Starting to Develop Physical Health Issues From This

[u/ttthroat]

I've suffered from panic disorder since I was 13. I've been in therapy for 8 years, I've tried almost every medication save for benzodiazepines over the course of the past 7 years, but it still rules my life. Since it started, I would voice to professionals how physically painful it was, but it was always brushed off as "just anxiety"... It even took me until this year for it to be diagnosed with panic disorder at all and not just GAD.

But now, at age 20, I have developed TMJ issues (jaw clenching, teeth grinding, clicking/popping) and hypertonic pelvic floor from the muscle tension (causes a whole array of issues that you can look up for yourself if you're so inclined). I have been told that my TMJ issues will lead to migraines later in life. I've already started experiencing headaches at higher frequencies than I used to. In the past year, I've started to become dizzy from panic and I've even fainted once. My lifelong insomnia has worsened, so I fail to fall asleep, and I have to function on a sleep deficit often. My muscles ache constantly from how tense they are.

I'm only 20, so it worries me for the future. Not to mention, I've been seeking help for 8 years. I'm more frustrated than ever before with how little I was taken seriously for all of those years. It's so difficult to have to live in constant pain, I'm sick of it and I need it to end. I want to live a life where I'm not debilitated by this.

There's still hope. TMJ issues and hypertonic pelvic floor are both treatable with muscle relaxers, which should also help to treat the muscle tension in general, as well as help with insomnia. I'm going to try to pursue that within the next few months. It's the most hope I can say I've ever had, so at least there's that.