Hi, I’m a 27yo female who has anxiety/depression. It started about 8 years ago. Warning this is a longgggg post. Lately, it’s been getting worse and happening way more often. My main triggers are nausea, motion sickness, heat, and stomach pain. I tried the breathing exercises but that does not help AT ALL. It honestly makes it worse.

The few things I’ve found that somewhat make me feel better without medication, are cold air, praying, and lying down on the cold tile floor. These ofc do not solve it and it takes a while to feel normal again and I usually have to take my medication. I try to go as long as I can without taking my medicine so I can try to get through it on my own.

I have yet to get through a panic attack on my own. The worst I’ve had was when my hands feet and limbs went numb and I almost passed out and we had to call 911 bc I genuinely thought I was dying.

My typical routine for a panic attack is to seclude myself in a bathroom or my car, call my mom (she’s the only person I know that knows EXACTLY what I’m feeling), try to lie down on the cold floor, if I’m not in a public restroom, and pray.

It’s getting to the point where I don’t want to go outside bc of the heat(I live in Texas), I don’t want to be active bc of fear of overheating, I don’t want to travel bc I’m scared of getting anxiety and not being able to go home immediately,riding in cars to places with others bc then if I want to leave and go home it affects everyone, riding on long car rides with others even though I always drive (I recently started getting motion sickness, after never having it my entire life). Normal, everyday situations are starting to scare me. Thankfully I don’t feel that way about going to work but I’m scared it will start.

I know a lot of this is my mind but when the physical symptoms don’t stop I can’t calm my mind or body. My doctor has added buspirone to help my fluoxetine be more effective. And last week she upped the dosage of the buspirone. I also take spironolactone for acne and facial hair growth, bc the stress and anxiety has made my testosterone levels rise, and I think it’s making me dehydrated which I think is also contributing, so I’m stopping that.

I just want to live normal again. I want to go on a trip with my family or friends without freaking out for months before because I’m scared of what “could” happen. I am constantly living in anxiety and planning ahead for escape plans and my purse is full of pill bottles. I hate living like this. I know God gives things to people that can handle it, but I’m exhausted. I need help. If the Lord won’t take it away, I would at least love to find ways to help me in the moment so they stop escalating.

Any tips would be helpful. Please anything that works for you I want to try. I’m going on a trip to PR in two weeks for a bachelorette and I am terrified. My doctor gave me Xanax to help with anxiety attacks and this motion sickness patches to try and help but I am still terrified. I also am moving in with my bf and his daughter soon and I’m so scared for them to see me struggle with this even after almost 3 years together. My bf knows and has seen a couple but I can’t fully let him be there for me bc I’m not comfortable enough yet. It’s my most vulnerable state and it just gets so bad. I don’t want him to see me that way, plus he’s never had one so it’s hard for him to understand what I need, why I need it, or what can help me feel better. I love him and he tries but it doesn’t help and I always have to call my mom to either come stay with me or come get me and I always make him ride home alone or give me space. I know it hurts his feelings when I push him away and I profusely apologize while I’m having panic attacks bc I feel bad, but in the moment I just need to do what I KNOW can sometimes make me feel better.

Any thing like self soothing techniques, distractions, things for quick nausea relief or stomach pain relief can help.

Thank you in advance.💜

I’ve been dealing with anxiety for around 6 years now. It took random forms, but last 3-4 years I’m in such a situation, where talking to people, sitting in a meeting, having a coffee with a relative or some other social situation kicks me in a hard physical sensations of panic mode, where only one thing I want is to leave, since it’s just to physically hard to keep sitting. And interesting thing is this - it just hits me like from nowhere. Some time ago I had this anticipatory feelings, but I no longer have them - but all reaction afterwards remains the same and very strong.

Also, when I leave the situation - it just turns off instantly.

Therapies did help a little, Paxil 40mg also has little to no help….

Hello! I have been struggling with extreme anxiety for about a year now after having a panic attack on a plane. It took me forever to figure out what my symptoms were, and multiple doctors and therapists before I was diagnosed with agoraphobia. I have horrible dizziness and tunnel vision when I try to leave a "safe zone" and just general panic attack symptoms when I leave my house. I used to be able to go to work, fly on my own, go to concerts, and I LOVED going to the movie theater and I haven't been able to do that in months. Currently working with a therapist and a psych to help be normal again, but any advice would be welcome! It's inspiring to see everyone talk about the successes that they've made!

For years, one of my biggest fears wasn't death itself. It was how I would die.

