Panic attacks - lifestyle

Now this is something not many people know about me and that is I suffer from panic attacks, they started at the beginning of the year and they've always been pretty small. When I get a panic attack I start sweating, shaking (not to the extent of people being able to see it, but I feel it), it becomes difficult to breathe, and my heart exhilarates so much that I feel like my chest is going to explode and I'm gonna die.

Up till now my panic attacks only happen when I'm alone, and they only last a few minutes I call them 'small panic attacks' as I can deal with them, however this changed last week.

Last Wednesday I experienced a massive panic attack, and unfortunately it happened when I was driving. The way this panic attack is different to all the other ones I've had is that it messed with my head, I felt like I was going to pass out and eyes went all fuzzy making almost impossible to see, this resulted in me swerving off the side of the road onto the grassy banking the runs along side. After my head sorted it's self out I was still having one of my 'small attacks' but I managed to drive myself home as I was only about 5 minutes away.  This panic attack was also the longest one I've ever had, as it lasted from mid afternoon when it started until I went to sleep that night, I couldn't shake it no matter what I tried.

Since the big panic attack I have had one other attack, but it was only a small one lasting a few minutes.

When I have small panic attacks I can no calm myself from them using the 4,7,8 breathing technique, this is when you inhale for 4 seconds hold your breath for 7 seconds and exhale for 8 seconds, this helps regulate my breathing and getting me concentrating on counting breath rather than the panic attack at hand.

Many panic attacks do have triggers, I've found my triggers have ranged from a lot of things sometimes I don't even know what the trigger is it just starts. However I do know when I had my big attack the trigger was the driving its self I had the feeling of not being in control of anything including myself.

Now many people may look at this and being how humanity is they will say "you don't get panic attacks" "that's not a panic attack" "you don't know what your talking about" however, all panic attacks are personal to the person receiving them, many people receive the same symptoms just in various amounts, someone may feel one thing stronger than another and someone else could have the opposite, but they are all panic attacks.

Don't think I'm weak because I have panic attacks, you'll never know how strong I am to be able to face the world everyday.

Until next time, see you later alligator.

-Kate.