Is it normal to cry while having a panic attack?
Thursday, April 1st, 2010 at
3:19 am
When I have panic attacks (which are few) I start crying uncontrollable while having the normal symptoms (trouble breathing, heart racing etc). Does anyone else experience this and is this normal?
is it really a panic attack or something else?
Filed under: Panic Attacks
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Yes, it is absolutely normal for a lot of people who have panic attacks. Not everyone experiences panic attacks the same.
For instance, when I experience them, I cry, scream, gasp, my heart races, I get dizzy, lightheaded, and my muscles spasm. Oftentimes, my arms and fingers end up twisted into positions you wouldn’t think would be possible. While having a panic attack, if I don’t sit down immediately, I will collapse.
When my father experiences panic attacks, he has trouble breathing, his heart races, and he feels dizzy and lightheaded. But he doesn’t cry, scream or have the muscle spasms. He rarely collapses, although there have been the occasions.
I can’t say whether or not you’re having a panic attack. From what you’ve described, it certainly sounds like one! But I am not a doctor, nor have I seen you physically, so I am not qualified to say yea or nay. I used my father and me as examples because we have both been officially diagnosed with panic attacks (as well as other conditions.) A more accurate assessment could be attained if you mentioned this to your doctor the next time you see him/her. I hope that, whatever it is, you find out what it is and get help. Whether it is a panic attack or not, those feelings are highly distressing.
yes, during a panic attack you can have uncontrollable emotions.
That just may be one of your symptoms. Whenever I have them I don’t cry but I don’t really do anything. I just try to not pretty much not be there, as in, not talking, having no one talk to me, having no music on and stuff to that nature. If your heart is racing, you’re short of breath and it feels like cold water is rushing through your veins you more than likely are having a panic attack.
What’s normal for you may not be normal for someone else. If there is a question to ask, it might be: Why do you cry during a panic attack? Chances are there’s a reason for the crying, and if so, its probably an outlet. Perhaps the panic attacks themselves are actually brought on by an emotional overload – too much worry and stress, in which case, crying seems like a it could be the pressure relief valve that allows you to cope with it all?
in tests when i can’t remember something, i start shaking and breathing alot more faster than you should, i just totally forget everything and my mind goes blank, is this a panic attack? :/