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Post by alexa11 on Jan 15, 2018 6:35:36 GMT
Let me preface this by saying that my first panic attacks happened in the middle of the night about 3 yrs ago- would wake up with racing heart and scared to death- sometimes wake myself up screaming. This was after ending a long term relationship of over 20 yrs. These worsened after his suicide so was put on Ativan at night to sleep- no problems since.
Thursday I woke up dizzy- like I was drunk and heavy feeling in legs- nauseous. I had to go to Doctor's Care because my dr is closed on Thursday. She cleaned wax out of my ear and said I had vertigo. Also did EKG because of splinter hemorrhages in nails- but that's another story... EKG was normal. Didn't really feel like myself for the rest of the day- just that "not right" feeling.
Friday and Saturday were fine.
Today- Sunday- got that strange lightheaded feeling like I wasn't really in my body- all day- lasted for hours. It was like I was starting to get an ocular migraine, but never had the aura- just the weird "off" feeling. I wasn't hungry at dinner- not nauseous- just didn't want to eat. Just wanted to sit. Had a weird pain under left rib for awhile- thought maybe heart attack- so that stressed me out.... Took my Ativan at bedtime and then everything went back to normal in about an hour.
I don't feel stressed- have never had any anxiety until the night episodes- never during the day. Can you have physical symptoms of anxiety like this without feeling stressed? I think I'm handling all of the changes in my life, but now I'm starting to think otherwise? Is my body trying to tell me something? Sorry this is so long and I know I have rambled, but my meds have kicked in...
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Post by Lexica on Jan 15, 2018 6:46:11 GMT
" Can you have physical symptoms of anxiety like this without feeling stressed? "
Yes, you can. I had a couple of panic attacks while sitting calmly on the couch and reading. My body began to freak out as if I was being dangled over a high cliff facing certain death. I was not stressed out over anything at the time, and wasn't even thinking about my life because I was engrossed in the book. The book was not a stressful one either. I've also had periods of extreme stress in my life and didn't have any panic attack during that legitimate stress. I don't have any answers for you other than to say it has happened to me too.
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Post by canadianscrappergirl on Jan 15, 2018 7:34:10 GMT
You can most definitely have an anxiety attack while not feeling stressed.
There was a time a year ago where I had them for days having several a day it was very debilitating. I had one while at the grocery store.
Many of mine are when I'm winding down from the day and lots happen in the middle of the night. Those are the worst because I'm thinking I'm having a great rest and wake up with them.
I've found breathing exercises help when I feel them coming on.
Also my diet and getting enough sleep also seem to factor into whether I have one.
Watching sugar intake not snacking on junk food before bed. Even watching what I watch on tv before bed.
I also try to stick to certain bedtime rituals before bed.
Although I'm under a huge amount of stress I don't seem to get them I definitely get more when my life is somewhat normal.
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Post by tracyarts on Jan 15, 2018 10:11:41 GMT
My anxiety attacks usually hit with no warning, and rarely when I'm stressed. I don't know what triggers them.
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Post by lisae on Jan 15, 2018 12:49:08 GMT
I suppose it could be but I think you need to see your regular doctor asap just to be sure.
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Post by mikklynn on Jan 15, 2018 13:37:09 GMT
I suppose it could be but I think you need to see your regular doctor asap just to be sure. That is my opinion, too. |
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eleezybeth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,784
Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
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Post by eleezybeth on Jan 15, 2018 14:45:48 GMT
What does your calendar say? Are you near any anniversaries? Birthdays? Did you associate this time of year with anything stressful? I find that my mind is always acutely aware of anniversaries even if I am not.
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Post by pjaye on Jan 15, 2018 14:47:59 GMT
It could be anxiety.
However you've had an EKG and saw a doctor so that probably rules out cardiac problems.
I read this all the time here - vertigo is a symptom not a diagnosis.
Vertigo is simply the correct medical term for the sensation of movement/spinning/tilting or swaying. So when the doctor days "you have vertigo" that's not the name of a disease or medical condition. You experience vertigo, which is a feeling. Several different things can cause this symptom and sometimes it just happens for no reason and can last a few hours or days.
It's one of the common symptoms people go to the doctor for, and mostly it resolves on it's own.
Some medications can help, particularly prochlorperazine.
If you are prone to migraines, it could also be that. I get vestibular migraines, I'm totally fine one minute, then I turn my head and everything starts spinning. I get really tired and almost can't keep my eyes open.
