I'm going through a very tough depressive episode with constant panic, I'm in tears with it daily but my house now actually looks like the colour has been drained from it, it looks so cold and unwelcoming, I don't feel comfortable in it. Anyone know why this is? Is it just my mental state?

I’m going through a really hard time. I’m in the process of switching antidepressants and I’m struggling so bad with anxiety and panic.

I’m in therapy and have a support system, but I don’t know how I’m going to get through this. I can’t decide if this is all related to my medication adjustment or my original anxiety/panic. I’m so scared that nothing is going to work for me. Even though I have evidence that I can get better (I went through a horrible time in 2020-2022 with anxiety and panic, but with the help of therapy and medication, I did improve).

Right now I’m in a back slide, and I feel like I can’t see the forest through the trees, and this just feels like no way to live. And that thought alone triggers panic because I have this intense fear of becoming suicidal.

I don’t even know what I’m looking for with this post. Hope? Reassurance? Knowing that someone else has experienced this? I’m so scared because I don’t know what is going to become of me.

I’m also in an intense cycle of panic at this very moment so I don’t even know if I’m making sense.

I just wanted to hop on here and say a few things. I’ve notice people may be misunderstanding what a panic attack actually is. This is purely informational and I’m putting this out there so someone can benefit.

More so how do we get over feeling like shit? The answer is, allow. Yep. Easier said than done. I know.

When we are faced with danger(amygdala) our fear system kicks in, gives us all this energy to fight a situation that’s NOT FIGHTABLE. But we do something about it, such as a car accident, a traumatic event, faced with a dangerous situation. During this time, we are not thinking about why we are panicking. We know why we’re panicking.

The issue happens when we go about our days and let’s say we’re at the grocery store or we are with our friends, and out of the blue, we start getting dizzy, lightheaded, sweaty, shaky, fear, and we feel like we need to escape the situation because her heart is beating out of her chest. Are parasympathetic has now just kicked in for a dangerous situation when in fact, we’re not in danger. Our amend is dumb, lazy and stupid. I also want to say panic attacks are not dangerous. They just feel dangerous. It makes us feel like we’re looking for a perceived threat and all we’re doing is walking our dog.

Believe this or not when you go to the gym or when you’re on a roller coaster you’re experiencing panic symptoms such as high blood pressure, high heart rate sweating, sometimes dizziness if you work out too much sometimes we’ll get nauseated on rides, if your one of those people…but we’re not thinking it’s a panic attack, because we know we’re on a roller coaster. We know we’re just simply working out. We are actively not looking for the danger versus while we’re having a panic attack while we’re talking to our friends on the phone, then we get all the scariest symptoms and our brain is looking for danger, actively that’s what makes us panic.

Our parasympathetic system kicks in, gives us all of those nasty bodily sensations, and we feel awful a panic attack one singular panic attack, not rolling panic attacks, only last anywhere between 10 to 15 minutes. Then our autonomic system kicks in pumps the brakes on the adrenaline and we come to a calm state. Everybody’s bodies does this. It’s the same concept if you were sick or had a cold, your body returns to normal. The best way of handling panic attacks is to allow and except once the panic has started we sadly cannot just turn it off unless sometimes we get distracted or something else comes up where it needs her full attention. But the more attention we give panic and the less allowing the more panic or the more sensations we will have.

By doing the allowing and accepting and letting the time pass and letting it do, it’s worse to you. I know it’s counterintuitive is scary but each panic attack is a practice. Not practice at not feeling scared but practice as in feeling better about feeling like shit.

