[Jan1212]

I suffer from social anxiety what happened was: Today was my first day of class as soon as I heard Let's go around the Room to introduce ourselves my heart was in my neck, it was hard to breathe I thought I was going to faint but. I told myself I can't, or else I wouldn't be fit to participate in the program. It was never this severe before. I felt the heart beats were so strong it made my lungs breathe for me.

My turn came and I went blank but I was still speaking. Lord knows what I said it was all a blurred echo. I know I stuttered paused and kept talking things that didn't make sense, then after I started involuntarily having muscle jerks on my lips hands head. What can I do except take medication to stop this? Has anyone had it this bad? If so what do you do?

[Miswimmy1]

love your signature by the way had to say that...

anyway, it does sound like your anxiety was very high at the moment. I get nervous in front of ppl too. Try some breathing before. When you start to tense up, breathe. Try some muscel tension/relaxation- make a fist. tighten it. then slowly release the tension so that your hand relaxes. You can even match it with your breathing if you want- breathe in while its a fist, then slowly breathe out while you release. Best of luck!

[bharani1008]

I suffer from extreme panic attacks also. I can only say that with the help of a great psychiatrist I am almost panic free!!!!! It took him almost 1 1/2 years but he kept trying. I'm not 100% yet but medication is a great help. I know that it's 90% chemical imbalance and not my being crazy. That also helps a lot.
I hope you find peace

[jelly-bean]

I suffer from severe panic attacks but they are far different than yours. We each have our own version. Tell your doctor about it and he can prescribe meds and/or refer you to a therapist. Good Luck!

I get this. I've been there many times before! I would probably have rather died than speak publicly...however , I worked through it via cognitive behavioral therapy and by practicing relaxation techniques. I also had to speak in front of people A LOT before I was somewhat comfortable doing so! Now I occasionally get nervous, but not with the same gripping panic as before...just some slight nervousness.

It was mostly likely a panic attack you experienced...as someone stated before, we each have our own different version. I can relate to the feeling of near-fainting, along with my voice sounding like an 'echo' (extremely far away!)

Try some deep-breathing and stress reduction techniques (you can find many online) that you can equip yourself with and use when the moment arises again.
Best wishes.

[ECHOES]

You write so well about your experience! I could feel panic rising in me when I read about the instructor announcing that you would go around the room and tell about yourselves.

It feels sudden, it feels very exposing (and at a time we may already be nervous, so when the anxiety increases, it spikes higher because it is beginning at a higher level), it feels threatening. It makes perfect sense then that this would cause a desire to 'fight of flee', and that creates the physical symptoms of increased heart rate, sweating, flushed face, tingling arms/hands/fingers, shortness of breath, and fuzzy thinking from the increase in adrenalin production. And no wonder it leaves us exhausted afterwards!

Regular use of deep breathing and relaxation exercises can help keep you calmer so that when something anxiety-provoking comes along, there isn't as strong as a reaction.

There are CD's and downloads of relaxation exercises, guided imagery, etc on many sites and one I've used is www.wholeperson.com. I have a CD that is titled "Warm and Heavy" that is 2 relaxation exercises - one is Warm and one is Heavy. I love them both.