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 t started 10 years ago. I was sitting
in a seminar in a hotel and this thing came out of the clear
blue. I felt like I was dying.
"For me, a
panic attack is almost a violent experience. I feel like
I'm going insane. It makes me feel like I'm losing control
in a very extreme way. My heart pounds really hard, things
seem unreal, and there's this very strong feeling of impending
doom.
"In between
attacks there is this dread and anxiety that it's going
to happen again. It can be very debilitating, trying to
escape those feelings of panic."
People with
panic disorder have feelings of terror that strike suddenly
and repeatedly with no warning. They can't predict when
an attack will occur, and many develop intense anxiety
between episodes, worrying when and where the next one
will strike. In between times there is a persistent, lingering
worry that another attack could come any minute.
When a panic
attack strikes, most likely your heart pounds and you
may feel sweaty, weak, faint, or dizzy. Your hands may
tingle or feel numb, and you might feel flushed or chilled.
You may have chest pain or smothering sensations, a sense
of unreality, or fear of impending doom or loss of control.
You may genuinely believe you're having a heart attack
or stroke, losing your mind, or on the verge of death.
Attacks can occur any time, even during nondream sleep.
While most attacks average a couple of minutes, occasionally
they can go on for up to 10 minutes. In rare cases, they
may last an hour or more.
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