Panic attacks leaving home

Hey! Just wondering if anyone else has dealt with something similar. A bit of background: I have POTS and had a horrible flare up in March which led to us calling ambulances; I started on meds which didn’t agree with me; the POTS flare passed and left me with horrific anxiety on a level I’ve never experience before. I was still able to go out and do every day things like grocery shopping and see my nan but nothing more. Fast forward a few weeks my uncle dies and the grief and stress triggered a massive migraine, and bc I’ve never had a migraine before it scared me and I thought I was having a stroke or something. The migraine passed but my brain latched onto the fear of it and how it felt to have one. Long story short since the beginning of the year it’s been one thing after another. A few days ago I had the worst panic attack ever downstairs in my house (felt like I couldn’t feel my arm or face) and it sent me into a spiral. I am now terrified to leave the house in case I have a panic attack outdoors, it just feels so unsafe. I went to the shop with my dad yesterday and felt so bad, but i managed to do it and I was proud. Tried again to go to a different shop closer to home because I was already feeling bad, and it was horrific. I started having a panic attack, felt faint, my arm and face went tingly, so we went back home. I’m trying to challenge myself every day but I am really really struggling and not sure what to do at this point. I tried fluoxetine but had horrible side effects (which included a horrific dip in my mood) so I had to stop them. I’m seeing my doctor tomorrow to tell her everything and explain how difficult it is, but I’m just SO scared all the time. It’s like my body is constantly scanning for danger. It’s got to a point where it’s been going on for so long I’m just desperate to try anything to help me feel just a little bit better. I’m not asking for much, I just want to be able to go to the shop without feeling like I’m going to die. My question is has anyone else dealt with anything like this? The panic attacks are terrifying, and even though I know they’re “not dangerous” it does not help because they’re still so so scary and even worse when I’m out of my bedroom because if I’m by myself I can kinda lie down, do some breathing and talk myself round. I just don’t know how to get over this and I’m so so sad because I’m 31 and scared of being stuck like this forever 😭

Ababe8764

Date posted: 12w

Girl. I have been there as well. The month of March was the worst month of my life. I was at stressful job and my husband had a surgery- then I just kinda spiraled. I was having nocturnal panic attacks ( sometimes 3 in row) and then waking up with them. I was scared to leave my house as well. It got so bad I called the ambulance and went to the ER. I lost some weight - as I couldn’t eat and my blood pressure was high. I started talking to a therapist and have taken Zoloft - I went from 25 to 50 to 75 mg. I see have moments of anxiety throughout my day but it’s gotten a lot better. I am able to leave the house and work. There is hope. Hang in there! I will pray for you! 🩷 I know how scary it is

suzie90

Date posted: 12w

@Ababe8764 Girl I am SO sorry you’ve been through something similar, it’s honestly so so hard. I had a nocturnal panic attack last week and genuinely thought I was having a stroke or about to have a seizure or something. I am literally the exact same! Lost weight because I just couldn’t manage eating (luckily my appetite has come back a bit recently). Thank you so much for replying, I’m gonna ask my doctor about different medication. It just feels like it’s constant anxiety from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed and it’s so exhausting 😭 I’m so glad you’re doing a little better and hope you get to feeling even more yourself 🩷

Ababe8764

Date posted: 12w

@suzie90 Those nocturnal attacks are the absolute worst. Ughhhh. I am so sorry for you! It’s seriously so difficult- but you will get through it. My heart would pound of my chest most day and I had the dread feeling- I was seriously at such a low point. But i want to encourage you and let you know this is not forever and you will get better! :) keep chugging forward!

chole43

Date posted: 24w

How many of you get scared to walk or stand before

I deal with this everyday scared to go places because of it and having to take anxiety medicine before I go somewhere....some days are better then others and thought I was getting better over the past few months and now it's hit me again having panic attacks before work because I'm scared I'm going to faint or having them at home because I'm scared if I faint I won't wake up on my own and I live by myself. Don't really know what to do about this they say to challenge my thoughts and fears and I do and sometimes it helps so.eti.es it doesn't really wondering if I need OCD medicine for this? What to do or try without medicine?

The Nervous ...

Date posted: 13w

Years of constant Anxiety leading to Panic attacks

I am trying to see if there are others like me. For the past 12 years, I’ve had crippling Anxiety that leads to intense panic attacks. I’ve been in and out of Ambulances and ER rooms and have called 911 several times. The panic is that intense. I can be just driving down the road and out of no where, BOOM! Hit by the anxiety bus. Most of the time it leads to me panicking, thinking I’m going to die or something is fatally wrong with me. The fear is so intense that I can only find a fraction of calmness by consistently checking my blood pressure, putting on a pulsometer and even checking my blood sugar until it passes. I’m not even a diabetic. I’m always having intrusive thoughts that doctors can’t even fix me. I’ve never met anyone else like me. I feel so scared sometimes that I’m going to loose my mind and that I’m going crazy and will end up in a straight jacket. Then I get another attack just thinking about that as well. Starting new medications freak me out too. If I experience ANY minor side effect, I immediately panic and freak out. I’m being so held back by this . This is a constant obsession that I can’t shake. It’s like I walk hand in hand with Anxiety and panic. Anyone else ever had these issues?

suzie90

Date posted: 9w

Health OCD/anxiety shortness of breath

Just wondering if anyone else has shortness of breath caused by anxiety? I’ve been going through a really tough three months anxiety wise (POTS flareup; grief; migraines; panic attacks etc etc). Two days ago a new symptom appeared and it’s knocked me. Shortness of breath 😭 bc I’ve got POTS I’ve had a lot of heart tests done (multiple ECGS, 24 hour holter monitor) which all came back fine apart from the obvious tachycardia that comes with POTS. I had an echocardiogram done on Monday but no results back yet, but I had a consultation with my doctor yesterday and she said that’s probably good news bc they don’t mess around when it comes to your heart. And also my doctor has urgently referred me to a mental health team for therapy bc I basically broke down on the phone to her. One thing I’m mostly panicking about is this shortness of breath. I’ve had it with panic attacks before but this is mainly anxiety riddled feels like my breathing is too noticeable/wheezy without actually PHYSICALLY being wheezy. I’ve done my oxygen and it always stays between 97-99% so I know I’m getting enough oxygen but it does not feel that way and it’s so scary !! I also had a clear chest xray about ten months ago. Idk I feel like I’m just spending every day scanning my body because it feels OFF. Then I’ll finally relax JUST before I fall asleep and all my symptoms disappear. Then I wake up, have a nice 20 seconds before I start scanning again. It’s exhausting. Just looking for some support :(

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Panic attacks leaving home

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