hoping to offer support and share experience

My anxiety disorder started last year when I was 26. It seemed to come out of nowhere; I experienced a panic attack before I went to bed and thought I was dying. I experienced almost all of the classic symptoms: a headrush, a tingling in my head and limbs, weakness in my legs, feeling hot/cold, nauseous, heart pounding, dizzy, etc. Through it I was convinced my head was going to explode. I continued to suffer these attacks several times a week and felt depersonalization. I would feel relatively fine but would feel like I was floating through life, and I was in my own bubble. I was not me and my husband was very confused when I explained my dreamy feelings. I was not physically ill but did not want to go out, to work, etc. I was wrongly diagnosed with migraines as I was suffering with chronic headaches at the time and so the symptoms seemed to line up. I have been on medication which has reduced the panic attacks but has given me weight gain. I don't get these attacks daily anymore but still feel "off" especially in public (in stores). The panic has making me somewhat agraphobic. How have you fought with these feelings? On the day to day I push through and try to carry on, but when the attacks come I cannot calm myself down. I try to tell myself this has happened before and you did not die, but when its happening I think the worst and feel deathly for an hour. Since the attacks have lessened I have started venturing out again, going to stores etc. but feel borderline panicky still. Any insights on anxiety and how to deal with the guilt (I feel badly when husband/family tries to relate and can't).