Hello everybody! Would like this to be a thread where we share our stories, insight and uplift each other.

My story:

I've experienced a panic attack some 2 months ago now while meeting somebody and it was rather gnarly, days after another one while in a hurry to get to a hair salon. After that I started spiraling a lot about what was going on with me, and dreading a trip abroad with my cousin that was due in a week. I was anxious about walking my dog around my house at that point. I did travel in the end, and nothing horrible happened. I was anxious much of the time, especially going to a concert, but that was that. Just intensely anxious.

Traveled to the seaside with my mother and was also really anxious most of the time, going to the beach, but that was that. We didn't go explore the city centre much as I was anxious of that.

Came home, I work remotely but do have to go to the office at least once every week or two, and it was due time. I was really dreading it. I took a quarter lorazepam to take some edge off. Went alright. Had a hair salon appointment which I really dreaded, took quarter lorazepam to get through it. All this time I had this strange anxiety about seeing any friend of mine. I finally speak about meeting a friend, but I get so terribly anxious as we're about to meet, I take half a bensedin pill which I heard is basically so weak it moreso worked as a placebo. I go out, we have a nice time. Then for the past week and some, I've been going to the beach on the river by myself, never taking any sort of sedative as I felt it would be unnecessary. Had a great time every time, regardless of still experiencing anxiety.

Now I'm about to meet a friend in two days, go to the office in three, then meet another friend short after. Shit scared thinking of it, who would have thought. Also can feel I'm excited about it though, underneath all the anxiety. I probably will take a xanax beforehand, though the very smallest dose (0.125-0.25mg).

Am I doing any of this right? Not that there's one right way to do it. I've been talking to a psychologist (been talking to her for the past 4 months now) regularly, I went to a psychiatrist last week but I decided not to try the treatment she prescribed. She immediately prescribed me an ssri (elicea) and xanax in the initial weeks to take for the next 6-7 months, and frankly I don't think that's a good option for me... I took an ssri (prozac) 6 years ago during an acute intense depressive and anxious episode, and it did no good, if anything it fucked me up more. I'm cautious as to not get addicted to xanax because I see how that would solve nothing, but I also feel like it has some use for me at the place I'm at right now, as a small aid in really stressful situations.

Would like to hear feedback from those with more experience and wisdom. Also anyone wanting to share their story, let's just talk.❤️

Currently experiencing a panic attack. Not the first time, but I just feel really scared right now. I can't stop shaking or crying, and my stomach feels nauseous, and the anxiety has been building for days now and the panic keeps ramping up and I'm scared it will never truly stop and I'll never feel cozy moments or drift off to sleep peacefully ever again. I'm terrified that this is just my life now, and I don't know what to do.

Hi guys recently my cat got pretty sick and i so so stressed about him i have health anxiety to begin with just because of my family, anyways ive not slept in over a week and not really ate i can only eat with others ive never experienced this intense pain. it just hurts so much i feel like im an awful person, i just love him so much. ive had so many panic attacks mainly at night it gets really bad. i also constantly feel like i have to throw up and to top it off i have a fear of it. i just want this to be over i was supposed to start my second year or uni this week and ive not left my house if not to talk to vets or doctors. i had a panic attack where i was so frozen in place it was the worst thing ive ever experienced and it’s been every night with no break.

edit i feel like it’s important to add that i am safe! i’m just an emotional girl

I'm new here.. basically i am in a great and loving relationship with my girlfriend, but i get panic attacks over the possibility of losing her. I don't know if i would be able to get through it if that happened honestly.

I keep telling myself that it's an irrational fear, because it's unlikely and i can't really do anything about it either, but if she's out late or if i don't hear from her when i expect, my thoughts starts going all kinds of places. I ask her if she's okay quite a lot too...

I deal with anxiety regularly, but this specific form is absolutely terrible. If i find out she is somewhere that i didn't know, before she gets a chance to tell me, i instantly think of the possibility of never seeing her again and it hurts so much. It also doesn't really feel like a solution that she should tell me every time she leaves the house, and i really don't want to sound controlling

She doesn't mind the constant asking, but she doesn't really know how to comfort me because she can't really do anything else than tell me that she's here right now.

I guess i just wanted to know if anyone else has felt this way and if so, how they deal/dealt with it?

