[foobarbazetc]

FWIW, these are classic panic attacks.

Usually the stressor is obvious, but sometimes it's not and it's something you've left unresolved that your subconscious gets caught up on from time to time.

It might not be the talks themselves. It could be anything.

If you've never had a panic attack before and start getting these, it literally feels like you're going to die the first time you get one. Then you get used to them and start adjusting.

I went through a period of panic attacks after acquisition talks with a giant corp fell through. I was messed up for years after that, with random panic attacks at all times of day.

I worked on returning myself to my previously chill demeanor and haven't had one for many years now.

I also stopped answering any VC/BizDev/CorpDev emails though. lol. But mostly out of a desire to optimize my time use for things that actually matter.

Good luck Martin. Covid has certainly put the value of living the life you truly want for yourself into perspective and I hope you achieve that.

[methbed123]

I have had hundreds of panic attacks in my life.

About a third of the time, it feels like you are dying and there is no rational thought that can save you from that feeling. The rest of the time, it is merely discomfort in comparison.

I also have talked to many people have suffered from panic disorder. There are many different feelings that people experience, some from sweating and palpitations to somatic sensations that are indescribable.

I personally have sensory processing disorder, and for me, having a panic attack is sometimes like taking a hallucinogenic in some regard. There are sensations that I have never felt before that suddenly exist and feel very real. It is nearly impossible to calm down or rationalize the experience.

Overall, I assume there is no calming yourself down when your sympathetic nervous system is in full meltdown. You can't think yourself out of a flood of neurotransmitter release, no more than you could think yourself out of being poisoned.

In my opinion, the advice that people give to each other around panic attacks as being mind over matter is lacking perspective.

[mattmanser]

That's wrong, I certainly managed to calm myself down when going through panic attacks. When they first started happening I was very scared, they were like you were about to die. As soon as I knew what they were, just saying to yourself 'this is a panic attack, its ok, it'll pass' over and over stopped it getting out of control.

The trouble with panic attack advice is that most of the advice online is from chronic sufferers who often don't seem to want to be cured.

It is mind over matter for panic attacks. You can say 'this is just a panic attack' and the symptoms go away. Exercise actually works. Eating right works. Cutting out alcohol/caffeine works. Meditation works.

Mine are gone. I occasionally have mild anxiety attacks when stressed, but recognise them for what they are now. But the things that I thought were heart attacks, the massive overwhelming, dread-inducing panic attacks? Gone.

[pbhjpbhj]

I started having what I assume are panic attacks 2 years ago, fun! (/s)

They're very different to performance anxiety, for me. With "performance anxiety" basically I sweat and shake, but it's like I'm 'overdosing' on adrenaline. I don't feel bad, per se, but am very conscious of my body because I'm dripping with sweat and my voice starts to break as I restrain the tremors. Public talks, job interviews, that sort of thing sets that off.

Anxiety attacks, for me, are like I'm going to die but it's all in my head no physical aspects at all.