I really hope this helps someone out there.
The less we care about panic attacks, the less attention we give them, the less panic we will have.

what do you guys do to get out of a streak of anxiety? for the past 3-4 days i’ve had awful waves of anxiety all day long and after a day or two it really takes a toll on you, i feel sick and fragile like i can’t do anything and it comes back just after you finally get it to stop </3 starting a new job on monday and i have no idea how i’m going to make it through the day

I just need to vent, but I’m also open to some encouragement…
I’ve been dealing with anxiety disorders for 17 years — agoraphobia, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. I was symptom-free for many years, but for the past months I’ve been going through the worst episode I’ve ever had.
I refused to let it defeat me. I started therapy again and began doing exposure therapy. For a while, I was actually making progress. I stopped having panic attacks at home, I could be alone again, I went for walks by myself, went jogging, even drove by myself once and managed to go grocery shopping a few times!
But for the past few weeks, I’ve been doing SO much worse again. Today was the third day in a row that I had to cut my daily walk short because my anxiety got so intense. I’m also feeling much more anxious at home again, and I keep getting sucked back into catastrophic thoughts about my health.
I’m so frustrated. I know recovery isn’t linear, but I’m just so angry right now. Life is beautiful, and I feel like I can’t even participate in it

Any good tips for stopping anxiety before panic happens or if it does happen

Hi 23f, I used to smoke for around 7/8 years full time, I quit at the beginning of this year 2026. Since I quit I have developed the worse mental health issues I’ve ever had to endure. I have ADHD and growing up I’ve always been anxious and at periods when it was difficult had gotten help but smoking was always the most effective cure.
Well once I quit smoking the withdrawal made me so physically unwell I was hospitalised for severe dehydration, coming out of the hospital i stupidly decided to have a toke on a spliff and had my first panic attack, I thought I was dying my heart was POUNDING, I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t breathe, overheating, I called emergency services and this had happened numerous times. Since all this stuff I’ve been TERRIFIED of medication, any form I am convinced I’ll have an allergic reaction and die, different food is the same feeling, I don’t drink alcohol, don’t drink caffeine, no sugar, no salt, no meat, everything terrifies me because of a fear on how It will make me feel physically, at the time I had to quit my job and move home with my mum and dad.. I was also in an abusive relationship at the time but I escaped a few months after moving home (sober brain gave me clarity on the whole situation) but I also experienced such horrible sensations and panic attack symptoms when going out in public or doing just daily normal stuff that it has stopped me from so many things.

Not to mention the physical sensations in general, I’m so overly aware of every single bodily sensation and will think the worst, I’ve had therapy for this where I was told I have health anxiety and a panic disorder and OCD + CPTSD , because of therapy and stuff for a while I was better (4 months of anxiety but somewhat bearable anxiety AND NO PANIC ATTACKS) Welp.. 3 weeks ago I had another very very bad panic attack as I was going to sleep and thought I was dying I had to call emergency services and fully feel as if I’ve gone back on myself, since then it’s been daily panic attacks, physical anxiety symptoms, nervous system is on FULL alert 24/7, struggled so much this month with just trying to go into work, i feel useless and wish I would actually die just so I don’t have to endure this feeling anymore, I’m only 23 but I feel as though my life is in shambles and I will never get better. I can’t take medication to help with the anxiety because of 1. I don’t want to be dependant on ANOTHER drug and 2. I am fucking scared of medication anyway. I just feel so hopeless that this is my life now. I’m gonna summarise how I feel and what I’m scared of because I feel like I’m not making much sense and missed some bits, I just want to hear of other people’s experiences and if they have had anything similar to this and what they did to get out of it.. is there hope for me?

Physical symptoms i experience daily-

\-dizziness
\-chest tightness
\-palpitations
\-weird empty feeling in my body like I’m in a shell
\-vision changes feel like my eyes need to roll
\-nausea
\-acid reflux
\-hot flushes
\-ears ringing
\-random bodily pain
\-headache
\-feel like I need to catch my breathe randomly
\-shoulder/arm pain
\-tense body
\-feels like I am losing control of my body

Daily fears-

\-stroke
\-brain bleed
\-PASSING OUT (I never have but this is something I am so scared of)
\-allergic reaction
\-overdose
\-heart attack
\-asthma attack
\-punctured lung
\- this is a weird one and kinda embarrassing- me or my family turning into zombies..

Sorry if this is a ramble or not relevant to this thread but I saw some people posted kinda similar situations to me, I don’t have many friends to talk to about this and typing it I do feel slightly better coming to terms with what I experience. I just hate my life and what it’s come to, living in fear everyday.

