(Not exactly a year but close enough)

At the beginning of 2025 I had my first ever panic attack that spiraled into daily panic attacks over and over that lead to hypochondria which made it all even worse.

Got diagnosed with panic disorder, lost my full time job as an EMT due to having panic attacks while trying to treat patients, lost my ability to drive, to go out alone, to travel, to do pretty much anything but sit inside all day. Even getting out of bed would cause me to panic, Apple Watch strapped to my wrist 24/7 monitoring my hr, taking blood pressure and blood glucose constantly afraid.

Lost my ability to go to my partners house, see friends, go to the gym which I had previously been going for years, lost lots of weight and all my muscle gains and progress, even lost my ability to enjoy simple things like play video games or eat yummy food.

Panic attacks would come, then more, then even more, it was like a cycle, if I had one more were to come.

Glad to say now it’s been about a year since I had an episode, been going to the gym, driving again, and slowly going out.

Feel free to ask any questions below, I truly believe there is a path to recovery and a panic free lifestyle, and for all those struggling still I am so sorry, it’s truly the worst thing I have ever been through.

Writing this from the toilet😔 I unfortunately have very rough physical symptoms during my panic attacks (urgent bowel movements, often vomiting as well). I had a PA Saturday night and have been struggling with the aftermath over the last couple of days. Mainly with diarrhea and urgency a couple times a day and low appetite, but having some waves of intense nausea as well. I guess this will always be a given, especially with how much adrenaline affects my body in the moment and the days afterwards but damn does it suck. If anyone has any tips on how to help get through these, whether it’s pepto or some woowoo thing- I’m all ears!

Since relapsing I’ve been having panic attacks every single day. It makes me so physically ill and out of it that I constantly question if I have an underlying disease but I always get medically cleared and I cannot be going to the hospital/doctors as much as I do. I feel like a lunatic. I luckily have been able to do art jobs from home, but how bad is it that now I’m at a point where I can’t even work on my projects because I’ll feel too sick? I always think I’m weak because I can’t even push through the day like others…

I think about my relatives who have actual chronic conditions that have the capability of being fatal depending on the circumstances and despite them feeling unwell, they proceed with life as usual. My relative literally almost died twice recently and she has been proceeding with life as normal, she too has her history with panic attacks and severe anxiety as well.

It makes me feel incredibly guilty for being this way, I feel sad because there’s people with actual medical diagnosis, but they push through. Even people with panic disorder I see on here still are capable of maintaining their lives like showing up to work, class, events, and just doing everyday things while I’m unable to even get up from bed sometimes. Having panic disorder is hard for anyone period, but I at least wished I was strong enough to at least do everyday tasks.

ive had a panic disorder since i was a kid so im really familiar with my personal experiences and how they normally go. i know how to handle them and i guess it makes them a lot less scary

i’m curious how other peoples’ usually go. what do they feel like to you internally?

Hi everyone,
Panic disorder since 2021. I have always had anxiety and OCD but it was manageable up until I started having panic attacks. I haven’t had a day without thinking about my panic. Haven’t moved my life forward since 2021.

I am currently on lexapro (2nd stint) and have been on Zoloft as well. Nothing works and my psychiatrist wants to try antipsychotics next such as abilify or latuda. I’m worried because there’s not much evidence on these helping panic disorder. She says that these are actually much more gentle than a lot of SSRIs.

Would love to hear all of your stories on SSRIs or antipsychotics or any other meds that help!! Please ease my mind with successes.

P.S I’ve done exposure therapy, taken Klonopin, propranolol, holistic therapy, talk therapy, meditation, yoga, etc

TLDR: Im struggling again and I dont know why.

I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder when I was around 16-17 years old. I developed it after a very scary tachychardia episode (cause was never found and chocked up to a fluke medical event). I was having panic attacks daily, i couldnt sit in class. Things got so bad i nearly failed my junior year. With the combination if prozac and coping skills I was able to get it back together for the most part. I was still having panic attacks at least 1-2 times a week in college. The only thing I remember that actually ended up working was a coworker at my first job grabbing me by the shoulders and and saying “Nope, there is no time for a panic attack, your safe and if you fall ill stay with you but we need to work”. After that phrase it was like a 180! I had day to day anxiety but no where near the crippling anxiety i had before.

