My first panic attack.

ok, can I tell you a story?

we had a lecture the otrher day, where my mental health lecturer told US story.

a well known and establshed patient came into the nurses area. the patient said ‘I’m having a panic attack’. my lecturer (say Bob) said ‘OK???’

the patient said ‘I’M having a panic attack, NOW!’…Bob said ‘OK?’…

the patient paced up and down for a minute and repeated ‘I’M having a panic attack!!!’

and Bob said, ‘OK, come in here and sit down’ (at which point he continued to read his paper…)

the patient siad ‘I have had loads of panic attackes, I can’t breath and my throat feels like it’s closing, I have a tingly feeling in my arms and hands…what are you going to do??…

Bod siad, OK, let me just finsih reading my paper?!?!

the patient was baffled by this, never before had someone been so ignorant to his needs!

the patient repeated,’OOOH this is a really bad panic attack, I know, I have had them like this before’…

Bob said’ so you have had a panic attack this bad before?’ the patient said ‘I SAID SO DIDN’T I?’

so bob said, ‘did you die?’ the patient said ‘OBVIOUSLY I DIDN’T!’…

so Bob said ‘ so you have had this before?’ patient said ‘YES’ and ‘you didn’t die?’ (asked Bob) ‘NO’ said the patient…

the Bob said ‘so you are in a better position to know WHAT to do about YOUR panic attack than me?’

the patient coulnd’t believe his ears?!?! HE was dying, he was having a panic attack, he coulndn’t catch his breath his heart was qute literally gong to jump OUT of his throuat…

after a few minutes, the patient realised that hi spanic attack had gone, with no encouragement and no psychology…

Bob had empowered the patient to realise his own control over the situation…

moral of the story?

a panic attack will not kill you. it may seem like an overwhelming feeling that will kill you. but your throat WILL NOT close, your heart will not beat out of your chest cavity…however, the increased breathing WILL mean that you increase your oxygen intake, which will give you pinds and needles…and the entire feeling is unique and overwhelming…

you may have one again, the trick is to figure out what triggers it and figure out WHY..

I had many panic attacks…and it’s taken YEARS (I’m talking, 6 years) for me to come to some sort of rationelle about them…

but they won’t cause you any immediate injury…it’s just learning (as I say) what the triggers are, and trying to put them into some sort of logical perspective//