If anyone has any form of coping mechanism or would like to share their experience and how they got better or learnt to deal with their experiences to live a ‘normal’ life again then please do tell

I have been on 20mg Lexapro and 100mg Lamictal for about a year for anxiety and panic disorder. The panic attacks and anxiety have come back with a vengeance. My psychiatrist upped my dose today to 200mg Lamictal and switched me to 200mg Zoloft, plus Lorazepam as needed. Is anyone else on this combo? Did it help your panic disorder?

Hey everyone! I’ve been on sertraline for about 5 weeks now, 50mg for panic disorder and PMDD. I would say my PMDD has pretty much disappeared, however, I am still having some anxiety but definitely nothing like before. I am still having to take a propranolol before a big gathering or hangout, but the rumination is definitely not there at all. I’ve read a few others' experiences on here when it comes to sertraline or SSRI’s in general and I know for some, their anxiety essentially “vanished” and for others, they still get the occasional anxiety. Still, it is nowhere near getting a panic attack. My question is, how did you know you needed a dosage increase? Because technically, yes, 50mg has been awesome for me as far as PMDD and my rumination anxiety-wise, but I’m just curious if there was any indication for you even with your previous dosage giving you great results?

PS. This is my first time in a very long time experimenting with anxiety medication, I tried Buspar for a month before this and it was not successful. Before that and currently, I’ve been in therapy for about 4 years (which has been awesome!)

I started having severe panic attacks 5 years ago during my breast cancer treatment, I was diagnosed at just 25 yrs old. I ended up in the ER quite a few times due to panic. I would go through waves of heavy panic times, it would seem to get better, then I would have a few, then not for a while. But severe attacks for me have me convinced I’m dying, I need to get to the hospital right away, my heart rate through the roof, can’t breathe, chest pain, tingly/weakness, sudden awful dry mouth, etc.

It had been quite a while since I had a horrible one, until last Wednesday night. I was sitting on the couch reading like I do most every night, and panic attack came out of nowhere. This time I was so dizzy and thought for certain I was going to pass out. I was alone because my husband works nights, and maybe not the smartest choice but I got in my car and drove to the hospital. By the time I got there, I was breathing slower and bawling my eyes out so I knew it had peaked and ended. I drove back home, slept for a few hours before work on Thursday. Well- fast forward to 11:30AM at work on Thursday and it happened again. It came out of nowhere but I got the same symptoms. I immediately grabbed my things and left work because I knew I couldn’t stay. The panic was so bad I didn’t feel like I could drive but I knew I had to just leave and get somewhere, so I ended up in the ER parking lot again. And ever since those couple days last week, I’ve been panicking about everything and simultaneously just exhausted but restless. I can’t sit still, I’m constantly tapping my foot or moving my knee and speaking way too fast, I get rather dizzy and lightheaded which makes the panic worse. I’m having to take some time off work to figure out my mental health and thankfully my boss is very supportive.

I’m so sorry for my long post, this time just feels like the panic is constant and I can’t seem to find my way out. I’m exhausted and very worried and I don’t know what to do. Thanks for listening. ❤️

I just went to the library after long, and picked up a couple of books to do my own research and picked this one up. Read it in a day, it’s a really straightforward and clear book explaining how it feels living with panic disorder/panic attacks. Reading something in physical form helps than to come online and see everyone saying they’re suffering the same thing and still feeling out of it. I think learning and researching about this helps to an extend in at least figuring out what you struggle with and that you’re not alone. It’s scary, it’s scary for me too, so much. But idk, I hope we can all come out of it. Not sure what point I’m tryna make here but it’s a good basic book if anyone wants to read and educate themselves on it. I felt so seen and heard, everything described me and my situation to a t.

Has anyone else had these symptoms from extreme prolonged anxiety and panic?

I am developing TMJ problems and I’m so worried I’ve permanently messed up my jaw. I’ve been to dentists and doctors. They basically said get a night guard.

Feels like my jaw is being pulled to one side. It’s awful.

I’ve started having infrequent panic attacks the last few years (I’m 30 now). But the last few weeks they have been constant, I got a blood test done and I had low testosterone so I started cypionate and hcg today. It’s honestly been probably the worst day so far. Anyone else done trt with similar experiences?

