I have PTSD, anxiety and depression. Panic attacks are just part of my 'normal' life. They are very scary. I dont like leaving the house for very long or I panic. A lot of things can set mine off and I either start shaking uncontrollably and cant breath or I freeze and hold my breath. Either way I have to get out of that place quickly and get home to my safe place. My psychologist taught me a good exercise to distract myself. Stop and think of 5 things you can see, 5 things you can hear and 5 things you can feel (might even just be the breeze on your face). I learnt trying to think of these 5 things it distracted me and it helped me calm down.Edited 09-Jan-23 19:02pm

My grandmother was diagnosed with hysteria when she was young, and underwent electric shock treatment. None of us in the family understood her quirky nature; she couldn't go anywhere on her own, hated too many visitors unless it was family and would experience sudden fear for no apparent reason. When I grew up I met a woman who became my friend. She confided in me that she suffered from panic attacks and was afraid to attend a specialist appointment. I helped her as much as I was able and would accompany her to appointments. It was only then that I realised what my grandmother had gone through.

Constantly. I have techniques to cope now..to distract myself. But everytime I leave the house..I have to stop in nearest park to calm down. It's bloody awful.

I have now learnt not to get in situation that trigger my attacks. Does mean I do not go out very much and keep to myself most times. My worse one is being in social places and not knowing anyone.

Never and I hope it stays that way.

Yes!

I used to suffer the worst panic attacks and would perspire and shake badly. I couldn't eat out and sometimes people rushing past me in shopping centres would set me off. Having to go somewhere new or having to be somewhere at a set time would also trigger an attack. I saw doctor after doctor who all told me I was suffering depression despite my not feeling depressed. My friends all laughed when I told them I was being treated for depression. I aways felt it was my thyroid but every test said the function was normal. I even admitted myself to hospital for relaxation therapy treatment and the rubber band trick but none of it worked. As I got older I did realize that when my heart beat increased I would feel panic so would tell myself it was merely excursion and force my heart beat to slow, that did work to some extent. In the late '80's I was treated for a goiter although they weren't able to find out the cause but in order to stop my thyroid growing I was put on drugs to stop it working. When I first started the drugs my panic symptoms increased so I was sure it had something to do with my thyroid. Anyway, I was on the drugs for more than 20 years still telling my heart to slow down, then a new doctor surgery opened in my street so I decided to try him instead of the one I had been seeing for many years. I went to ask for a scrip for my thyroid drugs but he asked when I'd had my last ultrasound, I said "never" so he sent me for one. The person performing the ultrasound said "I'll be seeing you again soon" so I knew something was wrong. To cut a long story short the thyroid came out and when I woke from the anesthetic I felt different, calm and lay back and haven't had anything close to panic since, but I do gain weight very easily. So despite my thyroid function always being normal it wasn't, so anyone experiencing such attacks I always tell them to get their thyroid tested. I could have been spared years of anguish.

When I feel a panic attack - I try and be rational. Firstly - I try relaxing and deep breathing. Then I try and think "How likely is it that something will happen? Sometimes things can get out of proportion. EG. The police came to my door at 1am recently - and instantly I panicked with my son driving road trains up North - I instantly thought there had been an accident!! Nearly passed out until they said they were looking for someone whose phone had "beeped" near my house. Thank goodness it had a happy ending. .

Yes when someone say something bad its not nice

No, I never had one but I’m so very sorry for those who suffer from this very real illness. Wish there was more help available for them.

I have had panic attacks and anxiety for the past 2 years, I think there has been a high increase of sufferers since the covid 19 pandemic started.

I was diagnosed with atrial flutter in 2006 after a viral infection. Can give symptoms of a panic attack which I have learned to control without the use of medication.

Thank you for sharing. I ve never had one, but my daughter has it sometimes. Wish you all find ways to overcome the panic attack. Wonder if deep breath helps??

My anxiety can get so severe that I black out & my heart feels like I am dead…it can be the most frightening for my family…so it made me realise that I have to change my ways…I am now of the option that I will help change the things that I can…but not worry about the things that I can’t change…

Thank God have not suffered from these

I suffer from both anxiety and panic attacks, they are the worst, it really sucks because mental health isn't treated seriously Oh I also have ptsd

Constant sufferer of Anxiety, they say they do, but employers don't support you all. Even in 2023 Mental Health is not accepted :(

I have panic attacks and anxiety alot more it has increased I have sleep apnea and I have panics occasionally when I put the mask on

No hasn't happened to me fortunately, but one of my daughters suffers from them. Dreadful thing.s

No - this is something I have never suffered from.

