As the title says, I had my first panic attack. It happened while showering and I started to spiraling about [the problems I have with my parents])https://feddit.org/post/23629681). Suddely I realised, that I have no ide what happened in the last 5 minutes, didnt feel anything and standing in the shower breathing like a steam locomotive with increasing frequency. So I sat down waited about 5 minutes trying to calm myself and reducing my breathing frequency. After that it was definitely better. Finished showering and felt good after that (I also wasnt feeling bad before that at all).
I did meet some friends a few hours later. Guess I should maybe start seeking professional health after that.
I had 2 in my life and I hope you won’t experience them again.
Mine were never self triggereed. Feel free to skip the spoiler explaining mine
CW: trauma dumping : mental health and physical assault
Tap for spoiler
Once where I was physically assaulted I was left hyperventilating and unable to calm myself down for 30 minutes. It had been quick, I had been grabbed by the neck and pined on the wall in a staircase by one of my classmate. I was in shock.
The second one was out of pressure when I was a teenager by a staff member of my old highschool. That person was an asshole that was basically denying my health problems and threatened me do basically do some legal action if I were to “fake” it. At the time I was in distress psychologically and that felt horrible and sometimes had these thoughts like I was just lazy so it was effective alright (Yeah depression and low self esteem…)
I would worry if this was recurrent. But Nevertheless if you feel the need to have professional help do so (and if you can afford it).
If a panic attack starts, try to find out techniques that allows you to focus on something else. Like describing actively 5 things you see. Then 4 things you hear. 3 things you physically feel. I know it works on my wife. But I don’t how effective is it on others.