Mild panick attack this morning

I have not had a panick attack for quite awhile now despite feeling very anxious most of the time.
This morning, whilst grocery shopping, I started shaking, it felt like I was choking, my stomach twisted up, my heart felt like it was going to leap out of my mouth and I was dizzy. I don't really know how I continued shopping feeling like this but I did. It was only when I got outside that I actually felt I was breathing again.

The whole thing has left me tense, with a bad headache, burning eyeballs and an intense need to sleep which I can't do right now.

What a horrible experience!!

Panic attacks are awful are'nt they?

I have a lot of problems with going out, especially shopping.

I have had to come up with a lot of stratergies to help myself.

Grounding strats help. Focus completely on the job you are doing- right, I need a tin of baked beans, loaf of bread...etc

I also try to be aware of the tension and purposely try to relax that area of my body and slow my breathing down.

I also came up with- imagining I have a transparant bubble round myself. I can see where I am going but nobody can get through that barrier to harm me.

Another one is something called exagerated - role therapy. You pretend that you are Superman or Superwoman. Works wonders in the super-market!

Hope that some of this might help you.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
pegasus said:
I also came up with- imagining I have a transparant bubble round myself. I can see where I am going but nobody can get through that barrier to harm me.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I really like this and will definately try next time. Thanks Pegasus!

Hey Sabrina -

I want to give you a "Great Job" for starters - bcuz you actually continued shopping and didn't run out to the car, abandoning your stuff, and almost having the EMS called on you. I think it is more appropriate to look on the 'bright' side of this situation as you may have been suffering the PA, but it did not cripple you to the point of running out of the place...

Of course, I DEFINITLY understand that situation - I give you MUCH more credit than myself for not fleeing.. Darlin I would have been out of there the minute it started- if I even made it into the place at all.. You have managed to control you PA's in a way; you didn't let it 'totally' run your life that time..

Here's a good one about the store yesterday for me.. NO one here, i.e. my brother and his fiance, are willing to help me anymore now that they found out I'm filing for SSA.. Well, I ran out of cigarettes (I've been quitting on and off - but at least I'm trying right??), and when they wouldn't go [literally] 30 seconds aroudn the corner, I got so mad that I got up to go myself. This, after I fought with them and all the BS they put me through. I REALLY thought I could do it bcuz I wasn't even thinking about anyting other than how cruel this was. Well, I got out of the door (this is where it normally starts or before-hand), into the car, started the car, was driving, and when I put the flash on to make the turn - BOOM - it hit me like a ton of bricks...

So I ALSO have to commend myself that I was so 'riled up' over them (more like pissed off) that my 'squirrel cage' upstairs didn't have a chance to process the fact I was leaving the house.. OR driving.. Or in the car!! I'm sure someone will chew me a new one for using anger as a tool to avoid a PA bcuz of my AG, but nonetheless, I never realized that I was out of the house until i got to the corner...

So I turned, got to the gasstation, looked to see if anyone was in line, no one... Went in, asked for teh cig's, handed her a $5 and took the cig's and ran w/out getting my change... I felt the choking, heart racing, etc. already - and the minute she spoke, it multiplied by hundreds.. I got home - took FOREVER to calm down - and darn near went through that whole pack!!

As always hun, you are NOT alone - and again, I cannot emphasize how PROUD I am that you worked through that PA Yesterday... I guess in a way I did too, but there was FAR from alot of time in the gas station... We have to pat ourselves on the back for even teh LITTLE things that we're able to get through hun; just as I'm patting yours right now... I know it was uncomfortable and probably scary - even thugh we know what it was, what it is, and it will happen again... But you showed strenght - and determination - by NOT leaving until you were done.. GOOD FOR YOU DEAR!!! ))

You take care hun and eveyrone else as well.... IF anyone is interested about what my good ol' family is doing to me now, let me know and I'll post in another thread... More importantly, I believe firmly that you [Sabrina] deserve a congrats for getting through that store...
Niko

Thanks so much for your kind and supportive words Niko. They mean a lot!

Well, it appears to me that you achieved something of your own. I am on the mend and am freely able to leave the house so my attack came as a bit of a surprise. However, you have difficulty leaving the house and driving and you still managed to do it. Well done. Ok, you suffered for some time after - but still - I think it is awesome that you were able to follow through even after realizing what was going to happen!

I guess we have strength when we least expect it.