[rep97]

Is it possible to have panic attack and flashback together?

I think what I am experiencing is a combination of the two. When I get triggered and it can trigger without warning just like that ... just a moment of weakness or a thought flashing by and then it gets me and I am inside a panic attack/flashback.

Then I get extremely extremely embarassed and ashamed but I don't get any visual or picture in my mind. Then I hide from people as they are sensing my vibes and forces and they can sense that I am radiating some kind of force or energy. Also the shame makes me paranoid and I feel I come off looking suspicious.

Then I hide from people and have to get to my apartment as soon as possible, then I get under the blanket and I start sweating, even if I remove the blanket and start breathing heavily. I get nauseous too and my thoughts are going crazy 3000 miles per hour.

During the panic attack and flashback if I get a thought and that is scary then that thought keeps running through my mind and I can't get rid of it even if I try to. Like if I think I am going to get nauseous and throw up. So then I keep thinking that until I get nauseous. I can't stop the thought.

Then I take a lot of sleeping pills to numb me or break the cycle of the thoughts by making me really dizzy. Works sometimes, sometimes don't.

Then I keep breathing heavily and my legs start shaking and I feel my neighbors can sense me so I hide in a corner of my room under the blankets and I keep breathing heavily and getting nauseous and sweating and my thoughts going round and round and my stomach full of fear and terror. The terror is rising up from the bottom of my stomach and rising up and holding me in its grip.

Then after 4 hours or terror it calms down although I have had them for 48 hours in a row once too so it can be very long like that or shorter.

Can anyone relate to this? Let me know.

[August7682]

I have had all my panic attacks accompanied by flashbacks. A panic attack for me is basically just crying and shortness of breath, being terrified etc. The only thing that triggers a panic attack for me is a flashback. My flashbacks only occur in the same place as the trauma or when something reminds me of the danger that occurred in the event. I would say you can 100% have a panic attack with a flashback, even though I feel like flashbacks are different for every person. For me it is seeing something and thinking it is something else, or feeling like your at the place of the trauma again. I am only speaking from personal experience, but that's just me.

[(JD)]

Yes. PTSD IS an anxiety disorder.... panic is part of the problem.

[Shaly78]

Flashbacks are just images research a little about it if you haven't already...

[Laurielrocks]

Absolutely

l

[ChipperMonkey]

Originally Posted by newday7121

Flashbacks are just images research a little about it if you haven't already...

That's only one type of flashback. I've had non-visual flashbacks practically my whole life.

[winter4me]

Basic answer is yes.
Do pay attention to your breathing. It is not easy but if you can take slow, deep, even breaths, focus only on the in out of breathing, it will eventually help.
Breathing heavy adds to anxiety by decreasing the oxygen supply to organs, including the brain and gut...it is the way we breath when frightened, (of course)
There are things that work for me that I can only do a certain times (like, literally jump into a lake/river/ocean and swim/float...)
Also, usually others cannot tell----I went through nursing school, many jobs, being told, at times, how calm I am while at the same time having panics that caused me to not feel my body from the waist down, to feel that I was dying, that lasted hours, etc.
At work...intense jobs actually helped...the ones with little ******** and a lot to manage; otherwise, when just really stressful anyway, I will go to the bathroom, or wash my hands while practicing breathing...& I will always volunteer to run for something, up or down stairs, corridors etc-----
I have a few visual flashes, but more often it is emotional/sensory in other ways---something triggers me into "that" place, it is not easy at all to see the connections...

[Laurielrocks]

Yes you can. It is not pleasant. Triggers get me every time...

laurie

[leomama]

Originally Posted by rep97

Is it possible to have panic attack and flashback together?

I think what I am experiencing is a combination of the two. When I get triggered and it can trigger without warning just like that ... just a moment of weakness or a thought flashing by and then it gets me and I am inside a panic attack/flashback.

Then I get extremely extremely embarassed and ashamed but I don't get any visual or picture in my mind. Then I hide from people as they are sensing my vibes and forces and they can sense that I am radiating some kind of force or energy. Also the shame makes me paranoid and I feel I come off looking suspicious.

