PLEASE HELP ME. Panic attack not going away

Butters said:

I'm suffering my fourth nervous breakdown. I can't escape the negative thoughts and my body is in a constant state of panic. The only thing that works is to knock myself out on Xanax. I haven't been out of bed in three days except to go to the doctor. Otherwise, I'm in a constant state of panic attack. I lay in bed and just cry and cry. I feel helpless and just want to die. Anyone, please help.

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Have you got any support living with you? Gosh, it's awful that you have to suffer through this. You were able to go to the doctor so how about just going for a long drive? Can you go for a walk, make a nice meal or anything else that can get you out of bed for an extended period? You've been there before so you know the first step towards getting it together is to get out of bed.

It will pass, as it has before, but please don't try to ride it out in bed. Keep telling yourself that you've made it past this before and try to envision how you did it.

No you are the good one. I look at what you've been through and you choose to keep battling it. That's impressive. Others have severe anxiety as serious as yours and only those others have a clue about how paralyzing this disease can be. Please keep in mind you're going thru an anxiety crisis, physically you're fine and keep trying to take the first step of getting out of bed.

Butters, I know a lady who was stuck in bed for 4 days. Had to use a bedpan. How 'bout you let her keep that anxiety record and see if you can make it down to the couch.

Nope, you're not alone by any means. Unfortunately there are thousands on any given day in similar distress as you are. Great job getting that shower in.

Butters, sure hope things are easing up for you today. Happy Thanksgiving.

Hi Butters - I'm so so sorry. I have been there many times!! When it takes over like that, it can take a couple of weeks to get back to 'normal.' So many things can help long-term, but right now you just need to put one foot in front of the other and make it through this episode. We are here cheering for you - it's miserable, but it will end eventually!!!

This is what helps me - maybe it will give you some comfort?
- Remind your self what anxiety is. It's your brain responding inappropriately to your surroundings. It releases chemicals into your bloodstream, like adrenaline - that's what makes it so miserable. For me, arms burn and tingle, I get light-headed, I cry, I feel terrified....it is a chemical response.
- Find a safe place, and give yourself permission to hide out there for a bit. For me, it's a hot shower. I get in, and I just don't get out until I want to. It soothes the burning.
- Do menial, repetitive tasks. If your brain is 'stuck' in your panic episode (the fight or flight response), sometimes a repetitive task helps snap it back. I fold laundry or wash dishes. Something safe, non-threatening, etc. (not something new or a big project)

I don't know if that will help. But it helps me! The point is that you can't FIGHT this response in your body - accept it, and try to ride it out like a big wave. Once you get though the crisis, you can start understanding and getting some good treatment. It sounds a lot like PTSD symptoms, which is what I deal with - have you talked with a therapist about that before?

You're not alone here - hang in there!

Butters said:

Thank you so much for your kind and helpful words. I've been like this before but this seems like the worst ever. Like it's never going to go away. I'm so scared. I'm petrified. I tried to go for a walk and it didn't help.

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Hey, that's a start!! It may not help immediately, but over time, it will slowly get better. Then one day you wake up and it's better - I can't do walks when it gets bad (I have trouble going out), so I'm super impressed that you did that.

I'm really sorry - you know, another thing that helps me is to research what is actually happening in my body. It gives me some sense of control over it, maybe? If you like to do that, Google your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. It will explain what you're experiencing right now. It feels like we're dying, but we're not.

Keep chatting - kudos to you for sharing here!!

Yep. I absolutely have. First time, I was probably around...19 years old? It wasn't as severe, but left me scared. The worst was in my early thirties, about 7 years ago. I had what I now realize was a complete breakdown - it never let up. I was in an unhealthy situation with little support, so it got really bad. I had lots of suicidal thoughts at the time because I didn't see any hope of it getting better - but it did!!

I also had about a three week episode after my son was born - I was completely locked up. For about the past five years, I've cycled in and out of long episodes like that, every six months or so. So I started seeing a new therapist that has explained a lot of it to me and done some newer treatments for PTSD like EMDR and brainspotting. I am still learning. But yes, I know exactly how you feel right now, and how bad it can physically hurt. It's absolutely miserable, and I'm so sorry you are going through it. But it CAN get better. I promise it won't last forever.

Butters said:

I just can't get rid of it no matter what I do or try. I woke up at 5am and have had to take 9mg of Xanax since. It's just total panic all the time. Thank you for sharing your story with me. I just want to feel better and it keeps getting worse.

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I know the feeling. Just let it feel bad. It sucks, but fighting makes it worse. Can you let yourself ride it out?

Also, not sure where you are, but holidays are sometimes the WORST. If you are in the U.S., is that affecting you this week? I know it is affecting me...any break in routine.