Hi everyone,
A few weeks ago I had my first big panic attack out of the blue. I’ve felt anxious and scared of having another since. On Christmas Eve I started having really bad anxiety and it has not stopped, I keep having panic attacks throughout the days. I am so scared 
I am taking Kalms but not sure if they are working. I am going to ring my doctor as soon as they are open again but I am having anxiety about speaking to the doctor, what tablets they will prescribe and if I’ll never feel like my normal self again.
I just want to feel okay again and I am so scared I never will. Has anybody experienced this? I feel so lonely. My panic attacks just come on out of nowhere, my heart races, I feel sick and start shaking. Then I convince myself I must be losing my mind and will need to go to hospital or something.
I’d appreciate any comfort, advice or sharing of your experiences. Thank you so much everyone
i’m sorry you are going through this and I know how scary it can feel. You’re definitely not alone because there are millions of people that feel exactly the same way as you do.
The first thing I want you to know is that even though the panicky feeling and symptoms feel very scary, they are not going to hurt you. most of the symptoms are caused by adrenaline that is released. Not harmful. just annoying.
try not to overthink this. That’s when you can create more anxiety. Don’t think too far ahead and try to predict what your doctor will say, what medication, etc. Just go ahead and call your doctor and make an appointment. You can make a virtual appointment also. doctors are very used to having patients with anxiety because it’s so common!
the dr. may or may not prescribe you something to help with the anxiety. If they do, it takes about 4 to 6 weeks to really take affect. It’s up to you if you want to take it or not but just wait and see what is recommended.
you are definitely not losing your mind. you are having the effects of anxiety and stress. I know exactly how you’re feeling because I’ve had it for a very long time. I am much better than I used to be and if I feel some anxiety coming on then I just go and relax and listen to a calming meditation for anxiety found on YouTube. I also practice proper breathing for anxiety. I don’t worry about it I just do what I can to manage it.
i’ve had panic attacks before. There’s a great talk down on YouTube that works very well for panic attacks. She guide you through it. Just search for something called stop panic attacks now and then scroll down to one called don’t panic. It’s in black bold letters.
one of the worst things you can do is just sit and think about how scared you are etc. That makes everything worse. Just go about your life and try not to take things too seriously. In other words try to stay out of your head and go do things to keep busy. Do things you enjoy and that make you feel happy. in other words try to stay out of your head and go do things to keep busy. Do things you enjoy and that make you feel happy.
One thing I did that really helped was to get a counselor on a regular basis. It really helps to talk to somebody else who can help you. This is difficult to manage alone. anxiety is the number one reason that people have counseling appointments.
1 so basically know that you are going to be OK and it’s not harmful.
2Call your doctor and make an appointment and write down questions you have.
3 Think about getting a counselor and having regular appointments.
4 And do things that keep you busy and that make you feel relaxed and happy. If you find yourself thinking too much, right away think about something happy and go do something. Everything will work out and just take one day at a time. Take care
Hi Jen.
You will be okay. You are definitely not losing your mind. This is just anxiety. I know it feels horrible and is very physically uncomfortable but it will not harm you in any way. It is just nervous arousal. I have had it on and off for many years and have experienced all kinds of weird bodily sensations and catastrophic thought but none of them came true This is just what anxiety is like. It’s not nice and we want to run away from it. That’s very natural.
I totally agree with the good advice given by Jan in the replies.
- You might feel that you are going to die, but you really won’t.
- You might think that you are going mad, but you are definately not.
- You might feel that you are the only one but, believe me, there are many, many people out there who are feeling just as awful and distressed as you are right at this moment. You are very much not on your own in this. It is very, very common.
- You will be all right. You will be okay. Try to accept it rather than fight it. I know that sounds counter-intuitive but it helps. Try to be curious about it and investigate how it actually feels in your body. Where is it? What colour would you give to it? What shape? Doing this brings you closer to accepting it and not running away from it and will help to slowly reduce your tension.
- It is not anxiety or fear that is the problem. It is the fear of fear. The fear and aversion to feeling these anxious feelings. Let it be. Nothing bad will happen. There is no need to fix it or fight it. It is only anxiety, your own natural protection system, filling you with adrenaline.
- Be very, very kind to yourself. There is no need to be heroic. Do whatever makes you feel better. I find reading a book in a nice warm bath helps. Or snuggling up to a hot water bottle and I find that meditation really helps.
- It will pass. This is just a blip in your life. You will return to ‘normal’ and be yourself again. You will be okay. There is nothing ‘wrong’ with you. It is just anxiety.
You have to address the reasons why you feel anxious.