Then I hide from people and have to get to my apartment as soon as possible, then I get under the blanket and I start sweating, even if I remove the blanket and start breathing heavily. I get nauseous too and my thoughts are going crazy 3000 miles per hour.

During the panic attack and flashback if I get a thought and that is scary then that thought keeps running through my mind and I can't get rid of it even if I try to. Like if I think I am going to get nauseous and throw up. So then I keep thinking that until I get nauseous. I can't stop the thought.

Then I take a lot of sleeping pills to numb me or break the cycle of the thoughts by making me really dizzy. Works sometimes, sometimes don't.

Then I keep breathing heavily and my legs start shaking and I feel my neighbors can sense me so I hide in a corner of my room under the blankets and I keep breathing heavily and getting nauseous and sweating and my thoughts going round and round and my stomach full of fear and terror. The terror is rising up from the bottom of my stomach and rising up and holding me in its grip.

Then after 4 hours or terror it calms down although I have had them for 48 hours in a row once too so it can be very long like that or shorter.

Can anyone relate to this? Let me know.

I can relate to some of this, especially the nausea . May I ask what kind of medication you are on, if any, and what you are doing for support?

[rep97]

leomama, I think nausea is common among anxiety sufferers and panic attacks but the amount of shame that I suffer during these flashbacks is so high that I get suicidal and I would think if I had a gun right now I would shoot myself. Also paranoia during flashbacks.. I turn off the tv and computer and all lights out because I think my tv might be recording me or something.. I don't have these thoughts normally just during the flashbacks/panic attacks.

I am on invega 150mg .. sertraline 100mg... prazosin 4mg.

As for support I don't have any.. I have a case worker who is east Indian and he is horrible... I want a canadian case worker so he could understand me... but I feel if I opened up to this indian case worker he might judge me and I never feel at ease with him. I might ask for a change but I don't know how it will go. But I don't feel safe opening up to this indian case worker about my traumas. So yeah.

[rep97]

Also if anyone can relate to my first post in this thread... then what are you doing to recover?

[leomama]

Originally Posted by rep97

leomama, I think nausea is common among anxiety sufferers and panic attacks but the amount of shame that I suffer during these flashbacks is so high that I get suicidal and I would think if I had a gun right now I would shoot myself. Also paranoia during flashbacks.. I turn off the tv and computer and all lights out because I think my tv might be recording me or something.. I don't have these thoughts normally just during the flashbacks/panic attacks.

I am on invega 150mg .. sertraline 100mg... prazosin 4mg.

As for support I don't have any.. I have a case worker who is east Indian and he is horrible... I want a canadian case worker so he could understand me... but I feel if I opened up to this indian case worker he might judge me and I never feel at ease with him. I might ask for a change but I don't know how it will go. But I don't feel safe opening up to this indian case worker about my traumas. So yeah.

I'm experiencing Shame too.

I am sorry you don't have more support .

I find DBT and 12 step programs very helpful.

I'm on lamictal 200mg and seroquel 25-50mg for sleep.

[Shaly78]

My business is my business...Tmi sometimes due to safety just know I can relate so that u feel less alone

[possum220]

Invega and Sertraline and Prazosin all have nausea listed as a side effect. Invega also has a side affects of tremors (shaking). Please check back in with the person who prescribed these medications for you and let them know that you are not doing very well on these medications combined. Maybe they will be able to sort out a more comfortable treatment plan for you.

If you find that you are breathing too fast then this alone will affect what your body does. Try and breathe deeply and do something to distract yourself.

[BlueEyedMama]

When I have a flashback it often triggers a full blown panic attack.

[Bolivar83]

You absolutely can! Or, I absolutely can....looks like others here have as well.
Sometimes I round a corner, and find myself flashing back to some traumatic memory - I'm right in it again, at least mentally. If I can't get a handle on it (eg realize what's going on, bring myself back to the present) this can spin me into a panic attack.

I've gotten better at handling them as the years go by. When certain smells or sights, even a slant of the light, trips a memory and sensations, I try to quickly use my dbt to anchor me to the present.

But when stressors pile up, or something unpleasant happens, it can throw me right back to square one.

[spring2014]

I have it too but my therapist does dual awareness with me in counseling to counteract the panic attacks.



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