Are your symptoms always the same?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-2004
Are your symptoms always the same?
10
Fri, 10-06-2006 - 3:00pm
For those of you who have panic/anxiety attacks in this chapter of your life do you always have the same symptoms and do symptoms always come on in a specific order? For me sometimes I get this panicky urge coming up from my abdomen that rises up into my chest and kicks off difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, panic. Other times it starts in the throat with things tightening up and can escalate to horrible other stuff including hyperventilation symptoms, nausea, derealization, depersonalization, etc. Sometimes I might not be having a "panic attack" all out but all the sudden my insides feel like they are heavy and "slow" and my whole body feels numb out of the blue and this comes with derealization or depersonalization. Are these different things or the same thing acting differently? Anyone have any ideas?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Fri, 10-06-2006 - 5:45pm

I just wanted to say that you seem to *know* when a panic attack is coming on.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Fri, 10-06-2006 - 7:57pm
 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Fri, 10-06-2006 - 9:00pm

hi there,


it sounds like we have a lot of the same symptoms.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2006
Fri, 10-06-2006 - 9:48pm
I rarely get full on panic attacks but just have all out panic type symptoms all day. Dizzy and anxious etc. Xanax has been my savior
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-28-2004
Fri, 10-06-2006 - 11:21pm

Hi,

I was just recently diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety and haven't really considered that I have panic attacks, although my symptoms do vary. Somedays, I just feel so overwelmed and somewhat hopeless that I feel almost confused and can't concentrate. If I am further pressured, then I'll get irritable and snap at just about anything.

Other days, I'll feel really restless and almost wired, but problems are running over and over through my head without reaching a solution or an emotional release. On these days, I feel just so incredibly cranky, like every little thing just annoys the heck out of me and makes me think of other bigger problems. (Like I'll get all upset because the dishes from the previous night aren't done or DH didn't do some "honey do" that I asked him to a week before) The little problems make me feel like my life is just out of my control and I've actually said some really snotty things to DH or end up having a snit about the stuff. I feel awful even when I'm doing it, but it's like I just feel so bad, I can't help it coming out somehow. I have even gotten to the point where I will try to warn DH point blank...I'm having a very bad day. (ie stay out of the way and let me try to get through it).

It has gotten to the point where I get hit with a truly major problem or decision, that I can handle most of the time...but I just seem to hit overload and actually start to shut down, I can't think, can't concentrate, I feel just...not able to function and it's kind of scary. DH just really doesn't understand this yet and once or twice recently it happened while we were together and he kept talking at me, trying to get me to answer or make a decision and I finally just yelled at him "I can't think right now. Leave me alone!"

I don't know really what that is yet. Is it some variation of panic attack or just a total anxiety overload? I do start to feel really hot sometimes and occasionally a little dizzy or disoriented, but not the terrifying, heart racing experience that you have described.

I do have many days where I feel stressed & tired, but for the most part "normal". There have only been I think two days in the last year that I really felt good & happy & FREE all day.

Dee

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2003
Sat, 10-07-2006 - 2:33pm
I have the exact same symptoms, in the same order, nearly everytime. It starts out with a hot flash that starts in the back of my neck and flows up over my head and down each arm.

Jennifer

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evi

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sat, 10-07-2006 - 8:56pm
Hi Dee, I got to that point, also, where I would just want to yell shut up and I would get mad & lash out.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2007
Sun, 02-11-2007 - 12:03pm

What is belly breathing?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sun, 02-11-2007 - 12:30pm

Look down in the coping tips & tricks folder, there are instructions there ;)

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Sun, 02-11-2007 - 1:05pm
Here's the link: