Like SarahA33, I am in constant fight or flight...for me, it happens to be "fight". I am easily agitated by sounds, lights, movement, weather, stress, etc. I have a constant hum of anxiety and when I am triggered, I have a full on "someone is attacking me" physiological response. I have extreme panic and hostility, my BP and HR shoot way up, face and neck flushes and I immediately get hyperadrenergic hives on my face and neck. Initially, I hyperventilate, then I have to "remind" my body to breathe. Finally, I either have near syncope or this sort of forced sleep thing where I had to sleep regardless of where I am or what I am doing. It sounds extreme, and had I not been a therapist for years before I became ill, I would have chalked it up to PTSD (which was one of my diagnoses), and continued to try and treat the symptoms that way. Unfortunately, no amount of talk therapy, anti-depressants or benzos stop this reaction. They all helped to a degree, but I kept getting worse, not better. It wasn't until I took a therapeutic dose of Clonidine that I was able to reduce the frequency and severity of these attacks. They aren't gone completely, but they have improved. What's more, I have a much better understanding of what's happening to my body. And while understanding doesn't stop the attack, it helps me not have extra fear about it. Sending good thoughts to you and your girls