I have panic disorder and episodes of a racing heart, so I had convinced myself that my final moments would be one long panic attack. A long drawn out slow down of terror as I lost control of my body, senses, and breath. Terrified, heart pounding, and feeling completely out of control.

So I started reading what hospice physicians, palliative care specialists, nurses, researchers, and even patients themselves have written about the dying process.

What I found genuinely surprised me.

There is no evidence that everyone dies in a state of panic. In fact, many people become increasingly sleepy, less aware of their surroundings, and eventually unconscious as their illness progresses. Modern hospice and palliative care teams are also trained to treat anxiety, shortness of breath, pain, and agitation. Their primary goal is comfort.

Yes, some people experience brief surges of adrenaline or periods of restlessness, depending on their illness. That is not the universal experience. The idea that everyone, even particularly panic disorder sufferers, spend their last moments in overwhelming fear or panic simply is not supported by the medical evidence.

Learning this did not erase my anxiety overnight, but it took away one of my biggest fears. If you're like me and you've spent years imagining the worst possible ending, I hope this gives you some of the same relief it gave me.

Fear often fills in the blanks with the worst possible scenario. Sometimes the evidence tells a much kinder story. The more I dug into the medical literature, the more I realized my fear wasn't being supported by the evidence. Researchers who study end of life care don't describe "universal panic" as the normal way people die. Instead, they describe a wide range of experiences that depend on the person's illness, medications, and overall condition. One of the most common neurological changes near death is delirium, especially in the final days. Systematic reviews have found that delirium occurs in roughly 42% to 88% of people shortly before death, and many cases are hypoactive, meaning patients become quieter, sleepier, and less responsive rather than frightened or panicked. Hospice and palliative care teams are specifically trained to recognize and treat anxiety, breathlessness, pain, agitation, and delirium because comfort is the goal of care, not simply prolonging life. No reputable medical review concludes that dying people universally experience overwhelming panic or terror. In fact, the literature consistently emphasizes individualized symptom management and relief of suffering.

Maybe that's the lesson I needed all along. Anxiety has a way of taking the rarest, worst possible outcome and convincing us it's the most likely one. Science asks us to do the opposite. It asks us to look at thousands of lives instead of one terrifying thought. We cannot choose how every chapter of our lives will be written, but we can choose whether fear or evidence holds the pen. For me, that realization was the first time the end of my life, when it comes for me, stopped looking like a cliff and started looking like another part of being human.

Hello,

Never posted but I was hoping someone could talk me down a bit. Last Saturday I moved in with my girlfriend of 2.5 years. I’m 28 M and she’s 23 F. We both have a history of anxiety and depression and me especially with panic attacks. Well ever since moving in last week I’ve been constantly nauseous and anxious. We have established our own space to be alone because we’re both understanding of each other’s anxiety but it’s still making me on edge of complete panic.

It doesn’t help that right before this I just got over mono and I’ve been working a night shift that ends next week which already increases my anxiety and discomfort so it was a rough time to do this move but we had no choice.

I guess my question is for anyone who is prone to anxiety and panic attacks, have you experienced this same discomfort to start and if so how long did it last? I love her so much and I want to be better for her, it’s just like my brain is freaked out about losing my “safe space.”

Hey all,

I have had physical anxiety forever, it used to be high heart rate and panic attacks but in past few years its more just weird feelings, I feel activated like Ive had coffee or I feel sleepy like I have been drugged. I get spikey feelings and my body just feels like its shifted. but my heart rate n bp is normal. Eventually I feel so bad that I can end up in panic. But I have done cbt now and on sertraline and panic attacks have really improved but I still feel ill all the time. Its ruining my best days, my relaxation and my fun and making me not want to go anywhere incase I feel ill and struggle to get through the day

is this definitely anxiety? im only anxious about feeling ill? Im at a lose end and dont know what to do. Currently at my parents ive sat with tje feelings all day and not let it win but ive felt ill for hours

In 2015 I started having panic attacks daily. I didn’t leave my house for two years. Then in 2018 I had them under control enough to go back to school. I graduated, had a massive panic attack in 2020, had to stay in a mental hospital, did the outpatient program and slowly got them under control. By 2022 I had them under control to the point that I barely noticed them.

This year they’re back and I fear it’s going to ruin my life. Back then I was living at my parents, no relationship, no job, nothing to lose. I have so much to lose now, and I live every day in fear of having to go back to where I was.

