Ughhh

[Aaronbm2009]

I have literally stopped doing certain things out of fear I’m gonna have a panic attack even stopped eating. I’ve lost weight everyone can tell. I stopped showering I know that sounds gross. Wth is going on with me. I’ve never had this issue. It’s like an anxiety lighting bolt struck me on the head and now I have anxiety.

 

[triceps]

I have literally stopped doing certain things out of fear I’m gonna have a panic attack even stopped eating. I’ve lost weight everyone can tell. I stopped showering I know that sounds gross. Wth is going on with me. I’ve never had this issue. It’s like an anxiety lighting bolt struck me on the head and now I have anxiety.

Hi Aaronbm. Are you in therapy or on medication? I've actually had so many panic attacks that I don't worry about the next one. It's easier for me as I don't have any family heart history. You're in a bit of an anxiety crisis right now and it will ease up. If you can believe that, it will ease up faster. Good luck, glad you're here.

 

[Aaronbm2009]

Hi Aaronbm. Are you in therapy or on medication? I've actually had so many panic attacks that I don't worry about the next one. It's easier for me as I don't have any family heart history. You're in a bit of an anxiety crisis right now and it will ease up. If you can believe that, it will ease up faster. Good luck, glad you're here.

No the er dr suggested physiatrist or something I began to cry because I’m not a nutcase. I swear I’ve never been anxious or had panic attacks, it’s literally like a bolt of lightning struck me and it gave me anxiety. That’s why it’s hard for me to accept it when I’ve never had this issue, but heart disease in family exist.

 

[Robinsca]

Anxiety truly plays tricks with the mind. You convince yourself that something horrible will happen. I recommend CBT therapy. Part of it is exposure therapy which I have used in the past. I was basically an agoraphobic in the past. https://www.excelatlife.com/articles_anxiety.htm

 

[Aaronbm2009]

What I don’t understand is how could this of just randomly happened like it’s ruining my life. How could I be fine one minute and the next now I have anxiety it doesn’t add up.

 

[Robinsca]

I don't think these things are random. You are afraid of something. For me, it was started by financial stress. I was unemployed for a while and became afraid and then all the symptoms started. It took me a while to finally understand the cause and also to except it but you need to find it. There will be one. Your body is responding by releasing a lot of adrenaline causing scary symptoms.

 

[Aaronbm2009]

I thought I was having a heart attack I had a small annoying pain in my upper left rib clost to armpit and I twisted my back felt like I was seriously dying. Ever since then once or multiple times a day I feel as if I’m having a heart attack.

 

[Aaronbm2009]

I don't think these things are random. You are afraid of something. For me, it was started by financial stress. I was unemployed for a while and became afraid and then all the symptoms started. It took me a while to finally understand the cause and also to except it but you need to find it. There will be one. Your body is responding by releasing a lot of adrenaline causing scary symptoms.

Now I check my pulse once every 5 minutes this is affecting my life I’ve called off work for this been to the er twice I hope it truly is just anxiety because none of this makes sense to me

 

[Robinsca]

Yep. I have had that many times. Chest pain (and pain on the left side of the body), increased heart rate, and palpitations are very common symptoms.

 

[Aaronbm2009]

Yep. I have had that many times. Chest pain (and pain on the left side of the body), increased heart rate, and palpitations are very common symptoms.

I have it right now I’m trying so hard to keep my mind off of it but it just doesn’t stop at night its worse when I’m alone it’s scary I just got labs for cholesterol drawn Thursday still waiting for results if these come back high idk how I’m gonna handle that, if they come back normal Idk how I’ll handle that.

 

[Robinsca]

If your labs come back clean, you can scratch one thing off the list. I would consider it a good thing. I read earlier that you have been to the ER before. If they examined your heart and vitals and deemed you are in good health believe it. Don't start the second-guessing game. I have done that it makes it worse. If you haven't reviewed this list I would recommend it. It shows that anxiety can have many manifestations. https://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml. Anxiety is a mind trick don't believe it. What you are feeling will pass.

 

[Aaronbm2009]

If your labs come back clean, you can scratch one thing off the list. I would consider it a good thing. I read earlier that you have been to the ER before. If they examined your heart and vitals and deemed you are in good health believe it. Don't start the second-guessing game. I have done that it makes it worse. If you haven't reviewed this list I would recommend it. It shows that anxiety can have many manifestations. https://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml. Anxiety is a mind trick don't believe it. What you are feeling will pass.

I just feel like they could have missed something like shouldn’t they of given me a cat scan or put me on a daily monitor to monitor me for a few days or a stress test like I feel that’s a big deal if someone is complaining about something they should have checked EVERYTHING

 

[Hurt&Hopeful]

@Aaronbm2009 It's possible that not everyone on this forum will agree with me on this (and that's okay), but I believe that when panic attacks come out of nowhere like that, they are usually based on some sort of triggered fear or trauma. In your case, it could be something big, or it could be something as small as a physical symptom that you THOUGHT was a heart attack because of your family history. Either way, it's never as random as it seems, and it can be helped. But you have to make a choice - when I first started having panic attacks, I wanted there to be a quick and easy cure. I just wanted an answer - I remember I used to actually say "make it STOP" to my family or my husband. The problem is that that type of thinking makes it worse, not better, and the people around you can't make it stop, however bad they might want to. There are medications that help with symptoms, but they don't "cure" anxiety attacks. It takes some work to get better. And it sucks. And it's not fair. But it's possible! Think of it like going to a gym to get in shape - sometimes you have to work those muscles if you want to get stronger.

I know it's hard to think about seeing a psychiatrist - there is a lot of stigma around that. And honestly, psychiatrists are medical doctors whose main focus will be prescribing medications to help your symptoms. There is nothing wrong with that, but I think you need to look for a counselor or therapist. They will look at the whole picture and help you figure out why this is happening and give you the skills you need to deal with it. You can learn some simple techniques to get through and possibly stop the panic attacks. If it's trauma or fear based, there are modern techniques like EMDR and brainspotting that can help re-train your brain to get out of your fight or flight response. It doesn't mean you're a "nutcase," either. It means you're a human, and your body is responding appropriately to what it thinks is a threat - just at inappropriate times. Try to see it like a physical illness that just needs to be treated.

We're all rooting for you - hope you can get some help! I have been exactly where you are, and I can honestly say that I no longer am debilitated by panic attacks that come out of nowhere. They still creep up from time to time, but they don't scare me anymore because I understand where they're coming from (from therapy) and am processing it ...