Hi, I'm newly diagnosed with panic anxiety and it's driving me to distraction. Any little pain is the end. I've been to hospital twice in the past 2 months, I've had echoes done on my heart, chest xrays ecgs countless blood tests and all come back fine. Start cbt on the 14th of August but I'm really struggling. Could cry at the drop of a hat. I'm sat opposite my partner with a massive lump in my throat. Have to keep nipping to the loo to get my head together. Any ideas how I can get a grip on this?
So fed up!!
- Thread starter AnthonyM
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I would recommend to try things to distract yourself with. Maybe a hobby, breathing exercises, talking with someone you trust, even watching your favorite show or comedy. Also give yourself affirmations that "everything will be ok" and "this is only temporal and you will get better".
Also with your test results trust the exams and push away the negative thoughts that might resurface. If you are anxious of your body you will subconsciously start to feel symptoms all because of anxiety. Stay away from google as much as possible as it will only tell you the worst case scenario and feed into your anxiety.
Hope this helps
Also with your test results trust the exams and push away the negative thoughts that might resurface. If you are anxious of your body you will subconsciously start to feel symptoms all because of anxiety. Stay away from google as much as possible as it will only tell you the worst case scenario and feed into your anxiety.
Hope this helps
I have been dealing with same. Also been to ER 3 times. Cardiologist told me I have minor issues not enough to be causing me chest pain and not needing more than bp medication very low dose. I continue to get the pain and feel terrible. Everyone thinks they are panic attacks and Anxiety. I have never had them before maybe due to hospitalization but cant seem to shake this. CBD oil has helped but not completely taken away. I guess it takes time as I have only taken a few doses. Its terrible to feel this way. It helps to talk to others going through same.
Talking to others helps, as does knowing that it is temporary. With anxiety, you have ups and downs, but you can be good for years, and then have a few bad weeks, and then back to good. I've been dealing with this since my first completely out of nowhere panic attack 12 years ago.
At first, I thought the constant underlying feeling of anxiety would never go away, but as I learned more about the symptoms and gained the ability to trust that it's anxiety and not a major medical issue (because I've had a battery of tests done and do yearly check ups) I've learned to deal with it and push through when it's bad---but it's definitely not always easy and I recently visited the ER with a Dr. Google induced heart attack scare in the middle of the night.
I also try to look at it as a positive. I've found that exercise and a healthy lifestyle and diet are huge at keeping my anxiety in check for years at a time. When I start becoming complacent and stop taking care of myself, like I did the last few months, my anxiety gets worse and forces me back on track. So it's a great motivator to take care of yourself and live a healthy life.
I know it's hard to think of much positive during peak anxiety, but just know that you have the ability to control it and it will get better.
And as crazy as it sounds, sometimes just forcing yourself to smile can automatically make you feel better---having a dose of Xanax nearby if all else fails doesn't hurt either, just knowing it's there without always taking it has helped me as well.
At first, I thought the constant underlying feeling of anxiety would never go away, but as I learned more about the symptoms and gained the ability to trust that it's anxiety and not a major medical issue (because I've had a battery of tests done and do yearly check ups) I've learned to deal with it and push through when it's bad---but it's definitely not always easy and I recently visited the ER with a Dr. Google induced heart attack scare in the middle of the night.
I also try to look at it as a positive. I've found that exercise and a healthy lifestyle and diet are huge at keeping my anxiety in check for years at a time. When I start becoming complacent and stop taking care of myself, like I did the last few months, my anxiety gets worse and forces me back on track. So it's a great motivator to take care of yourself and live a healthy life.
I know it's hard to think of much positive during peak anxiety, but just know that you have the ability to control it and it will get better.
And as crazy as it sounds, sometimes just forcing yourself to smile can automatically make you feel better---having a dose of Xanax nearby if all else fails doesn't hurt either, just knowing it's there without always taking it has helped me as well.
Thank you for your input. Yes it's very hard to look at positive when you feel awful. I am forcing myself to walk and eat healthy. Due to the chronic nausea not sure if medication or anxiety is causing it but I have lost 13lbs. I should feel good about that but I feel like I lost muscle so I feel weak. I will continue trying to feel better. Hope you so as well. Thanks so much.
Having a freak out right now. Had this hand tremble thing since lunchtime, my left hand only, I'm sure Ive trapped a nerve but my mind is going into overdrive. Really struggling to keep a lid on it. I've been using a hedge trimmer for most of the day, why won't my mind accept this as the explanation? I'm now feeling light headed and breathing is laboured. I hate this so much
I know the feeling. I try to tell myself all the doctors say you are fine. Why don't I believe them. Idk I just cant seem to calm down. It has gotten better over past few days but some hours i feel like going to ER again just to be sure. I pass by the ER and have strong urge to go and make sure. I dont know why i feel that way. I hope you can find relief.
