Rapid onset of claustrophobia.
Discussion
I'm 55. In decent shape with no health issues. No stress, no mental health issues...... Perfectly and boringly normal.
The one odd thing is that I quite like flying, which is a good thing because I do a fair bit of it. But an odd thing happened last week on an outbound 3hr Wizz Air flight.
Sitting there quite contentedly watching a film, I was suddenly overcome with a foreboding sense of claustrophobia. Everything seemed to tighten up and I couldn't concentrate on any one thing. Was sat in Seat 1D which is the aisle seat at the front so plenty of space around me. I can't say if it was a panic attack as I've never had one. It was just this oppressive sense of being closed in.
Lasted no more than 5 mins and a double Scotch smoothed the aura for the remaining 40 mins of the flight other than me now worrying I'd never get on a plane again.
The flight back - no issues whatsoever.
The only time I've encountered anything similar was around three years ago when I was stuck on Central Line train that was completely packed to the gills when a signal fault kept us static for a good 20 mins. But I think the difference then was that was with good reason.
Curious to know if anyone else has had such an out-of-the-blue situation.
The one odd thing is that I quite like flying, which is a good thing because I do a fair bit of it. But an odd thing happened last week on an outbound 3hr Wizz Air flight.
Sitting there quite contentedly watching a film, I was suddenly overcome with a foreboding sense of claustrophobia. Everything seemed to tighten up and I couldn't concentrate on any one thing. Was sat in Seat 1D which is the aisle seat at the front so plenty of space around me. I can't say if it was a panic attack as I've never had one. It was just this oppressive sense of being closed in.
Lasted no more than 5 mins and a double Scotch smoothed the aura for the remaining 40 mins of the flight other than me now worrying I'd never get on a plane again.
The flight back - no issues whatsoever.
The only time I've encountered anything similar was around three years ago when I was stuck on Central Line train that was completely packed to the gills when a signal fault kept us static for a good 20 mins. But I think the difference then was that was with good reason.
Curious to know if anyone else has had such an out-of-the-blue situation.
Not claustrophobia but a few years ago I was shopping with my wife in one of the inside multi level shopping centres. We were on the top level and you could look down to the bottom which happened to be the food court. I have never had an issue with heights as such but I suddenly had this overwhelming thought in my head about climbing over the barrier and falling!
I had to force myself to remain calm whilst saying to my wife about going back down..now! I didn’t explain it to my wife at the time, but have since.
I then had this feeling a 2nd time, again out of the blue. This time it was while climbing up some rocks in Yorkshire. I had to immediately climb down as I didn’t trust my own mind!
God knows why this happened, I have no idea.. but it still ties my stomach in a knot thinking about it.
I just turned 51.. if that’s relevant
I had to force myself to remain calm whilst saying to my wife about going back down..now! I didn’t explain it to my wife at the time, but have since.
I then had this feeling a 2nd time, again out of the blue. This time it was while climbing up some rocks in Yorkshire. I had to immediately climb down as I didn’t trust my own mind!
God knows why this happened, I have no idea.. but it still ties my stomach in a knot thinking about it.
I just turned 51.. if that’s relevant
Interesting.
I've always had a problem being around others when they're eating, since a teenager.
But more recently, aged 51, it's got a whole load worse.
And now I can't stand certain other noises that people make, whistling, humming, tapping, pretty much any monotonous noise.
Add any of that into a claustrophic situation and I have a panic attack if I'm hemmed in.
No idea what it's all about, but like you, it got suddenly much, much, worse.
Mine is certainly people related, I've no problem in a tight space otherwise.
I've always had a problem being around others when they're eating, since a teenager.
But more recently, aged 51, it's got a whole load worse.
And now I can't stand certain other noises that people make, whistling, humming, tapping, pretty much any monotonous noise.
Add any of that into a claustrophic situation and I have a panic attack if I'm hemmed in.
No idea what it's all about, but like you, it got suddenly much, much, worse.
Mine is certainly people related, I've no problem in a tight space otherwise.
The compelling urge to jump off a high platform is a fascinating one. We don't really have a term for it other than 'high place phenomenon', but in French it has a more elegant and poetic term, l’appel du vide ('call of the void'). There has been the odd study done on this, sometimes under controlled conditions, and most conclude that it's to do with distorted perception (the brain fooling the eyes, and other conflicting senses) and the vestibular system rather than an anxiety-related condition or a subconscious decision to want to kill oneself.
