First of all, I've suffered from panic and anxiety attacks that were so bad for over ten years, that I'd literally shake, my hands mostly when I was out. I had to even quit a few jobs due to having a couple of panic attacks at work. Finally I rarely get them anymore thanks to the right combo of meds, and I'm now less stressed out and leading a healthier lifestyle. Most of the time anyways.

Anyways, my bff has type two diabetes. Ever since she was diagnosed last year, she has started having panic attacks. She claims that she feels like she's having a heart attack at times. She also has high blood pressure too. She is constantly going to the ER and the hospital although her diabetes and blood pressure appears to be stable.

The weird thing is that she it sounds like she finally got a job offer for p/t work. I don't know if it's at home or not. What is weird is how the hell can she hold down a job if she's constantly going to the hospital and the ER all the time? She was in the ER on New Years Eve. She does need the money, but still, is it possible to hold down a job with this disorder?

If she feels as if she's having a heart attack, then how can she even think about working? Wouldn't that impact her work? She hasn't been out in ages it seems like. It seems like she mostly stays home and spends most of her time on FB.

So, is she exaggerating things and lying to me? I think that she is exaggerating her health issues in order to avoid me for some reason. I don't get this at all. Has anyone on here EVER been to the ER or the hospital for having a panic attack? Please help!

[Jolisse]

Panic attacks can cause a person to go to the ER. The physical symptoms can mimic a heart attack or other problems. I've been to the ER several times, for anxiety related symptoms.
I work even with my anxiety, it keeps my mind busy and gives me sense of self worth.
Your friend may have sudden attacks that makes her feel like she's dying (a common feeling). You really don't know what she's feeling and how bad her anxiety is.

[Disorder7]

Yes, I've been to the ER many times for panic.
Once I called an ambulance and the paramedics thought I was having a heart attack. They were about to give me nitroglycerin when the tests started reading normal and they figured it must be panic and held back on the nitro.

It can look and feel like a heart attack or stroke. Honestly. No lie.

Originally Posted by Jolisse

Panic attacks can cause a person to go to the ER. The physical symptoms can mimic a heart attack or other problems. I've been to the ER several times, for anxiety related symptoms.
I work even with my anxiety, it keeps my mind busy and gives me sense of self worth.
Your friend may have sudden attacks that makes her feel like she's dying (a common feeling). You really don't know what she's feeling and how bad her anxiety is.

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Wow, sorry to hear that! I almost came to that point to where I thought I was going insane a few times, but not to the point to where I thought that I was having a heart attack!

If you don't mind me asking you this, does it just come and go for no apparent reason, or do you have triggers that cause it? How do you manage to control it?

Originally Posted by Disorder7

Yes, I've been to the ER many times for panic.
Once I called an ambulance and the paramedics thought I was having a heart attack. They were about to give me nitroglycerin when the tests started reading normal and they figured it must be panic and held back on the nitro.

It can look and feel like a heart attack or stroke. Honestly. No lie.

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Sorry to hear that! What is nitro used for? Does it come and go for no reason, or do certain things trigger your panic attacks? For me, there were usually triggers like large crowds, people laughing nearby (I thought they were laughing at me usually), most social situations (especially when I don't really know or like the people around me that much).

I'm extremely glad that those nightmarish days are over with! I only get a little anxious and nervous every now and then when I'm in certain social situations.

[Disorder7]

It comes and goes for no reason. At least, nothing that I'm aware of. My triggers are in my subconscious. I'm in trauma therapy now and it seems to be helping.

[LindaLu]

Ive been to ER twice -- once as a child and again as older adult -- for panic attack. Your friend is probably not malingering but experiencing a real problem. Depending on how well her diabetes is managed, that disease or her meds may be contributing. I hope things get better and the job opportunity works out for her.

[metamorphosis12]

Yeah, it can cause physiological issues. Anything from b.p. levels, heart rate, high homocysteine levels = cardiovascular problems, constant stress, inflammation etc. Any type of illness can effect the body and ones mental state.

Have you two tried to sit down and sort through both of your concerns and issues?

[Daniel87]

Panic attacks can definitively make us go the the ER or call an ambulance. It happened to me many times and also to many other people. I think that almost every healthy anxiety sufferer have been to the ER at least once in their life.

This is terrible because when the panic start you can feel like you are going to die and get very scared.

So, going to the ER is not unusual when suffering from health anxiety. Your friend might not lie to you and you need to be there for her and to understand her.

It seems that she really need a friend right now and you can help her overcome the anxiety symptoms. You can ask her to call you when the panic attacks starts because distraction is one of the best methods to overcome the panic.

[CosmicRose]

Yes panic attacks and anxiety send people to the ER all the time, because they feel like they're having a heart attack or think they're dying. I was close to being rushed to the ER once but I refused the ambulance ride. However, I haven't heard of one person going to the ER multiple times for a panic attack, but I'm sure it happens. There's really no way of knowing if she is lying to you.
She needs to learn better coping skills if she is going to the ER so many times for anxiety. She should be able to recognize the symptoms as panic attacks and not anything really life threatening.

[elevatedsoul]

i've been to the ER 3 times, thought i was having a heart attack
they diagnosed me panic disorder

Sorry to hear that. Also, I apologize to anyone that I might have offended on here with my assumptions. I thought that having been a survivor of these attack for so long has made me know what I'm talking about. Apparently that is not the case at all!