The Panic Attack Discussion Thread

[Firehawk]

I know some of you out there have these...I'm looking to relate.

Today I pushed it on the squats pretty good. I almost never do high reps (over 6) and today i did 3 sets of 12, at accelerated rest periods, and all exercises were done high reps at short rest periods. My gym (hole in the wall) is not air conditioned and it was about 85 outside today.

Anyways, for those who haven't been around for a few years and don't know my history, I had developed Atrial Fibrillation (heart arrhythmia) when i was 23. Until that happened, I never had problems with anxiety. After that though, i woudl get anxiety attacks. I had surgery to repair the arrhythmia in 2005 and since then been fine. On occasion, if my heart skips a beat or something after a workout, it makes me a little nervous and i start to get anxious. 9 times out of 10 I can just put that out of my mind and it goes away as fast as it tried to come on. But today was something different.

I had a major panic attack after my workout, on the drive home from the gym. I started to feel nervous at the end of the workout. My legs were wabbly already (mind could take this as a nervous shake), and my haert was skipping a few beats, which was making me a little nervous. On the drive home, it skipped a beat and sped up and got me pretty nervous. Before I had a chance to put it out of my mind, it happened again, and then again. I got very tense and felt it spiraling out of control. My mom wasn't far from where i was so i literally FLOORED it to her house thinking I was going to pass out or something was going on. Basically i felt very scared and my heart rate was up to about 130-140 (not that high but high for being at rest).

When i got to my mom's, my hands were numb and very shakey. I went in and sat down. She was freaked. I started to calm down and left after about 5 or 6 minutes. I just felt safer knowing someone else was around. (I don't have a cell phone either).

I'm looking for people to relate to me (make me feel better). USUALLY, the way I cope iwth this (i refuse to get on drugs for it), is I just put it out of my mind or recognize "this is anxiety" and just ignore it, and it goes right away. But today went into a full panic attack.

This coulda been combinations of adrenaline from the workout, nervous about my legs shaking and heart rate being up, coulda been a little heat exhausted...who knows.

Been a long time since I've been that scared though. I'm still a little shaken up by it. This happened about 45 minutes ago.

[EliteLift]

wow. although i cant personally relate, i have a friend that gets panic attacks. one night i was at his house watching ace ventura and right out of knowhere he started to get really nervous for no aparent reson. it got so bad that he started to hyperventilate, he couldn't even walk and was screaming for me to call 911. so i know how serious it can be. i was pretty scared for the guy. i had no idea what it was at the time and thought he was going to drop dead in front of me. very scary stuff.

[Firehawk]

Yeah dude and the thing is it's all mental. It's a head game. The only way to beat it is to either use drugs, or learn to control it yourself. I think I'm kinda glad I went through this because next time it gets like that I'll know that it's just anxiety and I'll stop it even if it gets bad. But yeah, i was wondering if i was going ot have to go to the hospital or something for awhile there. Since i've had a heart condition, anything that has to do with my breathing, or numb fingers, or wabbly legs, or lightheadedness, or WHATEVER, in my mind i automatically relate it to my heart. It's a bad thing to do but I almost can't help it.

This one was just exceptionally bad. I never let them get this far.

On a smaller scale, I have what I call panic attacks whenever I cannot find my wallet. I believe the source of this goes way back to when I was in the Army stationed in Korea and got my wallet stolen by a slick pickpocketer women in a night club. So even today, when I cannot find my wallet (as in I've misplaced it), I get all worked up until I find it.

I wouldn't call this the same type of panic attack you experienced, but it is a little panic attack in my own mind.

Do a google search to read more about cognitive behavior therapy which I believe is a much wiser way than meds in trying to "fix" your problem.

Sorry I don't have more to offer, but I can feel for you.

[Gooseneck]

Originally Posted by pierini

I wouldn't call this the same type of panic attack you experienced, but it is a little panic attack in my own mind.