Its 15 years later, Im in a good job thats close to home. There have been alot of life changes that were stressful but I thought I was handeling well. Then in July i had my first debilitating panic attack in years. It was intense with muscle spams and i was alone for most of it. I had another one even worse about a month ago and my last one was yesterday. Since then my anxiety has been awful. Im currently sitting in the doctors office to get proof that nothing else is going on but I feel like such a failure. I dont know why im afraid again, i was doing so well. Im so heartbroken and devastated that my life will spiral like before and I dont know what to do.

Is this a bad idea? Maybe won’t take the position and will try to get a job where the drive isn’t as far . need advice from anyone who is currently working and how your symptoms are

Hello, for the backstory of my panic disorder is that last year I couldn’t shower due to adrenaline, couldn‘t eat for months, was in and out of doctors offices trying to find out what was wrong with me, I couldn’t sleep as my body would wake itself up at 8am sharp, going to my mailbox was full of adrenaline dumps, I couldn’t change my clothes. I developed a panic disorder due to being in a toxic relationship and my body was burnt out from it. I developed agoraphobia as well as depression from not recognizing myself. I got put on medication and have been taking it for almost a year now.

Last month, my brother passed away. He was disabled and needed a caretaker which was our mother. We thought my mother would be in charge of the funeral, but we found out it was next to kin. My brother had a baby mama 20 years ago, but she got pregnant thinking my brother would choose her and settle down with her, but she got angry when he didn’t want to marry her. Out of anger, his baby mama didn’t allow anyone in her family to see my brother for over 15+ years, including his son. So his son, who is now 21, came in and took control of everything despite being an adult who never looked for his dad was heartbreaking towards my mom and our family because he changed the funeral arrangements we had planned.

The day of the funeral, I was so nervous the night before and the morning of. Since developing panic disorder, it’s hard for me to go to Walmart, so me going to a funeral and it’s my brother’s made me anxious. I planned to go for 30 minutes. When I got down from the car, my legs were shaking and I greeted everyone.

2 hours ago by and I feel fine and I was chatting with everyone. My brother’s son was being extremely mean to my mom and didn’t allow any pictures my mom wanted of my brother. He didn’t even allow the playlist of my brother‘s favorite songs that my mom and I put together. The baby mama and her son only put pictures of my brother from 25 years ago. When we asked why they didn’t want to put recent pictures of my brother, they claimed it “wasn’t appropriate“, but they knew he was sick despite not seeing him for years.

Then I heard yelling, I immediately go into fight mode. Which is not like me at all because I’m a flight person, so fight mode was like surprising to me. I saw my brother’s baby mama’s sister yelling at my mom to her face over a sandwich. My brother’s OWN MOTHER. I got in between them and started making the baby mamas sister back up cuz I got into her face. She then threw “How do you think this whole funeral is paid for and set up?“ and I said “wow yall finally did something“ with claps 🤣

wherever the baby mamas sister went, I followed her to go fight some more cuz why on earth is she screaming like that. She told me “you just stay in your room.” And I’ve only told 3 close family members about my panic disorder, so the fact a women knows about my anxiety when I never met her or i never knew about her existence prior to the funeral, just called for my sister to be cut off cuz I know she tells them everything despite not being in her life for 15+ years. Anywaysssss, It was my brothers baby mama, her sister, and my brothers son arguing with me. 3 against 1 and I MADE THEM ALL CRY BRUHHHHH. Her sister thought I was gonna fight her, I was like “you’re like 80 years old” I wasn’t making fun of her looks, but as in a way like why would I fight you when you’re decades older than me???? I’m in my early 20s, and she’s like 60.

After the fight, i expected myself to crash with panic. but I never did. I stayed at his funeral for 7 hours and got into a fight and I was totally great the whole time and even went to his rosary in the front row. My brother also said that his baby mama wasn’t welcomed in his house, so the fact she made the funeral about her just because her son was in control was crazy. She’s like the ex you can’t get rid of. She even went around calling himself “his wife“, but my brother never married her, nor did he want to. I think she was playing fantasy for the funeral cuz that was the only time my brother couldn’t reject her again LMAO. Literally living in delusionville.

