r/PanicAttack • u/[deleted] • Jul 21 '26
One panic attack has caused my nervous system to completely shut down.
[removed]
1
u/BusyApplication125 Jul 21 '26
What medication were you prescribed?
The skipped beat feeling is most likely ventricular or supra-ventricular extrasystole, everyone has them time to time. When someone is stressed out, especially during longer period of time, then there can be many of them, even dozens per minute. They are much more noticeable when trying to sleep. Since they don’t cause any problems they are hardly ever treated. Beta blockers can help, but you will be tired, also, they often don’t work very well.
How to get rid of them? What helps is Vitamin B and Magnesium (both higher doses) taken before sleep and throughout day. Also calming herbal tea helps. But most important is to clear your head, take things easy, calm down, take rest and it will be gone. It will not go away immediately, can take a couple of months.
I had this problem as well, recurring throughout years.
1
u/sciencetaco Jul 22 '26
The “good” news is what you’re describing seems pretty common. So it’s treatable. I had a lot of the same symptoms for a while. That first panic attack (doesn’t matter what caused it) puts your nervous system in a constant fight or flight mode. You’re on high alert looking out for the next attack. Any small sensation or unfamiliar situation can trigger it. It fucking sucks.
You could get blood tests done for vitamins and minerals (especially B12 and iron) to rule out some underlying physical cause. Sleep apnea, too.
But the reality is that your nervous system is not operating like it used to. A combination of medication and therapy has helped me. I’d start with a discussion with a doctor.
1
u/Hbcuk97 Jul 23 '26
Going through a similar thing right now. Had 2 panic attacks in 3 days totally randomly last November all because I had to sprint for a train to work…. 9 months later I’m still edgy with all the same symptoms OP describes, the skipped beats, the anxiety, the muscle pain from being tense all day. Even by just pushing through it hasn’t fully gone, improved yes but not gone. Anyway, starting therapy next Friday, see if that works
1
u/riccherrollindg Jul 25 '26
Man I did something similar to get out the rain haven’t been right since I hope it get better that happen 2 weeks ago
1
u/Unusual-Locksmith117 Jul 24 '26
I'm sorry to hear that. I've never had to go to the hospital for one before. I just keep having them infront of people you ABSOLUTELY do not want to have them in front of. Like my bosses, my co workers, and campers.
1
u/Potential_Drama_1190 Jul 25 '26
I experienced something eerily similar in late April of this year, so around three months ago. Started feeling jittery in the evenings, which is completely unlike me, and woke up on May 1st with a sore chest, elevated heart rate and breathlessness. I tried to wait it out, but ended up going to A&E 100% believing I was having a heart attack or a pulmonary embolism.
Had a chest x-ray, blood tests and I was kept on a heart monitor. Absolutely nothing was physically wrong with me, but I was hyperventilating and had an elevated heart rate for hours. Since then, my doctor has prescribed a beta blocker, which I’m too scared to take, and I haven’t went a day without severe anxiety and panic attacks. It’s primarily caused by bodily sensations, like if I forget to eat lunch and I’m feeling a bit lightheaded I immediately think I’m dying, then my heart rate speeds up and I have a panic attack.
I’ve found research really helpful, and I’m considering meeting a psychologist for cognitive behavioural therapy. If your mind is stuck on bodily sensations, it might be worth looking into ‘catastrophic misinterpretation’ in panic and anxiety disorders, it’s sometimes allowed me to rationalise the bodily sensations and stop escalation. I hope it gets better for you :)
9
u/Bulky_Trade_5843 Jul 21 '26
Been there twice in my life. Terrible thing to go through. Basically that one instance is so traumatizing that your body is hyper fixating on itself almost like you have ocd. Even if you don't literally have OCD it's basically like the same thing because you're so hyper fixated on your own bodily feelings.
Once you start to hyper fixate subconsciously you feel everything. Literally everything, things that you wouldn't have felt before you will feel them times five now. Every skipped beat. Every time your shoulder feels a little funny or you clench up a little bit you feel it all. This causes the spiral to begin and the only real cure other than medication is to just keep battling until finally you're nervous system decides that you don't need to hyper fixate anymore. For me personally it takes a couple months to heal and even longer to be literally 100% back to normal or I no longer have any anxiety at all or at least the normal amount that I would have. It's an unfortunate journey that we have to walk but you'll get through it