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Panic attacks are not the same as anxiety. In a panic attack your heart beats like a drum and you have an overwhelming need to escape. I developed panic attacks about 6 months after 911. I drove into a housing development where all the houses looked the same and the streets were a maze and my heart started beating like a drum and I felt claustrophobic and had to get out of there. If I was in an elevator I felt claustrophobic. If I was in a store or restaurant where I couldn't see the exit I would start to panic. What I did was to avoid putting myself in those places that brought on the panic. I took the stairs not the elevator. I sat at a table where I could see the door in restaurants. I didn't shop in giant maze like stores like Target. The one thing I couldn't avoid was the subway to go and come from work. I imagined what I would do if trapped in a subway car. I loaded my briefcase with survival/escape tools, a large wrench, hammer and screw drivers and flashlights, energy bars, and water. I also had a cassette recorder with self hypnosis relaxation tapes. Of course I never needed to use the escape/survival kit and eventually I started taking elevators again but they made me secure enough to take the subway.
When I experienced panic attacks for no reason at home I would just sit in an easy chair, hold on to the arm rests and ride the attack out. It might take 20 minutes or so but I held on like I was on a roller coaster ride. Eventually they stopped as I gained confidence in my ability to ride them out.
The panic attack incidents lasted a year or so. I still sit near the door in restaurants. But the attacks have never returned.
There are some good youtube videos on dealing with panic attacks. Essentially they get you to acknowledge the threat is in your head but not real, that you can control them in time, and by facing them rather than fearing them or using drugs to mask them you can get rid of them.
When I first got panic attacks I was prescribed tranquilizers and were popping them like candy. In a short time I realized they weren't working so I sought out and found out better ways to deal. You don't have to deal with everything. You can avoid things that make you uncomfortable until they no longer do. But if something is important, like taking the subway to work, you have to deal with it.
True. Like a PTSD episode. However, on face value, panic is not the same as anxiousness. It's much more severe and episodes are short lived. People live and function with anxiety. Panic is temporarily crippling. Anxiety is long term like depression. Panic is temporary but can be triggered or reoccur episodically. It would not be possible to live in a continuous state of panic.
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Originally Posted by TabulaRasa
Panic attacks are, however, part and parcel of several anxiety dosorders, and panic disorder is classified under anxiety disorders, diagnostically.
What you describe sounds akin to a trauma response.
Anxiety and depression have become common these days. One can do meditation to improve their mental health. He can also change a bit of his lifestyle like having healthy food habits and avoiding foods that elevates these problems, exercising, joining forums where people with like habits are trying to improve them. These things does help improve a person's mental health.
True. Like a PTSD episode. However, on face value, panic is not the same as anxiousness. It's much more severe and episodes are short lived. People live and function with anxiety. Panic is temporarily crippling. Anxiety is long term like depression. Panic is temporary but can be triggered or reoccur episodically. It would not be possible to live in a continuous state of panic.
Panic attacks are not the same for everyone. I started to have them a year ago, mainly at night, and usually feel chest pressure and a racing heartbeat. I have not had any flight response as I am typically asleep and awake with them. I try to do yoga, exercise, and have found it is worse in winter, so I have gotten a therapy lamp as well.
In the beginning they would have chest pounding and would last for a few minutes to well over an hour. If by chance it was over an hour I would be wasted the next day. Oh, I forgot to mention, I would always have them when I was sleeping. They would be so bad that you could actually see my chest pounding and making my shirt move.
Some years ago and I don't know why I thought of this, I got on all fours and put my head down to get some blood flowing. For reasons unknown and to this day, the attack would be gone within 1-2 seconds.
I still have them today, but I'm able to manage them better to where I can control them with my breathing. Once in a while they will continue even after my routine, but no way as intense as they used to be.
Anxiety and depression have become common these days.
They've long been common.
Formal diagnosis and treatment of them are what's become increasingly common.
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