[SaoirseRylyn]

I think my doctor was jumping to conclusions on this one.
I was originally referred to a psychologist through my primary care doctor. I had gone to the emergency room in the middle of the night with a racing heart beat, tense muscles, shortness of breath, and tightness in the throat - basically I felt like I was dying.

No anxiety that I could think of had led up to the event. I was sitting in the movie theater with my boyfriend and these symptoms slowly crept up on me. Since then I've been tracking the attacks - they seem to be triggered by being overly tired/ not getting enough sleep. It almost always starts with the tightness in the throat (as though someone in strangling me) and then the shortness of breath.

Would this be more inclusive of a panic problem than anxiety? I'm considering going back to my psychologist, but am a little scared to undermine his diagnosis. He put me on wellbutrin, but it doesn't seem to be helping at all. The attacks still occur when overly tired.

I've always seen a cardiologist countless times and everything shows my heart in good condition. My thyroid levels have been tested twice and came out fine as well. My primary doctor has recommended seeing a lung specialist as the next step.

From your experience with panic disorder (if any), is this something that could be considered? It just seems to really come out of no where. Makes no sense to me and is really freaking me out.

Hey SaoirseRylyn,

I was also diagnosed with anxiety in a similar way. I first began my introduction into SEVERE anxiety in my teens. I was hanging with my family eating pizza and watching movies and all of a sudden out of NOWHERE I had a hard time breathing. My heart felt as if it was going to explode, my stomach filled with butterflies and I felt really 'far away' (derealization).

Nothing had happened to stress me out...the panic attack/anxiety stressed me beyond anything ever has.

Anyway, anxiety and panic often go hand in hand. For instance, I have generalized anxiety and experience panic attacks (many people do and the treatment is often the same). However, if your current medication is not working I would suggest you go back to your doc and try something new (it takes awhile for our bodies to get used to new meds as well). Your doc can also give you something for when you get major panic attacks.

Best of luck I totally get it!

[BlessedRhiannon]

What you've described is pretty much what I experience when I have a major panic attack.

Such panic attacks, for me, are not usually triggered by a single event, but usually by a continuously building anxiety that suddenly hits a breaking point. I'm more prone to panic attacks when I get tired, as my defenses are just lower.

I do not have a panic disorder. I do have anxiety disorders. The two tend to go hand in hand, and the treatment is often the same, regardless.

[SaoirseRylyn]

stratocaster: Thanks so much for all of the advice! I havent gotten a chance to see my doctor yet, but I am definitely going to discuss switching medications and trying something extra to take the edge off during an actual panic attack. Is there something you can take during one that helps? I've had a couple of really scary ones that have lasted almost an hour.TThey weren't intense the entire hour, more like it would continue hitting me in waves of panic.

blessedrhiannon: Gosh, I am so sorry to hear that other people are going through such extreme attacks too. They really freak me out, I'm constantly worried about having another one happen. That's the only normal anxiety I've really experienced. Definitely need to get this figured out with my doctor.

Thanks, both of you for all the information and your personal stories! I'm just working on what I'm going to say to my doctor to properly convey what is going on with me.