Before we made the connection that this was a migraine for me (which took a while because I never get an actual headache with these), doctors always said it was labyrinthitis (which is an inflammation of the inner ear)...which there is no real treatment for anyway.
Now that I know it's a migraine I take ibuprofen & prochlorperazine and go to bed. If I take drugs early on and go to bed & sleep I can often get over it in 12-24hrs, but sometimes it can last for 2 -3 days.
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Post by mrsscrapdiva on Jan 15, 2018 15:55:40 GMT
I would say yes. This is how I feel about 90% of the time and it really sucks. Sometimes my anxiety shows up in the shaking and the heart palpitations, but all the other times it is a weird sensation that you know something just isn't right. Sometimes I feel like my arms are heavy and my legs are weak, like jello. Random aches and pains, shooting quick pains that just go away. I am then hyper focused on my body and feel all the strange sensations. I think I am not breathing efficiently and I am not able to get in a deep breath. I really had to sit somewhere quiet and concentrate on my breathing exercises. Once I can take deep breaths, have some water and some ativan, than I am able to feel better.
In 2018 I am really trying to make an effort to go decaf all the way. I know there is still a little caffiene, but I was a little out of control with coffee over the summer. I started to wean to decaf in December and I do think it is making a difference. It is really hard though because I am a creature of habit.
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Post by alexa11 on Jan 15, 2018 16:14:47 GMT
What does your calendar say? That's the first thing I thought of- but nothing coming up. I'm not have an "attack"- it's just an off balance weird feeling. Has lasted now almost 2 days-head doesn't feel right. pjaye- I read about vestibular migraines yesterday. Nothing changes if I move suddenly, turn my head, get up suddenly- just feel weird- hard to explain. |
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Post by ToniW on Jan 15, 2018 17:34:33 GMT
I seem to get these anxiety attacks/feelings when I'm stressed, sometimes on the days I have to go to work (rude co-worker), although I do like the people/job for the most part or if I am faced with a difficult decision of which I'm very flattered to be asked (do I want to be responsible for a $10M corporation or instead, 1300 people). I turned down both positions even though I've been asked a few times and I'm hoping to retire in a year, so that takes care of that!
I do still have a problem taking BART. It stresses me out to have to go underground to catch a train, although it doesn't bother me to take it above ground. Not sure why this is the case.
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Post by mymindseyedpea on Jan 15, 2018 17:44:45 GMT
What does your calendar say? That's the first thing I thought of- but nothing coming up. I'm not have an "attack"- it's just an off balance weird feeling. Has lasted now almost 2 days-head doesn't feel right. pjaye- I read about vestibular migraines yesterday. Nothing changes if I move suddenly, turn my head, get up suddenly- just feel weird- hard to explain. Boy-friend has the same symptoms you do. He’ll get really nauseated from vertigo spells. And he’ll feel light headed and just not “right” even when vertigo doesn’t kick in. As many times as I’ve tried to get into deeper meaning with it, he won’t listen to any of that and has done his own research. And he found out that his symptoms are related to ones of withdrawal from tobacco. ( there are so many situations that can trigger this and IMO so many layers too) But this one brought him at ease for a while until it came back. Then he started to think it had something to do with his equilibrium. Of course I think there is so much more to it but hey, maybe I can use this motivation to write it down and share it with someone else who it could help. It’s interesting though that the day I basically have a friend talk some sense into why I should eventually leave this relationship and start to not be a victim in it any longer (from energy vampiring) was a day I went to go pick up boy-friend from work. And he said he wasn’t feeling right. I about dropped my keys. Personally I’ve felt this lightheadedness/out of body feeling. Of course I’ve gone way deeper into exploring why it happens (not just what it is). And I know that being afraid of it just makes it worse and hangs around longer. And that part I can see can cause an anxious mind. Anywhere from “whatifing” about what this is, and how much longer it’s going to last in the unfold of the future. This doesn’t help me much, (for personal reasons) but grounding techniques are helpful. There’s a connect to your 5 physical senses activity I saw as a meme. Like interacting with all your 5 senses. Touching an ice cube, tasting some salsa, smelling a flower...but these were radical connections that give off strong senses, like the ice cube and something spicy and something with a strong aroma, strong sound...etc. I ground by doing some mindfulness techniques and centering into the present moment. I hope you get some relief from this. I know it’s not fun and can really distract one from everyday life. |
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