Do You Remember Your First Panic Attack?

very well. i was in my room alone in the dark i didn't tell anyone. i thought i was going to die for sure, and was telling myself it was ok. i had no idea what was happening.

i remeber my first one like it was yesterday. i was 14 and babysitting my neighbors kids for a couple of hours. It started with a rapid heartbeat, dizzy . all i thought was that i was dying and what would happen to these poor children left in my care. i couldn't move from the fear. i am not sure how long it lasted but it seemed like it took forever.

I later went to the dr's thinking something must be terribly wrong with me and that was my fist experience with the dr brush off technique some of us are all to familar. With out even looking at me he read my syptoms the nurse had written down told me it was an anxiety attack and to get over it becuase it was in my head and there is nothig he could do for me. When i told him nothing particular was going on to make me anxious he said it was in my subconsious.

I left the dr's more terrified than when i went in . Thinking i am going to be subject to these scary attacks that can come on for no obvious reason at any time or place and there is absolutely nothing i can do about it.

many years later i learned somewhat how to control them from getting too out of hand and i learned to avoid the triggers.

linda