another panic attack

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2006
another panic attack
15
Tue, 10-10-2006 - 1:17pm
Hello to all, well yet another strange thing. I had decided that I would be good to myeslf and made an appointment this evening at the hairdresser. She had just finished washing my hair, I was waiting while she spoke with another client, and within about five to seven minutes, well you can guess. I realised that my heart was racing and thought alright here we go, I managed to keep my head straight to start with breathing, then I excused myself for the bathroom and there did the breathing into a plastic bag. Thank god that it worked well enough to get me stable on my feet again, I was shaking and freezing and dizzy, but I did it well enough to excuse myself (man how embarressing), the woman was usper nice. I said that I hadn't eaten well, and that I was dizzy (which is true), but said nothing of panic. I left promising to return. I just don't understand this because it was a calm relaxing environment; there was no stress involved. Does anyone have experience with trying to identify a trigger in a calm situation. thanks all in advance. l.

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Tue, 10-10-2006 - 3:16pm

Sometimes their is no trigger. Panic/anxiety is a chemical thing and maybe your trigger was not eating and that made your body feel bad and that did trigger it.


I always try to eat well and exercise. Getting enough sleep is also something that will help you to feel better.


~Heather


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Tue, 10-10-2006 - 3:42pm

hi there,


my panic attacks often seem random w/o a trigger...those are sooo frustrating cause you want to find a reason why you had one...but for me...there often is no reason:( frustrating!


no great words of widom here, but wanted to say hi and let you know you arn't alone...and sometimes searching for

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2006
Tue, 10-10-2006 - 4:04pm
Thanks so much, no worries if there are no great words of wisdom. Sometimes it helps simply to learn of others experiences because i just don't have a grasp on this considering am still in the stage where I just don't understand what is going on here. i mean at all. again thank you.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Tue, 10-10-2006 - 9:06pm

Oh yes!

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 10-10-2006 - 10:42pm

OMG! Please don't breathe into a plastic bag again, gf! Use a paper bag. You could have passed out or worse!!!


I have the same trouble in the hairdresser's chair. In fact, I go to have my hair done @ the mall & since it's such an anxiety producing time for me, I use the only salon with an outside entrance. That way I can make a quick escape if I have too;) You will be able to go again & get through it. Facing the fear is difficult. Maybe just go for a cut. Or a wash. A small step towards sitting in the chair for the *works.* I am so glad that breathing worked. Remind yourself that nothing bad will happen.


I hope you're feeling better. Please keep in touch & rest assured that many of us have had these experiences. The trigger could be anything. I always attribute mine to feeling trapped. Good luck & GBU! (((hugs))) jan


 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-2006
Wed, 10-11-2006 - 4:02pm

I have had that happen, too, in a hair salon--in the middle of a treatment--it took everything in me to get through!
I know it is awful when you feel that it should be a positive experience and then this happens!!
I hope you can try it again!!!
Hang in there!! I did go back to the salon again--although I was apprenhensive!

Thinking of you!

Lynne

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-10-2006
Wed, 10-11-2006 - 6:02pm
Keep in mind that you probably won't find a rhyme or reason. Basically, the panic has been reinforced to your previous reactions. Repeated panic attacts are the trigger. Congrats on going to the salon. Don't focus on the fact that you left. Instead, focus on the fact that you made an appointment and followed through. Next time you go to the salon, you may make it through the appointment. Don't feel embarrassed. You don't owe anyone an explanation.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Wed, 10-11-2006 - 8:36pm

Hi & welcome!

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2006
Wed, 10-11-2006 - 9:44pm

Hi ,

I have had panic attacks at the hairdresser....nothing was my trigger it was just not fun to go through but once the panic attack was over I tried to engage in a conversation with my hairdresser. Over time I developped a good relationship with her and now she knows what I went through and what I'm going through and she shared some of her experiences. So now going there is a place where I'm comfortable and can share issues or just have a good conversation about life in general.

Hope you go again and find something that works for you...maybe bring a good book if you want to go for highlights or something!

ciao
Sonia

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2006
Thu, 10-12-2006 - 8:19am
Hello to everyone, thanks so much for the replies. Really, thank you, thank you. I really helps to know that am not the only one out there with this experience; though put simply, it isn't nice is it? I have found in the recent weeks that I envy people that can do the most simple thing. Actually, upon thinking about the experience at the hairdressers, I was fine until I had to wait in the chair while the woman spoke with another client. I think about five minutes had passed before I felt my ticker reading itself for a marathon.
I think that if there wasn't this pause then I would have been able to hang in there. Sometimes I wish to announce hey I have a panic thing but I am fine instead of walking around with a secret and having to apologize in many situations. That is the thing too, I really can't stand making an excuse for my behaviour when at this point I can't help it. It is as if keeping it bottled in makes it worse, of course it is embarressing to announce this sort of thing too, but I am nearly to the point that I would rather get it out than having to run off. Again my thanks, it is a relief to be able to come here, and talk about it. best, L

Pages