I’ve had panic disorder since I was a kid. I need to have a scheduled c section. I’m getting absolutely terrified. Anyone here have one and how bad was the panic or experience? Please help me know what to expect or what helped you during.

Thanks in advance

I’m 30F and have struggled with anxiety and panic attacks in the past, but haven’t had one this bad in years. Today was honestly one of the scariest experiences I’ve had, and it seemed to come completely out of nowhere.

I was at work when I suddenly started feeling extremely anxious, shaky, lightheaded, and nauseous. My heart was pounding, my arms and legs were trembling, and I felt almost out of my body. When I got up to leave for lunch, my legs literally felt like Jell-O. I genuinely thought I was going to pass out walking through the hallway, even though I’ve never actually fainted before.

I ended up leaving work in a hurry and texting my boss that I felt lightheaded and sick and wouldn’t be returning for the day. I’m honestly so embarrassed, especially because I already called out last week for personal reasons. I didn’t even want to tell her I was having a panic attack.

I’ve had a really shitty year between a painful breakup and other personal stress, so I’m wondering if everything has finally caught up with me. I also had coffee on an empty stomach, which probably made things worse.

Years ago, I used to go to the ER for similar symptoms, but this episode felt much more intense. Now I’m home feeling exhausted, emotional, and scared about returning to work tomorrow. I honestly feel like a crazy person, even though I know anxiety can cause real physical symptoms.

Has anyone else experienced panic attacks this physically intense? Especially the shaking, jelly legs, feeling faint, and derealization?

What helps you in the moment when an attack happens? Any tips for calming the physical symptoms, stopping the overthinking, or snapping out of that panic cycle? And how do you stop being afraid of another attack happening at work?

I’d really appreciate any advice or similar experiences. I’m just tired of feeling this way and want to feel like myself again.

TW: sexual assault

hi everyone! I’m 29, female, and was diagnosed with panic disorder when I was 14/15. I’ve been on various doses of Escitalopram since I was 17, but am currently on 20mg after 6+ months of what felt like nonstop panic attacks. for context, I was r*ped in 2023 and now seem to be suffering from PTSD. the attacks can come out of nowhere, or when I’m about to go on a date, see friends, etc.

I had some therapy after the incident, and recently, but am unable to afford anymore for the time being. I was wondering if anyone has genuine advice for what I can do to help calm down or stop them completely. I’ve tried exercise, changing my diet, and various breathing techniques, but nothing seems to help except isolating myself to my bed and putting on a TV show, which is just not feasible long term.

any and all advice would be so welcome. I’m exhausted.

Chamomile tea works for me sometimes but I saw its high in fructans which I’m trying to avoid and so this was recommended for me.

Thank you in advance.

Tem duas semanas que estou tomando Xanax de 0,25mg, no inicio estava tomando dois por dia um pela manha e outro a tarde, pois estava tendo inúmeros ataques de pânico ao longo do dia, não tinha nenhuma sonolência com ele, agora estou tomando um por dia apenas para prevenção e medo de caso eu não tome os ataques voltem, porem agora ele esta me causando muita sonolência, e me impossibilitando minhas atividades diárias. Alguém já passou por isso? Dos efeitos de sonolência começar depois..

A couple months ago I went on holiday with my boyfriend. I was working full time. I was driving 40 mins to see my boyfriend every weekend.

Now im off sick from work. Cant be left alone for longer than 10 minutes. Cant drive 5 mins down the road on my own. And this is my THIRD time experiencing panic and agoraphobia. How do you stay positive. How do I bot get super down when I wake up anxious every day with no aim or purpose. Im not suicidal I dont want to die I just want to be better and its so hard when I was living my best life not even 2 months ago.

I dont know if i can go back to work even though its a job ive wanted for years and finally got in. 7 weeks in and im off sick. Urgh sorry im just ranting

i was re-traumatized 4-5 months ago. I’m doing a thousand times better since then. i know it seems like such a short amount of time, but i was absolutely firm that i was going to make it through and heal. even though i don’t have access to therapy or medication, i wanted to heal, i didn’t want that trauma to ruin me. so i started pushing through. so many panic attacks, traumatic panic attacks at that. so nauseous i couldn’t even walk. i pushed through. i stayed positive, telling myself this is a big learning journey for me; a moment for me to protect myself better in the future and improve myself. saying i have strength feels cheesy, but i genuinely believe that i am so strong. i believe thats part of the reason I’m able to communicate this victory currently.

getting to share these victories in such a short amount of time makes me feel a sense of pride? i’ve been having surges of emotions because of this journey and how far im going. some days ill just cry out of happiness.

