My First Panic Attack
Written by David Jacobs | 
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I had my first panic attack on July 18, 2002. I don't think I will ever forget that day as long as I live because it really scared the hell out of me.
It was 5:30pm, and I had just gotten home from work. I was feeling kind of tired so I kind of flopped across the bed for a bit before getting changed out of my work clothes. I got up after resting for about 20 minutes and noticed that something wasn't feeling quite right.
It started out as a funny feeling in my left arm. Kind of a tingly sort of feeling. Soon, it spread to the whole left side of my body. At this point, my heart started pounding like it was going to fly out of my chest, it felt like my throat was closing and that now I couldn't breathe. I thought for sure I was having a heart attack or stroke. I really started to freak out now. I didn't know what to do or what was wrong.
I had my wife call 911.
The ambulance came and took me to the emergency room. Once there they ran all kinds of test on me - MRI, CAT scans, X-rays and so much blood work I felt like a pin cushion. They even kept me overnight for observation. But, they couldn't find anything wrong so they discharged me the next morning.
Even though they couldn't find anything wrong, the panic attacks continued. Of course, at the time I had no idea I was actually having panic attacks. All I knew was that I was scared and didn't know what was wrong with me. I mean, I knew there had to be something wrong with me otherwise why was this happening to me? I had never had anything like this before, so there must be something that is causing me to suddenly be feeling like this. Right?
I was just plain miserable.
I am not sure which was worse, the panic attacks themselves or the constant anxiety and worry about when I would have the next one. The nagging fear that perhaps the next panic attack would actually kill me or that it would happen in a public place and I would make a total fool out of myself. Not to mention that constant thought in the back of my mind that the whole thing was a sure sign that I was going crazy.
Do you know what I mean?
If you do, just be assured that you are not alone. There are a lot of us our there. Just no one talks about it because they don't want you to think they are crazy, just like you are afraid that anyone you tell will think you are crazy.
Just know that there is hope and things can, and will get better.
About the Author
David Jacobs had his first panic attack about 9 years ago. He has since been researching and gathering information on panic and anxiety disorders. Realizing that all this information in a single resource may help others suffering attacks, he decided to use his web skills to create this site.
To learn more about panic disorders in general, please visit the Articles Section. Or, follow this link if you want to learn about a method that has helped him stop panic attacks for the last 6 years..