I Was Standing in Line and Suddenly I Felt Dizzy and Short of Breath

by Richard B. Patterson, Ph.D.

Question: Recently I was at a supermarket and had a terrifying experience. I was standing in line and suddenly I felt dizzy and short of breath. I felt I was going to faint. Also my heart was racing and I was sweating. I went to my doctor but he found nothing wrong with me. Now I am afraid to go back to the market. Can you help?

What you may have experienced was a panic attack. This intense form of anxiety can be very frightening. The good news is that it is very treatable. You may want to check back with your physician about how to proceed. I'd encourage you to consider touching base with a therapist familiar with treating panic attacks.

There are many effective behavioral approaches to dealing with this problem. You may be wondering why you would have a panic attack. Sometimes these attacks happen strictly because of changes in our chemistry. They do not necessarily mean that there is some underlying problem; again a therapist can help you sort that out.

About the Author:

Richard B. Patterson, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice in El Paso, TX. He is the author of three books on psychology and spirituality.

Originally published 3/7/99
Revised 05/11/2009 by Marlene M. Maheu, Ph.D.

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