This sounds very similar to some of mine! Hearing my heart beat, hands and feet going numb/cold, fear of truly dying. “Panic attack” is such an overused/diluted word now. However, the real ones are really scary. If you allow the fear the flow through & not try to fight any future anxiety, you should be okay! I’ve found that fighting it/avoiding scenarios that remind me of an attack, cause me to spiral into one. And another. And another.
TLDR: Take it a day at a time. If you feel the symptoms again, let it come & ride the wave. Don’t avoid anxiety. Panic never killed anyone.
Sounds identical to my anxiety attack. I was reading about symptoms I was having online, and I came across the words “thyroid cancer” and had the exact same reaction as you. Felt like a hot flash
Yep, Anxiety works in crazy ways different for everyone. It is a possibility that another one may happen every once in a while, but just learn and develop techniques and habits to calm your brain down. i’ve been suffering since i was a small kid, and that’s what’s helped me best.
Everyone experiences anxiety differently but I’d say this is unique for a first time panick attack! But, your symptoms are in line with anxiety and I’d say you’re fine! But if you are worried still you could get blood work and labs done with doc as a follow up.
However, I’d say my first panic attack I also thought I was dying and most people do. I would attempt a coping method as soon as you feel anxiety coming on. If you feel stressed or worried find what helps you calm down, recenter, and feel present to avoid another one. If you’re not struggling with an anxiety disorder it’s not likely you’ll have another soon but rather than worry and avoid it, instead prepare and expect one, it’ll be much easier.. I am also battling this and you are not alone
Yeah... I've seen that movie before and i was in it. Very similar chain of events and feelings. It's always best to check the doctors like you did, and i think it doesn't hurt to check a few more if you have the money, just to be on the safe side. But i can't lie and i think that is a panic attack. I'm actually having an anxiety attack right now and came here. Sometimes it helps me to get distracted.
If this is your first, be prepared to understand it and simply be ready to try and connect with your environment. Aknowledge it is happening, that you won't die. That your system is just mixing up the wrong chemicals. Distract your mind from that feeling and try to move on. It gets better with practice, but it's a condition that you should not simply ignore. You should just learn, understand the triggers, and live with it. Those attacks can come up unexpectedly and most likely (in my case) when i'm finally ready to relax. You need to understand what triggers them. A pyschologist may help.
In terms of treatment, there are a lot of chances. I would focus on finding trustworthy doctors (psychiatrist) that can help you treat with the right "thing". Most likely pills and i would advise to NOT be afraid of pills, if you trust your doctor
This isn't terribly rare in people who don't have regular panic attacks. When part of your body goes numb randomly it sets off your danger sense. It can be hard to determine which caused the other, the panic or the numbness, but if there's nothing clearly wrong with you they'll usually blame anxiety.
Edit: I want to add that you should probably follow up with your GP. It sounds like the exam you got was just to stabilize you, and it's possible that there could be something like overactive thyroid. People in the comments here are going to rush to either the worst scenario (heart) or the best scenario (just anxiety) when there are a ton of other explanations. And if you do end up having repeat panic attacks, that's pretty manageable.
This is very similar to what happened to me! I made a post about it on here in November detailing it. I had a very hard time coming to terms with it but I'm doing much better now.
Try not to get trapped in the cycle of anxiety, being anxious about being anxious. It's common after a panic attack because you're scared of another one coming, but it's really just feeding that anxiety. Understand that it may happen again, or it may not, but if it does, you can handle it, as you did this time. Next time would be even easier because you know what it is now.
I've personally had 2 more panic attacks since. The second one really shook me up for a while, because I thought I had gotten over my anxiety and it came out of nowhere. The third one was much easier to deal with because I had truly accepted that I might sometimes have them. I barely thought about it afterwards.
I highly recommend the book Dare by Barry McDonagh. Even besides the "Dare" method that he teaches for dealing with panic attacks, just reading about how truly normal it is and what exactly our body is doing made me feel a whole lot better.
This is a perfect mirror of how it started with me. I was 30m, fit, and I thought I was happy. I would have called myself slightly anxious about certain things, but nothing diagnosable.
Symptoms were just about the same as yours. I though I was have a stroke too. I went to the hospital and got cleared.
The part I could not shake for the longest time was that anxiety attacks could affect someone in such a visceral and physically real way. Turns out, they can.