Shreddykrugaer
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Mine started a couple months ago some of the thigns i did was to not hude from triggers the more you expose your self to them the less you realize they cannot hurt you . talk about it on here every time you feel like your gonna panic even if its the same thing over and over . or with soemone you trust. I started to eat alpt healthier to at least give myself peace of mind that i have low cholesterol low sodium etc and that that stuff no longer is a worry i work out at least 4 times a week and exersice everyday
Yes I tend to not want to drive anywhere. This has been a huge trigger but I force myself to do it. I feel so anxious driving lately but once I get there it calms down and I am able to complete task and once I am driving back home it starts again. I get home and it calms down. I hope it will get better. I never felt this way before. I am still debating on starting meds. It has improved over the past few days but still there. I know my panic must be related to recent hospitalization because I never had it before that. I just want it to get better. I started walking and trying to exercise more. Its helping getting my strength back as I felt I lost a lot of muscle tone during past few weeks. I lost 13lbs now in a month which doesn't sound like a lot but I lost the 1st 9 in about 6 to 7 days. Now losing slower which is good. I am thankful I found this forum because it does help. Thank you
Shreddykrugaer
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Yeah i i agree i was body buidling during my first real panic attack i was 260 and they started being bad when i stopped drinking cause i noticed i was self medicating when i stopped they were everyday for a a couole weeks it made me depressed and i didnt do **** for weeks and lost like 10 pounds off the bat but i decided body building isnt what i want to do maybe just lift to look good and fit but eatign like that and stuff is to much for me and now im 211 lbs i feel alot better bmabout my health my blood pressure has dropped dramatically and heart problems are my biggest fear atm . did something happen that makes you think about driving? Cause ive noticed rummination being huge in the minds of panic attacks especially if they are as frequent the thought that oh ill pass out cause i didnt sleep enough or i have something wrong woth my brain and in the car it will be wrose so on so on instead of thinking logically and going about changing and checking things off the list i know in my lowest lows i just worry about everything that will go wrong
I dont know why driving is triggering it. Nothing happened to me while driving. Perhaps because I drove myself to hospital when I was having chest pain. I am not sure. My doctor wants me to start meds until I can get it under control. I am worried if I start I will not be able to come off of them. The CBD oil helps but I only take it at night because makes me sleepy. My doctor thinks the pain I get is muscular or joint or possibly GI. He states because hospital gave me Tramadol and it relieves the pain it could not possibly be heart related. Because he checked me and I he says i do not have major issues to cause it. Idk why i get the pain. It must be anxiety.
Sometimes when you've had a panic attack in a particular place, going back to that place will trigger it again. It has happened to me and mine was with driving, too. Years ago, I was driving and started to have palpitations. Normally, I can just move or cough and they stop. These didn't. They carried on for at least a minute or two. I was terrified. I pulled over and somehow managed to go home where they had stopped by then. For about 2-3 weeks after that, I had trouble driving even just down the road to my kid's bus stop. It was terrible but the worst thing you can do is avoid it. You just have to force yourself to drive or go to the same place to help move on.
After a few weeks of driving, it eventually went away. I will say, though, it's still in my mind. When I get to that particular spot on the highway where it happened, I always think about it but it doesn't trigger anything now.
I, too, get pains in my chest and shoulder and left arm. My cardiologist told me that it's muscular. The pain in my chest can be replicated by pushing it a certain area so that is not heart related. You have to just put your trust into what they are saying. They have many years of education and experience versus our minds.
Good luck. Our minds are really powerful.
After a few weeks of driving, it eventually went away. I will say, though, it's still in my mind. When I get to that particular spot on the highway where it happened, I always think about it but it doesn't trigger anything now.
I, too, get pains in my chest and shoulder and left arm. My cardiologist told me that it's muscular. The pain in my chest can be replicated by pushing it a certain area so that is not heart related. You have to just put your trust into what they are saying. They have many years of education and experience versus our minds.
Good luck. Our minds are really powerful.
Thank you . Driving has been a struggle for me. I hate feeling like this. I feel so tired of waking up and going through same thing daily. I have so many things to do but cant concentrate on anything else. I feel like this is keeping me from being happy. The doctor recommended I take Lexapro until I can feel ok and have it under control. I dont want to take meds due to side effects but I feel it may be my only choice. I cant keep doing this with the same result. The only relief I get is when I am asleep but I have to take sleeping aid. Adding more medication is stressing me out.
I am so sorry you are feeling this way but please know, you are not alone. I feel this exact same way. I do have days and even months when things are going well and I feel good. But one small thing, and for me that's usually a health related problem, sends me spiraling. I can't focus on anything at all. I can't sleep well or even have an appetite. I just focus 100% on the situation and how I'm feeling. I have Xanax that I was prescribed back in 2016 but hesitate to take it. That's like a last resort for me. I don't like taking medication and I know that it's my mind that is causing all of this. Just hard to shake.
I hope that this helps you in some way by knowing that others are going through the same thing.