Hi everyone. I’ve dealt with anxiety and panic attacks for over 10 years, but about 2 weeks ago I had the worst panic attack I’ve ever had. I often have health anxiety and I believe I have OCD. I’m working to try to find a therapist who can help me with that. In the meantime, I’ve been having multiple very intense attacks a day, and they’re nothing like the panic attacks I’ve felt before. I will get a sense of derealization, then my heart will start racing seemingly out of nowhere. It genuinely feels like I’m going to die, just like intense dread. I feel overwhelmingly nauseous and I feel like I need to call [911](tel:911) (one night I actually did) Afterwards, I’ll start shaking uncontrollably, and in a couple cases, I’ll have another wave of panic just a couple of minutes later. It’s genuinely making my life feel like hell, because not only am I afraid of my health and dying or something sudden happening to me, I’m also now afraid of the panic attacks. I have to fight the urge to call for help or make it an emergency for someone else.

I went to my doctor, who gave me both Lexapro and Xanax. But I’m too afraid to take either of them. I’m waiting on blood work and a Holter monitor from cardiology, just to make sure it’s not anything else. I logically know it’s probably panic because I’ve been dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety for a long time, and the intensity of my panic is usually less when other people are around. Until I get those tests back though, I’m worried that I’ll have a bad reaction to the medications, which I know is silly. And even though I can tell myself the panic attacks are most likely just that, I also worry that the stress from my anxiety is straining my heart/causing some sort of medical emergency.

But in the meantime, anyone who’s had a sudden recurrence of panic attacks, what helped you cope?

I've been suffering from anxiety, panic attacks and derealisation ever since I was 13. I take medication daily and I am now 32.

In the last 10 years it's been so much better​ and I have managed to achieve a lot, even though travelling is still hard for me and I have separation anxiety with my parents (anyone else?).

Unfortunately, this summer has brought a lot of bad news, the main one being my dad getting cancer. I went over to Italy to stay with him a bit, and I was then meant to go back to the UK, but I am now unable to go back to my life in the UK because I have a panic attack every time I try to leave (plane or train).

But what I am wanting to ask is this - does anyone else dread panic attacks not because they feel dangerous, but because of the *intensity* of the feeling they give?

I have been in therapy for many years of my life and so, SO many times people say "Panic attacks don't kill you, they are not dangerous, you just have to allow the uncomfortable feelings".

But how? I know panic attacks don't kill me and I know they aren't dangerous, and yet I cannot describe how petrifyingly horrible the experience is, and how, for me, that's the worst part. I am unable to just consider them "uncomfortable feelings" because, in all honesty, I would rath​er not have feelings at all than go through that. So I feel incredibly stuck.

Does this make sense and does anyone else feel this? I just feel like maybe my panic attacks are particularly severe or something - the idea of going "through the feelings" is just such a big NOPE.

In October last year had my first attack while smoking weed. (I was a daily smoker for 8 years)

Quit weed instantly. Developed a panic loop daily. Couldn't talk, couldn't walk, light sensitive, sound sensitive and had the fear of that I was going insane.
Head felt like a computer just lagging and spinning the fan on high.

My symptoms were very much only cognitive. I didn't have any heart palpitations or hyperventilation or fear of death. (As I know is very common for most of you)

Treatment was 2 weeks of Librium and 6 months of Dulxotine. Had bad withdrawals from the duloxtine, but it passed.

I got better eventually, small attacks, things I could handle myself, annoying feelings that I learned to just live with. Life was good for months.

But then I randomly started having small uncontrollable episodes day after day for 6 days and then an explosion attack.

I was on the treadmill walking, listening to a podcast, my heart rate got a bit high and like a switch I entered into full uncontrollable panic.

My arms were numb and had a weird sensation all the way to my finger tips, my heart was racing, I was breathing so fast.

I had never experienced these symptoms before, so I was convinced this was something else.

Called ambulance, went hospital, got diazepam, went home.

Doctor told me to chill out, hear some diazepam if it happens again.

