforeseen periods or incidents where there is a sudden fright or fear of intense proportions. These attacks focus on fears that are most often not rational; however the person with the disorder believes he or she is in terrible danger or at extreme risk. Most often these anxiety attacks occur all of a sudden; i.e. they are not planned nor do they come with any type of warning mechanism built in for advance action. Results are that
the person suffering the attack will feel about to faint or near death's door. People who suffer anxiety attacks report the following symptoms, listed in no particular order:
Discomfort or pain in the chest, Vertigo or
Dizziness, Upset stomach / Nausea, Loss of
Control, Loss of Mental Stability, Stress,
Cold or hot flashes Heart palpitations or
near heart attack, Shallow breathing, Shakes / Trembling.
Anxiety disorder is characterized as having anxiety feelings that are "always there / all inclusive," make people want to isolate themselves from society and hamper everyday activities with others.

Panic Attacks:
On the other hand, a panic attack does not carry with it that "always there" association. In fact, panic episodes generally burst forth, peaking after roughly 10 minutes or so, then ending after about 25 minutes. During a panic attack, 4 of the symptoms listed below (in no particular order) generally make an appearance:
Hyperventilation, Shallow breathing, even to the point of
suffocation sensation...
Increased heart rates Tightness of chest, Chest pain or discomfort,
Shakes / Trembling / Sweating Choking
sensation, Upset Stomach / Nausea Vertigo,
Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations),
Surreal feelings, Loss of Control, especially
of mental faculties, Death coming on, Numbing,
Cold or hot flashes.

The Difference:
The main difference between anxiety attacks and panic attacks is in the duration of the attack and how intense it is for the person with the affliction. While anxiety attacks are less hi-stress, they tend to last longer than the power-packed panic stressors".

If panic, learn an anti-panic breathing method before another attack, so you are proficient.

Advice from a clinical psychologist about panic attacks is to breathe in to the count of 3: ( count: one thousand one; one thousand two; one thousand three) each takes around a second to say to yourself, in your mind, and out to the count of 3. Keep repeating this until the panic subsides, (up to 25 minutes) which will deal with the hyperventilation aspect. Learn to recognise the thoughts which trigger attacks; challenge and reprogram as shown*.

Also learn, and employ either Progressive Muscle Relaxation ( http://www.drcoxconsulting.com/managing-stress.html ) or acupressure tapping / EFT, whichever you find most effective.

Give the Meridian Tapping Technique / EFT a good tryout, to see if it helps you. It is free via mercola.com or www.tapping.com (13 free videos), or www.eftuniverse.com or www.emofree.com or one of the many YouTube videos. Google: "YouTube; EFT videos".
Professionally instructed is generally preferable (Google: therapists; EFT; [your location] ). - There is a version for use in public places at http://eft.mercola.com (if you like, you can claim to have a headache, as you employ the acupressure massage / tapping on your temples, but you would then be restricted to subvocalising: saying it to yourself in your mind: "Even though I suffer from anxiety / panic attacks, I deeply and completely accept myself)."

* REPROGRAMMING:
Use the Technique for Reprogramming Negative Thoughts: It's important to regularly monitor, and deal with a negative internal monologue (self talk), or mental process, such as disturbing thoughts, images, impulses, or emotions, by the process of (a): recognising it, and (b): challenging it immediately. Technique For Re-Programming Negative Thoughts: When you notice something negative, such as: "I can't do this/ am never going to get over this!" or: "Why am I always so useless/such a loser?" or even an image, emotion, or a memory; recognise that it is being generated from the negative part of your mind.

After identifying and labelling it, visualise a large, red, flashing, "STOP!" sign, and/or possibly a stern faced person wagging an index finger at you in a negative manner, then say to yourself as forcefully as you can, even aloud in a big voice, if alone: "I know this tactic: GO AWAY FOR A WHILE !!!" You may want to use either: "ruse", "ploy", "game", or "trick". In the case of an image, visualise a large "STOP" sign, or your preferred version.

Some people go so far as to keep a wide rubber band in their pocket, then put it around their wrist, when they catch themselves backsliding, stretch and release it, as a method of reprogramming their mind sooner, but I don't regard it as being strictly necessary. Remember to remove it, afterwards, if you use this method. Try replacing a negative thought with a positive affirmation of your choice, like: "I am a unique individual, with my own set of skills, and good points", or "I may not be perfect, but I'm doing the best I can, right now".

I'm aware of the opinion that inflicting pain doesn't prevent fear, but the intention is to reprogram, and establish a different way of thinking, by commitment to repetition. It usually takes around 25 to 40 repetitions to establish a new habit.

"Even if we have some vague idea that we are not our feelings or our thoughts, when we are experiencing painful feelings or painful thoughts, we believe we have to feel them or think them just because of the fact that they are occurring to us. But painful feelings can be indirectly controlled by physical action, and changing our present thoughts for different thoughts (since feeling occurs as a result of thinking.) Painful thoughts can be directly controlled by choosing replacement thoughts for the ones that are troubling us. Sure, it takes some practice to change a habit. But it can be done. Of course it can't be done if we choose to believe that it can't be done. But, since the choice is ours, why not choose to believe it can be done, and do it?"

Read: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think by Dennis Greenberger and Christine Padesky, & Change Your Thinking by Sarah Edelman, & "Feeling Good." The New Mood Therapy. Harper Collins.1999. ( updated sequel to his US bestseller about treating depression & anxiety; very comprehensive), by David D. Burns, M.D. Hypnosis is merely a heightened state of suggestibility, in which you are better able to communicate with your subconscious mind; view http://myfavoriteinterests.com/hypnosis/ about what it is, and isn't. 85% of people are suggestible to some degree; 15% - 20% highly so, and 15% - 20% aren't much at all, so you could either preferably seek professional hypnotherapy, or, if not an option, hypnosisdownloads.com has one about stopping negative thoughts.

Check out http://www.wikihow.com/wikiHowTo?search=stop+negative+thoughts such as: "How to Get Rid of Negative Thoughts: 9 Steps", & "How to Use Switchwords to Clear Negative Thoughts: 5 Steps".

"I cannot always control what goes on outside. But I can always control what goes on inside" - Dr. Wayne Dyer*.

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"The Quick Guide to Stopping Panic Attacks", (by another forum member) is at http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?9512-The-Quick-Guide-to-Stopping-Panic-Attacks&highlight=admin

[Kirk]

Sometimes I feel anxious or uneasy with no warning. I believe my feelings are caused by fatigue or symptoms
that I have such as dizziness, etc.