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Panic attack versus seizure
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 06:08What is the difference between a panic attack and a seizure? The seizure I had this evening started with a sheer panic attack and progressed into a complex partial seizure. I felt sheer terror at first working up my spine and then it generalized into a true seizure, where I lost consciousness.
Has anybody else had this happen to them? Any information or response would be grateful.
Comments
Re: Panic attack versus seizure
Submitted by MichaelK on Mon, 2009-03-02 - 08:43
Hi Adele,
Thanks for comment. You have expressed it very well, for when theise TLEs happen to me they feel as if I have begun to tour Dante's Inferno. That is why I dread them so much - the sheer terror of them. I walk through areas that I have had them before with more fear than before.
I appreciate your help!
Michael
Hi Adele,
Thanks for comment. You have expressed it very well, for when theise TLEs happen to me they feel as if I have begun to tour Dante's Inferno. That is why I dread them so much - the sheer terror of them. I walk through areas that I have had them before with more fear than before.
I appreciate your help!
Michael
Re: Panic attack versus seizure
Submitted by adelemarie on Sun, 2009-03-01 - 04:39
Hi,
I experience the intense 'de je vu' and the accomanying, undescribable sense of dread/doom/end of the world feelings. They occur about once every 6 weeks or so, duration approx. 30 seconds, (its hard to track time when going thru one).
I was diagnosed with seizures about 20 years ago and I have only ever had 2, thats right, only 2 major seizures.
The last one was about 2 months ago. And I know what caused it. I was at work, there was a squeaky door, it was driving me nuts, our unit clerk gave me a can of WD40, before I could think about what I was doing I had sprayed WD40 on the door hinge, not realizing that the arosole can created a huge cloud of mist, which surrounded me ( I was in a confined area), which I inhaled. It was pretty intense and I knew this was not going to end well.
The very next night, sure enough, I had a big one! Lasted a while I assume, cause like the last biggy, I came to to a room full of firemen, and paramedics.
I guess I should'nt complain... 2 big seizures in 20 years and absolutely no meds!
I know everyones triggers for seizures are differant, but you should take note to what chemicals you are exposed to prior to a seizure: big or small. For me its petroleum distillates. The major seizure I had prior to this last one was triggered by exterminators spraying our basement laundry room with pesticides... I went down too soon after the spraying.
I know that feeling you have of shear terror feels like a panic attack, but I think that is actually part of the seizure. I think 'panic attacks' are something differant. I don't think people who have panic attacks experience the weird 'de je vu' sensations, and they are probably, and this is all assumtion, triggered by something totally differant.
I have never had a panic attack, but I would bet that seizures are much more terrifing. When I have one, I cant talk, my eyes are wide and fixated, I have weird visual effects. I feels like its the end of everything.... literally.
Anyway, I hope you find out your triggers. There is a reason for everything. I know it frustrating when we don't have the answers, or even when we do, there is nothing we can do about it, and are still left to deal with the effects, (as in my case), but, life goes on and we just have to do what we can.
Good luck
Adele
Hi,
I experience the intense 'de je vu' and the accomanying, undescribable sense of dread/doom/end of the world feelings. They occur about once every 6 weeks or so, duration approx. 30 seconds, (its hard to track time when going thru one).
I was diagnosed with seizures about 20 years ago and I have only ever had 2, thats right, only 2 major seizures.
The last one was about 2 months ago. And I know what caused it. I was at work, there was a squeaky door, it was driving me nuts, our unit clerk gave me a can of WD40, before I could think about what I was doing I had sprayed WD40 on the door hinge, not realizing that the arosole can created a huge cloud of mist, which surrounded me ( I was in a confined area), which I inhaled. It was pretty intense and I knew this was not going to end well.
The very next night, sure enough, I had a big one! Lasted a while I assume, cause like the last biggy, I came to to a room full of firemen, and paramedics.
I guess I should'nt complain... 2 big seizures in 20 years and absolutely no meds!
I know everyones triggers for seizures are differant, but you should take note to what chemicals you are exposed to prior to a seizure: big or small. For me its petroleum distillates. The major seizure I had prior to this last one was triggered by exterminators spraying our basement laundry room with pesticides... I went down too soon after the spraying.
I know that feeling you have of shear terror feels like a panic attack, but I think that is actually part of the seizure. I think 'panic attacks' are something differant. I don't think people who have panic attacks experience the weird 'de je vu' sensations, and they are probably, and this is all assumtion, triggered by something totally differant.
I have never had a panic attack, but I would bet that seizures are much more terrifing. When I have one, I cant talk, my eyes are wide and fixated, I have weird visual effects. I feels like its the end of everything.... literally.
Anyway, I hope you find out your triggers. There is a reason for everything. I know it frustrating when we don't have the answers, or even when we do, there is nothing we can do about it, and are still left to deal with the effects, (as in my case), but, life goes on and we just have to do what we can.
Good luck
Adele