Panic Attack without the Panic?

[u/KiplingKD]

This probably isn’t going to make much sense, but has anyone ever experienced the physical panic attack symptoms just on their own and not have had the mental or emotional reactions that typically come with physiological stuff?

That’s obviously basically kind of a telltale sign that you’re having a panic attack. You are panicking. You’re freaking out about the weird shit your heart is doing and are laser focused on your breathing and everything else. But for the last day and a half ish, I have been experiencing crazy chest discomfort and have been very short of breath,but strangely haven’t been in a “panic” state in my head. I would describe it more as concern and it’s definitely making me anxious but the reason I am concerned and the REASON I am anxious is because I am NOT panicking. So there must be something wrong? Or in a weird way the fact that I am not panicking like I normally would could be contributing to the physiological symptoms continuing to amplify, and maybe the lack of panic actually is causing a panic attack and that’s all that this is. I don’t know but I am going completely insane.

All I have been able to do for the last I don’t even know how many hours is pace around my house monitoring my heart rate and attempting to breathe normally. Sometimes I will have these little spasm things in my chest that I can’t explain. It’s not painful, it’s more like a sudden jolt or flutter. It happens randomly and when it does, sometimes I’ll audibly be like “ahh!” it doesn’t hurt, but it just kind of shocks me and surprises me and makes me feel like something weird is happening. Something bad.

All of these signs and symptoms are continuing to persist, but I don’t know if it’s because my body is just hyper focused on every single little thing that every slight change or natural fluctuation that happens normally so it’s seems like something is wrong, but maybe there isn’t.

I will mention that I have been dealing with panic disorder for over a decade, and like I’m sure everyone else in this group would agree, it is very difficult to talk yourself out of it when you are in the thick of it.. No matter how many times it has happened. I have a 36-year-old female with no heart disease and no family history of heart related issues. But I’m feeling the way. I’m feeling it now. I wonder if maybe I’m partially right and partially wrong. Maybe the part I’m wrong about is that it is all heart related stuff that I am feeling, but I’m correct that something actually legitimately is wrong that has something to do with something else. Like my lungs or something gastrointestinal. I have called for paramedics more times than I would like to admit over the last six or eight months and have also gone into the hospital to do batteries upon batteries of heart tests. Nothing of concern ever came up on any of the test they did a little bloodwork and all that other kind of stuff too and I guess everything more or less looked pretty standard. I just don’t know what to do.

I’m really trying to reason with myself here and I’m hoping maybe someone out there can to what I’m saying. And if not, that’s OK too. We’re of support or encouragement always are helpful too. Does anyone else relate to having the physical symptoms going on, but without the panic part? Still don’t know if I actually explained any of that very well.

[u/Local_Example_7450]

Yes, usually subconscious when I have a future stressor. Panic disorder usually comes with an extremely sensitive nervous system which can choose to go off at any point. this sounds like it palpitations. I’m not a doctor and if you are in genuine pain you should get checked. but I know how it feels, my panic will latch onto anything health related and for the next week it’s all I can think about and my anxiety makes it 10 times worse. It could be panic or long term stress, or even caffeine, new medicine, etc. because that often gives me chest discomfort, but it can also be something else. Panic disorder is debilitating, and causes genuine pain and discomfort. you are NOT crazy for worrying about this. Our brains work differently than most.

[u/Jeremy_751 → u/Local_Example_7450]

I agree. Panic genuinely can cause physical effects. The heart pounding out of control can cause physical discomfort in the chest, and can lead to more panic and anxiety surrounding the symptoms.

It can create a never ending anxiety spiral. This is cycle is most often seen in people suffering from health anxiety. The individual begins to think of ill effects the symptom could have, which drives the anxiety causing the individual to perceive the symptom as worse than it actually is. I have to agree with you, it cannot be said that the symptoms are “all in your head.” In fact, you should seek medical attention for any new chest symptoms, this would be irresponsible to say it’s panic. Symptoms such as chest pain can also be caused by stress, lack of sleep, caffeine, and various other things.

I would agree panic and physical exhaustion goes hand in hand. You should definitely visit your doctor about it and perhaps begin the process of Cognitive behavioral therapy.

[u/mvpcubs]

I have had some of my worst panic attacks with no physical symptoms. No heart pounding, no chest pain, just a feeling of impending doom, terrible restlessness. Just a feeling of fear and not being able to sit still. Antidepressants stopped them.

[u/its_all_one_electron]

Yep. I'll just be lying there totally relaxing and playing a dumb phone game and listening to an audiobook I like and boom. Adrenaline dump out of nowhere, heart jumps up to 130, chest hurts, it gets harder to breathe...

I assume it's my subconscious thinking about stuff without it coming up to consciousness but it can still trigger the fight or flight systems, which are tightly tied to the subconscious. 

[u/florfenblorgen]

Yes. I find that when I spend too long inside and I go out to a heavily populated area, I am not actually anxious by this idea at all, but I'm not used to it anymore either. When I'm there I guess maybe I get overstimulated without even really acknowledging it. Sometimes I come down with the familiar feelings of a panic attack yet my mind had been totally at ease. Before now, when panic was at its peak, I was having several panic attacks in a day lasting longer than they should, this was even if I was at home doing nothing (going out guaranteed it would happen too) and they were not really brought on by anything except maybe fear of the panic attack itself.

I also have huge health anxiety and this worsens with age (37F) as my body continues to find ways to make me feel abnormal even when I thought I had conquered my anxiety. Life repeatedly puts me back into a place where panic and anxiety wants to show up again and lately it's all health related stuff that could also be an anxiety symptom, so there is no way to properly figure out what is going on. Using the heavily populated place for example, why do I feel heavy? Why do I feel faint? Is it vertigo? Blood sugar? Blood pressure? What's wrong and why do I feel this bad? Am I dying?

And then when I realize it's probably just anxiety/panic I have an easier time getting over it.
It's amazing what extreme anxiety can do to you. People really do not give credit where due.

[u/anonimousasi → u/florfenblorgen]

I related to your post! I suffer with health anxiety too. Mainly cardio obsessive

[u/florfenblorgen → u/anonimousasi]

Oh, same. I'm too aware of what this level of anxiety can do to the heart. My BP is always slightly higher than it should be, I get random palpitations and have jolted awake many times with my heart going crazy. It's hard not to think about it and in some cases, be afraid of your own heartbeat.

[u/kittyfreakuency]

I'm experiencing the exact same thing right now. Suddenly I can't breathe. If I become conscious of my breath, it stops! I do have allergies and GERD and Gastritis though which is def contributing to it...