For those of us who are experiencing anxiety and panic attacks...

[angelface78]

This may help some of us on here who are experiencing chest pains and heart palpitations due to our breakups. This may help us understand what is going on. I founD this info online and feel it helps me understand what is going on...that way i dont feel like what im experiencing is abnormal. This article listed breakups as one of the triggers of anxiety attacks. Anyway i hope it helps somebody....WE ARE NOT GOING CRAZY GUYS THIS IS NORMAL!!!

 

Short-term triggering causes — Significant personal loss, including an emotional attachment to a romantic partner, life transitions, significant life change,

 

 

Panic attacks are very sudden, discrete periods of intense anxiety, mounting physiological arousal, fear, stomach problems and discomfort that are associated with a variety of somatic and cognitive symptoms.[1] The onset of these episodes is typically abrupt, and may have no obvious triggers. Although these episodes may appear to be random, they are a subset of an evolutionary response commonly referred to as fight or flight that occur out of context. This response floods the body with hormones, particularly epinephrine (adrenaline), that aid it in defending against harm.[2] Experiencing a panic attack is said to be one of the most intensely frightening, upsetting and uncomfortable experiences of a person's life.[

According to the American Psychological Association, the symptoms of a panic attack commonly last approximately thirty minutes. However, panic attacks can be as short as 15 seconds, while sometimes panic attacks may form a cyclic series of episodes, lasting for an extended period, sometimes hours. Often those afflicted will experience significant anticipatory anxiety and limited symptom attacks in between attacks, in situations where attacks have previously occurred.

Panic attacks are commonly linked to agoraphobia and the fear of not being able to escape a bad situation. Many who experience panic attacks feel trapped and unable to free themselves.

The effects of a panic attack vary from person to person. Some, notably first-time sufferers, may call for emergency services. Many who experience a panic attack, mostly for the first time, fear they are having a heart attack or a nervous breakdown.[3]

 

Descriptions:

Sufferers of panic attacks often report a fear or sense of dying, "going crazy", or experiencing a heart attack or "flashing vision", feeling faint or nauseated, heavy breathing, or losing control of themselves. These feelings may provoke a strong urge to escape or flee the place where the attack began (a consequence of the sympathetic "fight or flight" response).

A panic attack is a response of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The most common symptoms may include trembling, dyspnea (shortness of breath), heart palpitations, chest pain (or chest tightness), hot flashes, cold flashes, burning sensations (particularly in the facial or neck area), sweating, nausea, dizziness (or slight vertigo), light-headedness, hyperventilation, paresthesias (tingling sensations), sensations of choking or smothering, and derealization. These physical symptoms are interpreted with alarm in people prone to panic attacks. This results in increased anxiety, and forms a positive feedback loop.[4]

Often the onset of shortness of breath and chest pain are the predominant symptoms, the sufferer incorrectly appraises this as a sign or symptom of a heart attack. This can result in the person experiencing a panic attack seeking treatment in an emergency room

 

DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Panic Attack

 

 

 

A discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which four (or more) of the following symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak within 10 minutes:

• Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
  

• Sweating
  

• Trembling or shaking
  

• Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
  

• Feeling of choking
  

• Chest pain or discomfort
  

• Nausea or abdominal distress
  

• Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
  

• Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
  

• Fear of losing control or going crazy
  

• Fear of dying
  

• Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)
  

• Chills or hot flushes
  

Edited October 2, 2009 by angelface78

[wondering_girl]

angelface, i get these these are awful, i would just be sitting there then my heart is racing so fast, nervous, anxious, thinking about the EX ugh... how often do you get these? i get them throughout the day. it's frustrating...

[Exit]

Yup, there are very real issues with chemicals and hormones that lead to withdrawals and other symptoms. People tend to think a breakup is only an emotional experience, and you are either strong and you handle it well, or you're weak and you suffer. But there is much more to it than that and sometimes you cannot control it. That's why people say time heals, it's not just the amount of time, it's your body and brain shifting back to normal. I went through a very real withdrawal where I felt miserable and sick every day, and then one day it just got easier.

[angelface78]

Wondering girl... I get them in the mornings...and also sometimes thru the day. Its so hard ;(

[SierraMarie]

Yep, that's me. Who woulda thought you could get panic attacks from breaking up with somebody? Crazy. I wish I could go back and never have done the whole thing. It's just too much. Too dramatic. Ugh.

[bluestraps]

Yep I ve got all of that. its been two weeks now, mornings are terrible. I also am feeling fits of intense rage . because of my unique situation.

[Kaya]

Yip, it's amazing how our bodies react to emotional trauma!

 

Here are some steps you could try which may help:

 

1. Try to go to sleep early (apparently early to bed and early to rise reduces anxiety). Try to establish a consistent relaxing routine before bed. Think about what relaxes you, warm bath, soft music, quiet reading etc.)

 

2. Sounds silly, but drink water.. ("2 - 4 litres of water will be sufficient to reduce anxiety and maintain a healthy level of body moisture")

 

4. Nourish your body (avoid junk food and stimulant food, as well as stimulants such as coffee, tea, chocolate, alcohol and nicotine)

 

5. Exercise (30 minutes everyday shows improvement in anxiety recovery). I often find if things get too much, going for a long walk helps, it gets the blood flowing and when I'm done my mind feels more settled - especially in the morning when I'm at my worst.

 

6. You could try natural panic attacks cures, such as acupuncture, meditation, Taiji or regular body massages. I practice yoga which helps me tremendously.

 

7. Morning pages (this is similar to journaling. Basic concept is to write three pages, by hand, first thing in the morning. Just write whatever comes into your head.. don't read your previous day's pages for a couple of weeks. Doing this consistently should help you to gain some clarity).

 

8. Just breathe (learn to relax your body and your mind).

 

9. Focus on what you what you do know, and stop worrying about what you don't know.

[dianna]

I seem to live with my panic attacks...he's my new boyfriend ..

[Tamia78]

Wow. I knew I was experiencing weird symptoms in the mornings, but I just thought it was my emotions running away with me due to my newfound lonliness. Panic attack? Thanks for the info, Angel!

 

--T

[rainbowsandkittens]

i've had major panic attacks for the past 3 nights. i keep thinking they're triggered by something else (well, they start over something else) but i do think they're related to my breakup. so horrible. been taking baths and nyquil to help me sleep which isn't the best idea but it works.

[Ilovecake]

Panic attacks aren’t always emotional. There can also be many underlying medical causes for having panic attacks. I've had them for years and found out that I actually have a thyroid imbalance and a severe heart arrhythmia which is a major cause of my attacks, stress just intensifies them. It is very important that you see your doctor and get a full physical exam if you are having these attacks.