The trigger for my fibromyalgia was a severe emotional trauma. The specifics of that aren't important except that what happened to me was personally really terrible. I had depression already but this put me into a tail spin. I got diagnosed with PTSD and an anxiety disorder on top of all this. I had horrible panic attacks to the point of vomiting. I also got diagnosed with bipolar depression. I was in and out of hospitals.

Fast forward and on a bunch of meds, I slowly get a little better and my anxiety lessens. But I have fibromyalgia and the sensitivity to noise and crowds rattles me very easily. I still get very anxious, but I haven't had a panic attack in years. Having found a spiritual path has been the best thing to.happen.to.me.as far as.my life and illness goes.

My panic attacks started out of the blue, did not even know they were panic attacks. Just started to feel dizzy, shaky, really sick feeling, nauseous all the sudden. Same in the store as you describe, the people, the light, too much color, too many things to look at... made me feel panicky. Had cognitive behavioral therapy. Recommended action was not to run away, but calmly carry on, walk as normal, behave like there is nothing wrong, apparently this "nothing wrong" behavior teaches the brain to realize there is no reason to freak out, "see she is calmly walking not running away". Hope this helps.

So glad I’m not the only person who gets like this! (Palpitations, panick, nausea, feeling completely overwhelmed in every sense) I thought i was going mad. I wasn’t sure if it was due to all the lights so i bought some yellow tinted driving glasses and now i wear them constantly. Stopped caring how i look to other people as i find that they help. However, i have started doing our big shop online as the panic attacks combined with the pain on my body from pushing a full trolley was too much. I’m on prozac now too and i find that this has helped the attacks be slightly less frequent x

Absolutely yes. Things that help me with panic attacks (but of course ask a professional too):

1) get a brown paper bag and breathe into it to help regulate your breathing
2) Find the closest/ safest person around to help you breathe. Make them literally say: "breathe in, breathe out" for as long as it takes to get back to normal.
3) Take the rest of the day off. The toll it takes on your body is kind of like running a marathon. No need to keep pushing.
4) Talk it out with someone - did anything trigger it? Anything that you still need to process emotionally? (if it was triggered by physical pain, is there something you still need to do to address that?) For example, one time I had a panic attack waiting in line for pain medicine because it was taking way too long. So once my breathing calmed down I still needed my pain meds.
5) Don't beat yourself up for having a panic attack. Consider a way your body was trying to get some release and we all need that every so often.

I experienced panic attacks in my 40's a time when I was under a great deal of stress. Cognitive behaviour therapy helped, partially because I had the most wonderful dr. Sadly he past away several years ago. I started with Meds, but did relaxation exercises religiously, that dr. Taped for me. I hope this is helpful. Sarahdiane.