Dizzy spell after panic attack. What if it happens again?

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?

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.

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?

@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.

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.

I've tried those a couple times but they haven't really ever worked for me. Maybe I was just doing them wrong, though.

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?