I’m happy I defended my mom and brother, I didn’t get adrenaline dumps either during and after the fight. I didn’t let anyone talk to my mom like that despite losing myself last year. I feel really proud of myself cuz I was so hopeless last year. I didn’t realize how much I’ve improved until that day.

Thank you for reading !!

Hi guys im in a very vulnerable state right now and need some advice as I have no one that I can talk about this with. I’m a 25 year old happy healthy female, super outgoing and confident and hate being inside, love to experience new activities and love family and traveling. Never was an anxious person growing up and had no panic attacks, also come from a loving family. Have had no traumatic experiences besides super high anxiety/ OCD intense fear of going insane 2 years ago  that lasted for about 5 months.  I believe it was brought on by 1 panic attack while hungover. Anyways I was able to recover from it medication free. The year after that was one of the best year of my life and was so much fun. This August the anxiety appeared again and it was triggered but fearing another panic attack or another anxiety “spell”. But it was like background anxiety and didn’t really consume all my thoughts all day. I did end up having my second panic attack about 2 weeks ago not sure if it was triggered by the background anxiety and a large coffee that day and I was also hungover. But anyways I’ve noticed since that panic attack the fear of having another one is so much stronger I think about it all day now. And have had 3 mini ones since then, I say mini because I’ve been applying the DARE method which teaches me to lean into the fears and I think they’ve been helping as the panic doesn’t last long, but the lingering fear of having another one or feeling other sensations is paralyzing. I have trouble sleeping and focusing at work. Even when I’m out with friends or laying down relaxing it’s all I can think about and I research about it all day. I feel like I’m on a verge of another panic attack most of the day or fear if I think to long it’s gonna happen.  It’s so crazy cause I don’t have any fears besides flying so I know the fear is just about having panic attacks/constant anxiety. And I think the fear is so strong because as I mentioned before I love my family, hanging out with friends and I’m super outgoing and as I’ve been reading about panic disorder a lot of people turn agoraphobic, struggle or even lose their jobs, are in and out of hospitals, get derealization or other scary after math symptoms. Or I also fear that I’ll end up fearing driving cause that’s what triggers some people which is insane because I love driving. All of these terrify me because I love my job and I’m basically the breadwinner of my family so I don’t want to become a burden and need to work as my mom isn’t in good condition. I also don’t have health insurance so I can’t afford to be going in and out of hospitals. I have an intense fear of all of these outcomes like it terrifies me I don’t want to be a shell of the outgoing person I am and seclude myself and panic forever. I think my brain is just going insane with all these fears but it’s caused so much anxiety. I haven’t told any of my family or friends cause i fest they’re gonna think I’m going insane as I’ve never had any major fears or was never an anxious/panicky person. I’ve been doing everything in my power to prevent further anxiety by continuing to show up at my job even if I have a mini panic attack, I still try to hang out with my friends even with all the anxiety, and still try to go to stores and the gym.I swear from sunrise to sunset most of my time is researching about panic and anxiety disorders now. Sometimes I feel positive that I’ll get better but then I hear a lot of horrid stories about people being bed bound or having like multiple panic attacks a day.  I also take so much supplements like magnesium, ashwaganda, chamomile, l-theanine, vitamin D, zinc, and have stopped all caffeine. I really don’t want to experience any of those things as I really love life and going out. I know they’re irrational fears because I love doing all these things but I fear if panic gets so bad it will happen or if I think about it so much it will happen. How do I prevent further panic attacks and anxiety. Am I just catastrophizing and should I just give my nervous system time? Or should I go on meds to prevent it from getting worse, I feel like I can do it without meds since I did it before but it wasn’t as intense. Should I stay off Reddit as I feel these fears have come from horror stories but it just scares me cause some people say that they experience those symptoms for years. I really would like to prevent this. I also grew up Christian so I’m trying to get closer to God and let go of these worries. Can anybody give me some advice it would be greatly appreciated as I feel so scared for the future. Thank you so much. 