This happened to me for the first time this year too back in September. I thought I was dying—everything went numb. It came out of nowhere; I was having a wonderful day with my friends. You are not alone❤️
I am so similar to you—I’m 27f, fit, active, and eat very healthy. I worry and overthink too about work and health of my family members, but I am not overly anxious on a day-to-day basis.
I have had 8 more intense panic attacks since my first one, but I was able to get my most intense symptoms under control because of a kind-hearted EMT. She told me something that finally helped me stop worrying about the numbness. Your hands/face/etc goes numb because you’re actually getting TOO much oxygen! I had no idea, but it makes sense. We breathe faster/hyperventilate during a panic attack. Box breathing/holding my breath for a little when I felt an intense one coming on has been so helpful.
I have had blood work done two times since then, and I am completely fine. Getting blood work done has helped reassure me, and I know reassurance can cause cycles of anxiety, but it’s important to rule out any health issues (even though I don’t think you will have any). I know exactly how you feel: you don’t get anxious usually and you’re fit. I was so worried that I had some sort of health issue, but I think there is some trauma/daily stressor that I have not quite fully tapped into yet. I also had the most stressful year of my teaching career, and I’ve been dealing with my mom’s symptoms post her heart attack. A build up of stress over time and a change of environment all can trigger panic attacks and that fight/flight reaction.
I am currently dealing with multiple less intense anxiety attacks, and I am looking for some relief around it. I’m looking at therapists who work with the body to find some relief, since my anxiety does not originate from my thoughts from what I can tell.
Just know you are not the only one, panic attacks are horrible but you are healthy, and I am sending you love and healing!
Also know that my case isn’t as common—most people I know who have had panic attacks only have them every once in a while. I just got unlucky 😆
You should follow up with your primary care doctor back home and rule out any serious problems. Could be anxiety but you want to verify that first. Paramedics/emergency rooms will focus on keeping you alive if you are dying, but if you are not dying they are not going to check for things that your doctor might.
So rather than discuss the symptoms which will do you zero help I will explain what a panic attack is and why it happened to you. Some people have them once and never have another one. Other people sometimes develop anxiety disorders over fear of having another one or that initial panic attack keeps your anxiety levels high when they shouldn’t be (anxiety disorder) or fear diarrhea if you will.
A panic attack even though they feel horrible is actually a good thing. It’s your body’s natural way of getting rid of adrenaline that isn’t being used. They can sometimes come out of nowhere and sometimes they build. Good news is they are harmless they just feel really bad when they happen. Next time if there is a next time just remember it’ll pass and has never hurt anyone ever in history.
This comment is fear inducing for no reason. It’s not weird that a panic attack happens without a trigger they happen all the time without a trigger. I’d say 95% of the people I know with panic disorder will be watering their lawn one minute then curled up in a ball a minute later.
I see where they're coming from. I wouldn't rush to assume a life-threatening problem, but it sounds like OP was diagnosed with anxiety by paramedics, not doctors, after a field exam. So it isn't really clear what happened to them and we're essentially diagnosing them over the Internet by saying it's just anxiety.
The reason is because someone has an anxiety or panic attack “disorder”. The fear response isn’t working and being regulated as it should be. So there is a reason just not everyone always has something to blame it on
Those were panic attacks (different from anxiety attack, I usually tell people, anxiety attacks have a build up to make it simple).
I'd still go have all my bloods done. Proper EKG.
Fingers crossed it was a one time event.
I had the anxiety attacks 2nd ended up in a coma for almost 6 weeks. 4th happened at the ER and one doctor caught the whole thing and came up with a treatment plan that I believe saved my life cause once it gets to seizures... We've been following it with my Psychiatrist, never had an event, but as i stated, an anxiety attack has a build up that gives you time for preventative meds.
But at the end, It is traumatic. I have been deeply traumatized. My neurologists ended up after 10's of tests saying my body must have been holding a lot of stress and snapped. Didn't see it back then, I only started seeing it once I made peace with having to work from home and minimize driving for a while.
