Panic Attack At The Movie Theater

[InsideAWord]

My friends and I had dinner together to exchange gifts, then we went to the movies to go see that movie "American Hustle." I felt antsy sitting in the movie theater.

I had to use the bathroom, but I felt I couldn't because the movie theater was so crowded and I would be in people's way. Also, you would have to walk in front of the screen to exit the theater, so it seemed like this "walk of shame" you would have to do since you would interrupt everyone else's viewing experience.

Then, there's a scene in which Amy Adams is in jail and she's basically having a nervous breakdown. That's a huge trigger for me.

I had trouble breathing throughout the whole movie. I kept saying to myself, "Relax, breathe in-2-3-4, hold-2-3-4, out-2-3-4..." but my breathing wasn't getting any better.

By the end of the movie, I was sweating and nearly hyper-ventilating. I told my friends I wasn't feeling good and I ran to the bathroom. Once in the stall, I took off my coat and sweater and pulled my shirt up because I was so hot, sweating, and could barely breathe. I stayed in there for something like five minutes and left the theater after saying goodbye to my friends.

As I was driving home, my breathing wasn't improving and I felt hot. I turned on the air conditioning to help me, but nothing helped. I started thinking, "Should I drive myself to the urgent care? Should I pull over and call an ambulance?"

I pulled over, but I called my sister. I must have woke her up and I told her, "I'm having a panic attack." and she said, "Oh my God, no you're not."

I just said, "If you're not going to help, then fine." So, I hung up.

So, I called my mother and told her I was having a panic attack. She kinda helped talk me down, but then I got up, walked into the Walgreens, and instantly felt better. I bought a bunch of trail mix, cheese flavored snacks, and a water. I felt better.

When I got home, I started crying. I felt so powerless and so stupid. I couldn't even enjoy seeing a movie with my best friends from school over something that seemed so trivial. Ugh... even now thinking about it, I just feel shame. I've never felt so crazy...

 

[Upside Down Eagle]

Hi InsideAWord.

Sounds familiar. I tend to have this issue during colleges at university, where I sometimes suddenly panic (either because of on-screen short films, or because of people moving nearby, or people whispering and giggling). I would stay frozen in my chair with a mental tornado going through my head. Like "shit, what do I do now?" I have the same issue in public transportation when I sit next to somebody who then starts triggering me somehow. Then I want to get up and change seats but it's not considered "social".

It took me a long time before finally realizing that who cares?! I'm the one having a panic attack, not them. I am the one who is incredibly distressed, not them. So in any scenario, no matter how my actions bug them, I will always be the one who is worse off. Which completely justifies doing what's good for you and stop thinking "whatever will they think of me".

I know it's humiliating and rather horrible. And also how ashamed you can feel when you're displaying behavior that seems completely irrational to people, in fact I daresay most of us (if not all of us) here know how it feels. How I handle it, is just having become more confident that I will make the right choice. I'm still in the process of explaining it to my friends, it's difficult but I find that the loyal ones completely understand.

 

[Mway123]

My friends and I had dinner together to exchange gifts, then we went to the movies to go see that movie "American Hustle." I felt antsy sitting in the movie theater.

I had to use the bathroom, but I felt I couldn't because the movie theater was so crowded and I would be in people's way. Also, you would have to walk in front of the screen to exit the theater, so it seemed like this "walk of shame" you would have to do since you would interrupt everyone else's viewing experience.

Then, there's a scene in which Amy Adams is in jail and she's basically having a nervous breakdown. That's a huge trigger for me.

I had trouble breathing throughout the whole movie. I kept saying to myself, "Relax, breathe in-2-3-4, hold-2-3-4, out-2-3-4..." but my breathing wasn't getting any better.

By the end of the movie, I was sweating and nearly hyper-ventilating. I told my friends I wasn't feeling good and I ran to the bathroom. Once in the stall, I took off my coat and sweater and pulled my shirt up because I was so hot, sweating, and could barely breathe. I stayed in there for something like five minutes and left the theater after saying goodbye to my friends.

As I was driving home, my breathing wasn't improving and I felt hot. I turned on the air conditioning to help me, but nothing helped. I started thinking, "Should I drive myself to the urgent care? Should I pull over and call an ambulance?"

I pulled over, but I called my sister. I must have woke her up and I told her, "I'm having a panic attack." and she said, "Oh my God, no you're not."

I just said, "If you're not going to help, then fine." So, I hung up.

So, I called my mother and told her I was having a panic attack. She kinda helped talk me down, but then I got up, walked into the Walgreens, and instantly felt better. I bought a bunch of trail mix, cheese flavored snacks, and a water. I felt better.

When I got home, I started crying. I felt so powerless and so stupid. I couldn't even enjoy seeing a movie with my best friends from school over something that seemed so trivial. Ugh... even now thinking about it, I just feel shame. I've never felt so crazy...

 

[Mway123]

Hi your experience sounds so much like me. Even the phone calls. I went to movies today and started feeling strange because I ccannot handle seeing killings and sad movies but it went OK. So I know there is hope.