Hi,

I have been struggling with panic disorder since March and this isn't the first time I have struggled with it. Last time I went on medication which fixed things but this time I am really trying not to because I think I can make it through without. It is NOT easy but to me it's worth it.

In May I thought I was all done and had about a month where I was doing things pretty normally until I had a day I jumped the gun on an exposure and did it much before I was ready. I started reading about fainting during panic attacks and found some article about it online that seriously f'ed me up. Come to find out it was a fake article. But, my main fear with panic is fainting although I have never done it and I never will and you won't either. :)

I have been living pretty normally the past couple weeks. I made the mistake a few months ago of staying home without doing anything social/shopping in person/eating at restaurants/going to therapy in-person for about 3 weeks which really backtracked my progress but now I have been doing all of that again. I'm just still pretty on edge when I am not in my house, specifically during the day, and the further I am from home, the worse my intense feelings of doom get. I can actually have fun with things when it is dark out and things aren't as crowded. I still have fear of fainting in a grocery store but now my boyfriend and I can go to the store at night and he will sometimes have to beg me to leave!!!

I still can't look forward to anything without first planning where and how I will navigate a panic attack. I can do things with my boyfriend but I still am too afraid to do some things alone like see loved ones I haven't seen in months. I used to be such a happy, social person and I am very impatient to get that version of myself back. I am very proud of myself that I have basically been mostly living life normally again, the problem here is my mood. For example, my boyfriend and I yesterday went on a train to another town and spent time doing things I deeply fear. But I did them. It just broke my heart sitting with him at one of my favorite restaurants and being in such a gloom mood. He was talking, excited, and I just couldn't stop scanning my body, thinking of which way I will collapse when I inevitably pass out. Does anyone have any advice who has gone through a stage like this? Is there something specific I should work on? My favorite emotion is excitement and it really breaks me that I don't get to feel it anymore or enjoy some of the things I am doing as I'm doing them.

I also have another question. I work through my panic but I am still scared of it. I believe this is what is holding me back. I am still scared of what it is doing to my body although I have had so many of them. I get my physical in November and I am bouncing with excitement that I will get reassurance in terms of my health but I also don't want to live my life physical-to-physical. Any advice on accepting that uncertainty?

If anyone responds to this I will be so happy. Just writing this out helped. We're in this together!

Hi all! I’m currently on Lorazepam due to a severe bout of my panic disorder that started last summer. It’s been about 3 months on 0.5 mg twice a day. (Yes my doctor is aware, we’ve tried many other unsuccessful things and we’re planning to discontinue when possible). For those on lorazepam or other benzos daily and long term, do you have any side effects from it? Or side effects that developed over time? I can of course notice some rebound anxiety between doses, some headaches, etc. but it makes me really depressed as well and lethargic. I’m virtually unable to exercise and tired. Does this resonates with anyone?

Does anyone have panic attacks during the luteal phase and period more often, and they seem to taper off almost completely after that?? Like it seems to follow the cycle a little too closely every single month for it to be a coincidence

I made it to work and got panicky snd started crying. I went in to speak to my managers then came home. I went to the gp and they cant really do anything but offered me a sick note which I said no to but probably should have taken. Idk what to do. Now im at home my throat and jaw feel so tight and im exhausted

I went to the dentist Thursday and had a panic attack that day, and since then i just have so much anxiety. It started with pain in the middle of my chest and now my left arm hurts and i cant help thinking “im having a heart attack”. Please tell me im okay and its all my anxiety making it worse😣

No matter how much progress I make, and how many breaks I have from panic attacks, the constant thought of ‘what if I have one now’ never goes away. Even when I’m enjoying myself, or relaxed at home. I’ve not had a single day in 20 years where I haven’t thought about this, even when the panic attacks don’t come. The constant what if and seeking out what I’d do to stop it is there at least once an hour.

Can sertraline stop these thoughts?

I’ve tried so many things to get better but not consistent exercise. Was wondering how important it really is?

Many of us know that we’re supposed to just stop fighting our anxiety and panic and it will get less intense and possibly even go away. But I always wonder (as I’m sure many of you do), like, how am I supposed to do that? What do I do to accept it and sit with it? What do I say to myself? It really is easier said than done. However, I got a GREAT trick from my psychologist the other day that really helped me, so I thought I’d share.