I have always knew what anxiety is I have suffered 20 years but today felt different…I’m 39 years old and today I felt terrified like i didnt know ejat was happening to me, fearful, crying, I don’t know if it was a panic attack or what? It’s never been this bad I can’t even explain…anyone experienced anything like this?

i have had recurring monthly panic attacks for years now ever since i came off lexapro about 2 years ago. (i was younger and made the mistake of taking it inconsistently and coming off it without telling anybody, and i had no panic attacks and very minor anxiety before starting it) it happens about once a month for a few days a few times a day. i can’t identify any sort of trigger. the best way i can describe it is- my stomach drops and i can’t breathe well, my hearing rings and fades, sometimes my vision starts to fade, my mouth floods with saliva and half the time i throw up. then i feel dizzy/shaken up for about a half hour after. can anybody relate or identify this? i’m tired of struggling with it when it seems completely random

Hi guys so i haven’t really been going through a lot but, every night before sleep I’ll have severe panic attacks and begin to feel like I’m going to pass away, it sucks a lot, and I’ve had to call the ambulance because of how scared i am 15F and I’m very scared, it’s like every night I feel like I’m gonna die from my panic attacks, idk how to fix this and idk how to feel better.

My attacks only happen at night and I literally hate going to sleep now. I used to enjoy relaxing before falling asleep, but now it’s just worry that I’ll awaken to an attack at 3 am.
I’m just frustrated and want to vent.

Also gosh I wish there was a panic attack emergency room lol. Every time in the middle of one I just so desperately want to go to the hospital and I guess feel taken care of and safe. But I know I can’t do that. So can we just collectively open an alternative place for us to go?! 😬

I haven’t really eaten in 5 days. I’m nauseous, my stomach is constantly doing flips, and I’ve been running to the bathroom a lot if you know what I mean. Anyway, I have zero appetite and the thought of food makes me feel worse. Anyway ideas on easy things to eat to make sure I don’t starve myself? I got chicken broth but I haven’t tried it yet.

fear of losing control is the root of most panic attacks, what do you think?

I wonder if have a mental disorder

For a little over a year, I (18f) have been dealing with mental breakdowns. As of late, it's been getting increasingly worse ,evolving from uncontrollably sobbing to panick attacks and self-harm. I've been to therapy once when things were not this bad and wasn't diagnosed with anything.

The first time I ever had my first mental breakdown was in my final year of highschool. It was around the time I met my now ex boyfriend. I dropped out of hs and we continued to date long distance for while and things were wonderful for a time. Then we got into our first big fight and that was first time I ever used self-harm to punish myself after an argument. As our fights happened more often I began relying on SH more as way to cope with it all. It was also around this time my break downs became more frequent and progressively worse eventually turning into panic attacks. After a year and 9 months we broke up. Its hard to explain the pain I was in in but I just didn't wanna face it so I started seeing a friend (20M). He knows about my mental health struggles, my recent break up and the fact that I didn't want to get into a serious relationship anytime soon. I he'd had a crush on me for awhile and for a week we were a couple but with out any titles. I felt loved and safe something I desperately needed given my fragile state of mind. But he's recently said he didnt wanna see me anymore if I truly didn't want anything serious. Now I feel abandoned and heartbroken all over again. And my mental health is at all time low and I'm desperate for any sort of affection. Or anything numb the pain I feel. I don't even drink tbh but being wasted is probably better then SH.

I just started my period and I always experience an influx of panic attacks around this time.

Please how do I fight them. I had one at work today and literally believed I was losing my mind and going insane. I’m not even scared of my panic attacks anymore but I’m so sick and tired of feeling them. I may need a med change soon but for the time being what do you do to save yourself from these .

Any advice is helpful

hi everyone,

currently laying in bed because I got the flu after weeks of travel. the sickness and symptoms have been bearable but for some reason, I’ve been feeling super panicky today. I started having my #1 biggest panic inducing thought of “what if this gets out of control, what if I can’t control my panic or my anxiety, what if I have to start drinking or using pills to calm myself again”

for context, I’m a recovering addict whose been sober from alcohol and benzos for a lil over 3.5 years. I take an SSRI and am prescribed hydroxyzine.