An actual panic attack is much different than this. You feel an overwhelming sense of doom that you're going to die or something. You cant breath regularly and you feel nauseaus as well as needing to crap. Its horrible, I've had about 3 of those several years ago and its SCARY. I've had many anxiety attacks which are kindof an onset of a panic attack but it never evolves that far.
Do like what you're doing bro. Realize its just anxiety and it takes 5-10 minutes to pass. Many times a drop in blood sugar can induce one, which may have been what happened when you left the gym.
Good luck with this bro, its tough I know.

[.V.]

Originally Posted by Firehawk

USUALLY, the way I cope iwth this (i refuse to get on drugs for it), is I just put it out of my mind or recognize "this is anxiety" and just ignore it, and it goes right away. But today went into a full panic attack.

Can't personally relate either because I don't have them. But do deal with others having them when they call 911 (oh yeah, don't do that).

What we do is what you manage to do most of the time... tell them it's anxiety, talk them down, get them to calm themselves, when they realize they aren't going to die and just feel like they are going to...things get better. For those that don't...it's haldol (kind of like smoking a doob except it's from a needle).

That's all you can do without meds. Teach someone to talk you through it (or learn to do it yourself...damh hard in a full blown anxiety attack though). Just remember, it's anxiety and you won't die from it.

[Firehawk]

Thanks for the info. Yeah normally when i feel anxiety come on i can tame it really fast but this time it got out of control. The last time I had something close to this bad was the first time my heart went nuts on me (which was when i found out i had a heart arrhythmia). That time was slightly different, but pretty close to the way i felt this time. I musta put finger marks in the steering wheel I was gripping it so hard. It was a urge to want to tear the thing apart lol. I just wanted to get around someone else so in case i fainted or something I'd have someone there. IT's even more scary when you're alone and something like that happens.

It is a horrible feeling to have.

[.V.]

Can't blame you. Feeling like you are going to die (even though you know you aren't) would be damn scary.

[Firehawk]

Originally Posted by a_welch503

Can't personally relate either because I don't have them. But do deal with others having them when they call 911 (oh yeah, don't do that).

What we do is what you manage to do most of the time... tell them it's anxiety, talk them down, get them to calm themselves, when they realize they aren't going to die and just feel like they are going to...things get better. For those that don't...it's haldol (kind of like smoking a doob except it's from a needle).

That's all you can do without meds. Teach someone to talk you through it (or learn to do it yourself...damh hard in a full blown anxiety attack though). Just remember, it's anxiety and you won't die from it.

Yeah when i got to my mom's she was like "do you want me to take you to the hospital?" I said i'd give it a few minutes and sure enough I calmed down. She started asking me questions off topic to get my mind off it which helped. I was still shaking for awhile after the panic attack passed because it really scared the sh*t out of me. Too many bad flashbacks to the heart incidents.

[LiftGirl]

I really can't relate either, but I feel for you just the same. Have you considered seeking out a therapist to teach you better coping techniques?

[Firehawk]

I don't do therapists.

[gymgirl]

Firehawk

I can 100% relate. I've had 1-2 pretty major panic attacks, and several anxiety attacks. My first panic attack was in college 5-6 years ago when I was studying for finals. I had the heart thing, felt like I coulnd't breath, and thought I was going to die. Then I started crying, it was really frightening. Went to the doc and she perscribed me some xanex. The nice thing is I only take it when I feel a panic attack coming on. I'd say I take maaaaaaaybe 20 a year if that, and I have a very small dosage. I know you don't like meds but it's nice to have that in your backpocket for times like these. I'm sure I have prevented several severe attacks by taking the meds righta at the onset.

Anyway, my last 'attack' was after a set of get this...HIGH REP SQUATS! I got a bit lightheaded, shakey and felt my heart doing weird things. I completely freaked out and thought I was going to pass out on my drive home. I too talked myself out of it, but it is still frightening..

anyway i am late for work, but wanted to tell you I can relate. if you have any questions post away and I can check back later.

[LiftGirl]

Originally Posted by Firehawk

I don't do therapists.

Just a suggestion!