Similarly to seasickness where our body detects movement when rocking on the waves, but our eyes do not, which triggers nausea in some. Also when on a train in a station, and the adjacent train begins moving but you believe for a second or two that your train is the one moving. The unknown movement causes a brief moment of confusion and uneasiness but higher thinking and muscle memory snap us out of it. OP, read up on the rabbit hole that is the vestibular system.
For anybody interesting in reading one of the HPP studies further:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC47129...
Similarly to seasickness where our body detects movement when rocking on the waves, but our eyes do not, which triggers nausea in some. Also when on a train in a station, and the adjacent train begins moving but you believe for a second or two that your train is the one moving. The unknown movement causes a brief moment of confusion and uneasiness but higher thinking and muscle memory snap us out of it. OP, read up on the rabbit hole that is the vestibular system.
For anybody interesting in reading one of the HPP studies further:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC47129...
Trevor555 said:
Interesting.
I've always had a problem being around others when they're eating, since a teenager.
But more recently, aged 51, it's got a whole load worse.
And now I can't stand certain other noises that people make, whistling, humming, tapping, pretty much any monotonous noise.
Add any of that into a claustrophic situation and I have a panic attack if I'm hemmed in.
No idea what it's all about, but like you, it got suddenly much, much, worse.
Mine is certainly people related, I've no problem in a tight space otherwise.
Misophonia is common. Undiagnosed adult autism less so, therefore would you consider an autism assessment?I've always had a problem being around others when they're eating, since a teenager.
But more recently, aged 51, it's got a whole load worse.
And now I can't stand certain other noises that people make, whistling, humming, tapping, pretty much any monotonous noise.
Add any of that into a claustrophic situation and I have a panic attack if I'm hemmed in.
No idea what it's all about, but like you, it got suddenly much, much, worse.
Mine is certainly people related, I've no problem in a tight space otherwise.
I'd imagine these things come on with age.
In my early 20s I happily walked on the glass floor of the CN Tower in Toronto, looking down at the tall buildings below. Now I'd be a jibbering wreck crawling to the lifts to get down looking white as a sheet.
I feel faint looking up at the tall buildings in Bishopsgate. Ugh!
In my early 20s I happily walked on the glass floor of the CN Tower in Toronto, looking down at the tall buildings below. Now I'd be a jibbering wreck crawling to the lifts to get down looking white as a sheet.
I feel faint looking up at the tall buildings in Bishopsgate. Ugh!
I can get this. Almost like a panic attack / feeling like I can’t breath. Only on long haul flights.
I did some research about 15 years ago and discovered that some airlines skimp on the air recycling/oxygen mix in order to save fuel. No idea if this is actually true though.
I just mix prescription diazepam with gin now and I’m fine
Just gin on the short haul flights though.
I did some research about 15 years ago and discovered that some airlines skimp on the air recycling/oxygen mix in order to save fuel. No idea if this is actually true though.
I just mix prescription diazepam with gin now and I’m fine
Just gin on the short haul flights though.
Squadrone Rosso said:
I can get this. Almost like a panic attack / feeling like I can’t breath. Only on long haul flights.
I did some research about 15 years ago and discovered that some airlines skimp on the air recycling/oxygen mix in order to save fuel. No idea if this is actually true though.
I just mix prescription diazepam with gin now and I’m fine
Just gin on the short haul flights though.
Absolute rubbish, I'm afraid.I did some research about 15 years ago and discovered that some airlines skimp on the air recycling/oxygen mix in order to save fuel. No idea if this is actually true though.
I just mix prescription diazepam with gin now and I’m fine
Just gin on the short haul flights though.
Not exactly the same but last year whilst driving to the Lake District we went up a steepish hill and there was a steep drop to the left with the usual thin barrier. Couldn’t see anything but sky. Never had it before but started getting dizzy, heart racing, cold flush and had to really focus on making progress and not just stopping in a panic.
Did the hardknott pass a few days later and bloody loved it, so no rhyme or reason.
Did the hardknott pass a few days later and bloody loved it, so no rhyme or reason.
StevieBee said:
I'm 55. In decent shape with no health issues. No stress, no mental health issues...... Perfectly and boringly normal.
The one odd thing is that I quite like flying, which is a good thing because I do a fair bit of it. But an odd thing happened last week on an outbound 3hr Wizz Air flight.
