Panic Attack?

[Meggerzz]

Well I am a 24 year old female. First off I should say that I am extremely shy and also very much a worrier. I can remember an exact day about a year and a half ago when I had this feeling hit me, and I have been dealing with it ever since. I am not sure if this is a panic attack or, not so I need help. If it is what should I do about it? Well what I get is it gets kinda hard to breath, its not to bad, but i can never catch a deep breath. Sometimes my shoulders to my hands start tingling. My mind starts racing and I start feeling like I am going crazy. Sometimes I get nauseated, sometimes I don't. It usually lasts a few minutes, and then for the rest of the day I worry about it, because I am afraid ill have another one. It is starting to take over my life. I have noticed because of this I have sort of turned into a hypochondriac. I am constantly worried about something. I went to the doctors about 8 months ago because of a fast heart beat, but found nothing. I absolutely know they are right because once I got the tests done, my pacing heart rate stopped. So, is this signs of a panic disorder or is this something else? I am really really tired of it, no one know about it and I think I need to get help for it. Where would I start on finding help? Its really tough for me too, since I am so incredibly shy.

[cowgirl12]

Oh, goodness dear, I know exactly what you are going through.  I started having panic attacks in October, the first of which landed me in the hospital, as I didn't know what was happening.  I was having trouble breathing, my heart was racing, my left arm was tingling and going numb and I thought I was going to pass out or even die.  It was terrifying.  My husband, the paramedic, was not home at the time . . . of course :)  For weeks after this trip to the hospital, I was suffering with this terrifying feeling.  It seemed to just hang around my head all the time.  I didn't know what to do and didn't want to take any medication to stop them.  I was almost slipping into depression.  I happened to come upon this website one day that changed my life.  It is www.panicend.com.  It was a huge educational source as well as a source of comfort and reassurance.  It is possible to beat these attacks, but it takes practice.  Facing the fear you feel head on is the biggest step you can take to win the battle against panic.  When you feel your panic attack coming on, when your heart starts to race or you start feeling tingling in your fingers or toes, think in your head "all right, this is a panic attack and I'm not going to be afraid, in fact, let's make this the worse panic attack ever."    It sounds so silly at first, but once you break the cycle of being afraid of the symptoms, hopefully they will begin to go away.  They did for me.  Now, it's not a permanent fix, as I still have some times where I relapse and feel myself slipping into that cycle again, but I remind myself of how I can conquer them, and they disappear.  I wish you the best of luck and encourage you to visit this website.  I hope it helps you as much as it helped me.  If you need anything, feel free to message or email me.  Take care and Merry Christmas  :)

[melmel44]

IIt does definatley sound panic related to me! I have struggled on and off with them for years!! I have almost fainted from hypervenilation and my hands went completely numb! I have just recently had to get back on my meds(prozac and xanax) They both help a lot. I still have to learn how to cope with the attacks! I always have  extra xanax and a paper bag to breath into with me always . They are terrifying, I totally understand! If not dealt with they can take total control over your life!! I advise seeing your doc to discuss possible medication or some therapy(maybe both) It will get better!!