Anyone here have panic attacks?

Yes, yes I do.

I have a kind of DEFCON system when it comes to panic attacks. At DEFCON 5, everything is okay, but at DEFCON 1 a panic attack is just imminent.

My symptoms...well, I guess it's on a sliding scale, kinda depends on what triggered my panic. My symptoms ranged from just heavy and rapid breathing to rolling on the floor, kicking and clawing at my head like I was having a seizure or something.

My episodes build up over time, but before I can fully let out a panic attack I immediately try to find a bathroom and lock myself in there, which is how nobody else knows about the scale of my attacks. They usually last maybe anywhere between 5 minutes to 15 or so.

They happen about once every month or so. I don't know if there is any way to get rid of them, I just live with them and look out for warning signs to keep myself and others safe. I am going to go to a screening at a physician's in early October so we'll see if I have any serious mental stuff going on.

As far as waking up in the middle of the night with a racing pulse goes, I'm afraid I don't know what to do that'll help. I dunno, maybe your panic attacks are different than my panic attacks, but I'm convinced that I can't really get rid of them, but I can adapt to them. Have you tried melatonin or other sleeping aids? If you're using Windows 10, you can turn on Night Light mode which will kill the blue light emitting from your screen to help you sleep.

Hope you find out what's going on soon!

 

Meditation will cut things down ALOT, but it takes time to learn. The Headspace app helped me a lot when I was having a lot of panic attacks. It does costs you a little bit, but it's worth it. You'd be suprised what 10min a day will do for you. Good luck!

 

You're not alone. I applied for jobs recently and at every stage felt that I was going to the gallows, even though this is illogical and unnecessary. Luckily, most of these fears are bullshit.
Also panicking a lot in work now (especially in the days after edging), but it does get better!
Do the healthy stuff (exercise, rest, meditation, good food, hydration, patience etc) and things get better, they say.
I'm certainly in a better place than a few days ago.