What’s it like to have a panic attack?

Have you ever experienced heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pains, and trembling? No, it’s not because you’re in love. These could be symptoms of a panic attack. Panic attacks can hit anyone at any point in their lives – mine happened while I was waiting in line for the DMV (go figure). For some people, it can happen frequently while others experience them only once or twice.

The Science Behind a Panic Attack

A panic attack is caused by an overactive sympathetic nervous system that sends signals to different parts of your body to prepare for emergency situations even when there’s no real threat. This causes physical symptoms such as sweating, increased heart rate and breathing rate, feeling dizzy or lightheaded.

Symptoms You Should Know About

The symptoms one experiences during a panic attack may vary from person to person but here are some general ones that most people go through –

  • Heart Palpitations
  • Sweating
  • Trembling/shaking
  • Shortness Of Breath
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Nausea/Feeling Dizzy Or Lightheaded
    Bonus: Feeling like you’re going crazy OR dying!

Seriously folks; sometimes they feel so intense that it becomes hard to differentiate them from actual heart attacks! And let me tell you folks something too – this ain’t fun times!

One Minute You’re Fine…. The Next… Bam!!

One moment everything is fine and before you know it BAM, out of nowhere comes the wave! Wave upon wave floods over our bodies giving us very little room left inside ourselves for anything else except fear.

It starts with tingling sensations on my fingers followed by my legs starting shaking. Then all sorts’ come along with nobody exactly what might set them off initially anyway without seeing iron-clad logic behind why certain events lead us into a tailspin that made me think I was completely losing it.

Everything Becomes Intensely Scary

Your mind works as though everything has become intensely scary; you’re having problems controlling your breathing, feeling nervous and terrified all at the same time. It’s like your head just starts spinning which then triggers feelings of panic about what might come rolling in next until exhaustion sets them again so one can only ponder when will next week happen?

Throughout my experience, I always knew that ALL of these symptoms were going to plague me anytime soon again.

Now let’s get real with this situation – nobody wants such scenarios’ rampant inside their heads without any serious rational explanation why they keep recurring and affecting our thoughts or how we react towards normal everyday situations moving forward. But alas! Some lucky ones are born with solid mental fortitude that helps manage these things better than most because having anxiety isn’t simply something ol’ Jimmy John does on his lunch break last Tuesday afternoon down by the stores.’

The Feeling Doesn’t Seem To Go Away

The first few times are certainly more intense but every occurrence never feels easier than before. This is not an exaggeration-It’s quite true for anyone out there who have experienced it!

I often found myself counting days between episodes, dreading its arrival because no matter what people may say, I don’t want this feeling ever again if humanly possible! Because now I know about this whole universe where everything can seem turned upside down thanks to experiencing Panic Attacks “firsthand” Yo-ho!

There is no cure-all method that is guaranteed to work across the board. Different people may respond positively to other forms of treatment:
– Talk therapy
– Medications
– Mindfulness meditation
(That sounds complicated doesn’t it folks?)

Practicing mindfulness can be super helpful since focusing on your breathing can provide calmness and takes your head out of the ‘fight/flight’ mode. Some other coping mechanisms that have worked for me include:

  • Watching a funny movie or show
  • Going out for some fresh air
  • Listening to calming music

Try finding healthy distractions and being proactive because sure enough, if you don’t find something soon, this is probably going to get worse before it gets better!

The Stigma That Surrounds Panic Attacks

Unfortunately still today there remains stigma around anyone with mental health concerns. This negative focus could impact one’s life significantly in various forms such as isolating themselves from friends/family/job responsibilities/etcetera even though those shy people will agree on feeling like crying so thanks a lot society… Said no empathetic person ever!

Making people feel guilty (especially when they hold positions of power) isn’t beneficial to anyone; although poking fun at them certainly makes things less unbearable somehow……

Final Word

In conclusion folks:
Panic attacks are real, scary but manageable mood disorders.
Though fear may pulse through our veins every now again, c’est la vie as Nelly Furtado would say.

So what can we do? Well embrace these different feelings guys since part of living full throttle means celebrating victories along with “dragons.”

Onward dear readers ONWARD!

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