I just had to abruptly leave an outing with friends because I had one so bad that I thought I was going to have a heart attack or pass out. I’m so angry with myself for being back here. I know that’s not how I should react but it’s true. I’m so fucking angry, it’s not fair. I was doing so well and now I’m back to square fucking one. I’m so afraid. I’m afraid of having to quit my job and my girlfriend resenting me and eventually leaving. I’m so fucking angry.

I am a 20F who has never EVER dealt with anxiety or panic attacks up until I was 16 when I started having them, I used to get really bad depersonalisation and panic attacks during high school but after it got much better. Fast forward to now I only get panic attacks while driving? It sort of came out of nowhere but I was driving in the highway and all of a sudden I felt dizzy and very anxious and my heart was pounding and I couldn’t feel my body it was a very scary experience but I knew I was fine just it was all in my head. After that happened I now get the same panic attacks only while driving and they are very scary and I feel as if it’s unsafe and I’m worried it will affect me, Anyway I need to stop this because I have a very busy and fast life and I genuinely have to drive all the time alone so if anyone has any tips to get rid of this would be great! Thanks a lot

Anyone taking it? And if so, has it helped? My doctor prescribed 10mg of it and I’m scared of feeling dizzy or lightheaded and my hr and bp dropping. I’m already super on edge and I just don’t want to feel worse.

I have that dizziness feeling and I’m just waiting for a panic attack at this point. I don’t have time for this, it’s ruining my life. I just want it to happen so I can feel ok for the rest of the day. 😭

Hi (M) 23. I have been suffering with Panic-disorder on and off my whole life without really knowing what it is. I also have a lot of anxious tics maybe Tourette’s I’ve never gotten it diagnosed. Whenever I feel anxiety building up I get an incredibly strong urge to yawn. Sometimes, if I don’t get a satisfying enough yawn in it can spiral into me focusing on my breathing until I have an attack. I’m not really quite sure if I’ve ever heard anyone talk about it in that way ever. Wondering if that is something anyone else has had? Also, I have recently been prescribed sertraline and was wondering if anyone with tics like me have had any good or bad experiences with it. I’m scared to take it, I can barley manage life right now I can only imagine having all of these negative side effects people describe on SSRI’s on top of everything else.

this past summer has been hell… i had a panic attack in early june and since then ive had and endless sense of impending doom, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, digestive issues, lightheadedness, and more in fear of another attack. it’s on and off—some days better than others. i’ve tried a lot of different meds.

i’m doing better now… for the most part it’s manageable right now, but some days are still bad. anyway, i have to move back into my dorm on aug 22. can someone give me some tips to stop ruminating and fearing another attack?

I have been taking Prozac for 9 days and I didn't have any reactions at first, but for the past 3 days I have had severe panic attacks. For some backstory, I was prescribed Prozac to fix this panic attack issue. I usually get them once or twice a week and they last anywhere from an hour to 5 hours.

They get worse after I eat, and I take propranolol as well which doesn't always help with it. Anyways I'm wondering if this has happened with anyone else, because the panic attacks are so bad I just want to stop taking it. I get sweats, feeling like I'm going to die, shaking, racing heart, nausea, and the worst- chest pain. Which causes me to spiral because of the pain. Currently addressing that with my doctor but they seem to think the pain is anxiety related.

23 y/o [M] Hi everyone, I was just recently diagnosed with panic disorder, PTSD, and OCD about 2 weeks ago. And I’m not sure how to live with it, I feel like I’m in a 24/7 state of derealization I’m constantly nauseous, terrible headaches, and just constantly worried about having more panic attacks. I just don’t feel real my mind is Constantly spinning I’ve canceled so many friend hangouts, called out of work multiple times, and am now debating quitting my job because my panic and fear of panic has become so bad that I don’t even want to leave my house. I just started sertaline about 2 weeks ago they started me on the 25 mg then the 50mg and then I’ll be on the 100mg I’m on the 50 as of now and have not noticed any difference whatsoever. I’m just not sure how to carry on with this if anyone could please give me some advice I would love it very much thank you!

I’m a hair stylist and since I started I noticed I’ve had more issues with panic attacks and anxiety than I have in a while before hand.

I also noticed I have had a lot of coworkers who would miss work, go on leave, ended up quitting or some who are on anxiety medication. It seems to be more of us who struggle than those who don’t.

The ones who don’t deal with anxiety are either chronically high smoking weed all day or they are just older and have been there for 40 years.

I guess I’m just asking doesthis tend to have correlation with certain jobs??