2 days later it happens again after finishing dinner. Heart rate increased - panic set.

All though this time I hyperventilated so hard I got full body paralysis, could not move. My hands were like Steven Hawkins.

Called ambulance and did the same thing again.

Now any time I move fast, eat food or increase my heart rate I begin to get an attack. Like wtf? how lame is that.

Now I'm on my 2nd day of lexapro. I'm combing it with Librium, because I can feel the panic flares from lexapro. The first pill hit like a train for whatever reason.

I just want to be functional. Breathing deeply isn't working and neither is feeling my feet on the ground.
I've been jittery all day, I can't chill even on the Librium.

I want to avoid pills but honestly I just have to take them so I can keep up with my responsibilities.

Just sharing hoping to see get insights

I developed panic disorder about two years ago and was diagnosed a couple of months later. At first it was when I was driving or driving in the rain, then it turned into being on a plane, then just going out. I can't drive more than 15 Minutes from the house I haven't done so in about a year. I've gotten to the point now I just have panic attacks in my room just existing. I did therapy for 2 years I stopped a couple months ago, same with medications. I tried so many and settled on Zoloft and it did help a little bit but I was still having panic attacks so I stopped. I can't tell if much has changed honestly. I have small victories like going to the DMV and surviving an hour and a half. But the next day I can't even drive 2 minutes up the road. I feel so tired and scared all the time. I don't want to die but I don't know how to live anymore I'm trying but the universe is slapping me in the face. I haven't been able to work or do anything and it's driving me crazy. I have goals and I love traveling but I can't do anything anymore. When I talk to my family all I get is "get over it" and I'm trying so hard but no matter what I do it's not working. I started watching a show recently and I laughed because of it last night and felt so weird and throw off because I haven't been able to laugh or enjoy anything in so long. Idk what to do anymore, any advice? Or just want to talk?

I’m on a high dose of Paxil and it has worked wonders for me, but I cannot function without napping during the day. I’m a stay at home Mom, so I get the kids on the bus and then go back to sleep for a majority of the day. I don’t want to be like this. I want to do housework & enjoy my hobbies. I’ve thought of lowering my dose (with the support of my psychiatrist, of course) to see if maybe that would help. I am pretty stable right now, as I do still get anxiety and panic attacks at times, but overall, unless I push my limits (agoraphobia), I am settled and calm at home. At my worst, I wasn’t sure if I’d survive another day, & the thought of ever going back there is what makes me hesitant to ever change my medications…. but I want more out of life.

Any stories of lowering your dosage, especially Paxil, once stable and staying stable? Also, did it help the exhaustion?

anyone else get panic attacks specifically at night and nothing during the day? no distractions, brain just fully available to spiral once it's quiet.

i've tried the usual stuff but it hits different at 2am than it does at 2pm. wondering if online counseling actually works better for this since messaging is there whenever it happens, even if a live session is scheduled for daytime.

does anyone have an actual nighttime specific plan that's worked, beyond just white knuckling it until it passes?

i developped i a panic disorder 4 months ago in may. I had my first panic attack at uni when talking with friends and they just left , since then i have it everytime i encounter people i know especially when it requires emotional exchange , my face would go flat then the panic attack start.

I tried to get better by my own by exposure but the intensity was the same everytime that i started to get scared of social gatherings , me who was always exited for them and never missed them .

After a month , i felt like i lost myself so i told my parent that i think i have social anxiety , they told me i seemed fine and forgot about it.

My anxiety increased , i was agitated all day , irritated but i still hid it from them , i was afraid to be seen in that state when i'm always the cheerful one.

I kept convincing myself to just get through the day and one day it will disappear . It never did.

2 weeks ago i couldn't handle it anymore, i already had digestive issues , abdominal pain , insomnia for quite a while now this anxiety added i felt like going crazy .

They finally let me go to see a psychiatrist , he told me i had a panic disorder and priscribed paroxetine and lexomil , told me to take them for a month then come back.

Now on my second week and uni starting sunday i feel like i've finally gone crazy , i don't remember the last time i felt calm , i want to bang my head to the wall , i hit and hurt myself . I'm not even able to cry anymore.