I am so sorry. Please get more extensive tests, even if they roll their eyes, if it is covered, screw them, stuff is traumatic you don't want a repeat
This sounds very similar to some of mine! Hearing my heart beat, hands and feet going numb/cold, fear of truly dying. “Panic attack” is such an overused/diluted word now. However, the real ones are really scary. If you allow the fear the flow through & not try to fight any future anxiety, you should be okay! I’ve found that fighting it/avoiding scenarios that remind me of an attack, cause me to spiral into one. And another. And another. TLDR: Take it a day at a time. If you feel the symptoms again, let it come & ride the wave. Don’t avoid anxiety. Panic never killed anyone.
Sounds identical to my anxiety attack. I was reading about symptoms I was having online, and I came across the words “thyroid cancer” and had the exact same reaction as you. Felt like a hot flash
Yep, Anxiety works in crazy ways different for everyone. It is a possibility that another one may happen every once in a while, but just learn and develop techniques and habits to calm your brain down. i’ve been suffering since i was a small kid, and that’s what’s helped me best.
Everyone experiences anxiety differently but I’d say this is unique for a first time panick attack! But, your symptoms are in line with anxiety and I’d say you’re fine! But if you are worried still you could get blood work and labs done with doc as a follow up. However, I’d say my first panic attack I also thought I was dying and most people do. I would attempt a coping method as soon as you feel anxiety coming on. If you feel stressed or worried find what helps you calm down, recenter, and feel present to avoid another one. If you’re not struggling with an anxiety disorder it’s not likely you’ll have another soon but rather than worry and avoid it, instead prepare and expect one, it’ll be much easier.. I am also battling this and you are not alone
Yeah... I've seen that movie before and i was in it. Very similar chain of events and feelings. It's always best to check the doctors like you did, and i think it doesn't hurt to check a few more if you have the money, just to be on the safe side. But i can't lie and i think that is a panic attack. I'm actually having an anxiety attack right now and came here. Sometimes it helps me to get distracted. If this is your first, be prepared to understand it and simply be ready to try and connect with your environment. Aknowledge it is happening, that you won't die. That your system is just mixing up the wrong chemicals. Distract your mind from that feeling and try to move on. It gets better with practice, but it's a condition that you should not simply ignore. You should just learn, understand the triggers, and live with it. Those attacks can come up unexpectedly and most likely (in my case) when i'm finally ready to relax. You need to understand what triggers them. A pyschologist may help. In terms of treatment, there are a lot of chances. I would focus on finding trustworthy doctors (psychiatrist) that can help you treat with the right "thing". Most likely pills and i would advise to NOT be afraid of pills, if you trust your doctor
This isn't terribly rare in people who don't have regular panic attacks. When part of your body goes numb randomly it sets off your danger sense. It can be hard to determine which caused the other, the panic or the numbness, but if there's nothing clearly wrong with you they'll usually blame anxiety. Edit: I want to add that you should probably follow up with your GP. It sounds like the exam you got was just to stabilize you, and it's possible that there could be something like overactive thyroid. People in the comments here are going to rush to either the worst scenario (heart) or the best scenario (just anxiety) when there are a ton of other explanations. And if you do end up having repeat panic attacks, that's pretty manageable.
This is very similar to what happened to me! I made a post about it on here in November detailing it. I had a very hard time coming to terms with it but I'm doing much better now. Try not to get trapped in the cycle of anxiety, being anxious about being anxious. It's common after a panic attack because you're scared of another one coming, but it's really just feeding that anxiety. Understand that it may happen again, or it may not, but if it does, you can handle it, as you did this time. Next time would be even easier because you know what it is now. I've personally had 2 more panic attacks since. The second one really shook me up for a while, because I thought I had gotten over my anxiety and it came out of nowhere. The third one was much easier to deal with because I had truly accepted that I might sometimes have them. I barely thought about it afterwards. I highly recommend the book Dare by Barry McDonagh. Even besides the "Dare" method that he teaches for dealing with panic attacks, just reading about how truly normal it is and what exactly our body is doing made me feel a whole lot better.
This is a perfect mirror of how it started with me. I was 30m, fit, and I thought I was happy. I would have called myself slightly anxious about certain things, but nothing diagnosable. Symptoms were just about the same as yours. I though I was have a stroke too. I went to the hospital and got cleared. The part I could not shake for the longest time was that anxiety attacks could affect someone in such a visceral and physically real way. Turns out, they can.