I love the saying "This too shall pass" because it's true. Everything that we are dealing with in this moment that has our anxiety over the top will pass and there will be better days ahead.
I hope that this helps you in some way by knowing that others are going through the same thing.
I love the saying "This too shall pass" because it's true. Everything that we are dealing with in this moment that has our anxiety over the top will pass and there will be better days ahead.
Yes thank you. Knowing others know how I feel helps. I am glad i found this forum as it has been very helpful and supportive. The hardest part for me is I never had an issue with anxiety before now. This one event completely brought it out in ways I never imagined possible. I'm struggling getting on medication because I never needed them before. But I sit here and think it's not fair to my family as I am in constant worrying state most of day until night time I can go to sleep. Not a way to live i know. My husband has been beyond supportive with me. I just worrying am I being fair to them not taking meds I might really need to get me back to myself again. Half the time I tell myself take the meds for them and the other half I tell myself if you start you will need them everyday longterm. My doctor says he thinks I will only need them short term but I know he cant be sure. Thank you for your reply. Any advice on experience with medication would be appreciatedI am so sorry you are feeling this way but please know, you are not alone. I feel this exact same way. I do have days and even months when things are going well and I feel good. But one small thing, and for me that's usually a health related problem, sends me spiraling. I can't focus on anything at all. I can't sleep well or even have an appetite. I just focus 100% on the situation and how I'm feeling. I have Xanax that I was prescribed back in 2016 but hesitate to take it. That's like a last resort for me. I don't like taking medication and I know that it's my mind that is causing all of this. Just hard to shake.
I hope that this helps you in some way by knowing that others are going through the same thing.
I love the saying "This too shall pass" because it's true. Everything that we are dealing with in this moment that has our anxiety over the top will pass and there will be better days ahead.
Hi Akenn. I'm sure you would take insulin if needed. I'm of the belief that I need to do whatever I can to make my anxiety disability easier for my family. My wife especially has to make so many adjustments for me. Remember though, there's no guarantee the meds will help. However, I think your husband deserves the extra effort on your part. Just my opinion.
Great point. Yes that is why I am seriously thinking of taking the medications. I did have depression long ago when one of my siblings passed and it last several years on and off but was not accompanied by anxiety as I guess I was younger and it was the final result that I had to deal with. So I didnt get the anxiety with it. It didnt keep me from doing things with my family but often put me in a mood that lasted several days. I still enjoyed doing things and getting out. Very different from now as I am in constant worry that I dont think I enjoy much but end of day going to sleep. Yes I realize medication may not help but I guess it's better to try then keep feeling like this. Thank you so much for your advice.
Back in 2016 after that palpitation incident, my anxiety was sky high. My primary doctor prescribed me Buspar and Xanax. Xanax scares me because I know it's addictive. I used the Buspar which is mild for about a month and then weaned off of it. Personally, I didn't feel like it was helping me in any way and I didn't want to unnecessarily take something.
The Xanax I still have from that original prescription fill. I probably take it two times a year and those are at times when I feel like I am spiraling and nothing is going to calm me down. Funny, though, because right now I am in the throws of spiraling and I haven't touched it. I've thought about it but I feel like I should handle this on my own.
Sometimes just knowing I have the medication helps me. I know it's there if I need it but I try not to use it if possible. Being on here just the short time this morning has helped me from where I was when I woke up.
I know that there are many people on anxiety meds and are doing just fine. My mother has been on them for years. I just don't want to become dependent on something that I may not really need. I think it's just a personal decision. You could always try it and see it if helps and if not, stop.
Have you tried any sort of meditation or listening to some of the videos on YouTube that pertain to anxiety? Sometimes those do help to relax you a bit.
The Xanax I still have from that original prescription fill. I probably take it two times a year and those are at times when I feel like I am spiraling and nothing is going to calm me down. Funny, though, because right now I am in the throws of spiraling and I haven't touched it. I've thought about it but I feel like I should handle this on my own.
Sometimes just knowing I have the medication helps me. I know it's there if I need it but I try not to use it if possible. Being on here just the short time this morning has helped me from where I was when I woke up.
I know that there are many people on anxiety meds and are doing just fine. My mother has been on them for years. I just don't want to become dependent on something that I may not really need. I think it's just a personal decision. You could always try it and see it if helps and if not, stop.
Have you tried any sort of meditation or listening to some of the videos on YouTube that pertain to anxiety? Sometimes those do help to relax you a bit.
I too have a prescription but have not touched it. It helps being on this forum but my need to worry is so strong. I have tried them but I find only short term relief and the sleep ones do relax me but do not put me to sleep. I know it's a personal choice but I feel like I am being unfair to the people i love not trying something that may work. You are right I could always try it and see how I feel. It may not work at all or it may be the best thing i ever did. I just feel like I need to try to help myself as much as I can. After all what could be worse than having this awful feeling everyday. I now understand how debilitating Anxiety can be. Something I never understood before.