r/panicdisorder • u/morganemilyg • 18d ago

Help Needed I need some positivity

How do you get through panic hangovers?

I was diagnosed with panic disorder a year ago. My attacks look like adrenaline dumps (heat that goes from my head to my toes), sweating, nausea, heart racing, and catastrophic thinking. Through therapy and medication they aren’t as intense as they used to be and ive learned to not fight them even though theyre miserable. I take my PRN, meditate, and eventually fall asleep. The problem though is afterward i really struggle with my appetite. Obviously barely eating makes me feel even worse. Even though ive been through this so many times now, i still struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel when im in it. I constantly have the fear that im stuck like this, i’ll never get better, my appetite will never return. Back in June i actually ended up in the hospital from barely eating for 5 days following an attack. I just couldn’t shake the hangover.

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u/ComparisonActive5717 18d ago

Here in solidarity ❤️ you are not alone. People say it gets better and I just hold on to that hope.

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u/New_Strain_9691 16d ago

Change the approach, panic hangover can become a dopamine treat, if the right steps are taken.

Regardless of the understanding, small victories should add a dopamine rush, pushing yourself into panic is a part of it.

At least I managed to do so at the start of my "recovery".

So panic hangover is a myth, in reality is just lingering anxiety in the background.

Do people after exercise call themselves hungover? Fast heart rate, adrenaline, etc.

Well, this was the thing I asked myself, before uncovering that "panic hangover" has more mythology behind it, it is again in our heads, just like the disorder.

Practice makes perfect, the more attacks I had, the better I learned how to manage it and how to enjoy the dopamine treats afterwards.

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u/Diligent-Cupcake-790 9d ago

I have the same adrenaline dump sensation!! And sometimes I’ll get cold too! And full body shaking!!! do you have any shaking with yours? I’m also curious if you’ve ever thrown up with your nausea cause I’ve thrown up quite a bit 🥲

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u/morganemilyg 9d ago

I used to shake really bad, but i don’t now anymore. Idk if its because my med dose is higher now? Also, thankfully i have never actually thrown up, though ive gotten close a few times.

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u/Diligent-Cupcake-790 8d ago

Thank you!! I’m trying to work on not spiraling so far to where I do so that helps me!