I've noticed that everyone here who has panic attacks tends to have them spontaneously and with severely frightening and usually physical symptoms.

Mine only occur in these situations:
1. If I'm in an anxious mood and get into social situations, I can become very socially anxious and try to avoid everyone. I feel that every time someone talks to me, I panic inside, I kind of just freeze up and end up trying not to let any kind of personality out. And then there's sometimes the sweating.

2. If I'm in a room that's too small and contains lots of "important" people where easy escape might not be possible without embarrassment, I freeze up, sweat and depending on how serious the conversation is, my hands start shaking, I feel numb or cold (and still sweat). When I get up off of a plastic chair, I try to be the last because there's usually a big sweat mark.

3. If I'm in a situation where a quick decision is needed, or where I have no control over a decision that will greatly affect me, I often go off on one and focus on every little problem. Then to vent it, I usually talk to the person making a decision accusing them of being suppressive and demanding and ignore such and such a problem. Imagine heather mills outside of court after the judge denied her privacy request. It feels like the end of the world. When I come out of my little panic I tend to feel very stupid, because I then have to explain that I was just panicking and actually there is no problem, which makes me seem bitter. This then fuels number 1, because every time I see a person I think they'll remember my panic and think I'm crazy.

This post has been edited by Paper: Mar 27 2008, 10:18 AM

Hi Paper,

Panic attacks come in lots of different shapes and forms. Very often they are triggered in specific situations, such as the ones you describe here. Or, as you say, they can come totally out of the blue.

I used to have a lot of the "out of the blue" type panic attacks. Then I found an anti-depressant that helped me a lot with this. But I can still have panic attacks in certain trigger situations.

Then there are phobias which also cause panic feelings. For example, I can't ride in elevators. And I'm really scared of flying (even though I have to do it sometimes). These situations always cause me to panic.

What you describe here definitely sounds very much like a form of social anxiety and panic disorder. If you are finding that your quality of life is being significantly impaired by your panic feelings, then I would definitely talk to your doctor about this. There is definitely help available for anxiety and panic. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and/or medication are two very effective ways to treat this.

Wishing you all the very best (((((((Paper))))))

Take care.

Joanna

This post has been edited by Joanna: Mar 27 2008, 01:05 PM

Thank you, that's very reassuring. I hate flying too!. Again, being trapped in a tin can tube with hundreds of people is generally my worst nightmare. I'm not keen on lifts either unless I'm alone, otherwise people just watch what you do. I've been tempted on more than one occasion to do something weird like babbling, so that anything else I do will be nothing compared to that.

Thanks for your advice, I think I'll tackle the Anxiety now

LOL! I like your idea of babbling in a lift full of people!!

Good luck with everything (((((((Paper))))))). And please keep us posted!

Take care.

Love,

Joanna

Hi Paper,

Sounds like you might suffer from a bit of claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces) Whatever triggers your panic it all comes down to a fear of losing control. That's the basis of any phobia and panic attack.
In my experience most people are very understanding. If you panic in a social situation, most of the time people will do their best to help you. It's never as bad as what we think it's going to be.