Panic Attacks Support Group
A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...
I set a goal to go three days without a panic attack.
But now I'm not sure what to count as an attack and what to count as just a lot of anxiety.
I woke up this morning feeling tense. If I had tried to get out of bed right then it would have become a full-blown attack, hyperventilating & paralysis and all. But, I've learned when I feel that way to just roll over and stay in bed til it passes. There were a few times this morning I started to hyperventilate a little but kept it pretty well under control.
So, do I count that as an attack? When I get home from grocery shopping, and suddenly feel all energy draining from, collapse paralyzed on the couch and spin of into dissociation - is that an attack? When I stand in the kitchen preparing a meal and suddenly feel overwhelmed, and lean on the counter motionless for fifteen minutes concentrating ever so hard on my breathing, unable to move, wondering what would happen if a housemate walked in and saw me like that, is that an attack?
I can't meet my goal if i don't have a clear definition for what I'm going to count as an attack. I wonder if the major factor is how well I am able to keep the anxiety under control. If it's out of control, then it's an attack. Though, this morning, it was under control in that I kept my body calm, but it was beyond my control in that I couldn't have gotten out of bed if I had tried.
Where would you draw the line between anxiety and an attack?
But now I'm not sure what to count as an attack and what to count as just a lot of anxiety.
I woke up this morning feeling tense. If I had tried to get out of bed right then it would have become a full-blown attack, hyperventilating & paralysis and all. But, I've learned when I feel that way to just roll over and stay in bed til it passes. There were a few times this morning I started to hyperventilate a little but kept it pretty well under control.
So, do I count that as an attack? When I get home from grocery shopping, and suddenly feel all energy draining from, collapse paralyzed on the couch and spin of into dissociation - is that an attack? When I stand in the kitchen preparing a meal and suddenly feel overwhelmed, and lean on the counter motionless for fifteen minutes concentrating ever so hard on my breathing, unable to move, wondering what would happen if a housemate walked in and saw me like that, is that an attack?
I can't meet my goal if i don't have a clear definition for what I'm going to count as an attack. I wonder if the major factor is how well I am able to keep the anxiety under control. If it's out of control, then it's an attack. Though, this morning, it was under control in that I kept my body calm, but it was beyond my control in that I couldn't have gotten out of bed if I had tried.
Where would you draw the line between anxiety and an attack?
I recently set a goal, to go a week without a panic attack. So far, I have made it a month and a half without one. Throughout that time, I have had anxiety; tension, tight chest, the anticipation of an attack... but I was able to control it, and it never turned into an actual panic attack. So, I didn't count it as one. :)
I'm starting to have one tonight, which is why I came on the board... and I saw this question and just thought I would answer how I personally see it and give you some encouragement. You can do it. It's hard - I know... and sometimes it seems like it's getting bad and that you'll have an attack, but you CAN control it. :)
Keep up the good work, hon. You can do it!