Question:
The more I read about panic attacks, whether in books or on websites, it
seems that they mostly give a narrow definition of it in the following
sense: People who are having panic attacks are under the impression that
they are having a heart attack or that they are dying. This is a very
narrow definition. A panic attack is much more general than that. Isn't it?
I think it should be defined vot in terms of "fear of dying", but "fear of
something horrible is going to happen". Nevertheless, I see alot of times
it is described in terms of fear of heart attacks and death.
For example in my case, I got ill few months ago with vertigo and fainted a
couple of times (recovering after a few minutes), and I had dizziness that
lasted few months- up to even now. Now many times when I feel weak and
dizzy, I panic that my blood pressure is dropping, and I am collapsing and
fainting, even though I know I am not having a heart attack and I know I
won't die. That is still a panic attack, isn't it??!
Answer:
Panic attacks usually involve one of the following:
~fear of going crazy
~fear that you are dying, having a stroke, heart attack, etc
~fear of lose of control which can encompass almost anything :)
Sure sounds like a panic attack :) What is the dialogue in your head when
you are panicking?
For a short time I was having doubt whether it was PA or PTSD (Post
Treumatic Stress Disorder, just like people who are in accidents are scared
to drive for a while because they are afraid it will happen again)
http://panicdisorder.about.com/library/weekly/aa102297.htm
http://panicdisorder.about.com/cs/panicdisorder/
http://panicdisorder.about.com/cs/ptsd/
