How To Deal, 'minor' Panic Attacks In Public

[EmmaOwl]

Yesterday afternoon, the weather was VERY rainy, huge lightening/thunder cracks, and high wind... I was at the dentist and a warning siren kicked in. Needless to say, I became... um, alert!

My dentist knows me, knows I'm effed up, but I was still embarrassed to mention fear of the alarm. But I did not show it outwardly, and so I knew, if I wanted to feel better, I needed to tell them straight-up that it was a PTSD problem for me.

It was difficult, but I did. I said, "It's the noise that bothers me." He and his assistant located the source for me, something nearby that was set off by the storm. It was a safe enough reason, to my addled mind, and so I calmed down.

That incident highlights to me the importance of being straightforward even when it makes me uncomfortable. - Do I want to continue to feel panic, or feel self-conscious by telling this kind of thing to people? I chose the latter, and in this case it was the right thing for me to do. I need to keep this in mind as much as possible.

 

[Freedomfighter]

You should not have to feel bad for anything. Should not have to feel bad for having PTSD, but we all do. You label yourself as effed up and that is sad, that makes me feel sad for other PTSD sufferers. We are ill, not effed up. Only criminals are effed up.

To get awareness of PTSD, real awareness is something we can concentrate on.

Kudos to you that you were able to vocalize that. I am not even able to do that, huge anxiety inside, but I can never voice it.

 

[Deadman]

I chose the latter, and in this case it was the right thing for me to do.

Good job :)

I've started being much more open with people about my PTSD. I figure public attitudes about PTSD and mental health in general are changing. If I can help with that change I'm OK with feeling a little uncomfortable.

 

[ladee]

My Pain Dr knows I have PTSD.... when he was trying to convince me that having the shots in the nerves in my spine was the way to go... as I am gathering information... I asked if we could do it in the office we were in... no, you have to go to Austin... well, (as my heart starts hammering about driving in Austin traffic) I mention that I have no one to take me....he seemed irritated but at the same time they do not want you to drive yourself, which I would have to do...told him no, we would try other things first...
He got very put out, which only made me more anxious... just driving to his office in another city is an ordeal for me once a month.

I didn't say anything then..... because what went thru my mind was... what a racket this crap is.... doesn't want to work with me about less invasive things.. because Medicare will pay the big bucks for the procedure...

Next time I went in, as he was putting info in the computer , I said Dr....., he finally looked at me... I said.... please do not minimize or invalidate that I have something you apparently don't understand.. I have worked hard to even be able to drive myself here!

His face got red... I feel he was more angry 'being called down', than anything.... oh well... feet made of clay Dr's are... not even intimidated by the fact he's a Dr...and while I did not expect him to be a PTSD pro.... I did want the compassion and understanding.. that I wasn't going to get.

I told him if I came in with a bloody broken bone sticking out of my leg, he would be compassionate about that... so pretend that my anxiety is a bloody broken bone.... and if nothing else , just pretend he cares, like I was pretending I trusted him....he sat and looked at me for a few seconds..... and then said... Ok... you got me... and he apologized....We do fine now... I am not embarrassed I have PTSD.... and I won't allow myself to be treated 'less than' simply because it is not something he or other Dr's don't understand. My life, my call.

People do not have to understand,,, but they don't get to be rude and stupid either....

 

[Llith]

I personally really need to work on this.

I had to go to an art group for a work event that was really really triggering for me and I really should have just mentioned I wasn't comfortable and asked to do something else. I am sure no one would have minded that much. I don't want to mention PTSD at work though cause that has way too much of a stigma still and its just way too personal.

 

[holdenmonty]

Thank you for sharing that positive story. Those usually happen to me quite often but I just try to hide it and do some diaphragm until it get's better. It is kind of funny though the other day I was talking to the psychologist two weeks after my ptsd evaluation and told me that they diagnosed me with it which I figured but anyway. There was some yard work being done outside and with their office being on the 5th floor it didn't sound like a lawn mower but closer to a helicopter but not quite. But it happened, I had a 'minor' panic attack right there in front of him in his office and he could obviously tell what was going on and I tried to hide it and tried to get back onto the conversation but he stopped me and helped address it and found out that it was a lawn mower.

 

[roaringrachel]

Yay! Good for you!! I know it can be so hard to tell people about your ptsd!! But I always find the anticipation is worse than the actual act of doing it. And people (especially doctors or dentists like in your case) are usually very considerate and want to help if you actually tell them what's going on!

 

[EmmaOwl]

I'm horrible horrible at "self-soothing" and so I guess I prefer to go with.. I don't want to say self-ish, but I do think I should advocate for myself... Actually that's one more thing I can do for myself. I am not always up to it, but self-advocating is important and I try to be as straightforward as possible. How else will I get better? is the way I look at it, these days. But it's taken me an awfully long time to get to that point.

Thank you guys all for your supportive words on this one. I really was proud of myself :)

 

[LilMick]

Yes, I have been dealing with this lately. I've had a few triggers and had a panic attack in public that led to an ER visit courtesy of a by-stander calling 911. I'd appreciate strategies others use in public to assure other people that panic attacks and flashbacks happen to me on a regular basis.

My work knows the situation, as do most of my family and friends, and to let me into a closed office or quiet space for a few minutes to get it together, but somehow, when I'm alone in public and it happens, it's always a disaster...

 

[EmmaOwl]

when I'm alone in public and it happens, it's always a disaster...

I'm sorry, Lil... This is a tough one. Does it happen to you often?

Can you speak when this happens? If so could you say, "I'll be okay if I'm quiet for a minute." in as calm a voice as you can manage?
Or, "I'm ill but only need a moment alone."
Or even "I have PTSD and I'll be ok in a sec."
Whatever you are comfortable with. If you calm down quickly, maybe you could roll your eyes a bit: "Ugh I hate when I space out like that! Sorry." Something to normalize it.

The key might be to decide on something you can say, ahead of time - just in case! - and have it ready to rattle off, sort of automatically.

I know that's a tall order, and impossible for many people. But if you could manage, it could give you precious moments to compose yourself, without strangers freaking out prematurely. (I'm assuming that you do NOT need ER visits at these times.)

 

[EmmaOwl]

I said Dr....., he finally looked at me... I said.... please do not minimize or invalidate that I have something you apparently don't understand.. I have worked hard to even be able to drive myself here!

Good for you! That is as straightforward as you can get. Very brave. I'm not sure I could have done that one, brought it up cold!

I am not embarrassed I have PTSD.... and I won't allow myself to be treated 'less than' simply because it is not something he or other Dr's don't understand. My life, my call.

Yup. I hope it sunk in, that it might apply to others, not just yourself. As @Deadman mentioned,

public attitudes about PTSD and mental health in general are changing. If I can help with that change I'm OK with feeling a little uncomfortable.

That is a brave and generous way of facing this issue, also.