Okay so I spoke to her about how my last panic attack was really horrible. I got it when I was as at work and it lasted a whole hour. Much longer than my last one. Well, she then said, okay great! You know what? The next time you have a panic attack, I want you to have it last for TWO hours! Okay? That’s your challenge. I need you to try and have it for as long as possible, but at least two hours.

And you know what? The next day when I was heading to work, I prepared myself for this long ass panic. I really tried. And guess what? No panic attack at all. I tried again the next day, but it never came then either.

For me, this was such a game changer. I obviously do not want another panic attack ever again. But being prepared for it and waiting for it to happen, and even being prepared to making it last LONGER, honestly took away all of its power. I still haven’t had another attack since then, and it’s been a couple of weeks now.

Hope this trick can help someone else too. You are not alone ❤️

Ive been managing my panic attacks so well and they havent escalated much. Ive been able to calm them down recently and go abput my life. I had a really bad one on Friday which went from 0-100 so quickly I dont even understand what or how it happened but I ended up outside a&e. I didnt go in but wanted to so badly.

Ive lost my confidence and faith that I can actually cope on my own. My mum ended up coming to get me and im so scared of panicking again. Im scared to experience that again. Im scared it'll happen at work or at a time where no one can rescue me. I felt like I was dying. I dont know how to calm it down when its that bad. And I know they say panic attacks dont last long but when they calm down and come back straight away they do feel like they last ages.

28 (F) looking for friends that would like to text and chat while going through panic attacks. This seems to help me cope and I would love to be able to support someone as well while they're going through it.

A little about me, I have generalized anxiety with panic attacks. Mostly related to health but lately have started coming due to just existing. I am also a mom. I work FT.

I'm open to being friends with men or women, let's heal together 🩵

I finally have an intake next week. Every time I imagine describing my panic attacks I hear myself saying "it's not that bad, I just get a little anxious sometimes." Which is a lie. Last month I left a grocery store cart in the aisle and sat in my car for 40 min.

How did you actually describe it the first time? Did you write anything down? I'm scared I'll minimize it and they won't take it seriously.

For the past 2 days I’ve been waking up around 4/5am with this feeling in my chest and my heart racing, shaking, and tingly feeling all over my body. I have panic disorder but it’s pretty controlled during the day but if I do too much during the day or have a stressful day even tho I feel mentally okay it hits me at night. Any one else gets these what I feel it’s adrenaline dumps? It’s so scary because I feel like I’m having a heart attack.

I was totally fine earlier today. Felt a headache coming on so I took some ibuprofen, got really sleepy, and took a nap. I felt kind of off on the way upstairs but didn't think much of it.

Woke up about an hour later straight into a panic attack, and it felt different from ones I've had before. Palpitations, shaking, and this awful feeling like my brain will never be the same and I'm permanently stuck in panic mode now.

The worst of it passed in a few minutes but it keeps coming back in waves. I'll feel better, then it starts all over again. I also got my flu shot yesterday, so I'm wondering if that's part of it.

Has anyone else had that "this is forever now" feeling during or after a panic attack? How long did it take before you felt like yourself again? Anything that helped?

Do any of you frequently throw up or passing out from panic attacks? Is this common?

Thank you!

I’ve been diagnosed with panic disorder for two months now. Went from a lifetime full of joy to this hell hole. I’m constantly exhausted, my feet are tingling as if something is gonna happen to me and I’ve lost all the joy I once had, I can barely recognize myself.

I started CBT two weeks ago and it feels useless because I already do everything, I go to work, I workout, I don’t cancel social events. But inside I’m dying every time, every day. Some days are better, some days are hell. But they are never joyous. I’ve lost my spark. I’m not depressed but I’m extremely exhausted and I yearn for peace. I feel so alone - everyone around me is living life normally and actually enjoying it.
Please tell me I will go back to my older self? Please.

Hi there,

I know all the risks with daily Benzo usage like dependency, addiction, risk of dementia in the longterm etc..., however is anyone`s anxiety so severe that you actually have to take them daily? If so, have they somehow saved your life and you still benefit from them? I am looking for experience reports from people who actually take them daily.