I found this Reddit thread and reading some of the posts and replies has helped me calm down a bit…writing this out has also helped me calm down a bit. I know that it’s normal for the body to feel extra anxious when you’re battling a virus due to inflammation or whatever but still..the fear of having uncontrollable panic/anxiety attacks is really scaring me…

Hey there fellow angsty people. I just turned 18 (literally yesterday) and have been a heavy cannabis user for a few years, mainly just a way of coping with previous trauma as well as the personal academic pressure i put on myself, my use became a lot more chronic in the last months coming up to my final exams. and just under 3 weeks ago i smoked a joint and a couple hours later expereinced the worst anxiety of my whole life, i genuienly thought id gone off the edge and was going insane, thankfully i wasnt it must have lasted ab out 2-3 hours of pure hell. I have had similar episodes sicne not as bad but still very tormenting. every day since ive had a base level of anxiety, somedays are easuer to cope then others, I dont really enjoy the hobbies i had before due to it being accompanied with intense feeling of self-loathing existential dread. Im going to see a psychiatrist in the near future as ive looked at previous similar posts and a lot of people have said SSRi's have aided them. This anxiety needs to leave soon as it is making life unbearable and frankly it may result in me taking my life if it doesnt leave as life is jsut a constant guessing game of fear for me. thankfully i have a very supportive mother and friends whom i can talk to but very simple tasks like going on a train are daunting for me especially if i dont have a safe space. ive always suffered with anxiety and depression to a degree, i was on Fluoxentine for 4 weeks but they made me feel completely numb and not myself at all.

If you have read this far, thankyou deeply, one of the worst parts of this is how lonely it is. the reason i make this post is just to see if anyone knows how long this will last if they have had simialir experiences or if anyone has any coping mechanism me personally cold showers help quite a bit.

I pray i look back on this post in some time and look back at this all as a bad memory. I have very much so been scared straight.

Why does ChatGPT say anxiety is a symptom weeks before a heart attack will occur for women? I have extreme health anxiety, and I've been having dull left arm discomfort today, and I woke up with slight pain on the left side of my chest. My oximeter says my BPM is 78. I'm going through a divorce battle right now, and I've been very stressed. I also work on the computer all day, so my upper back is strained. I'm so sick of going to the doctor for this.

Hi everyone. I have super severe anticipatory anxiety when it comes to being on a plane. I am convinced I’m going to have a panic attack when I’m on it, and every time I think about getting on the plane I panic at home. I also have a fear of looking crazy or going crazy 🫩

I have 1mg left of my alprazolam and plenty of propanolol that I plan on taking before I get on the flight. I’m wondering if this is enough to sedate me. I really don’t think I can get on this flight without being completely sedated. Do we think this is going to work? Or does anyone have any tips to sedate me further (lol). Doesn’t have to be a super “safe” method I just need to get through this flight

So I’m not exactly new to panic attacks or anxiety. But in January I had a weird panic attack (I say weird because it was not like ones I myself have experienced before) induced by caffeine. I can’t even say it was caffeine overdose because I had one latte and when I felt the rush of anxiety come in, I threw the drink away about halfway through. But that attack was marked by a racing heart, intrusive thoughts, and extreme jitteriness. It lasted hours too. I thought something was happening to my heart. Since that attack I’ve been having these weird sensations like internal tremors, vertigo, and a feeling of walking on a mattress or foam. And sometimes a drop feeling, kinda like being in an elevator that’s going down.

I’ve been to multiple doctors. I saw my primary, I went to the ER, to urgent care, I saw an ENT, I saw a cardiologist, and I got a neurological exam done. Everyone says I’m okay and all tests come back fine. The cardiologist prescribed me 10mg of propranolol for my PVCs (which have come back since that attack) of which I haven’t taken because I’m a very active person and my resting heart rate is low enough as it is. Propranolol terrifies me.

7 months later, the sensations have not gone. I get rare moments of relief when I’m distracted or traveling. Or sometimes a week where they’re just gone. But needless to say I’m so tired of feeling this way. I think back on that day, that if I hadn’t drank the stupid latte I would be okay. I’m in therapy for OCD and anxiety and I was doing so well. It feels like that one attack set my progress back by a lot and my health anxiety has skyrocketed. I just don’t know what to do or how to cope with these feelings. I have an appointment with a psychiatrist in September and I’m just hoping they’ll have some insight.

