Anxiety attack?

[krystalhartley]

Anybody experience these?

I think I may have yesterday. I had to do something that was way the heck out of my comfort zone, and about 45 minutes before it started, I got all clammy and sweaty (full body...not just hands). I thought maybe it was just the rush of getting ready or something (even though not a regular thing), but it persisted throughout the event and subsided about 5 minutes after I left the building and headed home. It was tangible...others could feel it, too...wasn't just in my head. I don't think my pulse/heartrate was high or anything though. I didn't have any trouble breathing. No chest pains. Just the whole sweaty/clammy skin thing.

Just thought I'd ask if anyone was familiar with them. I checked the web, but I seriously had no other symptoms that are associated with the clammy skin thing (ie heart attacks, diabetes issues, etc.).

I wonder if this is what people who have extreme fears of public speaking or flying experience?

[lauren grier]

anxiety attacks are different for everyone- you very well could have been panicking and reacting physically.. I have an anxiety disorder, my anxiety attacks are a bit more extreme, but like I said.. everyone is different. It's over now t hough, so that's good at least ^_^ If you have to do it again you should try some relaxation/breathing crap before hand.

[mummytothree]

I think they can be different for everybody!! When I get them I get dizzy, nauseous, racing heart rate and shortness of breath. I sometimes get tunnel vision too!!! :thumbdown: They suck big time!!!!

Here's some (((HUGS)) for making through a tough "time"!!!!

[schock77]

My husband has had them and they start much like you describe (but he ends up feeling like he can't breathe). Knowing what triggers you can help and remembering to stay calm, but often the brain overrides your conscious thinking with the fight or flight mechanisms.

No real help, just hang in there girlie! :)

[krystalhartley]

You guys make me embarrassed for even asking since it was such a mild thing compared to what you all have experienced. I just couldn't even think of what else it could have been. The only other times I've had that particular symptom has been in conjunction with serious medical issues...baby delivery going south, staph infection, days of vomiting, etc.

[Nonna2Dreja]

Krystal, I have anxiety attacks and though I don't take my medicine, I should....Sounds to me just like what I experience, only I get the feeling that I need to get out of wherever I am right away....I have felt like I was going to pass out even when I was just showering before....I also experience raising heart and the shakes like you wouldn't believe--throughout my whole body....After it passes, I usually feel abit tired....

[lauren grier]

oh gosh don't be embarrassed krystal! never compare your struggles to another persons. They're all equal - we all have to work through them just the same. Hopefully it doesnt' happen to you again!! :]

[emmasmommy]

I'm with La. Everyone experiences things differently. I always start out like you did. Mine escalate to more, but, they always start like that...and I've learned how to keep it semi-under control. They suck, that's for sure.

[LenaGardner]

mine only started THIS year (I've always had anxiety and as I've gotten older my symtpoms have gotten more and more physically pronounced). When I have an anxiety attack I feel like my throat is closing in. I can't breathe, I can't catch my breath, and I have almost NO warning. However, I am currently unmedicated for it (yay?) and can control mine on my own through techniques I have learned :)

[jessica31876]

yea I was seeing a doctor for mine. I get them alot ever since we (my husband and I) had a car accident last year whenever we are in an area with heavy traffic I have the sweating, racing heart, troubles breathing and just a general sense of panic. The counseler I saw suggested breathing exercises. To me they did not work. The only thing that helped calm me down was when I could get out of the car.

[Serendipity]

I can't drive over bridges anymore. I get tunnel vision and lose all sense of reality. It's almost like I'm watching myself drive from the backseat, I white knuckle the stearing wheel and get sweaty and always end up pulling over so I can calm down. It's hard to explain but I really, really hate it. My anxiety has gotten better since I got back on Z*loft. Before the meds any little thing would send me into a complete and utter state of panic. A plane flying over head, action movies, slicing an onion, a door creaking... pretty much anything would start a Steven King movie playing in my head. Now I just have a problem with bridges, and honestly, I'd much rather it just be bridges than every little thing send me into a horror movie. I lived a year like that and I don't *ever* wanna go through that again.

