“I know what I feel, but what do others experience when they are having a panic attack?”
For some, panic is a very private hell. It is a lonely, dark, and confusing place to be. Although you can get a lot of information regarding panic online or in books, we tend to trust the people we know for confirmation and affirmation.
If you do not share your anxiety and panic with others, it is difficult to know if what you are experiencing is “normal”.
Folks are silent regarding their symptoms for many reasons. Some of those reasons include:
- “I don’t want people to think I am crazy”
- “A lot of people depend on me and I don’t want to let them down”
- “If I tell, people will think I am weak”
- “I’m afraid I’ll lose my job… my friend… my reputation”
It is certainly not good to tell “everyone” about your panic attacks. This is private information to be shared as needed — like when you need support.
You might want to carefully choose one or two people in your life you can trust, and give them small bits of information and see what kind of reaction you get. You might be pleasantly surprised; if you are not, you’ve not “spilled the beans” so much that they cannot be recovered.
Getting your needs met with regard to support is very important. If you feel you cannot share this with others in your life, you might want to seek out a support group for people who experience panic attacks. There you may find the validation you need.
Until then, here is an overview of the Top Ten Panic Attack Symptoms that I see with my clients…
- Sweating or chills
- Nausea or other GI problems
- Skipped heart beats or rapid heart rate
- Feeling like you cannot find your next breath
- Hyperventilation
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Tight throat or trouble swallowing
- Head pains or headaches
- A sense of impending doom
- Fears of: going crazy, having a stroke, having a heart attack, or dying
Identifying your symptoms brings you one step closer to managing your panic and anxiety attacks. For more helpful tips, grab the Panic Report at the top right of the page.
