First, you need to identify the cause. I had an anxiety attack on several days last week and could not figure out why. Then I read the drug store brochure that came with y Avelox antibiotic. It can cause panic and/or anxiety attacks. It was worse for about 2 hours after taking it in the AM. And as the brochure said, it wore off with continuing it over the next 10 days.

My attack occurred after a dentist procedure which I thought was just going to be for cleaning my teeth. Well, she had my mouth full of all kinds of picks and water was shooting all over in my mouth and I thought I was being water boarded or drowning . It was so scary. I am in my 80's and I think if she had explained what she was going to do this would not have happened . I realize the feeling of dread after the fact is unrealistic but it does not help me completely forget it. Strange thing is, a young girl that come out of her office before me was hysterical, crying and ran out I have decided I will go back and confront her but in the meantime I hope I can get some relief from these feelings from time to time.

I had a whole series of them, for the first time ever, two years ago. They were "situational." Coupled with terrible insomnia, it was a horrible experience. My doctor recommended magnesium and fish oil daily, and melatonin for sleep. I worked to resolve the issue causing the stressful situation and after a couple months I was free of it. Once I had a plan for resolving the situation the attacks stopped. I don't know how much the magnesium/fish oil helped but I still take them and have not had additional trouble. I also still take melatonin for an occasional night of insomnia.

I can now fully sympathize with those going through this. At the time, in the midst of it, I was an emotional and physical wreck. But as soon as I had a plan (ie regained a sense of control/decision making in the situation)--the attacks completely disappeared.

Only once, but not full blown. I was in Orlando on a family vacation and we were stuck due to a hurricane.

Luckily we were staying at a time share, so had a kitchen which we stocked as best as we could.

At one point we lost power. (The kids had to get back for the first day of school.)

I took a walk and I started to realize that we were stuck. It was beyond my control.

But, I talked myself down and after that incident, I really can relate to those who have anxiety/panic attacks.

Yes, I had my husband drive me to the ER, they checked me out. I was told it was a panic attack. After that when my heart would race I would just think to myself, go ahead. It would settle down. Of course I would not take a chance if I thought it was a heart attack, the nurse said it's better to be cautious and go to the ER.

Used to get them in my late teens/early twenties. Then one day I learned about them reading an article in a magazine. Once I understood what they were I was able to cope with them. I self taught myself to breathe through them as per the chart above. I also used to rock during them. Took the focus off. As I gained control over them I guess I sort of outgrew them or perhaps learned to catch them before they became full blown.

I started having them in my mid to late teens. I was taken to the ER a couple of times they got so bad. It used to make me so angry that because of the era (60s) doctors back then assumed I was on drugs even though I wasn't. They treated me like crap. No one ever mentioned or considered that they were panic attacks. That magazine article taught me. ;-(

I have PTSD, and sometimes triggers cause panic attacks. I'm lucky -- mine don't last very long, usually about ten minutes. While they are happening, I tell myself they are distressing, but not dangerous.

I came close just once, and out of the blue. I was on my way to a day that would be fun, looking forward to it, driving alone across the Tacoma Narrows bridge (if you don't know it, see Galloping Gertie ;0)) when out of nowhere I felt like I couldn't breathe, was lightheaded, sweating. This was what is now the old span, westbound before the addition of the new Eastbound lanes. I took deep, big breaths and talked sternly out loud to myself, focused on the bumper of the car in front of me. Scared me to death, I calmed down, went on to my destination and enjoyed myself. I'm still afraid of that one bridge, and make myself drive across it from time to time so it won't get the best of me. I'm tense, but OK. I'm fine if DH is along and driving so its not crossing the bridge, it's driving across it. It's a shame there are so many things of interest to me on the other side, or I might skip that route altogether. But, it would be pretty silly to develop my first phobia at my age so I've been determined - with effort - not to let that happen.

