I don’t know how it happened but after being in a dining hall full of people, my internal radar/ pressure sensor just exploded. I can feel a ball of painful, pent up energy spinning around in my chest and it feels awful. This pain is not like a physical heart attack, but more like a mental sense of heavy, squeezing anxiety and worry.
I cannot breathe normally.
Moreover, they don’t seem to belong to me. I haven’t felt this kind of panic in a while.
I don’t feel in control of my body and I am frightened.
–
Nothing happened that was particularly distressing. I was chatting to a nice guy, having a wholesome meal and… sitting in the midst of a dreadful din of chatter. It was a large, packed hall.
Afterwards I went out into the night and started playing The Blessed Unrest at an unusually high volume and sorrow and loneliness repeatedly hit me like bricks until tears threatened to fall as I was walking.
–
It didn’t make much sense.
Except
if I’m an empath and these sensations and processes happen without my conscious consent.
I know there are a couple of you on here who may be in similar shoes. Does this sound familiar to you? That was overwhelming and strange and I’m glad its effects are fading as I write this.
7 comments
Do you think it might have been a panic attack, or do you get them often? When I’ve had them they sounded very similar. The breathing irregularity, the growing weight on your chest, and the need to do something about it despite not knowing what, etc. Every time I’ve gotten them, though, there’s been something that triggered it. It just came out of nowhere?
To be frank I was chatting with a cute guy who happened to be quite friendly. We ran out of topics later on during the meal and i just sat there and ate unfocusedly. Maybe I was feeling self conscious and anxious about the conversation?
That honestly could be what it was. If it was a serious enough concern to you at the time then what you’re describing sounds like a panic attack. I had one last year that was essentially spurred on by being afraid of what my professor thought of me, although I can’t remember the specifics. I guess it could be something like that?
Happens, you might have caught someone else’s “vibes” and ended up like that. I do have another theory: something in that record/song (looked it up and Sara Bareilles record came up?) triggered you. Might be a long shot, but i’ve had that happen to me plenty of times. Either way… yeah, it happens, sometimes out of nowhere, not saying i’m an empath (i don’t think i am), but i know the feeling. Like you say it fades, the “important” part (imho) is recognizing it’s not your feelings and that you shouldn’t let them overpower you.
Can other people see it?
I’m feeling so self conscious.
Not really. I’m guessing most people wouldn’t realize stuff like that unless they really know you, and even then they might not think that much about it if you can sort of keep the tell signs controlled. Now that you mentioned it tho, the chat with the cute guy sounds like the possible culprit too, lol.
If u want to chat I’ll email u I’m done and out atm…… I’ve always dealt with severe panic attacks but never could bring myself to talk to anyone in the real world I’m a big strong guy and always been looked at a “a tough guy” but no-one knows my pain I go through I’ve told my parents a few years back that I thought I was loosing my mind and having serious suicidal thought, and that hurt them and even know it was the one of the darkest times of my life looking back I think it was brought on because of a bad relationship breakup…. That was a FEW years ago. Today I’m going through another rough time but I can’t pinpoint a reason so it scares me even more but I’m here anytime u Wana talk I’ll give u my alt email or u give me yours 🙂