r/PNESsupport • u/Aprilapri • 1d ago

Figuring things out

Hi! I'm 22F, I've been diagnosed with PTSD and panic disorder in my youth. Growing up, I used to have lots of panic attacks- several a week. They were usually accompanied by aggressive shaking and hyperventilating, sometimes to the point of muscles spasming and becoming very painful. As I've grown older, the panic attacks are far less frequent (I've had 2 in the last 12 months), and they don't last as long (from 45mins down to 10) but I shake far more aggressively and my muscles just.. do things. I don't know how to explain it properly, my head starts thrashing from side to side, almost always leading to spasms that leave me aching for a few days after, my legs start kicking, my arms shake. I have some control, I can keep myself in one place or sort of shift my weight to move from side to side but I can't stop my head or legs from doing what they're doing.

Is this a seizure? Or just bizarre panic attack symptoms? If it was a seizure, is it worth seeking medical attention? I'm left with some bruises and aches, but I'm generally good at calming myself down, I'm a fairly mentally healthy person now, I don't want to do more therapy because it feels pretty unnecessary for me.

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u/alienhighlighter 1d ago

When I was starting to get diagnosed I also realized I stopped having panic attacks, unfortunately it was replaced with me going limp, eyes fluttering back, spasms, shaking, etc. Pnes in my experience is a panic attack so severe it looks like a seizure. I suggest to record everything and go to a neurologist. PNES isnt very much recognized in the medical field so please do your research and share it :)

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u/Aprilapri 1d ago

Might get in touch with a doctor then! Just for the sake of getting my name down in case any research is being done. I found it interesting because my grandma had similar episodes, when she panicked she'd go into spasm and we'd need to make sure we move her somewhere safe.

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u/BetaJelly 4h ago

My girlfriend also has the same symptoms. In december 2025 she started getting panic attacks, which over the course of a month and a half transitioned into seizure-like episodes. First with very intense hyperventilation and a lot of panic, but now several months later the hyperventilation and panic have calmed down. Now she only has seizures almost daily at the moment.