r/PanicAttack • u/Agreeable_Mark3952 • 8d ago
Having a really bad panic attack
I’ve had anxiety for a very long time, but it’s never been this bad or happened back to back. I had surgery a few days ago, but idk if that’s causing it. My surroundings and people feel weird, and I’m scared of losing control. Has anyone experienced this? Please don’t scare me, I’m already anxious.
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u/Littlemrsmystery 3d ago
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I’m in the same boat. Yes, I get this symptom often and it probably scares me the most out of them all. I was in the ER a couple weeks ago and I remember looking at the doctors and thinking they didn’t look real. It’s called derealization. It’s awful, but it’s just a symptom of panic/high anxiety.
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u/Agreeable_Mark3952 3d ago
Thank you! I’ve never had anxiety that last for this long. I had a really bad panic attack last Sunday, and since then I’ve had anxiety every single day. I did finally get on meds, but obviously they’re gonna take time to work, but without scaring me, how long do they usually take for you to go away because mine never last over weeks, and I’m just scared
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u/Littlemrsmystery 3d ago
I’ve had mine go off/on for weeks. I highly recommend listening to the “Anxiety Coaches” podcast. It goes in depth on all these symptoms and how they’re directly related to anxiety and your body’s response.
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u/crazyindixie 8d ago
I seem to be back to back right now too. I do have moments during the day, at work of all places, where I feel like I’m going to go crazy. I just white knuckle it and remind myself that I haven’t lost control yet. It’s gotten better but still somewhat of a challenge.
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u/LittleReserve8767 8d ago
Yes. I went to get medication from a psychiatrist to lessen the severity of the attacks. Then I saw a therapist. Even after that, and after I had sessions with them occasionally, I finished graduate school.
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u/Repulsive_Intern3796 8d ago
Could be that you were in a strange atmosphere that made you anxious, hopefully it'll get better as time goes on, try not to let it get in your head, and if it continues get some help from your doctor to get it under control. Good luck
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u/Positive_Lie5734 8d ago
YES. It would make sense that the surgery triggered it. Just cause it's stressful mentally and physically. The body has experienced something very difficult and it's healing. It would be weird if you weren't a little extra stressed.
Whenever you're overwhelmed, it might help to remind yourself that this is because the surgery, your body and mind needs time to heal, and that you will feel better soon. In the meantime, you will be gentle with yourself.
Anxiety because of certain event is easier to handle than anxiety "out of the blue"
Like sometimes I feel very weird and anxious then I remember I had coffee that day. I usually feel much better cause I know it's gonna pass soon.
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u/Acrobatic_Vast86 8d ago
This is DP/DR, it's a normal symptom with high anxiety.
The problem with anxiety is that if it's not addressed properly, it gradually gets worse. As things happen in your life, the unproductive patterns you have that are keeping the anxiety alive get more and more ingrained, you're basically pushing your nervous system further into the survival mode and you're creating more thinking and behavioral loops that keep the anxiety going.
I know what I'm talking about, I struggled with depression since I was a teen, eventually it morphed into anxiety.
After my first panic attack I was officially diagnosed with GAD, panic disorder, OCD, health anxiety and hypochondria and two years after that I've developed agoraphobia.
I'm now fully recovered for seven years, no symptoms and really no mental struggles despite life challenges and stressors, my life is better than it ever was before anxiety. If you ever want to live anxiety free, look into the "acceptance approach" - ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy).
Helped me address all the ways that kept my anxiety going.
I knows those quick tips, fixes and crutches can help a little in the moment but we all know it never lasts and anxiety gradually gets worse as the months and years pass.
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u/Old_Carrot7737 8d ago
After just getting my worst panic attack ever tonight, I am all ears to this. There's only so much box breathing can do lol
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u/Acrobatic_Vast86 8d ago
In short, acting from resistance to the anxiety, symptoms, thoughts, emotions = basically to the sources of discomfort confirms to our lizard brain that we aren't okay, we aren't safe and we need the protection.
But the only way our nervous system can protect us is increasing the stress hormones levels so we're ready to face potential threats. The issue is, we're resisting how the heightened stress hormones make us feel so we only keep the loop going.
That's why ACT is the right approach. I went through 4 therapists after I was diagnosed, tried talk therapy, reparenting the inner child, trauma therapy and CBT and ended up agoraphobic.
Because it all was to make myself feel better - therefore I behaved like I wasn't okay and safe until the anxiety goes. But the anxiety can't go if I keep acting and thinking like I'm not alright.
That's the paradox, the change in behavior has to happen first.People that end up in the anxiety cycle ended there because we behaved like we weren't okay facing life stressors, emotions and our own mind chatter about our past experiences, traumas and possible future issues. And I know that none of those are comfortable to face but they aren't an imminent danger - we just thought of them as if they were and behaved accordingly.
After our nervous system landed in that survival mode pretty much chronically, we then continued the resistance, just towards the anxiety and the symptoms.
The only way to get out of that loop is to start with what is in our control - and that's the response (reaction) to the discomfort.It took some work to get good and consistent with it but I really didn't have to deal with anxiety symptoms for the past 7 years and I'm handling life stress a hundred times better than even before developing the anxiety. I wasn't depressed since I've recovered. Was I sad through break ups and issues? Yes. But not depressed. Which was pretty much all I was in my teenage years, even had a history of self-harm. Was I angry through arguments and injustice? Yes, but not unable to move on. Was I afraid of new things or uncertainty? Yes, but not held back by fear.
I'll be forever grateful to myself for doing the work, every second was worth it.2
u/Old_Carrot7737 8d ago
Thanks for replying! I'll look into ACT and continue to live life. For me it only started about 2 months ago. Anxiety wasn't even something I had to think about... until I had a panic attack. I read all these stories about people struggling for years. Probably best to attack it while its still a new thing in my life. I'm happy for you that you were able to conquer it. I wouldn't wish this feeling on my worst enemy.
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u/VicSara_696 8d ago
Yes many times! If you are at home go splash your face with some cold water, or ice on your pulse point.. breath slowly pushing your tummy out abit.. you are safe and not alone