To My Page On Panic & Anxiety This Page Is Dedicated To All Who Suffer With Panic & Anxiety Do you experience repeated surges of emotion that make you think you're sick, dying, or losing your mind? When these episodes occur does your heart feel like it's going to burst out of your chest? Do you feel dizzy, faint, trembly, sweaty, short of breath, and scared to death? Typical Panic Attack Symptons   Difficulty breathing Sweating Chest Pain or discomfort Unsteadiness, dizziness or faintness Feelings of unreality or detachment Trembling or shaking Tingling or numbness Nausea or abdominal distress Palpitations or tachycardia Choking or smothering sensations Hot flashes or cold chills Fear of dying Fear of going crazy or losing control Many people who experience these kinds of symptons are continually on guard and constantly on edge, even when doing things that they use to enjoy or find relaxing. These scary feelings may interfer with what they do in their daily lives. Often they avoid activities that bring on these types of feelings. When they get into a car or go into a crowded store, they anticipate the scary feelings and worry about how they might tolerate them or how they can escape if they have to. Sometimes these feelings of terror seem to come from out of the blue when they are least expected, such as while they are at home relaxing. People with these problems often pay very close attention to different aspects of their bodily functioning, (such as their breathing or blood pressure) because any slight irregularity may suggest that those scary feelings are coming on again. Most people think that the feelings are going to cause them to die, faint, collapse, go crazy or be embarrassed. Does This Come Close To Describing You? If so, chances are you're experiencing panic attacks and associated anxiety. My Story Each and every day is a struggle for me. Having panic has changed my life so much. Gone is the carefree, fun person that I once was. In its place is a terrifed woman who tries hard just to get through each and every day. I always thought of myself as a strong person, a person who could never be struck down. I was the person that friends and family told all their problems to. Nothing ever bothered me. Now I lead a life filled with fear and worry. It is a life that sometimes I wish was not mine My first panic attack hit in 1990. I was in bed reading a book, when I got this strange feeling that ran up my back into the back of my head. The next thing I know I felt like I was choking. I could not breath. I was in a total panic at this point. I called a friend to take me to the hosiptal where I was given pills and a paper bag to blow into. Finally I went home and life has not been the same since. After the first attack I think I was always waiting for the next one which kept me in constant fear. This way of thinking is what causes myself and others to have these recurring panic attacks.