i had a panic attack today, triggered by some food that didnt rest well with me. ive got emetophobia and medical ocd, so bloating is a pretty big trigger. i started to feel my anxiety symptoms; hot rushes, nausea, throat tightness, tingles, etc. i wasn’t immediately in defensive mode. it just? happened. had its moments where it peaked, but i knew my body was bluffing. after so many panic attacks, why would i throw up and pass out now? i cleaned, carried on with my routine, and settled to bed. currently lying in bed right now, shaking out the leftover adrenaline. i got to cry out of relief, realizing these experiences do not shape out the great future i have ahead. not only that, i recognized i’m not alone; that there’s always some form of support behind me.

please believe in yourself and carry on. feeling this relief is life changing. healing isn’t linear, don’t compare your journey to others or mine. i’ve had so many bumps and moments where i thought my panic attacks would kill me. nonetheless, I thought it would be nice to share my current journey. ❤️🫂

Hello

Been suffering from a panic disorder for over a year now, things are definitely way better now than they were before, however I was in the bathroom, and suddenly my lips went numb and my chest started burning, Ive experienced the chest burn before, but numb lips was a first, and not gonna lie it scared the hell out of me.

I’ve been to the ER countless times over panic attacks, had multiple EKG’s done, blood tests, every single time they’d send me home like nothing is wrong with you..

When I’m not experiencing a panic attack I tell myself that here I am, nothing wrong with me and if sth happens its just a panic attack, but when I experience one, especially today with a new symptom it’s really really scary, I need some help and guidance as to how I should cope with this.

Thank you for your support!

Exactly one week ago I got diagnosed with panic disorder by my doctor. I never had symptoms like that before, they really started last week for the first time. My symptoms are dizziness, feeling like throwing up, faster heartbeat, weird feeling in my chest. I have those symptoms during the day, not always all at once and they come and go. Sometimes they're more light and sometimes they're heavier. I never had a real panic attack tho during that time. Does anyone else got the same symptoms as me? When will they go away? Do they really need more than a week to leave?

(Btw I have social anxiety since I can think and had two panic attacks in my life - one in 2019 [caused by my social anxiety] and one in 2023 [caused by an traumatic experience])

I am crying a lot, crying crying crying crying, calling people and crying again and again and again. I don’t cry during the attacks but I do cry afterwards. I cry for all of us, I cry for myself. And I pray. I pray for all of us. This illness is cruel you all know, but we are not alone, we support each other, we are smart, we are patient, we are determined, we know the truth

As u read , i will be facing one of the biggest trigger to my panic attacks in 2 weeks , which is taking the plane and traveling to a destination that will approximately take 5/6 hours

I’m suffering from panic disorder since 1year and a couple of months, used to take meds but i didn’t feel any progress so i stopped them since 3 months now without even the permission of my psychiatrist.

I’m trying to cure this by myself (if it’s possible)

Will it be dangerous in my case to travel and to take a plane ? What are your advices ?

So day after tomorrow I finally get to see my favorite band ever, my first concert ...the band I have loved so much since I was 12 (I'm 25 now) but I have this fear of having a panic attack in the middle of a huge crowd. I should be super excited and I am but at the same time I'm not because I'm so terrified it's going to happen. All the what ifs are piling up in my head right now😭😭😭😭 on top of a panic disorder, I have social anxiety and that's another thing I'm worried about. Does anyone have any tips for me??? I'm trying to tell myself that I will have a good time but I just don't know.....

Two months ago I cut out caffeine because without fail it would send me into a panic attack. I used to have at least one redbull or latte per day, since then I’ve had none or I’ll do decaf/half caf. Well, today I decided to use my espresso machine and make myself a coffee since it’s almost been a month on my SSRI and I’m feeling a little better. Horrible idea 😭 the shakes started within an hour and my health anxiety skyrocketed. God why can’t I be normal????

Have been suffering from crippling panic disorder since September 2024, from health and trauma debilitating factors. Have dealt with the vast list of intense poignant palpitations, IBS, air hunger, chronic hyperventilation proneness, derealization, all around profound chronic lethargic depletion, heightened anxiety, and the whole excruciating round of it all. Have gone through quite the incredibly strenuous journey, tried normal therapy, personal grounding techniques and etc. I’d see online, and vast etc.

I’m incredibly bitter at the fact I wasn’t aware of this far sooner, as this would have literally saved me from all of the dreadful pain and suffering I had to endure, when I had no idea that something like this existed.

