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How do you know you're having a panic attack
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Feb 5 6:16pm | Replies (26)Comment receiving replies
In reading your replies to other's comments I immediately thought of one thing that was a clear indicator to me when I started having panic attacks years ago and that is a pulse oximeter (the little clippy thing they put on your finger when you're in the ER). I was having severe shortness of breath and I wasn't very experienced with my own panic symptoms so had my mom drive me to ER, head hanging out the window gasping for air, heart racing and beating out of my chest. Once in the ER my BP was high (I have always had low BP) but once they put the pulse oximeter on my finger and I saw my blood O2 level was 98, I knew it was anxiety. Fortunately you can now buy those for home use so that might be a good indicator for you. I just know that once I saw a medical device confirming that I was okay, it gave me the confidence, with some time of course, to know that I was not actually dying.
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I have a pulse oximeter, I don't have panic attacks like you're describing. I don't know I'm having one. My brain produces the biological fight/flight effect while my mind is preoccupied worrying about something like numb toes or cold feeling in my legs. I can breathe fine, my heart is not racing, I'm not having PVCs, I'm having a feeling of spaciness. So twice during these I didn't know it was a panic attack, I thought it was a symptom of high blood pressure, and of course I'm freaked out when I'm taking the BP and it is sky high because I'm freaked out. Then I'm more freaked out because I"m sure I'm going to stroke out. That's why I called 911 the first time. The paramedics told me it was anxiety. I'm old enough to stroke out. I just don't happen to be a present candidate apparently or I already would have. I have to stop the subconscious panic attacks. I think medication is the only way, I hope the psychiatrist has something I haven't already tried that messed meup. TY for your reply.