Sitting there quite contentedly watching a film, I was suddenly overcome with a foreboding sense of claustrophobia. Everything seemed to tighten up and I couldn't concentrate on any one thing. Was sat in Seat 1D which is the aisle seat at the front so plenty of space around me. I can't say if it was a panic attack as I've never had one. It was just this oppressive sense of being closed in.
Lasted no more than 5 mins and a double Scotch smoothed the aura for the remaining 40 mins of the flight other than me now worrying I'd never get on a plane again.
The flight back - no issues whatsoever.
The only time I've encountered anything similar was around three years ago when I was stuck on Central Line train that was completely packed to the gills when a signal fault kept us static for a good 20 mins. But I think the difference then was that was with good reason.
Curious to know if anyone else has had such an out-of-the-blue situation.
I had the same thing. No history of claustrophobia or anything remotely similar. On a flight, tucked into a bulkhead window seat next to a massive bloke and his wife, I was in a leather jacket. Watching ‘contagion’. Next second, I had an overwhelming feeling of being trapped, tried to take my jacket off, got it stuck, and my head went all funny. Lasted a few weeks. I did a lot of flying so was a bit of an issue. Found that sitting further back in the plane and looking at something ahead gave a feeling of space and worked. Not had it since. No plans to take up pot holing or join the submarine service though.The one odd thing is that I quite like flying, which is a good thing because I do a fair bit of it. But an odd thing happened last week on an outbound 3hr Wizz Air flight.
Sitting there quite contentedly watching a film, I was suddenly overcome with a foreboding sense of claustrophobia. Everything seemed to tighten up and I couldn't concentrate on any one thing. Was sat in Seat 1D which is the aisle seat at the front so plenty of space around me. I can't say if it was a panic attack as I've never had one. It was just this oppressive sense of being closed in.
Lasted no more than 5 mins and a double Scotch smoothed the aura for the remaining 40 mins of the flight other than me now worrying I'd never get on a plane again.
The flight back - no issues whatsoever.
The only time I've encountered anything similar was around three years ago when I was stuck on Central Line train that was completely packed to the gills when a signal fault kept us static for a good 20 mins. But I think the difference then was that was with good reason.
Curious to know if anyone else has had such an out-of-the-blue situation.
I note you were in row 1. No space in front of you.
JFReturns said:
Not exactly the same but last year whilst driving to the Lake District we went up a steepish hill and there was a steep drop to the left with the usual thin barrier. Couldn’t see anything but sky. Never had it before but started getting dizzy, heart racing, cold flush and had to really focus on making progress and not just stopping in a panic.
Did the hardknott pass a few days later and bloody loved it, so no rhyme or reason.
A bit like driving South on the M5 just South of Bristol. Lane3 is well above the North bound carriageway so it appears you are right on the edge of a precipiece. It makes me clench up and will avoid L3 at that point if possible. I'm not alone as it's noticeable that many others move over there too.Did the hardknott pass a few days later and bloody loved it, so no rhyme or reason.
Replace "plane" with "tfl tube train" and that's what triggered me to see a therapist.
On about the 20th tube journey of the holiday then out the blue a thought came across my head "now those doors are closed I physically can't get out here and am f
ked". Heart racing, short breathe, massive urge to run. Jumped off next stop and didn't get on the tube again. Then started creeping into more everyday things. The ensuite, buses, trams etc etc.
Anyway the therapist solved it. Was burnt out, brain fried, felt trapped in life so these things (closing doors essentially) triggered it the anxiety attacks.
Took about 6 weeks to pluck up the courage to ride a tram and then a black cab and honestly after accomplishing them it felt like I won the lottery. Managed trains too. Havnt done the tube again - not that easy being 500 miles away but hopefully get down this summer.
On about the 20th tube journey of the holiday then out the blue a thought came across my head "now those doors are closed I physically can't get out here and am f
ked". Heart racing, short breathe, massive urge to run. Jumped off next stop and didn't get on the tube again. Then started creeping into more everyday things. The ensuite, buses, trams etc etc. Anyway the therapist solved it. Was burnt out, brain fried, felt trapped in life so these things (closing doors essentially) triggered it the anxiety attacks.
Took about 6 weeks to pluck up the courage to ride a tram and then a black cab and honestly after accomplishing them it felt like I won the lottery. Managed trains too. Havnt done the tube again - not that easy being 500 miles away but hopefully get down this summer.