Yes,I have. And honestly, very traumatic remembering

No

No, but know lots of people who experience this.

yes and it can be frightning very frightning

Never had one. Hope to never have one either.

I've had one panic attack. Shortly after I was released from hospital, after an auto assault, I was crossing a road and a car started towards me. He was quite far away, but all of a sudden my heart stopped, I could't breath or move. It was terrifying. I made it to the sidewalk (I don't know how) and gained my composure back after about 5 minutes.

I delivered my first baby after 3 weeks suddenly i was feeling i can't breathe and i was crying and i was all alone at that time i called my land lady she had no idea what was going with me as i was only saing my chest is aching alot she called ambulance and next thing i was at hospital had gone through so many test and they said i had gallstones and i couldn't understand what was going on with me thats why i hadpanic attack it was good to call them

Recently I was driving and noticed my heart suddenly racing. I pulled over and sat there for about 10 minutes trying to just breath deep and slow and chill out. It's a scary feeling and hard to explain to anyone who hasn't experienced it. I've always been a little anxious in some situations but am usually very relaxed when driving so it caught me off guard.

I have found mindfulness or meditation to be beneficial for panic attacks, not just at the time of the attack, but to try to prevent them.

No but I do remember once when sliding towards a Armco Barrier at high speed thinking this is going to hurt a lot.

I suffer from anxiety attacks and yes they can scarry. I just try to breathe thru them, sometime it works and other time I will feel and hear my heart racing. Not good. I also catch my breathe quite often.

No thankfully I have never experienced a panic attack and feel really sad and sorry for those who do.

Barbara W Thanks for the Idea of food. I used to smoke and when I went to bed coughing was so bad that I could not bring the flem up. I quit with help from Dr. She upped my pwrscription for welbutrin and have not smoked since and no panic attacks at night anymorer

A toxic workplace saw me having attacks in the shower prior to work. Just aweful

Yes used to have panic attacks quite regularly (usually about death/dying). but on other hand depression/anxiety lead me to about 2 years of suicidal thoughts +++ and wanting to be not on this earth anymore. I was in the dark deeps of despair as my health continued to decline. (I was not on any meds, or seeing anyone). never thought I was having a heart attack or anything though, I knew what it was..

Suffer from them occasionally, freaks me out.

panic attacks/anxiety, yes when driving down the motorway, hate them. have to talk myself out of them.Edited 07-Jan-23 12:57pm

I used to wake up with panic attacks and a doctor told me to go and get something to eat. It breaks the cycle somehow. The dr said, your mind says “wait, if I’m eating, there must be nothing to panic about”. I don’t know why, but it works for me

No thankfully.

fortunately, no

No

yes I have had several panic attacks. They are very frightening and I have been sent to hospital with a suspected heart attack. Very scary

Yes I have had panic attacks in my life, but never had the feeling of having a heart attack. I just felt so trapped, especially if it was dark outside too. The room's walls close in and I can't go to bed, I have to sit up and have some noise around me like the tv or radio going. Suddenly scary happenings from life are all there taunting me. I know that when they have happened I have been fearful, or depressed or sick. I haven't had one since 2019, when I was very sick, and hope that is the last one I will ever experience.

Yes, I have and it's horrible. I would not wish it upon anyone.

Yes I have and it's not very nice I was told to get a papper bag and breathe into it and when you see the paper bag going in and out it calms you down

I havnt experienced these but no a few people that have had these and they can be very scary

I've had chest pains from being deeply upset a few times but luckily I don't have that from anxiety yet. My anxiety has been bad a few times and has brought me the point of mild distress and ultimately tears but that's as far as it goes. My anxiety has gradually diminished over the years as I've gotten older but mostly when I started noticing it had a lot of benefits e.g. my driving is much better when I am anxious, I'm able to accomplish a lot more in a shorter amount of time due to the adrenalin, my kids are safer because I'm more alert and many more benefits Since I started realising the many benefits of it I've been able harness it and turn it into a positive. Also I found since I stopped drinking caffeinated beverages regularly my anxiety naturally lowered a bit.

I have had a few panic attacks in my time and thought that I was dying which made me panic even more, they were some of the scariest times of my life, I take magnesium every day and haven't had another one in a couple of years now.

you don't have to be suffering from depression to have a panic attack, anyone can have them at any time and yes they are horrible

I had a panic attack the night my son took his own life... a horrible feeling dealing with both at the same time.

Yes suffer with anxiety especially in unfamiliar surroundings and the one thing that has helped me is magnesium.