[DawnMarch]

I can't drive over bridges anymore. I get tunnel vision and lose all sense of reality. It's almost like I'm watching myself drive from the backseat, I white knuckle the stearing wheel and get sweaty and always end up pulling over so I can calm down. It's hard to explain but I really, really hate it.

I recently drove with someone who had this same problem, but with tunnels. Since we were in a city that had several, I had to do most of the driving -- he was okay as long as he wasn't doing the driving, but described symptoms very similar to yours when he had to drive. The closest I get to this is with flying -- I'm okay until there is continuous turbulence, then I get very uncomfortably anxious.

[Serendipity]

From what I've read it's a form of agoraphobia and it mostly happens to women. My ex father in law couldn't drive over bridges, either. But I was normal then and thought he was crazy. lol

[neenee]

Oh my goodness girlie...don't be embarrassed or EVER feel silly for something like this that your body does. You literally have NO control over it. I have had anxiety disorder for over 10 years with panic attacks. They vary in intensity and I seem to go through "dry spells" where I have none for a year or so. Some are similar to what you describe although, I once had one so bad that DH rushed me to the hospital. I literally thought I was going to die. I was really sick, throwing up, diarrhea, aching all over and NOTHING like I had ever experienced before so I asked DH to take me to ER on a Sunday afternoon. Well, on the way there, I guess I got so worried that I sent myself into a panic attack although at the time I didn't know that is what happened. I got tingly all over, felt extremely light-headed, got cold and clamy......was so scary!

Turns out I had a very nasty contagious bacterial infection in my system and was severely dehydrated as well.

Anywho, you are not alone. I think there are so many of us that deal with anxiety and depression even though we may not talk about it (although I believe society is getting very comfortable acknowledging mental issues). It is no wonder we have these issues given the fast paced, extremely stressful lives we all live.

When you feel like that.....it helps to breathe into a paper bag or close your eyes take deep breaths and count backwards from 10. Although, sometimes I have to count backward from like 100........:p

[schock77]

Don't be embarrassed! I know I've come to this forum with many "embarrasssing" things and always feel better after getting some responses. :)

[4noisyboys]

Krystal, I have the same thing you experienced, and I get it way too often. Sometimes I just joke and say I'm having a hot flash, and since I'm in my late 40's, people totally think that's it, but it's not. I'll get totally nervous about a certain situation, and then it starts to happen. The more I worry about it, the worse it gets...and I just want to run from the room. I try to avoid those situations now that I know will trigger it.

Panic attacks are very real and very different in every person.

[4noisyboys]

From what I've read it's a form of agoraphobia and it mostly happens to women. My ex father in law couldn't drive over bridges, either. But I was normal then and thought he was crazy. lol

One of my sisters and I both have it. I am doing much better now...but I still do my own little panicky thing when thinking about it. My boys know not to talk to me when I'm driving over one. I can drive over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (not my favorite thing...but I can do it), but we were recently on a tour there with my son's jazz band, and they decided to walk across it. Now that I could NOT do. I had to stay below and not look!

[Leah]

You guys make me embarrassed for even asking since it was such a mild thing compared to what you all have experienced. I just couldn't even think of what else it could have been. The only other times I've had that particular symptom has been in conjunction with serious medical issues...baby delivery going south, staph infection, days of vomiting, etc.

Don't be embarrassed - they can be different for everyone. I used to get them when I was pregnant...just pulling into the WalMart parking lot would cause me to have one (stressful stuff I tell ya'!). I still get them on occasion when I have to deal with something that is out of my comfort zone as well. It's a weird feeling.

[Paula]

Krystal, what you experienced sounds just like one of my panic attacks. Man, they can be pretty awful.