[retro_chic]

So I am trying to figure out if what happened to me was a panic attack or something else.

I recently travelled overseas for about a week with my parents and when we were on the bus that was taking us from the airport to our hotel I started feeling really anxious and felt like something bad was going to happen. The fact that I was far from home made me worry about the "impending doom" even more. I started feeling all hot and sweaty and sick and like I couldn't breath. Then all of a sudden I threw up. It seemed to come out of nowhere. Thankfully no one other than my parents saw me get sick but I was still quite ashamed / disgusted. After I threw up all my physical symptoms went away.

What I am trying to figure out is if I was anxious because I felt sick or I felt sick because I was anxious... if that makes sense! Is it common to vomit during a panic attack? I don't think it was motion sickness or anything because I have never got motion sickness in my life and I have had two less severe "panic" attacks (still not 100% if they were panic attacks or not) prior to this that didn't occur whilst in a vehicle. Any help would be much appreciated!

[JustLikeHeaven]

The fact that you felt better after getting sick makes me think you were anxious because you started to feel sick.

If it was the anxiety that made you sick, you would have still felt anxious after vomitting.

That being said, I have been known to 'dry heave' when I am really anxious.

[retro_chic]

Yeah, although I felt physically better I was still quite worried/frightened about what had just happened so I am still not 100% what caused what. I managed to calm down eventually though because I didn't want to ruin the holiday :P

[unaluna]

I would call it more motion sickness, if you just got off the plane and now were on a bus. Plus the bus ride could have been bouncy too. If you got dehydrated on the plane, then crosseyed on the bus. It all makes sense. Plus who wouldn't have a sense of impending doom while traveling? It can be dangerous! To one in a million! So I think you're fine.

[retro_chic]

But I have never had motion sickness before? I have travelled on planes (and buses) plenty of times and never experienced this before. Also, I have had two similar "attacks" that were not on a vehicle (they were less severe but similar). It started with me feeling anxious and scared then feeling sick/hyperventilating etc.

[unaluna]

Idk then. I'm really more of a diarrhea person than a puker. Train rides do me in. i.e. long train rides. Short train rides are okay.

[retro_chic]

Originally Posted by hankster

I'm really more of a diarrhea person than a puker.

The immature part of me had a giggle at this I need to grow up haha.

Anyway, whatever the problem was I should probably stop obsessing over it because that will inevitably make it worse!

[unaluna]

Btw I love your retro chic wallpaper avatar. I got some retro material printed with folding lawn chairs that I was going to use to cover a folding lawn chair.

[Odee]

Before a year ago I was unaware that I was really having panic attacks when I thought that I was having food poisoning. I never had any limited attacks then, just full on panic that lasted maybe 10 minutes to half an hour and only happening perhaps twice a year. A long with the flushing, prickling, palpitations, numbness, etc, I would always get queasy and then vomit. After vomiting the symptoms would begin to dissipate, convincing me that I was just having a bad reaction to whatever I ate.

Recently I have experienced much more limited attacks much more frequently, which involve me getting nauseous a lot of the time, but not always throwing up (I resist doing so). The few times a year where I outright PANIC (I'm going to die panic) I expect vomit.

So yeah, anxiety makes me feel physically ill.

[retro_chic]

Thanks for the reply! I'm glad to know that I am not the only one (although at the same time I am sorry hear of your suffering).

How exactly do you "resist" throwing up? For me it is pretty uncontrollable (and often unexpected). I'm hoping this wont happen to me again - I have feeling it has to do with the recent increase in my meds because all three cases have only happened since it was increased. I will be seeing my Pdoc on Tuesday so hopefully I can get it sorted but if you have any tips on "resisting" throwing up that would be great!

[Odee]

I guess I just resist the urge to throw up and not some uncontrollable bodily reaction. The nausea makes me feel as though I need to vomit butI just hate to throw up. It's pretty disgusting.

And I know what you mean when you're happy to know that you're not alone in what you experience and yet you wouldn't wish it on anybody!! Lol

[Maven]

I've never thrown up during a panic attack, and I don't really feel sick in the usual way. I need to write a post about some panic attack issues I'm having, but I don't feel like getting into it tonight. Need sleep soon. As for being able to control yourself from throwing up, I have no idea how to do that, either. Odee has a gift.

yep... a few times

i wan't go in to the gory details, but at the time i had my family, and my sister's friend watching me (bearing in mind the friends about 5 or 6 at the time)

[retro_chic]

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

yep... a few times

i wan't go in to the gory details, but at the time i had my family, and my sister's friend watching me (bearing in mind the friends about 5 or 6 at the time)

Yeah, I had my parents watching me... always great to have an audience (not!).

Thanks everyone for the replies I appreciate it.