Hi Josie and Davit: This is interesting. I think it is both. I have had a panic attack exactly as Josie describes. I was sitting reading a book, calm and happy, secure. My heart started to race, pain in my chest which frightened me and the anxious thoughts started into catastrophic thinking - heart attack. Well, now the fear fed the symptoms which added a few more symptoms such as breathlessness and tingling down my arm which then led to the panic attack.
I think our bodies, at the time just before the attack, were overtired, mentally strained, nerves on edge and frayed (like burnout) and we get the symptoms which frighten us and so on. (This is why rest for the body is so important to get well).
I think it can also be from something which happened in the past and is triggered by association or memory.
This is where I disagree with my therapist. Having studied panic attacks and anxiety attacks and having journalled for periods of over a year I have found that there is a reason. It is usually subconscious and related to something that happened hours or days in the past that although blocked is still in the memory and can be triggered by the tiniest association. This is why I could have a perfectly fine day and instantly go into panic mode. Knowing there was a reason even if I couldn't find it at the moment made it less horrendous than if I thought it was spontaneous for no reason. I believe there is a reason for every panic attack, I believe also that you don't need to know what the trigger is to get rid of it. Accepting that it happened for a reason is the key to getting rid of it. If the mind can block out physical pain why not mental pain, or at least the trigger allowing it to open when you least expect it.
How many people here get unexpected mood swings? Usually good to bad. How many of you can remember having something disturbing happen the day before. (or in the near past)
Panic disorders are commonly associated with anxiety attacks and are in fact closely related to anxiety attacks. Panic disorders actually are a type of anxiety disorder. Panic disorder itself is the fear of having a spontaneous panic attack. Such an attack occurs with no warning and may occur in either morning or night.
In most cases, there appears to be no link to what the person is doing and the appearance of the attack. In fact, some people even claim that they felt quite calm just before the attack.
It’s been a while since you were active on this site. Please extend your session below
You have been logged out due to inactivity.
Please sign back in.
We use cookies to help us learn about how our platform is used and how we can improve your experience. To
learn more please see our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
