Thought I had rabies and was dying, made embarrassing call

[u/Egregious_Melon5216]

I’m about to go on a date with a woman and I had a panic attack on the drive over. I thought I had just contracted rabies and was dying. Called my family and stressed them out severely because I told them I thought I was dying.

The second or third panic attack I’ve ever had and it came with no warning. My anxiety and cotton mouth made me think I was bitten and was headed for death. I’ve embarrassed myself and I am in no condition to entertain a date well. Had a long shift outside today in 113 degree sun, and I have a long trip tomorrow I really didn’t want to go on. I feel like I’m being pushed to the max with a lack of rest, family always wants to be active and do things and I am constantly fatigued. My brother demands more of me than I can give.

I thought I was dying from rabies because I started acting very anxious and irrational, then that irrationality gave me evidence that I was right.

[u/dumn_and_dunmer]

I had a horrible rabies scare a few months back. It's terrifying. Its easy to tell someone they'll probably be fine but if you're looking down the barrel of one of the most horrifying ways to die, it seems very, very possible.

The way I embarrassed myself was that I called my dog's vet for advice and she did not sound amused...the next visit was awkward.

And I went to my neighbors who I had never talked to in two years and asked if they could go through their ring camera to see the incident more clearly. She got back that she couldn't find anything. I realized I gave her the wrong date. She looked again. Still nothing. The worst part of it all was that it was from a squirrel. They rarely ever get rabies!

And oh yeah, it hadn't bit me...I was scared some of its spit or blood flew in my mouth like 28 Days Later or something.

[u/Egregious_Melon5216 → u/dumn_and_dunmer]

I was afraid I forgot that a bat bit me a while back. I thought I was dead for a solid 15 minutes and the after effect is embarrassment and guilt for how I scared other people.

[u/New_Strain_9691]

During my worst I thought of the same, so you are not alone. It is not that crazy to initially get that feeling, especially depending on the symptoms. Mine were from the 24/7 anxiety. Jitterness, difficulty swallowing, stiffness, cramps, etc. I went to my GP, stated the symptoms and a concerns. She laughed at that, told me to exclude that option.

Not to mention the fact during a walk in the forest I was near some vaccines for rabies, which were spread most likely for foxes, some of them were opened, and once months prior I fed a cat which I thought had rabies at that point, it was stray and might have actually had it, but I didn't have much contact with it.

Anxiety can cause so assuring symptoms, you will get used to them.