Yes I have had a panic attack, it was just after I had left the Ex and thank goodness I was with my brother and my sister at the time and my sister realised and she got me to breathe into a paper bag which helped calm me down. I knew it wasn't a heart attack. My brother has had a heart attack a year or so ago and he said it was the worst pain he had ever felt in his life. He's doing well now and he's on medication.

Yes because when you are very transparent people with bad intentions can really hurt you. I have had that experience before. But handing it to some thing far greater really does work.I do belive that.It even realises your anxiety. Viviane

Yes I have and its very scary!

Yes, once, its very frightening

Yes has happened and sadly anxiety makes it worse

never

While trying to get out of a very messy relationship, I started having huge anxiety/panic attacks (PTSD). 8 years later I still have them occasionally. I'm not ashamed to say I sought help. My GP put me on medication & I have been going to counselling to deal with a number of different things over the years. Over all, my anxiety is fairly well managed now. But i still have severe anxiety attacks in certain situations which really trigger me badly. Breathing & grounding techniques do help, if you can remind yourself to do them before the anxiety starts to rake over. Breathe in slowly, counting to 6. Hold your breath, counting to 6. Breathe out, counting to 6. Keep doing that until you start feeling calmer. I find self talking helps me too - when I feel an attack coming on, I talk to myself, telling myself I'm ok, I'm safe, I can do *whatever it is*.

Yes, anxiety is a horrible disorder to suffer. Mine is caused by stress, so I have to lead a stress-free lifestyle (which is sometimes difficult when certain people throughout my life, reappear and trigger it) so I've tried to cut all negativity and controlling people from my life! I suffer extreme nausea and racing thoughts when I feel anxious. It really sux!! But surrounding myself with genuine people, nature and animals, and living a whole new life, I'm grateful that the anxiety experiences I suffered in the past are few and far now :)

So far I have been very lucky and have not experienced either but I have family members who have. The problem is that people simply don't understand what it is to suffer these Mental Health issues. and some have even said Stop your nonsense and pull yourself together. these conditions are not nonsense they are very serious and need to be addressed and treated. You probably never get cured but you learn to deal with the condition and a fully trained, expert Counsellor can help. Like most things Medical, do Not Rely on advice you glean from the Internet - most of it is garbage.

Yes, I have had a panic attack so big the nurses actually started to panic too because my arm and hand was all tingly, my fingers contorted, every time they tried to do my blood pressure I'd cry out in pain because the tingling made it painful, short of breath, high heart rate etc. That was my worst one, I have ptsd and generalised anxiety disorder.

I have never had one but my wife has been living with them for over 10 years. It is so hard to watch someone you care about go through that. She is on medication but it does not stop them it just makes them easier to deal with once she has them. I feel for anyone else that goes through them.

No I haven't and after reading members responses am very grateful.

Why dont people say which country they are from, IN USA instead of finding reasons they like to pump drugs. .I had something once 50 years ago, out of the blue for no reason, at first thought it was panic but after testing it was tail end of childhood epilepsy, had meds and observaion for short time and over, The episode wasnt pleasant and apparently it would have continued for a while if not diagnosed and treatment correctly. Too many people given too many drugs, most of what we go through is due to primarily not be aware of who we are and how magnificnetly our bodies and minds are put together, look after it with real food etc, which is getting harder and harder as the powers that be fill the food with chemicals, vax,drugs and then we eat and get sick. NOT FUN, NOW USA is going to vax bees, on of the purest foods around. USA is a demonic terrorist, Before you try to shoot me down go check what the world was like 50 years ago before USA decided to destroy everything by trying to play god.

No I haven't suffered from either. And I feel for the people who do suffer with it as it would be extremely frightening.

I have mild anxiety and I suffer from time too time some panic attacks, I try too resolve them myself with positive energy and learning how too cope with it without medication. I take enough medication, so therefore I choose not too take any more

My first major PA at only 11- didn't tell anyone - didn't know what it was. Just thought i was going to quietly but terrifyingly die just sitting on the lounge floor- with mum and dad nearby but totally unaware. Didn't get diagnosed 'til i was 24. Back in the 70's it wasn't a thing. Suffered in silence. Still suffering. The evil thing about Panic states and full blown attacks is the "tricking" of the event. Heart attack just one..also stroke, poisoning, seizures etc. It seems like its always one step ahead in how it manifests itself, if that makes sense. Only another fellow suffered can truly understand the terror.

I hate this subject because I have suffered much in my life with panic disorder.

