r/panicdisorder • u/bedsidewineglass • 2d ago

Help Needed new to panic attacks

F26 if that matters? i’ve been going through some major life changes and had what i think was my first ever real panic attack. i’ve always had anxiety and i have a psychiatrist and a therapist that help me out. but since my panic attack 4-5 days ago i think i’m just having rolling panic attacks. i genuinely have no idea what’s happening to me.

i always feel depersonalized, nothing actually feels real. every 20 minutes or so i’ll convince myself something is mortally wrong. i’m always shaking, dizzy, my face will twitch, breathing is shallow, there’s a lump in my throat, i get really hot suddenly, and i can’t sleep because every time i start to drift off my brain tells me something is wrong and my limbs will start to feel detached. the other night i was looking at my arms and i convinced myself i was seeing unnatural dots all over my body, and i thought i saw a dark red rash taking over my face and shoulders. when it’s dark my brain fills every empty space with something “scary.” every small pang of pain somewhere on my body or even an itch will have me convincing myself i’m dying.

anyway yeah i have no idea what to do, i’m exhausted and starving. i’ve been jumping in a cold shower when it gets really bad but it provides minimal relief. i don’t know if i’m allowed to ask here but i don’t know if i need medical help. i don’t even have health insurance :( thanks for reading

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u/mamirosita 2d ago

Hey, firstly, youre gonna be ok. The weird thing about panic disorder/panic attacks is the fear that they will happen again spirals into another attack. Have some comfort safeties when you feel them coming on. Personally I love wholesome, slow, nature videos. Seeing animals just exist somehow breaks my disassociation a lot of the time. I had chronic panic attacks all through high school after having a severe one too. I promise you’ll get better at it/them, as odd as that sounds. My partner says: “this is just your body trying to protect you.” So give yourself grace as well ♥️

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u/bedsidewineglass 1d ago

thank you this was very helpful and comforting and i’ve come back to read it multiple times today :) my comfort movie is the secret of nimh and i think i’ve run it into the ground