[rep97]

So after the onslaught of ptsd I started getting these panic attacks which I never had before. These panic attacks are not like usual panic attacks. In the sense that breathing exercises and grounding techniques or anything of the sort or even exercises from advanced panic attack programs I have bought over the internet don't work on these panic attacks. When I have them I get really paranoid. And then I have to somehow get back to my room. No matter what I try... the panic attack won't calm down until I get back to my room. Then when I am in my room I lie down on the bed and momentarily it subsides. I think I am the only person like this because I have bought panic attack programs on the internet and they provide exercises or tricks to overcome panic.. it helped with anxiety but with panic attacks it doesn't work. The only thing that apparently works is getting to my room. Does anyone else have these kind of panic attacks?

[Hellion]

I get those quite often, though sometimes I might go a couple months without one...but yeah I've always had anxiety issues which causes different sorts of panic attacks. But with the PTSD I have certainly had what you describe I've had times I have to go in my room essentially hide under my blankets till it subsides a little the valium I have for anxiety can help a little but it takes a while to kick in. But yeah I suppose my room is sort of my 'safe' place so that is why I go there...when I am not home I might lock myself in a bathroom with the light off till I feel safe enough to come out.

But yeah with those I get paranoid like something is happening and I have to react and protect myself....with the normal anxiety attacks I've gotten its more of an indirect feeling of panic that sort of builds up and exausts itsself. But yeah I've tried explaining to mental health professionals with those a lot of the grounding techniques that can help general anxiety attacks don't do much for those.

[Open Eyes]

Yes, this is common with the beginning stages of PTSD. Your brain is confused, which is different than an anxiety attack and is why going to your room helps because you have that as a safe place with low stimulation and you can have a chance to feel safe and calm down. It is part anxiety and part panic because your brain is confused about what is going on. As you work with a therapist and understand PTSD more and how it is affecting you these challenging periods will slowly happen less often.

I am sorry you are experiencing this, I went through it myself and found it hard to explain to my family who did not get it at all and tended to trigger me.

It is the same as if you injured your body and didn't realize it and then suddenly felt pain and were confused why so you slow down and try not to do anything to avoid pain. The difference with the brain is we can't see it, and it's scary, but with help and learning to understand it better you can get so you experience this less and less.

OE

[rep97]

The only thing is that I've been having them for 4 years now. I get them more often these days... it sucks.. but yeah.

[Open Eyes]

Ok, are you seeing a therapist? Do you have a group of supportive people you have access to? I see you have found PC but what about other sources?

When someone experiences a trauma, they get overwhelmed and one of the areas that is greatly affected is the emotional part of the brain. It is important to have validation and support for that as if that doesn't take place it can get harder to deal with and even very lonely. That is why you have that feeling of "unworthiness", that is because we all instinctively know that we cannot survive if all we experience is too much emotional disturbance, we need to get help with that and get back to using our problem solving part of the brain again, we have a balance with that and when that balance is challenged we feel "afraid, guilty, unworthy". It is not "wrong" to need emotional support either, often people think it is weak or wrong, but that is just not so, we need our emotionality to survive too.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by rep97

The only thing is that I've been having them for 4 years now. I get them more often these days... it sucks.. but yeah.

Yeah mine have not seemed to diminish all that much either, not sure if it really increased though...but either way it certainly doesn't seem like time heals it any.