Hyperventilating and muscle spasms when anxious, is this a panic attack?
I was really anxious last night and had uncontrollable muscle spasms, mostly in my stomach and then I started hyperventilating. Does this constitute a panic attack? Any advice on how to control these symptoms and to get calm again quickly?
Sounds like an anxiety attack. The advice given about the paper bag, and the advice about regulating your breathing by counting, are both good.
Given the connection between this question and your previous question about how not to have such pronounced negative reactions to upsetting situations, though:
I’d advise seeing a doctor or psychologist. Your symptoms, taken as a whole, are looking like you might have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Especially if you were abused or otherwise traumatized in childhood or adulthood.
PTSD is not a psychosis. Normal people get it, including soldiers who go to war. Sometimes also emergency med techs or doctors get it from seeing lots of people die. It is an anxiety disorder which often also causes depressive symptoms. It is *not* only found in those who deal with death. Anyone who is traumatized enough, including victims of abuse or assault, can get it.
Its symptoms include anxiety attacks, and highly intense emotional/physical responses to stressful stimuli which seem out of proportion to the present time. This is because the present stressor is connecting to the subconscious mind and setting off a big reaction which is based on some earlier trauma.
For example, my mother used to have anxiety attacks if she had to be in an urban decay zone at night. And she also avoided going downtown at night. This had no connection to the present, it was connected with a nasty assault she suffered in the downtown area of a big city at dusk.
And I used to have anxiety attacks whenever I had to deal with angry or verbally abusive customers. This isn’t in connection with the customers. It’s because from ages 6-8 I had an alcoholic relative in the house who used to get angry and verbally abusive when drunk, and then beat various family members.
People who have PTSD are often mislabeled as "depressive and anxious" as well as "overreactive, oversensitive, too thin skinned."
I cannot make this diagnosis since I am not a MD, so I might be mistaken. But if you do have PTSD, then your problems will not respond well to meds and will really improve as soon as you get the right therapy! It responds best to EMDR therapy.
Comments
Comment from kezza
Time October 12, 2009 at 11:26 pm
my doctor told me to breathe through a paper bag to control hyperventilation or if you haven’t got one to hand cup your hands over your mouth and make like a oxygen mask and breath this way for a few minutes it regulates the amount of oxygen that you take in and slows down the hyperventilation as for symptoms of panic attacks i think they can change from person to person when i have a panic attack i get shooting pains in my chest and a really bad headache i feel dizzy and feel short of breath
i think that if your struggling to control these you should see your doctor for advice
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Comment from laura l
Time October 13, 2009 at 12:05 am
Hi Peta, I think this is a result of anxiety as I have this problem myself when I begin to feel panicky. I tend to have spasms in my neck and my hands tremble. I think deep breathing is a good way to control this. Take a deep breath and count to 3 then breathe out of your mouth and count to 3. I went to anxiety management classes and we learned this technique.
We also listened to relaxation tapes which helps. Tense your muscles every now and then and then relax them. Feel the difference between the tense feeling and the relaxed feeling. Please email me any time you like. xx
References :
Comment from ??Geisha??
Time October 13, 2009 at 12:24 am
Sounds like an anxiety attack. The advice given about the paper bag, and the advice about regulating your breathing by counting, are both good.
Given the connection between this question and your previous question about how not to have such pronounced negative reactions to upsetting situations, though:
I’d advise seeing a doctor or psychologist. Your symptoms, taken as a whole, are looking like you might have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Especially if you were abused or otherwise traumatized in childhood or adulthood.
PTSD is not a psychosis. Normal people get it, including soldiers who go to war. Sometimes also emergency med techs or doctors get it from seeing lots of people die. It is an anxiety disorder which often also causes depressive symptoms. It is *not* only found in those who deal with death. Anyone who is traumatized enough, including victims of abuse or assault, can get it.
Its symptoms include anxiety attacks, and highly intense emotional/physical responses to stressful stimuli which seem out of proportion to the present time. This is because the present stressor is connecting to the subconscious mind and setting off a big reaction which is based on some earlier trauma.
For example, my mother used to have anxiety attacks if she had to be in an urban decay zone at night. And she also avoided going downtown at night. This had no connection to the present, it was connected with a nasty assault she suffered in the downtown area of a big city at dusk.
And I used to have anxiety attacks whenever I had to deal with angry or verbally abusive customers. This isn’t in connection with the customers. It’s because from ages 6-8 I had an alcoholic relative in the house who used to get angry and verbally abusive when drunk, and then beat various family members.
People who have PTSD are often mislabeled as "depressive and anxious" as well as "overreactive, oversensitive, too thin skinned."
I cannot make this diagnosis since I am not a MD, so I might be mistaken. But if you do have PTSD, then your problems will not respond well to meds and will really improve as soon as you get the right therapy! It responds best to EMDR therapy.
References :
Personal experience as a nurse and counselor, plus my mom and I have both been treated for PTSD. EMDR helped much more than any meds.
Comment from Jules
Time October 13, 2009 at 1:00 am
These links to the Mind website offer some practical advice,
Troubleshooter – Panic Attacks:
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Other/Mindtroubleshooterspanicattacks.htm
How to cope with panic attacks:
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/How+to/How+to+cope+with+panic+attacks.htm
Understanding anxiety:
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+anxiety.htm
the information is easy to read and understand and should prove useful.
Hope this helps.
References :
Mental health support worker
Comment from D B
Time October 12, 2009 at 10:52 pm
more like an anxiety attack. good old fashioned slow deep breathign and distraction – like focusing on some music – works best.
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