Yes I suffer from panic attacks and anxiety for time to time. I on medication to help lower my anxiety. I suffer from OCD since I was 14 years of age. I know learn to live with it.

Mine is caused by generalised anxiety disorder. Which I often see a counsellor for.

yes due to trauma & abuse related. Triggers start them & the first time was the worst i actually had the panic attract passed out in grief shock then came too still with server panic attack symptoms. have had in past few years around 15 of them 6 being extremely server rest i managed through .. they do take few days for me 7 then im exhausted

Never had one, thankfully!

I sometimes get panic attacks and anxiety especially I am either in dangerous or awkward situation in which I need to get out of right away.

yes used to have panic attacks.

greg w meeting people,going out,most of the time I get very anxious I have been like that since young,its very nervy if you get this,you would not understand how everyday things can be overwhelming.

I thought I was having anxiety attacks but it ended up being atrial arrhythmia. Never assume!

Yes we have had these attacks on and off for over twenty years due to PTSD from childhood trauma and absolutely they can be a frightening experience. These days we are well aware of what's happening and use 'birthing breathing' to regain control, isolate ourselves and just lay down until it passes or write out what flashbacks are occurring. Thankyou for asking the question.

If you see someone with a broken arm you understand. No one can see how damaging and limitless your life becomes #MentalHealthMatters

I have found that dealing with anxiety, I just thank God for my Blessings and then pray for my friends and family and the anxiety goes away

I have not had panic attacks. I have been anxious all my life. I was an exponent of Murphy's Law even before I had heard of Murphy or his Law.

No I have never had any panic attacks or anxiety

Thank God, NO

I have been lucky and never had this frightening experience

It is terrible experience

Yes, I have, a fair while ago and I don't want to again.

no and i hope it never happens.

No. I have full control of my emotions

Yes. Awful crippling thing to live with. A thing of the past thank goodness.

I can recall acute anxiety and an almost constant sense of "panic" which I experienced during the course of my 1st pregnancy. I was very young, 16 when I fell pregnant and 17 when I gave birth to my son. Although my mother was supportive my father was not and after being told that I was pregnant and that my son's father didn't want to get married as he wasn't quite 19 then and not interested in settling down, I had to live in a home which felt like living in Hell for a whole year! During that time frame, every single time I walked into a room he walked out and every time that I said goodnight to my parents only my mother would say goodnight to me. I lived in a state of fear, loneliness and high anxiety for the 22 weeks of the pregnancy which my parents were aware of, having known that my father would take the news badly, and as a consequence I barely ate, vomited daily up to term and my son lived in a womb full of cortisol which is why I believe that he was between 13 ounces and 1 and a half pounds smaller than all his other 4 siblings, by the same father who later decided that he would get married to me.. Living a life like that is NOT living, it is EXISTING and I feel great sympathy for people who suffer their entire life with these afflictions. When my son was 4 months old my father started to soften and began to remain in a room when I entered it but it was a most HORRIBLE experience which I try very hard NOT to remember! Thanks for reading!

I never have but have friend that does. I truly don't understand much about them. My friend can have one even when she is very happy or relaxed. It seems a bit neurological to me. I'll listen to what you all have to say.

No, it has not happened to me, but has to our autistic son. He was put on a low dosage of Paxil, and that has helped tremendously to prevent the anxiety and meltdowns.

Yes! We under estimate the effects stress can have on our whole body and mind. I experienced ‘work place burnout’ 18 months ago, at the age of 64, working for a health provider as a co ordinator, my work history had been preschool teacher and elderly and rest home nurse, both careers through adult education, while raising two boy’s as a solo parent. I feel an incredible sense of accomplishment, however the stress levels do build up, and can result in anxiety and panic attacks! 18 months later, I’m still experiencing moments of anxiety, and always aware of my levels of capability to prevent panic attacks. I was blessed to have family and friends support as well as a good councillor. I did take meds recommended by my doctor for a short while, choosing to view my recovery holistically, I now take ‘Redicalm’ 4 x 4 breathtaking, meditation, exercise, good food choices, rest and relax, learning to enjoy the simple things of life. Life will always give us hurdles to overcome, remember on your life journey, look after self!

yes i get some anxiety i'm able to control it on my own , but i have'nt had anxiety for a while now which is great

No it was mus be very frightening to those who do suffer these. Take care

No

No I haven't but wife does.

no

Hasn't happened to me,..touch wood.

yes everyday when i go to work and some costumers are so rude and races

At our age, any attack is possible, panic attack, heart attack ,frighten attack and etc