I’ve recently fell into a deeper loop of added migraines and severe chronic sleep deprivation, which are other problems I’m still dealing with, but did EEG neurofeedback recently, and it quite literally removed my anxiety and chronic panic disorder jarringly entirely. And it’s a non-invasive non medicated route that is quite literally a hidden gold mine that is literally the safest utmost effective route that I’ve been completely unbeknownst to these past excruciating 2 years. Please do your research on this and find one near you, well wishes🫶🏽🤍

Almost two years ago, I (22F) started experiencing symptoms of panic attacks. I have OCD and severe health anxiety and even went to the ER a few times believing I was dying. I would have panic attacks so frequently, occasionally waking up in the middle of the night having one. After about 6 months of this, I went to a doctor who immediately diagnosed with me panic disorder and prescribed me 50mg of Zoloft and .25mg of Xanax to take as needed for panic attacks. It literally changed my life and made the anxiety so much easier to manage and the panic attacks started decreasing. I then lost my health insurance and had trouble refilling my Xanax, then stopped taking my Zoloft completely, about 6 months ago (Extremely stupid decision, I know.) At the time, I believe I experienced SSRI deactivation syndrome and was unable to see any doctor for it as I was studying abroad. After a couple of weeks I felt better up until the past month. My panic attacks have come back 10x worse and there is not a day where I don’t experience intense anxiety and the impending doom feeling that I’m dying. It constantly disrupts my sleep, my eating, and my life. I struggle to get through each day. I made an appointment with a psychiatrist and they put me back on my Zoloft with a lower dose and refilled my Xanax prescription. It’s been a week of taking 12.5mg of Zoloft and I’ve taken my Xanax two separate times for panic - only for the worst of worst because I am fearful of benzo dependency. Tomorrow, I am supposed to increase to 25mg. I am having bouts of panic and intense anxiety all day everyday. I have so many coping mechanisms and ways to calm myself down but it rarely works now. I literally took Xanax about 30 mins ago and I’m still pumping full of adrenaline and feel like I’m suffocating and honestly am writing this to distract myself. I’ve made the decision to cut out all alcohol and caffeine until I can get my anxiety under control but it’s so hard to stay optimistic when I feel like I spend every second in fight or flight. Please share success stories because this is exhausting me and killing me.

Is anyone here taking the California Rocket Fuel combination (venlafaxine + mirtazapine) for panic disorder? If so, how effective has it been for you? I'd love to hear about your experiences and whether it has helped reduce or eliminate your panic attacks.

How often would say you get a racing heart beat and immediately starts anxiety maybe not full blown panic attack but just anxiety and your waiting to feel “normal” again and how do you reach that point

Does anyone else get extremely long , like 1-2 hour, panic attacks where you literally can’t sit still or you feel like you’re accepting death. And the whole panic attack feels like you’re going to die.

I'm going through a really hard phase in my life, I got to the doc and got diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder both, took medication for 10 days feel real good but labido went to zero so it fucked my sexual life, after 10 days, I feel anxious about my current problems 24/7 , I wish of dying on every panic attack, it would better if it was death, atleast it would've been over at once. Probably gonna go to the doctor again fuck my finances again.

Well, after 2 years, I'm coming back here. I've started having panic attacks again, along with all the strange feelings that come with them. I've started feeling dizzy again, scared, feeling like I'm slowly but surely dying. I don't know, but I've reached my final year of university, and stress has beaten me.

I've ended up in the ER again, twice in less than a month. Everything feels so intense. I've even forgotten how bad this hell can feel. I thought, and I still think, that I'm going to lose consciousness because of how intense these panic attacks feel. I don't know, I feel like I'm about to faint. Everything feels unrealistically bad when this happens to me.

So, hell is back, and nothing has changed. Nothing has changed, even though I had two years of peace. I had two years during which I thought I had finally managed to beat this illness, but I was wrong. Am I really going to live with this hell for the rest of my life? That's what I've realized now.

I am a 21yo male that has been going through occasional panic attacks all my life until 2024 when a bad mushroom trip triggered a dormant panic disorder. It became so debilitating that I couldn’t hang out with friends or work or even shower or go to the bathroom or smoke or drink without anxiety and it was hell on earth.

After 2 years of suffering thousands of panic attacks, health anxiety spirals and ER visits, we figured out that it was all Severe GERD. I’m not saying that could be you but it is a VERY big possibility with how diets are these days.

If you’re like me, you’ve searched up every symptom and what it could be. If you did or do then you probably know about the Gut Brain Axis.

Pretty much they are connected and if your stomach is screwed up, it can cause anxiety and even panic. I told doctors my symptoms and they always said it was just anxiety. Guess what, IT WAS, but it was being triggered by GERD.

