I've been having the worse panic attacks I've ever had. My head feels like its burning, I get really shaky and feel I can't breathe. Yesterday I was terrified I was having a heart attack and I couldnt breathe properly. My head keeps burning when I start to panic. I couldn't concentrate on anything without panicking that I was dying yesterday so went to bed and wriggled and panicked until I slept. Woke up today and started panicking again. Im so scared of being scared and I cant distract myself I just cant help but focus on the panic. Im really terrified and dont know how to control my own mind. Im only 18 but am terrified I'll die. Please help!!
Hi Charlotte sorry to hear what you are going through, why do you think you are going to die? Is thinking that you are going to die setting off your panic or vice versa?
Hi. It sounds like classic anxiety and panic. Have you thought of going to see a DR. Could you speak to your parents??
Hey honey,
Have you talked to your doctor about the way you have been feeling? My panic attacks started at a really young age - 12 to be exact. I saw my PCP and they ruled out other health conditions. It wasn’t until I was 17 that I went on an antidepressant to help control my anxiety and it helped a lot! I have also seen a therapist on and off for years and I have Ativan which is a benzo that kicks that panic out when it starts. Talk to your doctor. There is no reason to live your life in constant fear! It is debilitating, trust me I know! Confide in your parents and a close friend as well. For me, it always helped to talk to someone about how I was feeling.
I've spoken to my mum at length - we're very close so it's easy to talk. She's very much a realist so when I have these panicky moments she is very rational and matter-of-fact. I've calmed down a bit today but am left feeling tight-chested and finding it difficult to breathe. At one point I was telling my mum I wanted to go to hospital because I was becoming very scared, but she made me lie down and try and calm. Eventually calmed, but still left feeling bad and my mind immediately goes to the worst scenario and decides my heart/lungs are really bad and i need to go to hospital because im dying.
I was previously on two different kinds if antidepressants - prozac then setraline - but came off them for side effects and stuff. I was having CBT with CAHMs for about 4 years and we tried medicine then when I came off it were back to square one with the therapy again.
I've spent about 4 months doing very little exercise because I recently left school dje to anxiety and my depression has been keeping me cooped up in fear of thr outside world. So having been inside sitting for so long im very unfit, which my mum reckons contributes to the trouble breathing as I dont exercise.
Sorry for the long reply, I'm reaching out for anyone who can help. Do u think having a doctors checkup would help? If at least to rule it out? Thanks for helping.
im a bit if a hypocondriac so a lot of the time I get panicked over my health. Recently I have been convinced my lungs/heart are failing and im very ill even though rationally I know thats probably not the case. But then I panic about it and when I panic I get tight-chested and all that and think im having a heart attack which makes my chest feel worse which makes me panic more. It's a pretty horrible cycle.
I talk with my mum lots about it. When it gets really bad I panic that I need to go to hospital. Now im on the come-down from panic my chest is very tight and a bit difficult to breathe, though my mum thinks its all part of it. Is the fear of cardiac trouble a common one with anxiety/panic? Would seeing a doctor help eliminate the fear? Thanks for the reply.
I know how you feel Charlotte I have heart anxiety I feel my heart all the time and listen in on it. I always get big thuds like skipped heart beats and they scare me so much I also seem to get a tightness in my chest and neck and arm when I'm really anxious, I've had tests done and everything is fine but I'm not convinced I'm not! I swear if I win loads of money I'm getting private health care and getting a full mot on myself lol! Just try and relax as much as you can 😊
Hi Charlotte. I remember when I had a severe anxiety and panic attack once. The ambulance was called to my house. I couldn't breathe I felt faint and I thought my heart was going to burst out if my chest. All.my tests were normal. Anxiety can definitely make you feel like something is wrong with your heart and breathing. Anxiety and fear can manifest in so many ways in our bodies. I would definitely suggest you go to the drs and get checked out. It will reassure you that nothing medically is wrong. You can then start to deal with yiur panic and anxiety. I know how you feel . It's beyond awful and so tiring. You will feel drained emotionally and physically. In some ways it's good that your mum is a realist and can help you to realise that nothing medically is wrong and you have to calm yourself down. Stay in touch. We are all here to help and support each other. Are you in the UK??
Hi Charlotte,
I am also 18 with the same fears as you. I always think something is terribly wrong with me due to all of the physical ways my anxiety manifests. I had a panic attack last month and believed I was having a heart attack and going to die. I have chest tightness and pains that go into my arm, headaches, etc. I think going to a doctor for some reassurance that you are OK could help. Seeing tests come back normal and knowing nothing is seriously wrong is very relieving. Know you are not alone in this and I understand how it feels to be this way, and so young. 
Yeah, now I'm thinking a bit more clearly all the panic has really exhausted me which is quite ironic considering I've been lying down. I'm booking a doctors appointment but it might be a while away, it's very busy even for a little village in England.
Thanks, when I think more rationally I realise it's unlikely I really have a life threatening illness, though at times it feels like thats all it could be. Im definitely booking a doctors appointment though it might not be for a while, they're very busy even in a tiny village. Did you go to the doctors about it? If so, how did that go? Did it help?
It's really reassuring other people have felt the same, makes me feel less crazy. Though I tend have anxiety about everything so having doctors tests is worrying, but I think its a good idea to hopefully put my mind at rest.
I've had worries about every part of my body thinking somethings horribly wrong with it, so knowing me if everythings all clear with my chest I'll be onto something new. When I was about 8 or 9 I was convinced I had brain cancer because if the panic headaches I'd get when I was anxious. Relaxation has never been my strong suit.
Anxiety can cause us such distress physically and mentally. Just rest as much as you can. I know.how desperate you feel you just want It to end. Good luck with the drs
I did go to the doctors about my chest pains. She assured me it’s anxiety because I’m so young and have never had any cardiac issues. It helped a bit I suppose, but sometimes I feel like she just dismissed my symptoms so quickly & I still have that thought in the back of my head. I’ve started therapy which really helps, exercising & yoga/meditation.
I've got a.doctors appointment this afternoon. Now I'm full of panic. I booked it thinking it would help get the worries of it being something serious out of my head, but now I'm terrifird its going to be something bad. Apparently the doctor I'm seeing is very nice though. I'm just trying to calm down before I've even gone.
Yes try to stay calm. The Dr will.understand if you are in a panic. Tell them all your symptoms and concerns. Let us know how you get on x
Back from doctors. She was very understanding. She checked my heartbeat and my oxygen levels and pulse and stuff and said I was normal. We had a good chat about anxiety manifesting itself into physical forms and the funny palpitation/flutter feeling is apparently quite normal but when your ao conscious of your heartrate can seem more worrying. She's prescribed me proponol (think I spelt that wrong), beta blockers to help with the physical side effects of anxiety. Comw home feeling quite shaky and still a bit funny but a bit less convinced this is the end, which is a nice change for the time being.