Does anyone else experience a panic attack that genuinely makes you feel like you are having a heart attack? I don't just mean a fast heart beat I mean real shortness of breath, chest tightness/squeezing, heavy feeling in the chest, tingling & numbness and a sense of absolute TERROR! I just went and had an ECG and Doctor told me it was a panic attack. It was so scary
I have had panic attacks and yes it can make you feel like your going to die. Did your doctor offer anything to try help calm you down. They say the tingling and numbness is from hyperventilating (fast shallow breathing) . Try to take slower deep breaths, some people breath in and out into a paper bag so you reabsorb carbon dioxide.
I have just started Sertraline, I have had anxiety for a long time but this episode was very severe! I am thinking it is the side effect of Sertraline making the anxiety worse before better. I think I will try the paper bag if it happens again. It freaked me out so bad because It felt as though my throat was closing and my chest was being crushed, crazy!
Yep. Mine feel like there is a weight pushing on my chest & my throat feels like it is closing. I also feel like I get shortness of breath too. I actually called an ambulance the first time it happened as I was convinced I was having a heart attack. The paramedics did the ECG whilst I was having the crushing pains etc… and all was normal with my heart except it was beating really fast but that’s because I was panicking. I tend to get it most evenings now before bed as that’s when I get most anxious.