[Maven]

I was wondering how many of you remember your first panic attack, especially if you've had panic disorder or panic attacks for 25 years or more? I don't remember mine, but I've heard many people who say they do. I remember a tremendous amount of anxiety upon a big change in my life (the first time I switched to a new school from my first), but I don't remember if I'd had a panic attack before then or not. I don't think I did, because it was after that memory that I remember my life taking a turn for the worse, with anxiety and panic disorder taking over my life.

[snowflake_48888]

My first panic attack was 18 yrs ago. I remember it quite well. I was a passenger in the car at a nearby city with my husband driving. Our children was in the back seat. We stopped at an office to pay a bill. Hubby went in while I stayed in the car. Out of the blue it hit me...I could not sit still...I was very panicky....scared to death...heart palps...sweating....
Why I remember I dont know unless it was a traumatic experience for me?
Snowy

[Maven]

I know my first one (and all of them) was a traumatic experience, but for whatever reason, I don't remember it. I don't know if I've blocked it out (and why, when I remember other panic attacks?), or if I've just had so many, that one doesn't stand out in any way.

[TheBlueQueen]

I remember having my first panic attack over twenty years ago when I was eleven years old, but I can't really go into detail without this becoming a trigger post. That particular attack I attribute to being situational and I didn't start having panic attacks regularly until I was about twelve.

[Maven]

I didn't think this would need a trigger symbol, but you can put them for individual posts if you need to, and want to talk about it (but you don't have to). Thanks for sharing, in any case.

Well I've only had severe panic attacks since about 2003, but I remember it well. It was the worst time of my life. Heart palpitations, heart skips, I was sure I was having a major heart attack or something like it.

And no one could convince me otherwise either. I spent about eight hours at the emergency rooms trying to convince everyone I was dying.

And its been the same every time it has happened that severely as well. No one can tell me Im not in grave danger and sometimes I even get really bad muscle spasms with the heart palpitations.

[Maven]

I was just going through a lot of anxiety earlier. I'm calmer now that I've gotten on the computer. I think it's the familiarity that helped. We haven't had TV for several days (DirecTV is really dropping down in popularity with me), and I haven't had that to focus on when I'm experiencing anxiety, which sometimes helps. I don't handle change well at all.

Plus, I've been trying to resist some of my OCD compulsions, and that's not a very calming thing to do (in the short term). I was getting panicky over things that usually don't bother me, but with everything happening at once--no TV, fighting OCD and being alone, not even able to reach my mom on the phone--I really thought I was going to have a panic attack.

[boris]

my panic attacks were triggered by the first time i choked on food (baked potato)--the first full blown one after that was during the week that i started my first teaching experience--it was before the students even showed up, but i was so paralyzingly nervous that i started panicking, especially when it came to eating. that week, i couldn't eat at all around other people. i'd have to take food to my room and eat tiny bites swallowed down with water. i remember going to see forest gump with a bunch of fellow "teaching assistants" and having a panic attack; i ended up standing at the pay phone, holding the receiver and pressing my finger on the 9, so i could quickly dial 911 before i died (i was sure i was going to die). that was 13 years ago. this summer, driving in the car, i took a swig of water and it splashed against my throat, triggering a HORRIBLE panic attack that lasted forever, it seemed--but my panic attacks suddenly seemed to make sense because i realized that the reason i freak out about throat issues is due to being molested at age 5 (i know i was molested, but that sensation of the water on my throat at that particular moment suddenly forced my brain to make all sorts of connections it hadn't made before). i'm thinking of trying buspar for anxiety (ironically, i am a teacher, and the fall is always hell for me. i usually take betablockers but they dont' seem to work anymore...)

[scratt]

I do not remember my first; however, my last is still fresh. I think I avoid my "known" triggers. It just seems if I avoid my triggers then a new one forms?!

[KShapiro]

I don't get panic attacks very often at all, thank God. But I remember my first one. I was at myrtle beach with msty family, and I ate something that gave me indegestion. But it was the first time I'd ever HAD indegestion and I didn't know what it was. So I started worrying I was dying or something and before long I was crying hysterically and hyperventilating and then I REALLY thought I was dying. This was all happening as we were walking back to the hotel. mom ended up dragging me into a restaurant's bathroom, where she managed to calm me down eventually. But it was SO SCARY.

Yes I was in the back of my abusers van at 8 years old, frozen to the spot, trying to get his hands off me and managed to get out of the van, ran up a hill and sat hyperventilating, not knowing what was happeningwiting for my so calledmother to come and fetch me. It was a freezing cold day and I was in a summer dress. I presume that was a panic attack, although I didn't realise at the time.

jinny

[Rio_]

Can't remember my first, but I think this was my worst:

Something I've been keeping to myself since Friday...

Haven't felt that bad, for a while, luckily.

[Maven]

Thanks for sharing that, Rio.

I remember some of my panic attacks, but not the first one. I guess it's weird, I don't know.

