Ongoing panic attacks

[Christyy]

Hey, new to this so bare with me!

I've been having ongoing panic attacks sporadically for the past 10 years or so.. I used to keep my attacks logged on random bits of paper on the floor of the bathroom so the next attack I can read through compare symptoms to try and confirm that im not going to die.. but recently got the idea to start logging them again but on my notes section of my phone. 

They have no rhyme or reason just happen out if the blue.. I'm not really a stressed/anxious person so couldn't tell you what actually causes them but wanted to get an outsiders opinion on it I guess..? I don't know how to explain most of what's happening hence the words like iffy.. but I don't know if this is how everyone else's seems or if it's just unique for me etcc

<span;>22/09/2023
<span;>Head feels full
<span;>Head tingles
<span;>Happens after over exercising today did 9k steps
<span;>Tummy abit upset
<span;>Gasy
<span;>Top corners iffy
<span;>Top back tingly?
<span;>Starts with top sides of head feeling tight and vision kinda blurry
<span;>Urge to cover ears with shoulder

[blues23]

Hi Christty 

have u seen the dr about your symptoms? 

my panic attack can be mostly just can’t sit still can’t breathe can’t focus dry mouth rushing thoughts things like that I get no actual physical symptoms but just can’t not be still and can’t think straight or breathe well . 

do u know your triggers ?

it’s good to keep a log as you are but my personal advice would to see a gp they may be able to help & get to the cause and help u feel better or help u identify your triggers 

[therising]

Hi Christyy

Wondering if you or anyone in your family has a history of migraines. Personally, I used to experience 'silent migraines' (aka migraines without headache) which would set off my nervous system something shocking. Not necessarily saying this is what you're experiencing but I thought I'd just put it out there as an idea. I can remember going to a gp while experiencing what appeared to be an anxiety attack. He wanted to put me on anti anxiety medication for what he was convinced was generalised anxiety disorder but I insisted 'No' and that there had to be something else going on. Long story short, went to another GP who ordered a brain MRI. Christyy, it was a miracle, I had an episode while I was in the MRI machine which meant the diagnosis was an easy one.

With silent migraine or what I used to call my 'brain glitches', my nervous system would be set off, I'd lose sensation down the left side of my body, lose grip strength in my hands, have trouble with balance and trouble processing what people would be saying to me, among other symptoms. The migraines would always start the same way, with pressure I could feel shifting through my sinus area. Everyone experiences different symptoms.

I can't help but wonder whether, based on this largely happening after exercising, that it might have something to do with a slight change of blood pressure in the brain. Of course, I'm no medical expert but just suggesting the idea based on my own experience. While there are so many different causes linked to migraines, shifts in blood pressure, the brain's electrical circuitry firing, gut issues, vagus nerve issues, sensitivities to certain chemicals in food etc can be just some of the causes amongst many. Btw, my mum used to experience silent migraine with aura. Things took a slight turn when she stopped getting the auras and started experiencing what felt like anxiety attacks. Again, long story short, after so many tests she ended up being diagnosed by a neurologist as experiencing electrical charges or glitches in the brain (harmless stuff).

I hope you get to the bottom of it all and find a sense of freedom through an accurate diagnosis. 🙂

[Hepa4300]

Hi Christyy

thanks for sharing your experience with panic attacks.

until recently I had never experienced what I know as a panic attack, it is a horrible sensation that is quite hard to explain to someone who has not felt the unusual feeling when at least I have had these, fyi I had one just a few hours ago. To me I understand that tingling especially in the head. My breathing becomes fast and erratic, my skin feels odd Iike it’s not mine, I don’t feel comfortable in my own skin, I tend to scratch and

pick like I’m on the e iutside

[Christyy]

This was super helpful and I feel like it may be the same thing I'm experiencing! I know this is going to sound silly but if it is the same thing would taking painkillers during the initial stage help prevent my "I'm about to die" cycle or is that just wishful thinking? 

[Hepa4300]

I tend to scratch and pick, I break down and cry uncontrollably I lose focus of vision I want to feel something anything but that so I tend to also hit myself to feel something. I also feel a deep loss and that I have no control over my life, a spectator watching it fall apart. 
I wish I had something positive to say about how to handle them but I have not found ho to at this point all I can do is ride it out and hope I stay sane .

[therising]

Hi Christyy

Good question. Not sure about the pain killers. I initially was put on blood pressure meds for the migraines but then stopped taking them, naughty me. After eventually stopping, the migraines never returned in the form they'd taken. They stopped just as mysteriously as they'd started. My mum was put on an anti seizure med, which worked for her. While she's never had a seizure in her 80 something years on this earth, the low dose meds simply had an impact on the electrical activity in her brain.  The electrical activity would simply set off her nervous system, send her heart racing a little and she'd report the sensation as being 'like suddenly going up or down in a lift'. Maybe it's worth suggesting to your GP something along the lines of 'Can we do a bit of low level experimentation, to see whether this could possibly be a brain glitchy thing/migraine that's setting off my nervous system, which could perhaps be easily resolved with an over the counter anti inflammatory or maybe some natural remedy?'.

Definitely makes a difference when something can be accurately diagnosed. While on the odd occasion I might sense a minor glitch, These days I simply think 'There goes my brain doing it's thang'. 😁 Whole different story when we don't know what the heck's going on while seriously fearing what our body could be working up to.

[Christyy]

Such a big help thank you so much! I'll definitely run it by my gp see what they suggest.