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I think I had a panic attack yesterday and now I feel dizzy
I guess I should start a couple weeks ago. I'm in my first year of my phd progam and I plan to study operator algebras. I probably could have taken my algebra and analysis quals coming in, but a week before they were meant to happen I panicked and so I'm in all first year classes; largely review material for me but very work-intensive so I don't mind.
About three weeks ago, near the beginning of October, I fell into a depressive episode and stopped doing my homework, stopped doing my grading, only barely showing up to classes. This was exacerbated by the fact that I have undiagnosed ADHD, and ran out of adderall and was unable to focus. About a week ago I got some adderall, started catching up on my backlog of work, started feeling a lot better about myself, etc. just in time for an analysis midterm.
During the midterm, I finished the first two questions in about 15 minutes. Then I stopped being able to think clearly, and started to feel a bit dizzy. I asked if I could step outside for a bit, was told that I could. I could barely walk in a straight line. Then I started hyperventilating curled up on the floor outside and my professor was super nice and is letting me retake the test another time.
Today, I feel like shit. I'm skipping my classes. I can't get out of bed. I have a headache. I know that if I try to stand up, I'll probably be so light-headed that I can't walk. I'm either in a new depressive episode, or the one that ended a week ago never actually ended. I have some cold symptoms too.
Even as an undergrad, I was never like this. I still had depressive episodes, but they were a lot more manageable. And I didn't have these things that I think are panic attacks, at least nowhere near this frequency of twice in the past 3 months.
Did I have a panic attack? Is this normal? Is it normal to be this dizzy/lightheaded almost 24 hours afterwards?
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Sounds like a classic panic attack to me (though I'm not a medical professional).
What stress-reduction techniques have you tried, if any?
I don't know any, aside from a handful of addictive substances that I'm trying to use less of these days.
Have you considered anything like breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, mindfulness?
Cheap, non-addictive, and highly effective for many people.
These help me a lot. I can be pretty tightly-wound at times.
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4 Reactions@noncommutativedepression
Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
Let’s see if you get any response from other members that have experienced what you are going through.
I don’t know if it’s normal to be dizzy for 24 hrs after an episode.
It does sound as if you had a panic attack.
Because of the dizziness you should have a doctor check you out. Do they have health services at your school?
You mentioned that you have used Adderall for quite some time- who prescribes it? Psychiatrist or psychotherapist?
You definitely need to discuss what has happened now with a mental health professional. There are many ways to get you back in balance and you should try to find someone soon. Does your school have mental health services? Many do nowadays. There is so much stress taking classes and prep for testing.
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7 ReactionsThey do have health services, but it's a bit of a walk and I don't want to get out of bed today.
The adderall is not prescribed. I get it from people with prescriptions who need a bit of cash.
Adderall is an FDA-approved prescription drug that has a high potential for abuse and addiction and should only be used under the supervision of a licensed health care professional.
It is not advised to buy Adderall online or from a seller without a prescription. These drugs are not regulated. Illegal sellers put consumers at serious risk.
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1 ReactionI've tried those a couple times but they haven't really ever worked for me. Maybe I was just doing them wrong, though.
They take some practice. Give them a chance.
Inge's advice is solid too.
I hope you bounce back from this episode soon, it must be really scary. I don’t think this is necessarily the case for you if you know those supplying the Adderall, but please be careful to get it from a licensed professional. These meds can be laced with other contaminants and can be dangerous. Best of luck to you on your journey.
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2 ReactionsOMG! I don't want to sound patronizing but I think most and moderator will say to you it is NOT a good thing to do to take a medication from others. Really needs to be what is prescribed to you.
It is the only way to make sure the medication you area taking is first authentic, second okay for you to take medically, and mentally.
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2 Reactions@noncommutativedepression Thank you for coming to Mayo Clinic Connect to share this very painful and personal information.
I’ve been in a Ph.D. Program. I had my first major depressive episode shortly after I finished my baccalaureate degree when I was in my mid-20’s. I had panic attacks during and after my doctoral program. I’m now 71-years old and so with a lot of therapy and many hours of retrospection I realize that my mood and anxiety changes were due to relationships I was in during the time I was a student and a postdoctoral fellow. This is all by way of saying that I really do understand what the extreme expectations and unrelenting pressures of doctoral work and life in academia feels like.
I’m going to offer some advice so please sit down with your favorite hot beverage (a cup of tea, perhaps) and let me share. Please, please, do not take anything such as Adderall that is not prescribed for you from a physician. It’s possible that what you took is not what the seller said it was and your body and mind are too precious to ingest something that has an unknown source. What you described could very well be a panic attack. I don’t want to see you develop panic disorder in which you have even more symptoms and begin to isolate and not function in the life that you treasure and love. Please make an appointment with a physician and share your symptoms. The first place to start at this point is to make sure there is nothing physically going on. Then, make an appointment with a psychotherapist. If there are therapists on your campus you can find out if you can have a virtual visit. Or a phone visit as a start. This isn’t about whether you are motivated to do this. It’s about your Willingness to take care of yourself.
If you do decide that medication could be helpful then this is something to talk with the physician about. In the state where I live (Michigan) only licensed medical professionals (physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners) are allowed to prescribe. Psychologists and other mental health professionals are not allowed to prescribe medications but they can make recommendations and work with your doctor.
You are the most important person in your life. You must be a very bright and intellectually capable individual to be accepted into a Ph.D. Program. If you need to take a leave of absence for a period of time to work on yourself then it is possible to do that in most universities. This is something you can talk to the Dean of Students of the Dean of your Division (College of Math and Sciences?). There are many resources for you at your university.
Now that I’m finished with my advice what questions do you have what else would you like for me to know about you? What are willing to do to care for yourself?
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