What happens to you when you have a panic attack? I've never been diagnosed with them but ever since my son was diagnosed with CF I get them more often. I have a horrible fear of heights! I went to Honduras in college and at the end of long hike we went cliffdiving. You had to run and jump out to clear the cliff, it wasn't a straight drop. I ran out when I got to the edge I slipped on the wet rocks and bounced down the cliff. I broke my foot and got really banged up, it should have been much worse. I dealt with it fine and didn't let it stop me from doing any other height related activities. Soon after my son was born we went my husbands office building, on the 12th floor. it had an open balcony surrounding a fountain below. I was holding my baby and got a terrible dreadful feeling wash over me. I got sweaty, my heart was pounding, nauseated, and lightheaded. I was so scared my son was going to go over the edge I think I almost broke his ribs holding onto him so tight. I KNOW that had to be a panic attack and for several nights I got very little sleep. I think I repressed the trauma of my accident and with the fear of my son's CF the stress is surfacing in panic attacks. I get them quite often, I can't even go to a mall that has high balconies, I jump out of my skin when the phone rings, and I'm constantly on edge. I've never taken medication for it but I am willing to give it a try if it can help me relax.
Sorry about rambling, but I am very curious about what happens to other people when they get panic attacks. What medications work and how do they make you feel? How do you work through them without medication?