Panic attacks and vision problems

I was just wondering if anyone has any problems with their vision when having a panic attack. My vision seems to be weird while having one and this only increases my anxiety. Any thoughts would be very appreciated. Thanks!! oh, I am also new.

Hi Scaryangie. I've never noticed any changes in my vision when I am having a panic attack. I'm not saying it couldn't happen... I've just never experienced it. Maybe you should talk to your doctor about it? And welcome to PC! Glad to have you here!

Thanks for your response and for welcoming me here. I have been dealing with PA's for 7 years and and right now in my life they are acting up badly. Nice to meet you.

Hi. I can attest to my having visual disturbances while having a panic attack.It's like I can't focus. Sometimes I experience tunnel vision. Very unpleasant.

Good luck. Take care.

thanks Dottie, that is exaclty how my vision changes! It is kinda mean to say but it makes me feel better to know that other people feel the same way, because you feel so alone and scared when having a PA.

Scaryangie,
You wrote,[...my vision...weird...any thoughts...appreciated...].
I could offer you support from my perspective if you would like. I have an extensive body of research concerning vision problems related to mental-health issues. But if you would like support from my perspective, could you list any psychiatric drugs that you are taking, including, but not limited to, neuroleptic drugs?
Lou

Angie - one of the physical symptoms during a panic attack when the "fight or flight syndrome" kicks in - is as Dottie described it - "tunnel vision". The body does this to give you better vision to SEE the threat that has sent you into a panic (altho in a panic attack there is no threat other than our thoughts - the brain just doesnt know that - it just knows we are scared to death and kicks in to a protection mode).

Welcome to PC !

Lou.........I would like to ask, if you would be so kind as to reply it would be appreciated, why is it that you respond with "quotes", and offer help if you get more information? If you have information that might help any and all who suffer from panic attacks/anxiety - why not share it here on the boards so we can all read it?

Thanks in advance for your response.

most of my panic attacks start during the night...so, i'm lying there in the dark, freaking out and i've never thought about my eyes being affected. i have to wear glasses to see...so it hadn't occurred to me that my eyes would react.

i hope that posting here will help you and feel free to pick and choose the advice that you receive. we're all nuts, some more than others. xoxoxo pat

welcome and yea I have this problem too. Its like I wake up from a nightmare in a panic gasping for breath because I feel like I can't breath. But what is actually happening to me is that I am breathing so fast that my body goes int hyperventilation, which blurs my vision and makes me lightheaded and feeling like I am going to pass out. What helps me is opening a window so I can feel the cold air coming so I know theres plenty of air in the room. Then is a matter of slowing myself down so I put on my headphones and mentally singing along with the music and making myself stop gasping for breath but instead take a breath when the singer takes a breath. By the end of t he song I am breathinng normally again and my vision has cleared back to normal.

Excuse me? Who are u calling a NUT ?

Actually, great advice Fayerody, people certainly need to be careful who's "advice" they choose to accept. What bothers me is that when a person is new on a site like this, it might be hard for them to know who they should trust I wish it were safer for newbies ! Personally, I find people who post their support and advice ON the boards to be more credible than those who 'hint' at knowing something.......ya know?

thanks fayerody

P 10,
You wrote,[...if you ...reply...would be appreciated...why...respond with "quotes"...offer help if you get more infomation...why not share..so we can all read..].
The member that initiated this thread has asked for support from the body of members. However, I do not want anyone to be forced to hear from my perspective, so I give them the option to hear or not. If this member that innitiated this thread would like to hear from my perspective, I would be glad to do so. So far, the member has not written that they woould. The other members that could want to hear from my perspective could start a new thread and invite me to join and ask me for my perspective on it. I would like to stay supportive to the innitiator of this thread by not posting untill they would like me to do so.
I appreciate your wanting me to post here, but I would like to get approval first from the innitiatoe of the thread.
Lou

welcome to PC. I have vision probs too... but I think mine are directly related to the nerves going squirrelly but then, that might be the problem for everyone when in a anxiety attack? Just ignore anyone's reply you don't understand... don't take things too personally, remember we are all dealing with mental unwellness in one way or another. again, welcome.

Where should we start the thread, Lou?

Thanks for that response Lou........ told me nothing, which I totally expected......but at least you did reply.

Yes Lou or anyone else, any info you have would be appreciated. I mentioned on another thread that I am on clonopin and lexapro.
Lets all be nice! We are all dealing with the same problems.

THANKS ALL FOR YOUR REPLY'S!!!!!!!!