Hi! This is my first time writing here, have had a look before but never said anything. So, I had panic attacks about 5 years ago. My sister had it the year before so when my heart started racing and I couldn't breathe in the middle of the night I called her straight away. I managed to get 6 sessions of cognitive therapy soon after the first attack and it helped me understand what happened to me and that I was not going to get insane or die. Maybe because I knew from the beginning what was happening and got help quickly I stopped getting them. Last summer I had one, I had so much pain in my lower back I couldn't get up from the toilet in the night, I got so afraid, my heart was racing, I couldn't see etc and I thought I would die. Then I recognized the symptoms as a panic attack. That made me calm down -it was 'just' a panic attack, I know that's not dangerous. I can imagine if you've had them for a long time it's harder to relearn the bodily responses. Anyway it doesn't seem to be impossible.
I still suffer of anxiety, fatigue, pain... btw. But the panic don't scare me anymore and therefor I don't get it.
Please feel free to write to me if you want. I wish you strength in the getting well process! Emma