Question:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <some snipping i’m new here, and i’m new to this panic disorder that i seem to have. i have no clue about anything basically, but for now, i’d like to ask a simple question. does anyone else get spells of dizziness and a kind of tingling in your face or arms randomly? It seems that many people with PD tend to be somewhat fast, shallow breathers which can lead to hyperventilation. Suddenly, you could be hyperventilated and not know how you got there, thus the tingling and dizzyness. Just another wonderful side effect of PD. 
Deep breathing/relaxation exercises can be of great benefit. If you lie flat on your back with a book on your stomach, you should be able to tell whether your breathing is shallow (your chest rises and falls) or deep (the book on your stomach rises and falls). This breathing technique takes some practice but it’s worth it – I’ve actually used it to ward off an on-coming panic attack a couple of times. The deeper breathing seemed to slow down my fast-paced sensory system and calm me somewhat. I hope that helps. Kate
P.S. Susan, I feel I should also mention that although this *diaphragmatic* breathng has helped me at times, others have not found it helpful I hope you have luck with it!
Response:
It sounds to simple, but when I stopped trying to stop symptoms from coming, almost inviting them or chasing them as I call it, a funny thing happens. They stop. It isn’t easy at first. but, it really works well.
That’s right Cheryl and another peculiarity of this disorder. It seems that you can often obtain results by doing exactly the opposite of what appears logical. I understand well what you mean by *chasing symptoms* but didn’t it seem like the dumbest-ever idea when you first tried it? Yet it still works. As Mr Spock would say, *it doesn’t compute…* — ROB… "high mileage but reliable!"
Response:
Are you kidding? yikes! I get them all the time. When I am in a full blown attack it gets so bad that my hands tingle so bad that the fingers actually close into the hand. kind of atrophy like someone who is paralized. Then I know I am in big trouble. On a safer note though I do get some kind of dizziness and tingling the head during the day. Doesn’t last long but it feels like my head is asleep. Its a wierd feeling. Your tingling in the arms without having an attack may be from your back. I tense up during attack and my back is constantly in knots and I get tingling down to the hands due to pinched nerves and such. Get someone to rub your back and shoulders it works wonders and relaxes ya too. Good luck Irene – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -i’m new here, and i’m new to this panic disorder that i seem to have. i have no clue about anything basically, but for now, i’d like to ask a simple question. does anyone else get spells of dizziness and a kind of tingling in your face or arms randomly? i know this sometimes happens when i’m having a panic attack, but lately it’s been happening by itself – just the dizziness and tingling – for a few seconds, and then it’ll go away. my dr. has said it’s a mild sympton of a panic disorder. i’m not sure i understand how these occurances are linked to the panic attacks i sometimes get. any advice / info would be truly appreciated! — Susan Nicolson "The mind of man is framed even like the breath And harmony of music. There is a dark Invisible workmanship that reconcilies Discordant elements, and makes them move In one society." –William Wordsworth The Prelude of 1805, Book First
Response:
<snipped Susan, I know the feeling very well. When I first started having PA’s, they were often brought on by the tingling. When it started, I couldn’t think of anything else. Since I don’t won’t to cause panic in anyone, I’ll stop the description here. Many books report that the tingling is caused by hyperventilation. It is true that breathing too fast for too long can cause tingling in the extremities. For me, it didn’t seem to be the problem, since the tingling would happen regardless of how I was breathing, and the symptom didn’t let up when I made myself hypoventilate. Hyperventilation may be what is causing the tingling. If it is not, then cognitive training can help. When I began to deal with the feeling, I asked myself what was the worst thing that could happen. For me, it was panic. Then I asked myself what would be the worst thing that could happen if I panicked. And boy, did I come up with some awful scenarios. Then I would make myself do a reality check. When I learned that my catastrophic predictions didn’t have much chance of actually occuring, it would calm me down a lot. My arms and fingers still have times when they tingle now. But after using the cognitive technique above for a while, now I just tell myself that sometimes my arms tingle all by themselves. Hope this technique I used will give you some ideas on what may work for you. Much luck. Anita
Response:
i’m new here, and i’m new to this panic disorder that i seem to have. i have no clue about anything basically, but for now, i’d like to ask a simple question. does anyone else get spells of dizziness and a kind of tingling in your face or arms randomly? i know this sometimes happens when i’m having a panic attack, but lately it’s been happening by itself – just the dizziness and tingling – for a few seconds, and then it’ll go away. my dr. has said it’s a mild sympton of a panic disorder. i’m not sure i understand how these occurances are linked to the panic attacks i sometimes get. any advice / info would be truly appreciated! — Susan Nicolson "The mind of man is framed even like the breath And harmony of music. There is a dark Invisible workmanship that reconcilies Discordant elements, and makes them move In one society." –William Wordsworth The Prelude of 1805, Book First
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i’m new here, and i’m new to this panic disorder that i seem to have. i have no clue about anything basically, but for now, i’d like to ask a simple question. does anyone else get spells of dizziness and a kind of tingling in your face or arms randomly? i know this sometimes happens when i’m having a panic attack, but lately it’s been happening by itself – just the dizziness and tingling – for a few seconds, and then it’ll go away. my dr. has said it’s a mild sympton of a panic disorder. i’m not sure i understand how these occurances are linked to the panic attacks i sometimes get. any advice / info would be truly appreciated! — Susan Nicolson
Susan: It seems that many people with PD tend to be somewhat fast, shallow breathers which can lead to hyperventilation. Suddenly, you could be hyperventilated and not know how you got there, thus the tingling and dizzyness. Just another wonderful side effect of PD. Deep breathing/relaxation exercises can be of great benefit. If you lie flat on your back with a book on your stomach, you should be able to tell whether your breathing is shallow (your chest rises and falls) or deep (the book on your stomach rises and falls). This breathing technique takes some practice but it’s worth it – I’ve actually used it to ward off an on-coming panic attack a couple of times. The deeper breathing seemed to slow down my fast-paced sensory system and calm me somewhat. I hope that helps. Kate
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -i’m new here, and i’m new to this panic disorder that i seem to have. i have no clue about anything basically, but for now, i’d like to ask a simple question. does anyone else get spells of dizziness and a kind of tingling in your face or arms randomly? i know this sometimes happens when i’m having a panic attack, but lately it’s been happening by itself – just the dizziness and tingling – for a few seconds, and then it’ll go away. my dr. has said it’s a mild sympton of a panic disorder. i’m not sure i understand how these occurances are linked to the panic attacks i sometimes get. any advice / info would be truly appreciated! — Susan Nicolson "The mind of man is framed even like the breath And harmony of music. There is a dark Invisible workmanship that reconcilies Discordant elements, and makes them move In one society." –William Wordsworth The Prelude of 1805, Book First
Hi Susan: I believe this tingle or numbness is caused by a lack of blood flow to your extremities,eg: nose,hands feet. When you panic or have high levels of anxiety your viens contract a bit and the blood does not flow as rapidly.It is part of the fight or flight deal.It’s nothing to worry about,it’s just a good indication that you should take some deep,slow belly breaths to let your brain know that all is well. Hope my clumsy answer to your question helps. Keep the Faith,Moose
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