About 30+ years ago when I was driving my kids to school, I had my first panic attack. At the time I did not know what it was, but it scared the heck out of me. My heart was racing, my chest felt tight and I felt like I was going to faint. I had never experienced anything like it. I was at a stop sign a block from the school and just froze there. I managed to pull over, catch my breath and then felt ok. I did see a doctor later that day and was told it sounded like a panic attack and that it was no big deal. Well it was!! Because it happened while I was driving I became worried that it would happen again, so each time I drove I became very anxious and continued to get them. I finally found a therapist who helped me control them with self talk, breathing exercises and meditation, but it took several months. Thankfully I have not had one since that time, but I sympathize with those that suffer with them. I can see how it could consume someone's life. I was at a point where I did not want to drive anymore.

When I was a kid, my mom would quite often have what she called "dizzy spells", but they were actually panic attacks.

Yes, a few over the last couple of years. I am the primary caregiver of my mom who has Alzheimers (she is now in a memory care facility) and my four siblings were doing very little to help out. I thought it was my mom who was causing them but once I realized that I wasn;t getting any help from my siblings and cut them out of my life the attacks stopped. My siblings were causing them or at least my hope of help/support and not getting it from them, was causing them, not my mom.

Five minutes ago I would have said, 'no, I've never had one' but reading morz8's account, I remembered developing a bridge phobia. I too had to direct my attention away (to the white line on the right) to get over the same bridges that I'd been driving over for years. I'm better now, not sure why that happened to me.

Our daughter suffers panic and anxiety attacks fairly often. She's almost learned to talk herself down, but sometimes needs to chat with me for a few minutes to relax and get past it.

I had a period of having panic attacks about 20 years ago when I was attending university in another city. I was severely homesick and feeling overwhelmed by the heavy volume of course work. I almost quit the program, but I'm glad that I didn't. I got medical advice and took prescription medication for a time until I got settled into a routine and got comfortable with my temporary living situation.

Confront her? Hell, I would never go back to her!!

I had just one many years ago in Colonial Williamsburg of all places. A lot happened that year and my father had just died. I didn't know the term back then and just walked around the campus of William and Mary for a few minutes to calm down. Ironically my grandson who wasn't even born then goes to school there now.

pump toad, I just read back through the answers and saw the reason you asked. I'm so sorry that happened to you, that must have been a really panicky feeling. That makes me mad that someone would put you in such a frightening position, and then be so insensitive to not even have discussed it with you or apologized. If going back and being heard makes you feel better then do that. But I think you need to find someplace else for oral care and tell them why you are there and not with your 'former' dentist. Please feel better soon.

I had a very similar situation at a teeth cleaning with water. My teeth hurt for hours. and it caused a panic attack. I waited some time before I found a regular dentist, and did not have that kind of experience. The new hygenist told me the first one was not using proper way to direct water on my teeth. There is a right way to do it and a wrong way. I'm so glad she took the time to tell me. I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience. I hope you find a new hygenist. Some do the work well, some don't. I wish you a better time in the chair next time.

Years ago our dentist introduced a salt water cleaning option. I tried it once and hated it. It's using pressurized salt water instead of the little round toothbrush and compound. I hated it. I asked her recently if many patients opt for the salt water blast and she said very few.

Had my first one about 3 months ago. I received a text from one of my brothers. It came from out of the blue. We hadn't been texting or talking it just showed up. He said horrible things about me and my husband. He was repeating words that my mom had said in the past so I know she had said things to him about us. When the text came I didn't know who sent it, it took several minutes to figure it out. I couldn't control myself because I had no idea one of my brothers felt this way about me and that my own mother who I have living with us fueled that fire. The attack lasted about 20 minutes, my poor husband didn't know what was going on. I figured it out and asked for a paper bag. My mom brought me a plastic bag.

To this day I am unable to read that text over. I've forgiven him and my mom, it's the only way I can live with her. I haven't seen that brother and won't until he apologizes.