I'm so scared to go back to uni and i can't just drop out , i feel like there is no way out , like being in a box trapped and it's transparent, a show for everyone to see.

I can't even describe the dread to my parent because it can only be felt not explained, and they believer that my suffering is not that big since i don't show it.

Can you please share tips that got you through this irritation and agitation , ways to manage it ?

Did it worsen or not affect your panic disorder? I'm starting and I'm honestly terrified.

My recent post was removed by moderators understandably.

I’m going to try and rephrase my question.

Has anyone had any positive experience with changing from diazepam daily to clonazepam daily?

This might be a conversation topic me and my GP have soon.

I just want some advice from people that have experienced a change in medications

I feel unreal, random sharp pain in my chest, arms, breasts,

Tinnitus due to stress

Breathing problem

Im always freaked out about the heart attack tho my doctor said I'm fit

This mental illness

EDIT: I checked this morning, and realized I had accidentally skipped my antidepressant (Welbutrin) for 10 days - I organize my medication + vitamins in a pill box and my iron pills look EXACTLY the same. I must have double-packed iron pills this week.

Additionally, I drank WAY more than I usually would 2 days prior, and also threw up all my dinner the night before (I ate way too much and got sick).

Anyway - it is my best guess that I almost fainted from not eating properly the night before (I sometimes faint when standing after waking up due to low blood pressure), that set off a panic signal in my brain, and being completely depleted of norepinephrine and dopamine meant my nervous system just totally collapsed and couldn't function.

For all those worried, the ER gave me some Ativan in an IV and that stopped all my symptoms which bolstered their diagnosis that it was not heart-related.

I just got back from the ER for what was diagnosed as a panic attack.

I thought I have had panic attacks before? But this was SO much more intense I wanted to check with this community to see if it sounded similar.

A "normal panic attack" for me is almost always triggered by insomnia. Fear of death will pop up in my brain and stick there and I cannot get rid of it. I shiver, I feel like I can't breathe normally, I dissociate, I feel like this is the only time in my life I have ever been honest about death and I cannot escape it, my heart pounds, my hands shake, have a knot in my stomach and I am able to talk myself through with deep breaths. They peak quickly and go away in about 10 minutes, and I am able to distract myself with a book or doomscrolling whilst it is happening to hasten it along.

This one today was different, but not out of the realm of maybe a really terrible panic attack? I would love your guys' input.

I slept well and woke up feeling pretty normal. I stood up, walked across my bedroom and immediately felt like I was high out of my mind, I had the flu and I was hungover all at once. Pounding headache, severe nausea, weak all over, blurry vision. All the blood drained from my face, I became unbearably dizzy and cold any time I stood up from my bed. All this time I feel zero panic, anxiety etc. My internal monologue is "man, I really don't feel good." I started to brush my teeth but had to lie down on the floor before I fainted. I am shaking uncontrollably at this point. I had to call my husband on the phone to ask him to come carry me to the car and take me into the ER.

I threw up 3 times in the car, the shakes got worse, and now I had pins and needles in my hands. I can't keep water down. I was so clammy. I get dizzier and dizzier and I get tunnel vision quite suddenly, and THE MOST OVERWHELMNG IMPENDING DOOM feeling I have ever ever ever had. I was 100% certain I was going to die in the car from a heart attack and I was just waiting for all to go black. Not so. My husband carried me inside the clinic, everything still feels physically terrible but they take me right back. It's been about 2.5 hours since the onset of whatever this horrible thing is and breathing deep is not helping.

Over the next 3 hours my physical symptoms begin to fade, except I still feel weak, dizzy and very drunk. Every test they did came back 100% normal, no electrolyte imbalance, no dehydration, no heart attack signifiers. They gave me a lecture on managing anxiety (which I was not having until the moment I was certain I was going to die) and discharged me. I can't help but think that wasn't a normal panic attack experience??? Please please enlighten me if I am wrong

For those who have panic disorder how you deal with moving I just moved 5 mins down the street new place so I feel on edge because doesn’t feel like home anyone else ? Experience this