Panic Attacks

I experienced panic attacks I would say almost every day for a week when my OCD flared up. The first time, I thought I was dying. What helped to stop panic attacks from escalating was just accept that they might occur. For example, one night my intrusive thoughts kept coming, I was spiraling. I started to feel my heart palpitations, tingling on my hands and arms, chest pains. I acknowledge it was the start of a panic attack. I just told my self “welp, if I am going to have a panic attack, I am going to have one.” I started to concentrate on my breathing, and when I least expected I felt asleep. Another thing that helps is the calm app, listening to some videos when you feel yourself getting there. I hope this helps!

I suffer from panic disorder that is very triggered by my OCD. The most important thing Ive learned it that recognizing the panic attack and allowing it to occur and pass makes it 10x easier and faster than trying to fight it off/analyze it.

yeah like someone else said here, just knowing that you’re heading to a panic attack, and letting it be and just feel your feelings and accept that they’re here

I've noticed that whenever I try to hide my panic when it comes on, it makes things much much worse. As the others have said, it is so important to allow yourself to feel what is happening with the knowledge that you won't be stuck there forever. The emotions are so terrifying, but they will pass as all things do.

So from what you guys are telling me, I should really just “suck it up”. Yep, that sounds right to me. But, what if it’s something more life-threatening? Like an actual heart attack? In other words, when should I actually call an ambulance? I’ve had my fair share of false alarms in the past. It was just that one time that it actually turned out to be cardiac. My Troponin I levels were super high, so it wasn’t just my OCD.

With heart attack symptoms being almost identical, how do you all deal with the worry that this time it might now be a panic attack but something life threatening. I try to rationalize that I get them, but consistently get the "what if" this time is different.