Hello! This your first panic attack I take it? The first is always the worst. When I had my first panic attack my body went completely numb and tingly from head to foot, I rushed to the hospital thinking I was dying and practically fell asleep on the doctor's table because it wiped me out so bad. I know you are terrified and feeling completely insane, but trust me, you are not insane! Your body is just reacting to a very strong emotional state. That unreal, dreamlike state is very normal and probably even what your brain thinks is a necessary survival tactic. Extemely annoying and unnerving, however! I can't tell you how long it will last. Everyone is different. I don't want to scare you, but I have been dealing with this for around 12 years now. That does not mean you will!!! Some days are better than othes and some days are worse than others. Some people deal with it for a couple days, some a couple months, some for many years. I can guarantee you though that the only reason I have dealt with this for so long is because I believed the drug companies when they say it's a chemical imbalance and something you will have to take medicine for the rest of your life. Lies!!! This is not a chemical thing!!! I have done alot of research about this the last couple years and I promise you that you can get over this! Cognitive Behavior Therapy is the MOST effective way to beat this nightmare and I could just kick myself in the butt for not knowing this years ago. It would have saved me years and years of suffering if I had known. Your searching for an answer so early on will save you the number of years I have suffered. Kudos to you! This website offers the Panic Program, which is a free 12 week course on CBT. I strongly urge you to start it if you haven't. Don't waste years of your life suffering the way I have. Start the program, let it help you find your strength again as it has for me. Do it for you!
In the meantime, while you are working on it, my best advice to you to help you get through this dreamlike state is to make yourself go out. You have to force yourself to keep going. The more you let it make you sedentary, the worse it will get. Go outside and get some sunshine, go for a drive, get some exercise by taking a walk around the