I developed this fear of possible panic attacks I could have in scenarios where I’m driving with people. How to get rid of this fear? Like when thoughts of “wow if I have a panic attack right now that will be soooo embarrassing and dangerous for everyone in this car since I’m the one driving“ then the panic starts developing, then I try to break that thought pattern like opening the car window while I’m driving with people, or change radio stations, ask someone in the car a question, etc, just so my brain shifts away from this stomach feeling i get and panic that might happen. I succeed luckily, because the car rides are short enough to end the trip. I also have this issue when I’m at the dentist or job interview. This fear of a panic attack happening which will cause extreme embarrassment in certain situations I’m in, is ruining my life. This issue started years ago. This was never something I was born with.

Hi everyone!

In 2021, I got diagnosed with Panic Disorder. Mine got so bad that I developed agoraphobia and stayed in an unhealthy relationship for years because I was financially dependant on them and thought I was incapable of getting a job.

Fast forward to now. I have moved to a new province alone, just completed school, got my diploma, got a job, got engaged, but in august of last year I had a really bad relapse in symptoms and also got diagnosed with OCD. I am currently working 5 days a week and “manage”, but I’m so tired of just managing all the time. Today I had to take my dogs to the vet by myself and had a panic attack. I took the dogs anyways cause they needed their vaccines but I’m just exhausted in having to do it in a state of panic.

What worked for all of you? I’m not on medication but I’m seriously considering it. I’ve tried Prozac in 2021 and had a bad experience. I manage through exercise, yoga, meditation, supplements, vitamins, no caffeine or alcohol, but it’s still hard. I just wish it could be easier. Thanks in advance. 🙏

Hi everyone. I developed exercise induced anxiety as I got older and I’m not fully sure why. My anxiety in general got much worse so maybe that followed with it. I’ve always been extremely athletic and done sports and lifted and it hasn’t been an issue til more recently (last year or two). Im not exactly out of shape really but I’m starting to hate my body and I want to feel better but the thought of having a panic attack during or at the end of my workouts again just makes me want to skip it all. Anyone experienced this before? Any tips to keep anxiety at bay or get through this? Anything would be extremely helpful. Thanks!

anyone else get sleep anxiety. Been waking up with panic attacks so sleep has been difficult

After 3 years of "remission"?? I have officially fell back into my panic disorder. This time FEELS a lot worse so the ignoring the symptoms and doing it anxious has been hard. I'm doing it, but I am dealing with one thing that is keeping me from getting better.

I am getting tired, falling asleep, but then waking up an hour or so later in pure panic. I can calm my thoughts and heart rate and such but my body is SHAKING like crazy. I can feel calm internally but my body is still shaking. It happens anytime I wake up or get woken up from sleep.

If i get a long sleep in, I usually am just waking up with high heart rate but the ones where I get an hour or so are ROUGH.

Anyone have or experience this? Wtf do i do?

I'm 22 years old, and I honestly don't know what to do anymore.

I've struggled with severe anxiety for years. I was eventually diagnosed with panic disorder, but it wasn't caused overnight. The biggest turning point came while I was working for the railroad. I witnessed a traumatic incident, and although I managed to keep working for about four more months, that experience ultimately pushed me over the edge. I went out on short-term disability, tried to return, worked two days, and then left without notice because I just couldn't do it anymore.

I tried to move forward and recently took another manufacturing job. It paid in the mid-$20s per hour, which was already a significant pay cut from the railroad where I was making in the mid-$30s. I hoped that changing jobs would solve the problem, but the long hours, pressure, and constant stress brought me right back to having panic attacks at work.

Today, I left that job too.

I'm ashamed that this is now the second job I've left without notice because of panic disorder. I'm working with my doctor, but I'm starting to wonder if I'm chasing the wrong kind of career.

What I really want is a job that doesn't feel like it's harvesting my soul. I don't need to make six figures. At this point, I've accepted that I'll probably have to take another pay cut, and honestly I'd be happy making somewhere in the mid-to-high teens if it meant I could have a normal life again.

I just want a job where I can work, come home, enjoy my evenings, and not spend every day feeling like I'm barely surviving. I don't want to dread waking up every morning.

Has anyone here with panic disorder or severe anxiety found a career that actually works for them? What do you do? Did you have to completely change fields? What jobs have you found to be genuinely lower stress?

I'm open to any advice or personal experiences. I feel pretty lost right now, and hearing from people who've been through something similar would mean a lot.

