Is it normal that i had a panic attack once and haven't ever since?

Okay, so I was cutting stained glass after school as part of this cool artistic little thing one of the awesome teachers I had for art was doing. This was a while back (like, 6-7 years ago) so I don't remember every single detail. But, I was cutting glass and I believe having a genuinely good time, when the clicking and cutting of everyone else and their glass and tools became, at least as far as I remember, suddenly and maddeningly pronounced. I tried to fight it, kept on doing my thing, when I realized I had started crying. So, obviously I left. I have no idea why this happened and I've never had a history of mental illness or panic attacks. My parents got divorced while I was young (probably why I have relationship and social issues, though they aren't too bad, I just don't believe in true love excepting my family and very, very close friends, though even then not so much), and I have no issues with sound, in fact I find misophonia to be extremely annoying because I can't chew gum around a particular person who I swear is just mental (since she had headphones on and couldn't possibly hear me). I love music of all types! When I watch videos on glass cutting I get faintly choked up, though I think it is more remembering the aforementioned experience than anything else. I have also experienced sleep paralysis once, with a demonic, red-eyed, teleporting chicken. Lame, I know (mother has sleep apnea, father has restless legs, and I feel like I'm falling when I sleep sitting up in school desks particularly, because my leg shakes me awake). Never know what helps, and thanks for any input.

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75% Normal
Based on 16 votes (12 yes)
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Comments ( 3 )
  • Nokiot9

    You've seen that chicken too! That mother fucker owes me 14$ for a cab ride to the airport last summer! Tell him he is gonna be red flaming nuggets if he doesn't cough up the dough

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    • jcline459

      Lol, hilarious. But that actually was terrifying as all hell. It happened, and I wasn't in control of the situation. Not everything can be as cool as we wish it was, haha.

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  • Freedom_

    Anxiety attacks come and go so mysteriously. I had one during a painting critique. I really didn't feel anxious about the critiques, they were a fun challenge and I was used to them because this happened near the end of the semester. But it happened while my friend was up and I was extra interested in her presentation because she was a new friend. I was up after her and I also was excited to present my own painting. But in the middle of my friend's critique, I just started feeling like I was choking and had to get out asap. I felt so bad for running out while she was talking but I couldn't breathe. I went to try to find something warm to drink but the buffet refused me because I wasn't getting food. I made my way to the health center, they gave me crackers and Gatorade and eventually I felt ok to drive home.

    I had a few more episodes after that and the attacks eventually eased off altogether. A couple things changed that helped ease my mind and I was reassured that people actually still cared about me, so I think that helped. One very kind nurse gave me the advice to just tell myself to stop when the anxiety started and, silly as it may seem, it helped a lot. I guess it reinforced the power of mind over matter?

    So my theory is perhaps you became overwhelmed/overstimulated during the glass cutting because it was something new and exciting. I'm not calling you a baby, but it's similar to how babies get overwhelmed when they take in too much stimuli and they start crying. If you tried the glass cutting again until the anxiety wore off, you confronted and overcame the problem. If you never tried it again because of the fear you now associate with the experience, the anxiety is still there, suppressed.

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