Panic attack without panic? or is it something else?

[Beetle]

HI

I am newly diagnosed with anxiety. I believe I worry a lot.Today I came home very very tired, nauseated and dizzy. I then stood up and my feet and hands started to tingle and my fingers got stiff. I lay down and it stayed like this for 10 min,.I felt very unwell. I willed myself to eat something and after that it got better,I was not  afraid of anything, didn't feel panic and was at home after a long day placement. So i wonder what this was all about?

Could anything else cause those symtoms or was this a panic attack wihout panic????

Thanks for your help

Beetle

[Chris_B]

Hi Beetle,

If you have a look at this page on our website, you'll see that anxiety can manifest itself in a number of different ways, including the physical symptoms you describe:  http://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/signs-and-symptoms

You say you are newly diagnosed, are you taking medication? Sometimes nausea, dizziness and tiredness can be side effects.

You also mention that after eating you felt better - had you been eating throughout the day?  I have often had experiences with a full-on day where I've been too occupied to bother with meals, have drunk too much coffee, and once the day is over and your brain has no more work to concentrate on, your body crashes back to earth.

best
CB

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Online Community Manager

[Beetle]

HI Christopher

Thanks Christopher for your reply.

Yes you were right. I had a panic atack!I was taking medication but i was still on the low 30mg dose. I was very stressed out with the placement which my doctor told me would be too much to cope with being so sick. But i just did what i always did and pushed myself to it. Certainly it was too much-my doc was right! My body i think told me with the atack that i needed to eat and rest and take it easy and that i needed to do what the doc also told me: to up the dose to 60mg.

After I upped the dose had food and rest I havent experienced another atack. Thank god. I go to my councillour today and will talk to her about all my expereinces i had with the drugs and without it.

I think my body is just exhausted I i have to learn to listen to my body and not to ignore it........long journey ahead!!!!

I wonder how other peoples smptoms manifest during a panic atatack? do you also get stiff fingers and toes and tingling and pins and needles in them?

beetle

[geoff]

dear Beetle, naughty lol, they always say to eat small amounts of food often, well that's what the experts say, and no expert. Take it easy. Geoff.

[Jo3]

Hi Beetle

I suffer from anxiety and have had panic attacks before. But recently I had one in my doctors room and my right arm felt numb and tingling.  My GP explained that it was a symptom of a panic attack.  Once I slowed down my breathing my arm I was starting to feel better.  Dizziness, fainting, tiredness and nausea are symptoms of anxiety.

Take care

Jo