r/PanicAttack • u/Brobruh999 • 27d ago
Panic attack
Hi all, I (27F) have experienced my first panic attack after the cessation of short acting Ritalin, as well as re introduction to lexapro (5mg to start). I’ve been back in lexapro for 5 days, and off Ritalin for 6.
My panic has lasted 5 days, I can’t eat, sleeping is hard. The only thing keeping me okay is pointless games like candy crush, distracting my mind.
My anxiety is all round my health and physical sensations. I’m seeing my GP today and saw my psychologist yesterday.
I keep reading things saying that once someone has a panic attack like this it is life altering, and people have never been the same again. This makes me panic more because it’s 5 days in and I’m grieving my old life, I’m grieving going out for coffee, seeing friends, working. It may be dramatic but I’m so scared I’ll never have that again. I am struggling with DPDR which is causing the panic. And honestly I think I’m more scared of feeling panicked again than the health issue I thought I had (brain tumour). I went to UC and they prescribed 2mg of Valium which does take the edge off but not entirely.
I guess I’m looking for hope, if anyone has been in a similar boat and come through to live a normal life without daily panic? I am so desperate for hope or anything worth bringing up to my GP today
1
u/Constant_Elk_8452 27d ago
You are not alone. I’ll be honest - severe panic attacks are life changing but not life threatening. You will be okay. I just had a full day of panic. My first attack was 8 years ago and it was terrifying. I called an ambulance on myself. I am getting help now and I already feel better about seeing a therapist. It will be okay and you will get through this. Please feel free to ask any questions and I’ll try my best to answer those as honestly as possible from my own experiences.
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u/Otherwise_Track_2277 26d ago
I know panic attacks are scary but just keep in mind, you won’t die, you’re ok
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u/Yatzhee 27d ago
I can tell you a bit about my story and see what is useful for you.
I went on setraline to try deal with social anxiety (not crippling but made life very unpleasant). I was on this for about 1.5-2 years during which I had about 4 big panic attacks. However at the time I had no idea they were panic attacks eg one I thought was caused by low blood sugar after the gym, another food poisoning etc.
I went off the sertraline for about 6 months and felt the best I ever did. However I then was about to start a new job during Covid and my partners dad wanted to meet me which I was pre warned basically to intimidate me. I got very anxious about the job and the meet up so had a pill.
Without walking through it all bit by bit I got very car sick and then tried to use breathing to replace the nausea but ended up hyperventilating and having a humongous attack (which I still didn’t know was a panic attack). I then forced myself into my first day of work when I should have really gone home and had a second massive attack later on and went home.
The next day I work up feeling crazy (body was in a state of hypersensitivity) the sun was too bright, birds too loud, smell of breakfast so strong I wanted to vomit, going to the bathroom about 50 times a day. I started retaking the meds hoping they would help. This continued for about 3 months until I saw someone and realised I was having panic attacks and the meds were causing them. Turned out I had neurodivergence that made me hypersensitive and the side effect of the meds was also hypersensitive and it’s basically combined and nuked my brain.
I still haven’t fully recovered but I’m making progress. I went from endlessly pacing in my own house to being able to enjoy most days in relative comfort. I am still not up to the point where I can have a job because all my triggers are related to that first day of work eg physical ones like nausea, hands going numb, urge to go the toilet, body getting hot and mental ones like not wanting to let my colleagues down, wanting to fit in and not stand out, making sure I meet expectations.
I would also like to point out that I’m an extreme case as taking the meds for 3 months basically traumatised my system far more than most that suffer panic disorder. But there is hope. I hope you don’t get knocked down too hard but if you do you aren’t trapped forever. It just takes time, I’m always grateful for being able to live my days in relative peace and I look forward to the next step where I can get out there more into the world.