Koyaanisqatsi said:
Trevor555 said:
Interesting.
I've always had a problem being around others when they're eating, since a teenager.
But more recently, aged 51, it's got a whole load worse.
And now I can't stand certain other noises that people make, whistling, humming, tapping, pretty much any monotonous noise.
Add any of that into a claustrophic situation and I have a panic attack if I'm hemmed in.
No idea what it's all about, but like you, it got suddenly much, much, worse.
Mine is certainly people related, I've no problem in a tight space otherwise.
Misophonia is common. Undiagnosed adult autism less so, therefore would you consider an autism assessment?I've always had a problem being around others when they're eating, since a teenager.
But more recently, aged 51, it's got a whole load worse.
And now I can't stand certain other noises that people make, whistling, humming, tapping, pretty much any monotonous noise.
Add any of that into a claustrophic situation and I have a panic attack if I'm hemmed in.
No idea what it's all about, but like you, it got suddenly much, much, worse.
Mine is certainly people related, I've no problem in a tight space otherwise.
Yes, I've done an online autism test and it's not that high, says maybe autistic. But some of the questions I don't have any issues with at all.
Misophonia describes my feelings, and I'm on the higher scale for sure.
OP if you get any decent advice on how to live/cope with it, please share. I've had to move out of the family home and get my own place.
I had a very similar thing to the OP a few years ago on a short hop flight between Edinburgh and Belfast. Halfway through the flight - I mean those ones are barely up until they are down again - reading my magazine and minding my own business, I suddenly became aware of a dull pain in the middle of my chest. This quickly became more intense, and radiated into my left arm and neck, heart racing and I started sweating in terror. Tried to keep calm but I was convinced I was having a heart attack at the age of 35. Sitting in the middle of a row on a plane, 30,000 feet from any hope of medical assistance. Sweating like a pig and praying silently for a safe delivery to terra firma, the rest of that journey seemed to last an eternity. Made it off the plane and I have only been on another under great duress, and with liberal helpings of alcohol. I preferred to drive 40,000 miles a year rather than take weekly short hopper flights - stupid I know.
Similar symptoms have started to pervade into other areas of confinement - say a concert where I'm sitting in the middle of a row, so no easy escape route in case of a panic situation. That in itself makes me feel panicked, and the symptoms almost exactly mimic a heart attack. I've been under quite a bit of stress recently, and that makes the occurrence more frequent and the symptoms worse, so it's a perfect storm of unpleasantness.
Similar symptoms have started to pervade into other areas of confinement - say a concert where I'm sitting in the middle of a row, so no easy escape route in case of a panic situation. That in itself makes me feel panicked, and the symptoms almost exactly mimic a heart attack. I've been under quite a bit of stress recently, and that makes the occurrence more frequent and the symptoms worse, so it's a perfect storm of unpleasantness.
Trevor555 said:
OP if you get any decent advice on how to live/cope with it, please share. I've had to move out of the family home and get my own place.
One of the more encouraging things since I posted has been the clear fact that I'm not alone and not some kind apprentice mentalist. The issue is clearly a 'thing'.I've recently done the same trip (London to Tirana). This time, was on BA. Had no issue except for a brief moment heading home when the drinks trolley stoped by my seat for about 5 minutes. Was nowhere near as bad as previously but became suddenly aware I was again hemmed in. Thinking back, something that I recall from the WizzAir flight was that there was some fat-arsed woman stood to my left chatting away to her mate sat by the window and I'm now thinking my little episode was caused not by being on a plane per-se but the added proximity of additional barriers. As I'm typing this, I'm beginning to sense the same sort of emotions I had previously just thinking about it.
Part of my new-year's resolution has been to regain some of the fitness I'd got to pre-covid. Part of this has involved subscribing to a fitness site (Beachbody). Aside from all the cardio / weights stuff are some programmes for meditation. Sat in my hotel last week on my todd, I gave them a go. Now I fully admit to having previously derided meditation as, to coin a phrase; a load of old b
ks. But having done a few, I can see the benefit and one the flight home, shut my eyes, relaxed and focused on my breathing. I don't know if it was this but the sense of foreboding was very short-lived and I got back to the rest of Bank of Dave and my large scotch without issue.I think your problems trump mine Trevor and I wish you well in finding a remedy.
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