I've had benign positional vertigo off and on - and one day I was on the way to work last year when the world started spinning , i was sweating profusely, and I started throwing up. I couldn't get anyone on the phone , so I called 911. I was convinced I was having a heart attack. The hospital doc diagnosed it as an attack of vertigo , but the follow up neurologist said a panic attack.

A couple of times I have felt the signs - which were definitely triggered by specific feelings and thoughts, and I've been able to talk myself through them. Reminding myself that it has happened before, that it was triggered by exactly the same thoughts and events, that my heart was checked out and was fine, and that the blankety blank neurologist was probably right and I just need to push through it .

I like the idea of the letter - mine would read - this happened before on feb. 15, and you went to the hospital in an ambulance. You felt like you were dying, and then like you wanted to, but you didn't die and don't want to. That time , and two times after, it started with not being able to find something important, which triggered memories of the way the ex t bullied you about keeping things neat and " in their place" . Are you still letting her bully you? Write the trigger down now so you can remember it. Then get a drink of water . Talk to the dogs if they are the only ones there! "

Actually, I'd probably better have the note on my ipad so I don't lose it.