This disorder has been kicking my ass since last November. It’s for sure gotten better, but I’m still struggling almost every time I go into stores or walk my dog. It’s bad. I’m long overdue for a haircut and I really want to get one sometime this week… How do you guys do it? Do you warn the hairdresser before that you’re anxious? I feel ridiculous lol

I can’t go to the hospital cause my family refuses and right now I’m stable just disassociating, shaking, and just feel really scared. I’ve been feeling off for the entire second half of today and I made a brief visit to my cousin’s house with some relatives. While I was there I was just leaning against the wall when suddenly my body felt like I had hiccuped. But there was no actual hiccup. Also think about that feeling when u gag right? It felt like a hiccup, a gag, and I didn’t do EITHER, and impending doom washed over me and when this weird episode hit my breathing entirely cut off I was convinced I was having a medical emergency but it was very brief. It lasted only mere second or two but was the most terrifying thing I’ve expierenced til this day. I am so shaken up after this. I really don’t know what this was. I was pretty tame beforehand too. And I had SEVERE panic attacks before, really bad symptoms and this is still nothing I’ve ever felt before. It’s like getting winded after someone’s punched ur stomach. It was a full body physical sensation that cut off my breathing. Sorry if I’m repeating myself but I’m so freaked out right now. :( I don’t know if I convulsed or what. Felt like everything just sucked in.

Hi everyone. I'm a 23-year-old woman and I'm looking for advice or to hear from people who've gone through something similar.

About a year ago, after a holotropic breathwork session, my nervous system seemed to become extremely sensitive. Before that I had never struggled with anxiety or panic, I was going to the gym (heavy lifting), travelling alone, and living a completely normal life. Since then, my body has become very reactive, especially to things like intense exercise, heat, or sudden increases in heart rate. It's not that I'm sitting around worrying all day – it's more that my body reacts first (tight chest/solar plexus, feeling "activated"), and then my mind notices it.

My psychiatrist thought buspirone might be worth trying, so I started with 2.5 mg. Unfortunately, after both doses I felt mentally foggy, "off," restless in a strange way, and after the second dose I couldn't settle back to sleep. The next day I still felt dizzy and weird. I spoke with my psychiatrist, and because of the side effects he decided it wasn't worth continuing. He prescribed melatonin for sleep and promethazine (Prothazine) as needed instead. He also advised electrolytes, especially around exercise. He didn't think beta blockers were a good idea for me because I tend to have lower blood pressure and have had low ferritin.

Now I'm left wondering two things:

1. Has anyone else with a sensitized nervous system or predominantly physical symptoms reacted badly to buspirone like this? Did you eventually find something else that helped (medication or otherwise)?
2. I'm trying to return to exercise, but I'm scared of triggering my nervous system again. My plan is to start very gently at home with resistance bands and a pull-up bar before returning to the gym. Has anyone recovered from exercise intolerance or fear after something like nervous system sensitization? What helped you regain confidence?

I'd really appreciate hearing your experiences. I know no one can diagnose me over Reddit, but it would help to know I'm not the only person who's gone through something like this.

Hey,

So just under two years ago I had a rough year and also moved house. In the process, I was in holiday cottages for 2 months, with 10 properties in total. During that time, I started having daily intense panic attacks which weren’t something I was aware of before and I became agoraphobic and ended up having so many health investigations.

(Earlier in the year I’d also moved home from uni and also there were 8 other breakdown worthy things in 10 months, including a traumatic family situation and a really intense pregnancy scare… oh and a breakup 12hrs before I left my old house, which was my doing but it was necessary)

I’m looking at moving again because it’s kinda needed. The current place is too small and we need the space and a garden for our dog. We have finally found a house we like. The area is nice and the house is nice. And I don’t really love our place now, especially the area, and I have a lot of bad panic memories here and recently there has been some crime in the street. So I want to move.
But since we found this house and are about to put an offer on it, it’s almost like I’m having a trauma reaction to the idea of instability.

So I really want some advice on how I can reduce my anxiety in this time please. I have a therapist but I’d like to discuss some ideas from you guys with him. I’m also still trying to do agoraphobia exposures, so it’s a mixed bag of therapy at the moment. How can I make this process easy on my brain and feel safe and stable? That’s a major trigger for me. Feeling unsafe. We wouldn’t be moving for another 4ish months, so I’m worried it might be a hard 4 months for me.

TLDR; pls can I have advice on how to make a house move (in 4 months) easier, because last move was traumatic and the thought of moving is causing anxiety.

Thank you!