Posted by MM on August 1, 2001, at 17:14:39
In reply to Can anyone help with a definition?, posted by grapebubblegum on August 1, 2001, at 15:31:06
It's possible that what you experience isn't a panic attack and is crossing over into another condition. I can't say. I found this link with a general discription of panic and agoraphobia (both of which I have been diagnosed). http://www.adaa.org/aboutanxietydisorders/panicdisorder/
Just a thought, but do you know anything about bipolar? Anxiety/panic seems to be somewhat comorbid with BP (I also have this diagnoses).
For me it's like my fight or flight response is on a hair trigger, and anxiety is ALWAYS there in the background. I can tell you that the degree of severity went from high to higher when my life got more stressful, but since I took SSRI's it seems that it has crossed a line and got worse. That doesn't happen to everyone. I guess it can happen to people who have underlying bipolar (and I hear SSRI's can't be tolerated by people who have TLE).
Panic attacks are DEFINITELY NOT the same as being worried that you'll be late for work etc. It's INTENSE fear, like you're about to be eaten by a shark. Your heart is about to leap out of your chest (or is throat the expression?), and your mind is going ten billion miles per hour. It comes from when we had to hunt lions (or whatever)and had to be VERY aware of our safety and surroundings, and we needed the adrenaline for strength. Sorry for rambling. Hope this made some sense and helped.
poster:MM
thread:72927
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010731/msgs/72948.html