Stress Center Peer Support

I have had been staying with some family members on vacation and the other morning I was up getting ready and all of a sudden I wasn't able to understand anything anyone was saying for like a minute or so. Then a huge anxiety attack happened. After the anxiety attack started to subside things went back to being completely normal. During those scary few moments I was able to think clearly and talk ok, I just couldn't understand what anyone else was saying...like I couldn't make sense of the words. This has happened a couple times before but only for brief moments. Anyone else have this happen?

I had this one time. You can see everybody, know they are talking to you, you are just not processing it, then you have a panic attack. I thought I was losing my mind. I realized that it was my mind racing for a solution to stop the panic attack that was building. I only had this one time, but every now and again I would get a feeling of being detached from a situation and I know that it is my anxiety. I have learned to float this through and have not had a problem since.

Good Luck
Lisa

You're not alone or weird. This happens to me often in social situations, large crowds, and sometimes at work, and since age 12 or so; I hae a longer view perspective. Just like you describe, I stop hearing what people are saying. Sometimes it is accompanied by a spinning sensation. It was terrifying before I realized it was only anxiety; not to diminish it with the word, "only". It is still terrifying but I have learned to float through it.

Suggestions:
Instead of allowing yourself to be scared or freaked out by it, you can think well, here it is, it will pass, no one can tell what is happening by looking at me. Maybe this is actually a fun way to experience the world, like a temporaty drug-free high, that other people don't get to experience. Whatever you can tell yourself to make it through. The steps described in session 2 of the program are invaluable. During these epidoes, sometimes I excuse myself to the bathroom. Treat yourself with care and love; how would you comfort a friend experiencing this problem?

In the past I had severe agoraphobia related to this but it is better now. Work with the program, especially session 2 and the session about obsessive thoughts (10 or 11?) Oh, I once had a doctor tell me this a vestibular headache, sort of a sensory overload. Good luck!