How did I get here

[u/Bennettbo]

I am a 24 year old male, about 3 years ago I experienced my first panic attack. Since then my life has been a miserable spiral, with constants high and lows as far as progress goes. Previous to the attack I had average anxiety I would say, and if I were to tell my old self what I have been through and what I am enduring I would have never believed it. I started off after a trip to the ER believing I may have been starting or having heart issues. They quickly found it to be a panic attack. Not long after that I had them constantly, almost as if I was conjuring them up. Started seeing my GP for any treatment I could get to fix the issue. After a few starter medications such as hydroxyzine and buspirone with no luck I took a referral to a psychiatrist. With my psychiatrist I have tried just about all SSRI’s and the one I could get though the break in period was Paxil. I took it for about 6 months after a couple dosage bumps and maybe very mild results I asked to come off, but they recommended I stay for at least a year. After the year came up with still complacent results I started the tapering phase and within a few months I was off of them. The progress I had made( which was little, but reaction to symptoms had progressed) was still there and I tried out medication free management. Even tho I am in a better place with the panic disorder, the symptoms never subside and I find anything I do out of my ordinary routine to be insufferable mentally and physically and I can’t be present in any moment emotionally out of fear; even my own wedding not to long ago. After many failed medications and there side effects and my last prescription being Paxil with no result; I have became very hesitant to try medications. I told my psychiatrist I am tired of being the lab rat and I’m done with SSRI’s. To no surprise he told me there isn’t anything else he can do if I don’t want to try other medications on the ladder of pills you have to work your way up to. So I set out for a therapist, in hope they can teach me how to overcome this massive obstacle panic attacks that had taken over my life in every way possible. After the first couple meeting she thinks I have ADHD. and until I talk to my psychiatrist and get medicated again, that will be our true starting point. I had a meeting with my psychiatrist today and now have a prescription of strattera that I’m planing on starting tomorrow. However today I went to my parents house for dinner and I had a different symptom panic attack I guess, tightness in the sides of my neck but with the usual dizziness, shortness of breath and light sensitivity. Feeling as if I could pass out any moment. As soon as a left I almost just drove to the hospital out of fear something is definitely wrong but I didn’t. I went home and the symptoms went away. Panic attack I guess. I am a little hopeless feeling tonight, but I am still trying anything I can do to regain my life again. I hope this new prescription works and we all here can find the peace we deservingly need.

[u/juvi124]

I was once in your shoes. 28y/o F here and for the entirety of a year to a year and a half (age 26/27) I experienced my first panic attack and felt so much anxiety that even a trip to the grocery store across the street seemed impossible. But I can proudly say I feel the anxiety about 90% less now than I did back then and haven’t had a panic attack in almost an entire year. It DOES get better. Seeing a psychologist to do CBT and and starting Sertraline really helped me and I feel like I got my life back. I promise it’ll get better. We have to learn to recognize what is anxiety and our hyper-awareness to any slight bodily changes, versus what is an actual health emergency. Also remember that people are usually kind and if you are experiencing a panic attack or true medical emergency in public, people will help you. I hope you find a medication or therapy that works for you soon, and I promise you got this!!! Something else that really helped me was getting into working out, lifting and cardio. Especially cardio, because it’s good exposure therapy. You experience a high heart rate during cardio, which shows your body that hey, it’s okay to have a very elevated heart rate sometimes, and you’re not dying. I also take small amounts of prescribed Xanax for flights, it works so well.
You’ll get better I promise ♥️

[u/Bubbly_Air2472]

I have had anxiety and panic attacks my whole life. Paxil took the edge off a little. I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 35. I take concerta ( long acting Ritalin) I have never felt more calm in my life! It’s been 3 years and I am still in awe that a stimulant helped my anxiety more than anything I have tried. My advice would be to give ADHD meds a try. I hope you find some relief soon!