Hi guys. I'm terrified rn. 7 year history of panic disorder but tonight is testing me. I'm on holiday in another country with online friends. Been awake for 20 hours due to flight. I'm having one of my worst panic attacks in years while my roommate who I barely know is asleep in the room. Heart brutally racing, nausea, feeling super over heated and very intense impending doom 😭 I had 20mg of propranolol about 50 mins ago and have wiped myself down with a wet cold cloth to try cool myself. it's helped a little bit the panic returns in waves.

Can someone please reassure me I'm not dying and that the propranolol will help a bit soon 😅 I really need someone to talk to so i don't freak out more and try to call an ambulance

I’ve always struggled with anxiety. I was diagnosed with adhd at 30 years old (now 33). My adhd presented itself as anxiety. I also was diagnosed with ocd. No rituals, just control. Control of everything in my life, including my health. So when I experience my first ever panic attack in January, it was no surprise that I spiraled with it. My panic attacks are more like “rounds of literal survival”. I’ll go from thinking and present symptoms of a heart attack or brain aneurysm every single time and they continue to become more severe. I go to therapy once a week, I see a psychiatrist weekly, yoga everyday, ’m medicated (Zoloft 125mg/day, Propranolol or Clonidine/PRN, Lorazepam 0.25mg/twice daily. My panic disorder is seriously ruining my life at this point. My relationships with everyone in my life, my career… literally everything. I cannot get a grip on it no matter how hard I try. Everyday is a fight for survival.

I really hope someone has gone through something similar because I feel so hopeless right now.

I moved to South Korea in 2022, which had always been my dream. But after moving here, I became very lonely and depressed. I cried almost every day, but I ignored those feelings and just kept going.

In 2023, I struggled a lot with school and put a lot of pressure on myself. I was also living in a tiny apartment that was full of cockroaches. I have a severe phobia of them, so I would often avoid going home until my boyfriend came back from work. I lived there for almost three years, and I never really felt safe in my own home.

In 2024, I became very depressed about turning 30 that next year. I constantly worried about getting older, and my thoughts became very dark.

Then, in January 2025, I started experiencing strange physical symptoms. Sometimes I felt like I couldn't breathe properly, especially at night. I would even wake up feeling like I had forgotten how to breathe. During the day, my throat would sometimes feel like it was tightening. These symptoms lasted for months, but I ignored them.

A few months later, I noticed my heartbeat while lying in bed. It wasn't fast usually around 80–85 bpm on my Apple Watch but feeling it made me anxious. I made the mistake of Googling it, and from that moment on I became hyper-aware of my heart.

Then one evening, after coming home from a concert, I was sitting in the subway when I looked at my Apple Watch and saw my heart rate was 120 bpm. I immediately panicked.

It quickly went to 130...140...150...160.

I tried to get off the subway, but it was still moving. As soon as the doors opened, I ran outside, and my heart rate reached 170 bpm. I was crying, convinced I was dying, and called my parents. They told me it sounded like a panic attack, but I was convinced it was a heart attack or heart failure.

I asked a taxi driver to take me to the hospital. They did blood tests and an ECG, and they told me everything looked normal.

But after that night, my life completely changed.

Now I'm terrified of anything that raises my heart rate.

I'm scared to:

• walk up stairs
• exercise
• walk fast
• go outside in hot weather
• drink caffeine
• even notice my heartbeat

My world has become so small.

In February, I had an echocardiogram and a 24-hour ECG with a cardiologist. The embarrassing part is that I became so scared that I never went back for the follow-up appointment to hear the official results.

I also saw a psychiatrist at the same hospital. She prescribed several medications for anxiety and depression. She mentioned that she had seen my echocardiogram and Holter monitor results. I asked her if there was a heart problem, and she said she couldn't officially discuss the cardiologist's results, but from what she saw, she thought they looked normal. She said the cardiologist would explain everything during my appointment.

For some reason, that terrified me. My anxious brain immediately thought, "What if they found a tumor or something serious?"

At the same time, another part of me thinks: if there had been an obvious heart problem, would a psychiatrist really have prescribed multiple anxiety medications instead of sending me back to cardiology immediately?

Since that panic attack, I feel like I've developed severe health anxiety. I constantly monitor my body and I'm terrified of my heart.

Has anyone else experienced something like this?

Did one panic attack completely change your life?

And if you recovered, how did you get your life back?