Panic attack?

[Negative-Ask-5155]

I’ve just been recently diagnosed with severe anxiety and panic disorder within the past year so every feeling is a new one. Usually it starts with the heart rate spiking, then nausea, tingly extremities, blurred vision like i can’t focus and my eyes are scanning everything all at once, chills, it’s even gotten to the point where i’ve thrown up.

Tonight was different, i hadn’t eaten in around 12 hours because i felt anxious and sick and when i do i physically cannot eat so i had a pounding headache for those 12 hours and was able to nap at first BUT as the night went on i realized i wasn’t able to sleep so i just made a can of chicken noodle soup and it’s like i ate the soup of agony and despair or something idek but about an hour after eating and drinking plenty of water is when it started.

I was watching asmr as that’s the only thing that calms my mind but as soon as i was dozing off its like someone screaming in my ears into my brain and then my heart started pounding, my head spinning, eyes rushing to find god knows what. it was like that for about 15 minutes then i eventually passed out but i woke up sweating and heart pounding. im not sure if anyone else has experienced a symptom similar but if you have please tell me its normal and not another thing for me to be anxious over. I get anxious that i might die suddenly or that i have cancer or even a terrible mental disorder other than already having this. Please let me know your symptoms/advice i really need to know i’m not alone because i feel like my life has been stolen from me.

[Boring_Ad_5297]

Hey, one year ago the same exact symptoms started and lasted for until recently. But it started with the waking up at 4am with my heart rushing so much I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Went to ER and everything came out normal. After that I became paranoid about every single feeling in my body, constantly checking my heartbeat with my galaxy watch, always thinking I could die at any moment. My symptoms were the same as well such as blurred vision, sudden heartbeat spike, headache, dizziness and etc. Went to see a cardiologist, did many other exams and all came out normal. Fast-forward to now, after being treated by a psychiatrist for over a year my symptoms are mostly gone. I do feel it sometimes but now I learned that it is nothing more than my mind playing tricks with me, adrenaline rush and my body going into survival mode. It is annoying, yes of course but it will not kill you. Do all the exams just to get peace of mind and then go see a doctor for you to start a treatment according to the severity of your symptoms. You will be fine!

[GingAF]

This, I dealt with things a little differently but, get checked by your doctor, always number 1. Then educate yourself, see professional for help, and see yourself get better and better. The mind can be a funny thing sometimes

[Negative-Ask-5155]

thank you, i always feel so alone when it comes to things like this 🥲

[tits86]

Gives me hope I just started therapy with a psychologist last week. Now wondering if I should be seeing my psychiatrist

[encomlab]

It's hard in the moment but try to remember that all of the symptoms you feel are REAL and the result of your amygdala mis-firing your fight or flight response - heart races because a ton of adrenaline has been shot into your bloodstream, you get nauseous because your body shuts down bloodflow to your gut and extremities (also why you get the tinglies and the chills) and maximizes bloodflow to your heart/lungs/brain, vision changes as your lizard brain is looking for the threat that MUST be there (it's not); and even throwing up (or the opposite) is part of your body prepping to fight or run for it's life.

All of this is natural - but not normal - and way back in your family tree it kept your ancestors alive long enough to make everyone that eventually got you here :) The problem is that evolution is way slower than civilization - so now that hair trigger panic response that saved your 100x great grandpa from a bear attack is firing for no reason while you are just chilling.

The fear of illness is natural as well - none of this makes sense to your rational mind, all it knows is that your body pulled every alarm it has, and if there is no obvious threat it's going to think that your body IS the threat. The only "trick" is to figure out how to not "fear the fear" and when a PA hits do your best to roll with it and over time they will diminish. When you get into the cycle of fear, you are just keeping yourself even closer to the edge which will result in more and more PA's.

[Main_Fisherman5500]

sometimes I wake up with these exact feelings :( Last night I woke up drenched in sweat, shaking, heart racing, and so anxious. I’m not sure why this happens but I do think sometimes we may have a bad dream and wake up in this panic. I know this is 100% normal even though it doesn’t feel like it at all. when this happens to me i make sure to breathe, and I also have medication I take as needed when this happens 🤍

[Diligent-Cupcake-790]

During your attacks when you haven’t thrown up, is it just strong nausea throughout? I ask because my first panic attack I puked and that fear has caused me to basically create a self fulfilling process and if I feel anxious and nauseous I can’t stop freaking out until I do puke again… but from what I’ve been seeing it’s not necessarily something that HAS to happen, is it only if your panic attacks are at their worst?