[RebbieDoll]

i was at a hospital visiting my grandpa. he had gotten this bacteria when swimming in a lake that make him vomit uncontrollably for like 3 days. he was better now, but weak because of his medications. anyway, this bacteria was incredibly contagious and my mom and i were staying at their house for a few days. so we were all sitting and chatting in the hospital room and my neck was tense, so my mom started to massage it. she hit a nerve or something and it felt bizarre, so she stopped. it kept feeling weird then, and my mind immediately rushed to the bacteria, which hits suddenly. so i had an absolutely MASSIVE panic attack. i almost passed out in the elevator, i couldnt stand. it was horrifying. i thought i was going to get the bacteria, and since i have a huge fear of throwing up, this was my absolute worst nightmare. i dont think i could have survived, had i caught it. i literally think my heart would stop.

My first panic attack was while asleep. Of course I woke up gasping for breath, falling on he floor.. full blown attack.
I frequently have them in my sleep - triggered by my nightmares.. I would rather be awake.. than have them start in my sleep and then wake up with one in progress..

[Maven]

I have woken up in severe anxiety, on the verge of a panic attack. In fact, I was falling asleep in the car yesterday while my bf and I were out, and I snapped awake, still drowsy, and feeling panicky because my head was so foggy from the sleepiness (I don't like the lack of control; I'd not had any sleep, though).

I will never forget. I was 17 years old and it was one of the few times in my life in which I have experimented with a drug. Anyway, once the drug's effects a panic attack followed. I know that I was predisposed to panic attacks all my life... My body was most likely just waiting for that one trigger to let it all go. Anyway, I remember it clearly and that one attack was the start of a very intense, horrible journey of having panic disorder for about three years in which sometimes I would have up to five panic attacks per day. I almost didn't graduate high school because I simply couldn't stay in school. I lost out on a big chunk of my life because of the agorphobia. I barely left the house and when I did it was miserable.

[Maven]

I asked my counselor about home schooling (or some kind of home training they had for students who had problems in school), because I really went through hell in high school. He said he never heard of it. Then, one day shortly after that, I walked into the office and overheard him talking on the phone to a parent whose child was just coming off home schooling. I was so pissed!!!

[ChipsAhoy]

I remember my first panic attack, because it only happened 2 years ago. It happened when I first started taking Zoloft, and after I told my psychiatrist about the panic attack he immediately took me off of the Zoloft and started me on Prozac.

[KarenG44]

I had night terror as a child.
So, I'm44 now? Long time.....
The sounds and shapes I saw at night were oh so real!
I KNEW something was coming after me.
Never comforted,never.....no wonder I became an alcoholic/drug user at a very young age!
Geez!

Just this year I was hospitallized, had a heart cath!
Dr sais, "you have a healthy heart".......
It feels like it's going to explode sometimes though.
I get rashes even, all over my neck and chest.......
I got xanax the other day from the Dr.
She wants tocheck my harmone levels in two weeks.
Good idea....as I feel going through the change, any harmonal change, can cause problems to really intensify!

Shew!

You all have a good one!

[KarenG44]

HEY! I just had a thought.......know how dogs, in human years are much older?
Well, those of us with a constant rapid heart beat outta really be OLD!
LOL!!

[ECHOES]

yeah i remember. thought i was going to have to live in that chevy chevette on the side of the road forever. or that i was gonna die there.

[Kellarella]

Hey Everyone..

I will never forget... ever. Prior to it, never had a panic attack, never had anxiety, total normal (whatever that is) uni student, life was awesome...

I had to do jury duty on a really horrible case. third day, the accused person got up.. I freaked out, couldnt breathe, shaking, sweating.. in a room that was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, It took every ounce of energy for me not to run out of there. I felt like I was going to be sick.. turned to the lady next to me, didnt say anything, but I remember thinking, please help me, I dont know whats happening to me.. Anyways, there was a break, I ran into the toilets and tried to calm myself down. I had no choice but to go back in, it is so strict at the court, there was nothing I could do.. kept feeling like it when I went back in, the only think I could do was scribble on a piece of paper to distract myself, which didnt work!

I left there that day and never been in a court room since. That started a massive shock reaction, I was in a state of depersonalisation for about 3 weeks, and for the past 2 years have suffered generalised anxiety disorder..

I always wonder if I never went there in the first place, would I still not know what it feels like to have an anxiety disorder?

Take care everyone

Kel xx

[Rebound]

The first unprovoked panic attack (i.e. not due to a situation about which I was particularly nervous to start with,) I had was about 5 years ago. I had just arrived at work and as soon as the door to the building closed behind me I felt as though I had just been locked in prison; I just had to get out of there asap, I thought I might pass out. Honestly, I consider myself fortunate to have had only a handful since then.

I want to extend my best wishes to all of you who may not be so lucky. They are so awful that if there were a way, I would gladly experience some in your place to relieve you of your burdens, even if only temporarily. Take care, my thoughts are with you.

[StressCadet]

I'm in my mid 40s now, and I've had panic attacks since I was a child. I just learned in the last year or so exactly what they are. I'm going through alot of therapy and meds for it.

I don't exactly remember the very first one, but I can still remember very specific ones from childhood until the current time. I remember exactly how scared and embarrased I've felt every time they happen.