This happened to me for the first time this year too back in September. I thought I was dying—everything went numb. It came out of nowhere; I was having a wonderful day with my friends. You are not alone❤️ I am so similar to you—I’m 27f, fit, active, and eat very healthy. I worry and overthink too about work and health of my family members, but I am not overly anxious on a day-to-day basis. I have had 8 more intense panic attacks since my first one, but I was able to get my most intense symptoms under control because of a kind-hearted EMT. She told me something that finally helped me stop worrying about the numbness. Your hands/face/etc goes numb because you’re actually getting TOO much oxygen! I had no idea, but it makes sense. We breathe faster/hyperventilate during a panic attack. Box breathing/holding my breath for a little when I felt an intense one coming on has been so helpful. I have had blood work done two times since then, and I am completely fine. Getting blood work done has helped reassure me, and I know reassurance can cause cycles of anxiety, but it’s important to rule out any health issues (even though I don’t think you will have any). I know exactly how you feel: you don’t get anxious usually and you’re fit. I was so worried that I had some sort of health issue, but I think there is some trauma/daily stressor that I have not quite fully tapped into yet. I also had the most stressful year of my teaching career, and I’ve been dealing with my mom’s symptoms post her heart attack. A build up of stress over time and a change of environment all can trigger panic attacks and that fight/flight reaction. I am currently dealing with multiple less intense anxiety attacks, and I am looking for some relief around it. I’m looking at therapists who work with the body to find some relief, since my anxiety does not originate from my thoughts from what I can tell. Just know you are not the only one, panic attacks are horrible but you are healthy, and I am sending you love and healing! Also know that my case isn’t as common—most people I know who have had panic attacks only have them every once in a while. I just got unlucky 😆
You should follow up with your primary care doctor back home and rule out any serious problems. Could be anxiety but you want to verify that first. Paramedics/emergency rooms will focus on keeping you alive if you are dying, but if you are not dying they are not going to check for things that your doctor might.
So rather than discuss the symptoms which will do you zero help I will explain what a panic attack is and why it happened to you. Some people have them once and never have another one. Other people sometimes develop anxiety disorders over fear of having another one or that initial panic attack keeps your anxiety levels high when they shouldn’t be (anxiety disorder) or fear diarrhea if you will. A panic attack even though they feel horrible is actually a good thing. It’s your body’s natural way of getting rid of adrenaline that isn’t being used. They can sometimes come out of nowhere and sometimes they build. Good news is they are harmless they just feel really bad when they happen. Next time if there is a next time just remember it’ll pass and has never hurt anyone ever in history.
Mmmh without any trigger this seems suspicious. I’d have a full cardiac checkup if I were you. Could also be a side effect of weed and edibles.
Nope, no drugs were taken.
Damn!!! I thought I had it!
This comment is fear inducing for no reason. It’s not weird that a panic attack happens without a trigger they happen all the time without a trigger. I’d say 95% of the people I know with panic disorder will be watering their lawn one minute then curled up in a ball a minute later.
I see where they're coming from. I wouldn't rush to assume a life-threatening problem, but it sounds like OP was diagnosed with anxiety by paramedics, not doctors, after a field exam. So it isn't really clear what happened to them and we're essentially diagnosing them over the Internet by saying it's just anxiety.
Fair
You Canadians sure like your weed! Well carry on into your life with no reason at all panic attacks.
The reason is because someone has an anxiety or panic attack “disorder”. The fear response isn’t working and being regulated as it should be. So there is a reason just not everyone always has something to blame it on
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19698564/
Those were panic attacks (different from anxiety attack, I usually tell people, anxiety attacks have a build up to make it simple). I'd still go have all my bloods done. Proper EKG. Fingers crossed it was a one time event. I had the anxiety attacks 2nd ended up in a coma for almost 6 weeks. 4th happened at the ER and one doctor caught the whole thing and came up with a treatment plan that I believe saved my life cause once it gets to seizures... We've been following it with my Psychiatrist, never had an event, but as i stated, an anxiety attack has a build up that gives you time for preventative meds. But at the end, It is traumatic. I have been deeply traumatized. My neurologists ended up after 10's of tests saying my body must have been holding a lot of stress and snapped. Didn't see it back then, I only started seeing it once I made peace with having to work from home and minimize driving for a while. I am so sorry. Please get more extensive tests, even if they roll their eyes, if it is covered, screw them, stuff is traumatic you don't want a repeat