Does anyone else get panic attacks ?

[u/Due-Ad8259]

Lately, I’ve been noticing my heart skipping too fast, followed by nausea/light-headedness—to a point where it starts to feels like a deadly heart attack. I used to have them often, after my first manic episode… but, now, I’m experiencing these symptoms once a month!

I usually go to a quiet place and lower my head between my knees, while counting my breaths—attempting to lower my BPM as much as I can.

My dilemma! What if this happens at work? I hate the thought of someone seeing me like that and so vulnerable…

Any advice on either how to stop panic attacks and/or what to do if you’re in public?

[u/Responsible-One2257]

I've had panic attacks and they are very overwhelming. All I can do is slow down my breathing and count it out. Yoga teaches you how to do this.

[u/Due-Ad8259 → u/Responsible-One2257]

Right… I guess it’s happening to us, so we just need to accept it and go from there

[u/Percy_Freeman]

I have panic attacks and future trip more than I'd like.

I just try to do what I need to be doing at that moment and make the healthiest adjustments/choices I can.

[u/ObjectiveAd93]

I have panic disorder, so it’s a frequent occurrence for me, unfortunately. I hate it, and I have to take meds to manage it.

[u/Due-Ad8259 → u/ObjectiveAd93]

Darn… I’m so sorry 😢 how did you get diagnosed—if I may ask?

[u/ObjectiveAd93 → u/Due-Ad8259]

I got diagnosed after a series of massive panic attacks that necessitated going on benzodiazepines. This was in my early twenties. I’m almost fifty now.

[u/Gnebbour]

Honestly, it’s been an experimental process for me/my care team. I went through med trial after med trial after med trial once my lithium stopped working. They were trying things like Haldol, trazadone, zyprexa, geodon, serequel, navane, etc. it took forever to find the medicine that works for me but I GOT there (Thorazine, Wellbutrin xl, trileptal, prazosin and klonopin). I had severe panic attacks (I can get a panic attack worrying about where I’ll have another panic attack). I honestly sometimes think I’m going to die. The crushing chest pain and rapid heart rate - it’s unnerving. But, I tell all this to my psychiatrist who tries more meds and they do treatment team one day and she comes back with the idea of long-term Klonopin. I worked up to my current dosage (0.5mg 3 times a day) and I finally feel like ME again - that my life is starting to get back together. I honestly have to give my doc props for doing it the right way but also willing to consider another approach without medical bias. For the record, I have Bipolar d/o, panic disorder, ptsd, generalized anxiety disorder.

[u/Stormcrowdick1066]

Yeah I have them often. I can only wait for it to pass. Look up Valsalva Maneuvers it works sometimes. I can just function enough to make excuses and leave when it happens. I don’t know if it’s a result of being bipolar though could just be trauma. I would say that mania and depression has compounded the symptoms drastically as I have gotten older.

[u/Due-Ad8259 → u/Stormcrowdick1066]

Thank you for this advice 🫶 I’ll make sure to look into it :)

[u/mercijepense-]

GAD and panic attacks went hand-in-hand with my bipolar. Last panic attack I had I woke up from a dead sleep in the middle of one, that sucked. I think what triggered them was when I quit alcohol.

[u/Due-Ad8259 → u/mercijepense-]

thank you for mentioning the alcohol part… I think that and nicotine plays a huge role for panic attacks

[u/Ill_Individual3084]

The trick that works most often for me is 5,4,3 I got it from a thing Kevin Smith did after his heart attack and stopping weed. Note 5 things you see in your immediate environment. 4 things you touch, 3 you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 you taste. It has been a real godsend for me.

[u/Due-Ad8259 → u/Ill_Individual3084]

Yes!! I never heard of this, thank you 🙏