My Anxiety has become debilitating and I'm scared, what should I do?
Posted , 7 users are following.
Bit of a long post- but here we go!
For the last month or so, my anxiety and panic attacks have become very severe. I've always had anxiety but it has never affected my life NEAR as much as it has now. Every day I'm struggling. I'm always worried that something bad is happening with my body, especially my heart. I'm constantly checking my heart rate, googling my symptoms, and overall just obsessing about it. I have heart palpitations (heart flutter and increased heart rate) and they scare me every time. Along with those, I have dizziness, shortness of breath, sometimes tingly sensations in my hands and legs, nausea, surreal sensations, and just overall panic. When this happens I tend to pace and try to distract myself from my racing thoughts and try to calm down. Which sometimes helps. But I'm just scared. My anxiety got so bad, that I actually went to the hospital. They did an EKG, blood test, and chest X-RAY, along with a few other things to try to figure this whole situation out. Everything came back normal (of course) except for the fact that I'm anemic. But that didn't kick the feeling that something was wrong with me. I felt as though they could have missed something, and that I need more tests done because my symptoms feel so real. I'm worried I'll go into cardiac arrest or something because that's just how intense my thoughts are! I'm paranoid that my heart is weak. I just want to feel normal again. This anxiety and panic has made it so hard to do everyday things which makes me stressed and I cry because I feel so helpless. I'm 21, and I have got a lot to do but it's so hard to even go grocery shopping. I also don't have the most supportive boyfriend during this time. He doesn't understand how I could be feeling such crazy things when all of my tests came back normal. All of which causes more stress on me. The thing is, 3 months ago my grandfather who was my everything and who I lived with my entire life passed away unexpectedly. The first month after his death, I couldnt talk about it, couldnt cry about it, couldnt look at his pictures, just pretty much denying it. The next month I started accepting it, and finally crying about it, but also starting to get anxiety symptoms. Then one morning after some heavy drinking I had a horrible panic attack that lasted 2 weeks! Almost nonstop anxiety. I finally learned how to not have panic attacks constantly but its still not enough to go about my everyday life. This has destroyed me. But dealing with this loss of one of my favorite people and this anxiety is almost unbearable. I just need some guidance on what to do. Thank you for your time.
0 likes, 7 replies
hannah61658 luna6
Posted
luna6 hannah61658
Posted
I've been thinking about going to therapy, just need to get insurance in order 😧
kaylieraee luna6
Posted
luna6 kaylieraee
Posted
Yes, I've been taking vitamins and trying to eat healthier. Tea helps me A LOT. Especially nettle leaf and lavender chamomile tea. Never was a tea drinker until I found out how much it helped. But yeah, I'm ready to kick this anxiety in the butt.
racheld1975 luna6
Posted
Do you have a therapist/counselor? If not I suggest you look for one asap. Just having someone you can talk to can be helpful. You said you have anxiety and panic attacks, are you in treatment for them or are you trying to go it alone and be tough??? I tried that for a very long time, it doesn't work for me, the only thing that works for me is a combination of medications and regular therapy/counseling. Of course there are things you can do that might help you, aromatherapy, adult coloring books, meditation, yoga or other exercise, diets (foods to avoid), breathing or grounding exercises, herbal remedies, or alternative medicine like acupuncture/accupressure are all things you can try that might be helpful and really won't hurt if they don't. Good Luck!!!
luna6 racheld1975
Posted
I haven't tried counseling or therapy but I do like certain teas for my anxiety. No prescribed medications, just this herbal supplement called Anxiocalm. It takes the edge off sometimes. The art of distraction, I've found, is pretty helpful too. But yes, something else needs to be done. I just don't know how to go about finding a therapist or even what kind of therapy I need.
globuggie luna6
Posted
This sounds EXACTLY like me last year around this time actually. (I was a senior in highschool.) I'd say it lasted for a few months. I only got one test done but I was CONVINCED something was wrong w me. All of your symptoms sound like mine. I had always had anxiety and OCD, but it had NEVER been so debilitating. What ended up helping me was forcing myself to go out and do things (even a trip w my friends which I almost didn't go on since I was so devastatingly anxious.) I was still really anxious, but It started to die down on the trip. I had been hiding away in my house and I think that's what made the anxiety worse. Try to go out and do stuff and practice mindful thinking. (It's really hard to do trust me, but it might help if u try.) hope u feel better soon hang in there!!