am i having panic attacks?

[justagirl]

i am a 25 yr old female. about 4 months ago i started having these symptoms of wanting to pass out, dizziness, shortness of breath, rapid heart beat, and a sense of losing reality. they occur pretty often, maybe one a day. i have been very stressed out and the only thing that seems to help is when i am having these symptoms i have to get up and walk around. they usually only happen at night too. i have had all sorts of tests done and as far as physical goes, i am fine. i do smoke and i have an iud.(birth control). if anyone can please help to make me understand what is going on with me, i would gladly appreciate it.

[nina69]

your are showing symptoms of an anxiety attack,I'm 23 and have that same problem it's when your overstressed in life changes stress at work,home,bills,relationships ect.you can take medication for it daily called zanax or zoloft or even do it the safe way and control yourself.I control it doing breathing exercises(take deep breath in then slowly blow air out)when doing breathing exercises you will feel tingling in your body that means you slowly calming yourself down on your own, Now if that does not work then you take zanax or zoloft to calm you down only in in serious need becauase you can get addicted to the pills.Try to keep calm under stress and exercise and also do stuff that keeps you calm and you will be fine.And i also was smoking until my asthma and anxiety came together thats when the doctor told me to quit smoking that will take half the risk away of having anxiety becuase smoking causes your nerves to well "GO NUTS"

[slizc]

The lose of reality feeling is the symptom that would make this a panic attack. I know it feels like you might be going insane but you're not. Trust me, I've gone through this also. Best of luck to you. Hope you feel better soon!

[kenn]

You might be. But then again, you might not. See the other thread entitled Panic Disorder? You need to log down when you feel odd and what you are doing at the time to get to the bottom of it.

[ncloutz]

i have panic attacks and that's exactly what i go through when i have them. it's a very scarey thing to go through. i'm no taking medicine or anything for. i go to therapy and it helps. but i also have other mental illnesses. but try to go into therapy for them if it's interfering with your life!

[Unregistered]

thank u all for ur responses. i really appreciate it

[Unregistered]

i had them before. the first time i had one, i had no idea what was going on, and went to the emergency room. that was no help at all, since nothing came back medically wrong and there was nothing they could do for me.. bleh. so my advice to you is to check out this website:

http://anxietynetwork.com/pdhome.html

under the 'What You Fear the Most Cannot Happen' section, and generally the rest of the website too if you think it would be helpful! it really took care of some of my fears about having panic attacks. the best way to deal with them without medication for anxiety would be breathing techniques.

[Adriane]

I can very much relate to that. In the midst of a panic attack I feel as if I am dying, literally. I have the same exact symptoms you do.
Mine mainly come on when I am in a car for too long. I am on Zoloft now and it has kept them from being so frequent and paralyzing.
My heart goes out to you. I fight everyday of my life to keep them in check and not let them control me.
The ironic thing is I have traveled the world as a military brat (my dad was Air Force). Since my parents died, I have been a prisoner in my own mind.

You have my support!

[justagirl]

thanks to everyone for responding

[Unregistered]

your are showing symptoms of an anxiety attack,I'm 23 and have that same problem it's when your overstressed in life changes stress at work,home,bills,relationships ect.you can take medication for it daily called zanax or zoloft or even do it the safe way and control yourself.I control it doing breathing exercises(take deep breath in then slowly blow air out)when doing breathing exercises you will feel tingling in your body that means you slowly calming yourself down on your own, Now if that does not work then you take zanax or zoloft to calm you down only in in serious need becauase you can get addicted to the pills.Try to keep calm under stress and exercise and also do stuff that keeps you calm and you will be fine.And i also was smoking until my asthma and anxiety came together thats when the doctor told me to quit smoking that will take half the risk away of having anxiety becuase smoking causes your nerves to well "GO NUTS"

You don't have to take dangerous drugs such as zoloft or xanax. They are toxic and only suppress the symptoms. Listen to your internal dialog. Your body is trying to tell you something.
It is probably a reaction to food, chemicals, or endotoxemia.
It is true that if you are under constant emotional stress that can affect your liver- but if you are losing reality, that can as well be an allergic reaction.
Inventory your diet and your environment for "offending" substances.
Psychiatry is nothing but a Pseudo Science and a Business.
Look for a doctor of integral medicine, someone who can teach you good habits, and not just medicate you w/o telling you how you make yourself sick.
Take Care.