an almost attack? does this exist?

[Tary]

Hi there,
My name is Tary and I´m from Brazil. It´s my first time posting here, I´ve been reading about anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia all day, this is by far the most useful site I´ve found.
Anyway, I started looking into this because I´ve had a few strange episodes and I don´t seem to quite fit into the catagory here, but there´s a lot of similarities. I´ve had what I´m going to describe about 5 times, ten months ago and twice yesterday. They all happened either in a bus or a plane ( detail: I´m a flight attendant).
It felt as if my clothes were getting tighter, the scarf was squeezing my neck, I couldn´t breathe, I kept thinking I couldn´t make a scene, that there was no way to get out of where I was, but I needed to get out ASAP. In one situation I felt a little pain in my ribs and started wondering why I was feeling it, this caused me to worry that it was going to increase and take over and that something terrible was going to happen, I was going to die or start screaming and crying hysterically or something. I ripped off my scarf and unbuttoned my shirt, tried to breathe and think normally. See, this is why I don´t think it´s really a panic attack, in all those situations it didn´t last long and though I was scared as hell it wasn´t the terrifying, crushing, traumatizing fear described here. I think the longest episode was about ten minutes. Anyway, I want to know if anyone has experienced this, if there´s some explanation. Thanks!

[angie]

HELLO TARY,
WELCOME TO THE FORUM.
I WOULD GO AND SEE YOUR DOCTOR. IT SOUNDS LIKE ANXIETY TO ME BUT I'D GET IT CHECKED OUT AND PUT YOUR MIND AT REST.
TRY NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
GOOD LUCK AND LET US KNOW HOW YOU GET ON?

ANGIEXX

[petal]

Welcome to the forum Tary



As Angie has suggested, it would be a good idea to visit your doctor so s/he can check it out for you. It does however sound like some kind of an anxiety attack though.

I'm pleased for you that the attacks have not been severe and that you have not had many of them.

Let us know how you get on.

Wishing you all the best
Petal

[dino]

DEAR TARY
SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A SLIGHT PANIC ATTACK BUT LIKE ANG AND PETAL SUGGEST A VISIT TO YOUR DOCTOR IS YOUR FIRST STEP
I MYSELF HAVE AND STILL DO EXPERIANCE SYMPTOMS SIMILAR TO YOURSELF MANY TIMES
PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW YOU GET ON
LOVE DINO

[Tary]

Hey,

Thank you so very much for your comments, they are very supportive and insightful for me. I just had two more questions: what sort of doctor should I go to? And: Have any of you experienced this "mild arrack" or am I alone here? I feel weird as if I´m either over-reacting or undereacting by not knowing if such a thing happens regularly at this smaller level to other people to. Thanks again!
Oh, and another question: is there a difference between panic and anxiety attacks? Thanks!
Tary

[angie]

TARY,
IT'S A BIT DIFFICULT TO TELL YOU WHICH DOCTOR TO SEE.
I'D GO TO THE DOCTOR THAT YOU WOULD GO TO IF YOU HAD A SORE THROAT OR NOT FEELING WELL. HERE IN THE UK WE CALL THEM G.P'S OR GENERAL PRACTITIONERS. THEY WILL KNOW WHERE TO SEND YOU FROM THERE.

PANIC ATTACKS ARE A SYMPTOM OF ANXIETY.
WHICH SORT OF NARROWS IT DOWN A BIT I HOPE.

GOOD LUCK AND LET US KNOW HOW IT GOES FOR YOU.
THE SOONER YOU GET TO A DOCTOR, THE BETTER CHANCE YOU HAVE OF GETTING THIS THING SORTED.

ANGIEXX

[petal]

Hi Tary

Yep, as Angie has suggested just go to your normal doctor (who treats you for the flu etc) and tell them about the problem. Your doctor (general practitioner) should be able to refer you to someone else should you need to be referred.

In answer to your other question, anxiety can build into a panic attack. I live pretty much all the time with generalised anxiety disorder and sometimes this builds into a panic attack at work, but I've learnt strategies to stop my anxiety escalating and I've been free of panic attacks for some time. I just have to deal with the pretty constant generalised anxiety disorder.

I wish you all the best. Do let us know how you get on.

Bye for now
Petal