Whats the difference between a panic attack and meltdown?
For me, a panic attack is a response to flee an unwanted situation like a loud party, the mall or something like that. It will turn into a meltdown if the panic attack is not taken care of by getting the hell out of the situation that is causing it.
Yes I suffer from both but am able to live a normal life by instantly responding to the panic attack symtoms nowdays and removing myself from the situation. I used to submerge and ignore the panic attack and go straight into meltdown, yes, throw something, beat something, generally scream, yell. Most unpleasant.
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I have never had a panic attack, only meltdowns, which are dominated by anger.
From descriptions of panic attacks, they remind me a bit of the physical sensations I experienced once during a severe allergic reaction that was anaphylactic shock. I did feel like I was going to die that time, but it was caused by an antibiotic.
Twist
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when i was a teenager i had panic attacks a few times - always in highly populated areas. i could usually get myself to "safety", however it was common that psychosomaticism would end up crippling my hamstrings by the time i got there.
meltdowns however are much more of a: "HOW HARD IS IT TO JUST f**k OFF AND LEAVE ME ALONE????" *smashes drywall*
haven't had either since i was about 21.
I have things that look like meltdowns and things that look like panic attacks, but they mostly involve the same emotions - overwhelming fear, possibly with a dash of anger, sadness and/or other negative emotions mixed in. The big difference is in the behavioral expression.
Panic attacks involve behavior and nonverbal expression that is consistent with fear and only fear (eg freezing, crying in a scared way). Meltdowns involve behavior and nonverbal expression that is more likely to be interpreted as angry, or as a mix of emotions (eg yelling, crying, acting threatening).
But from my perspective, the only difference is that in a meltdown, I don't feel safe to show fear. Typically what I'm afraid of in a meltdown is the exact same person I'm trying to get comfort from, and so I do a bunch of indirect and antagonistic ways of getting that comfort. Whereas in a panic attack I'm afraid of something else and the person I'm seeking comfort from doesn't scare me at all.
I read this because I had the same question. Thanks. I think you've cleared it up for me. I have both. Man, every time I think I've got this thing figured out it gets more complicated.
That helps explain why I got picked on so much in High School. People thought that it was funny when I lost control. I might beat the crap out of them, but that was only every once in a while. Mostly, I would yell, get really anxious and drop stuff or whatever, but I lost total control. Kids are mean.
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From descriptions of panic attacks, they remind me a bit of the physical sensations I experienced once during a severe allergic reaction that was anaphylactic shock. I did feel like I was going to die that time, but it was caused by an antibiotic.
Yes, from what I've heard of severe allergic reactions, panic attacks can feel very much like that. Just without the actual physical danger. Though, if you are not used to them, you might think you are dying.
For me, in a panic attack I become literally incapable of movement. It starts in my hands, but eventually every muscle in my body cramps up. I have trouble breathing, and my vision is distorted. I can barely speak; I might squeeze out a word or two out but nothing that's going to make sense to anyone else.
Thankfully, my gf and family are beginning to learn, when I say I need to get away from a situation (usually a big crowd, or some other sensory overload), to just let me go. And if it's too late and it's already started, to help me get to a quiet spot and then leave me alone I can just sit down, focus on my breathing, and ride it out.
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If life's not beautiful without the pain,
well I'd just rather never ever even see beauty again.
Well as life gets longer, awful feels softer.
And it feels pretty soft to me.
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