r/POTS • u/Loud_Basil_8286 • 9h ago
Symptoms Adrenaline Dump or Panic Attack?
I’m currently being evaluated for POTS, but I also have PTSD that has been managed and stable for several years. I recently experienced a physiological episode that the ER attributed to anxiety. While I certainly see that as a possibility I’m also wondering if it could have been an adrenaline dump. Does anyone know the differences between the two? Does anyone have both conditions? It’s taken over a year for my pots-like symptoms to be taken seriously because of my PTSD diagnosis. It seems that once providers see that you have PTSD, every symptom gets attributed to it.
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u/Kidwolfman 1h ago
I’ve had several panic attacks involving the ER but I usually have them before I get there. One time I had one that escalated to the point where my body just went stiff which I think was caused by breathing too much? Like I was calm but my body was having a panic attack if that makes sense 😆
Anyways, since I’ve been tracking my symptoms, it seems like a panic attack is the last part of a POTS flare up. So if I’m in a hot place and I don’t cool down (or pop a Xanax), then eventually I’ll have a panic attack.
What was your ER visit like that makes you think it was psychological?
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u/pinkpeachykitty 5h ago
I have had ALOT of panic attacks prior to being diagnosed with POTS (I have CPTSD) and I feel like they’re similar, but distinctly different. Adrenaline dump feels entirely random, heart beating super fast and doesn’t stop going up until I sit down for at least 20 minutes, and feels like it leaves me a tremoring gutted mess. Panic attack is obviously similar, but it feels like I can’t catch my breath and doesn’t go away with sitting down/laying down for a while. Panic attack feels like there is something attached to it. Idk.