Do you ever feel an attack coming on? - Anxiety Message Board

Jen32 · 03-16-2007, 12:55 AM

This is the first time I've been able to "expect" or "anticipate" a panic attack... I've had some bad anxiety for the past two days. And tonight, it turned into a full-blown panic attack. BAD. I'm still up now at almost midnight... have to get up at 5 to start my day with my 3 toddlers! I know I'm going to have a hard day tomorrow, because I'm going to be exhausted!

Anyway, I laid in bed tonight listening to my heart pound, feeling my chest get tight, short of breath, listening to all of the sounds around me... totally freaking out. Finally I jumped up out of bed, knowing what was happening and came out to get online to get my mind on something else... But I knew this was going to happen! My anxiety about little things has been huge for the past two days, but not unmanageable, and not a full-blown physical attack... just anxiety here and there...

I'm beginning to wonder if it's my hormones having an effect on this too? Like maybe I need to keep track of what time of the month this gets the worst? I'm sure this is more a question for the other women here... and maybe I'm way off base. But I feel like it was just about a month ago that I had my last terrible attack!

Does anyone else feel this way? Can you ever anticipate that you might have a panic attack within days? Do you feel yourself slowly leading up to it? And can you attribute it to anything hormonally, do you think?

Hmmm...

Just questions for me to ponder, while I try to feel better and get past this tonight.

Spaciest · 03-16-2007, 02:38 PM

Hi Jen....hope you are feeling better today. Yes, I used to have panic attacks years ago that I anticipated on a daily basis. They always showed up about 4:00 in the afternoon. I spent the mornings dreading the clock ticking. Then after it was over, I would go on with my day and start over in the morning. I went on meds for a short time to rid myself of them, and therapy. During that time I realized that because I was anticipating them, they happened! In other words, I was bringing them on myelf. I mean, why was it always the same time everyday? Why not at 9 in the morning? Or at midnight? Think about it.....I was setting myself up because I BELIEVED it would happen. So it did happen. Years later during some very stressful life events I started having them again. For a short time. But I knew that it was due to the stress I was under. Knowing that helped me get through them pretty easily. I would just sit back and say "okay fine!, go ahead have a stupid panic attack, nothing is going to be different when it's over, I'll still be here, I'll still be the same person,my world will still be the same, it's just adrenaline making me feel this way!".....I would just get mad as heck at it! And it would pass very quickly. I hope this helps! Good luck to you!

Chez19 · 03-17-2007, 05:17 AM

Hi Jen,

I've been having panic attacks on and off for 6 years, and yes you can definitely anticipate one coming! Unfortunately this is a nasty habit and doesn't get you anywhere. If you're "expecting" it to come, it will.

Remember that panic attacks are essentially "fear of fear". So when you are fearful of one coming, you are adding fuel to the fire.

There are a couple of methods you can take when you anticipate one coming.

The first is to be condescending to the idea, and treat the panic attack like an "it" - an actual physical thing. Visualising a panic attack as something tangible (like a ridiculous looking monster) is sometimes easier to deal with than something that we can only sense. Anyway, when you anticipate one coming on, you can use your visualisation of the panic attack and poke fun at it. "Oh you again huh? Yeah alright come on then... show me your worst..." etc. If you at least start to eliminate the fear of it you can get some control back.

Another method I've learnt through therapy is "floating". This involves accepting "hey you know what, I feel very anxious right now." Then instead of focusing on every heart beat and breath (which makes your symptoms get worse...), put music on and deep breath. If you try to focus completely on something other than your symptoms it will help.

Sorry if im just spieling information that you already know. But basically if you fear panic, it will come. So aim to not fear it. Either beat it by not being afraid or float through the symptoms until your physical symptoms calm down. Breathing into a bag will help balance the carbon dioxide and make you feel less agitated also. Good luck