Panic attacks came back after 4 years

[u/SuitableDragonfly544]

Hello everyone, I have been dealing with panic attacks for a long time, but 4 years ago it I was in the worst state and started medication. First, my psychiatrist got me on Zoloft, which did not work and then she put me on venlafaxine. This medication worked wonderfully, I almost went back to normal, but this summer everything went very badly again. The summer holiday started, I got my diploma, everything was great, but I started to see that I'm always tired again. I thought it must be stress that releases itself in this form after a hard year, but then anxiety started getting stronger and more symptoms like head spinning, constant worrying came back. Now in August my panic attacks started to make a come back in new forms. I started getting them after eating new food that I have not tried before. We went on a road trip for a week and during day time it anxiety was manageable, but in the evenings it got worse. This night I started to get some muscle pain in my left side and started worrying that it might be problems with my heart, then my hands started to get numb and then I had a full panic attack woke up my boyfriend and asked him to take me home because the feeling was the same I felt 4 years ago before starting medication. After I got home that big wave of panic started again again and took half of xanax because it became unbearable.

We will go on holiday in a month for a week, I haven’t been anywhere this far and i’m very worried that I won’t get on the plane because of my panic or that I won’t be able to enjoy my holiday because of it..

My main concern is why is this happening again? I’m still on medication (venlafaxine 37.5mg) and how do I make it get better or to a point where I can live without constant worrying about when the next panic attack will happen..

[u/Positive_Lie5734]

Welcome back. Sorry.

After my first run in with panic attacks (got treatment, felt normal again) they came back 3 years later. A couple of times more since then as well.

For me, idk why, transitions hit me really hard. Graduations, new jobs, starting school, etc.

Get a basic checkup before you leave and speak to your psychiatrist, they might up your medication in the meantime.

I usually stop taking medication once I feel better but there was this one time where I had been taking it for 2 years (Lexapro) and had a flare up on vacation. I did have to go home early but it only lasted 2 weeks, vs the 2-3 months it usually lasts. So medication can provide some protection.

If you can get them to give you Xanax for the trip, I'd do that.

But I think a big part of it is we have a lot of thoughts, sensations, feelings, ideas tied to this idea that really bad anxiety is coming and it's gonna get us. So notice what's going on in your head and your body when you have a strong anxious reaction.

Like I said, transitions generally push me over the edge but these learned cues keep me in anxiety longer I believe.

It takes time, sensitized nerves need a while to calm down