I'm not sure what to do
I'm not that good at describing it so I hope you don't mind.
I've always experienced some form of anxiety but until recently it has just been something that occasionally comes and goes. Recently though it has gotten worse. I sometimes feel as though I cant breathe and no matter how hard I try it won't stop. I'm not sure how to refer to these ' episodes' so I may alternate between two names.
When they happen I feel my head get sort of light, my chest tightens and you know in films when they are sort of watching themselves do things? It's kind of like that. Like I'm watching a film of myself. The really bad ones are the ones where I only remember them starting and ending. The ones that happened most recently were last night, the first was short but the second was one of the long ones I mentioned and the most I remember is it ending. When these happen everything goes grey but not black so idk why that is. After these attacks, I usually struggle to hold a conversation so I try to just sort of lie there not doing anything in particular. I've noticed that it is easier for me to recover from them when I lie on a hard surface like the bathroom floor.
Hello @communicativeTortoise3895,
I am not a General Practitioner (GP).
Given the description that you shared.
You mentioned you have breathing difficulty &
a sense of chest tightens.
Shortness of breath can be a symptom of Heart Attack or Panic Attack
but squeezing in the chest might be a symptom of Heart Attack.
It is advisable for you to visit the hospital for a checkup.
The hospital may perform an ECG for you.
If necessary, the hospital probably hooked you up with a Holter Monitor
to detect whether there is abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmias).
To have a confirmed diagnosis (whatever the outcome)
will give you peace of mind &
to know the next course of action to take for treatment.
For your reference. :)
@communicativeTortoise3895
You are experiencing a panic attack, and unfortunately, they're extra intense and it sounds like depersonalization - it's one of those "maxxed out" anxiety moments, and it can feel scary and make you feel like you're just falling apart, but it is part of that whole awful panic attack.
I know I get to the point of lightheadedness and shortness of breath, but don't feel the depersonalization. But I have friends who suffer from it, and they hate it! Working with a therapist can help you figure out where all the anxiety comes from and should be able to help you ease up on the attacks.
@communicativeTortoise3895 I'm really sorry to hear about the challenges you're facing with anxiety. It sounds like these episodes are quite overwhelming and disorienting for you. The symptoms you're describing, especially feeling detached like watching a film of yourself, can indeed be distressing. It's important to remember that you're not alone in this, and there are ways to manage and improve these experiences.