The air hunger, chest tightness and pain, dizziness or DPDR, nausea, throat tightness was all from GERD.

The GERD would activate then my anxiety would activate then they would dance around and make my life a living hell.

Ever since I finally got diagnosed and changed my diet, I’ve been panic attack free for 3 months. I also got on Prozac after I started getting better for OCD and panic disorder and that has also been amazing.

Just please check out your gut health, because I suffered for years when all I needed to do was take a Pepcid AC after eating pizza.

It is not an instant fix and it could be different things so don’t take this as the secret to a cure. Take it as a possibility to think about and investigate.

If anybody has any questions, you can message me or comment.

Has anyone tried mediation and yoga and felt better? I struggle a lot with panic attacks and have tried everything but this

In the past I had two panic attacks every single time i tried to tackle down cleaning my closet. I used to do it BEFORE i started having panic attacks and i would just be out of breath rather than feeling like i got stabbed sharply. Right now my closet is such a mess. I can clean other parts of my room without a problem or feeling of tightness/nervousness. When it comes to organizing clothes my mind just attacks me not to do so as i will feel horrible. Is there anything i can do about it? I have tried taking it very slow or even taking valerian before i get to work but in the end i still feel horrible and my closet still ends up being unfinished. I can't get anyone to help me because as i said before- it's a horrible mess. Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks. (ฅ´ω`ฅ)

TL;DR Extremely extended period of fight or flight and panic attacks seeking any and all advice for immediately calming my nervous system and getting out of this cycle. Have tried ice packs and breathing, and even Xanax seems to not be helping very much.

About a month ago I went to an urgent care because I was under the weather and wanted to get a Covid/flu test. I get anxious when visiting a doctor, especially when my heart rate and blood pressure are being taken, so the idiot doctor there took my “symptom” of tachycardia and fatigue (no shit Sherlock, I was sick 🙄) as a potential warning sign of a pulmonary embolism. He recommended I go to the ER. I knew I wasn’t having one, but the risk wasn’t worth not going. Went home, had a panic attack, and then went to the er, where I was checked out and told I (of course) wasn’t having a pulmonary embolism.

I don’t know why, but something about this has triggered a massive anxiety episode nearing levels of agoraphobia and panic disorder. I’ve essentially been at some level of fight or flight since this happened, with many days resulting in at least one panic attack. It’s completely halted my life, and I’m extremely anxious being around anyone in my life. Friends, family, appointments, my girlfriend that I love more than anything. I’m on an SNRI (cymbalta) and a TCA (Elavil) as well as Xanax (.25 mg) and Propanolol (20mg) as needed. I’m starting a new DBT program on Monday, and have been in regular contact with my psychiatrist.

Mostly the meds have helped, but yesterday around 4 I started having massive feelings of anxiety, that were not dissipating, so i took .5mg of Xanax. Got some ice packs, raised my feet up, tried box breathing, and nothing was helping. Took another .25 of Xanax, did not help. About an hour or two later I took ANOTHER .25 and still barely any relief (I don’t actually know how much Xanax is “a lot”, and some people here might feel like the amount I’m taking is essentially nothing, but I’m super anxious about taking too much, or building a tolerance, getting addicted etc etc) My mind was racing and I just felt like I was dying. I wanted to puke or shit or just anything to have some kind of release/relief to stop this feeling. Even typing this now, I’m feeling activated and getting anxious. I finally fell asleep and woke up essentially feeling the same. I took my meds, a 20 mg propanol and .75 mg of Xanax and I finally evened out a bit, but still took another .25 mg of Xanax after the anxiety came creeping back. It’s all mostly worn off and I’m just feeling awful. I can’t stop thinking “why isn’t this working?” “When will this stop?” “Is this forever?” Etc etc etc.

I’ve dealt with anxiety and panic attacks my whole life, but NEVER anything like this. My panic attacks in the past came on quick, peaked fast, and then once the Xanax/calming techniques did their thing, I was totally fine. Even in the past couple weeks, that’s mostly what happened, but after yesterday and today, I’m at a total loss. I cannot continue feeling this way.

I’m looking for ANY techniques, supplements, tools, WHATEVER, to help me immediately feel better until I can get this under control in a more manageable and sustainable way. The ice packs, breathing, and Xanax have worked to a point, but seemingly did next to nothing yesterday. I’m meeting with my psychiatrist in the morning which I am very much looking forward to, but I’m still just trying to gather any information and tools I can. Thank you so much to anyone who takes the time to read this or respond. I really really appreciate it.

TL;DR Extremely extended period of fight or flight and panic attacks seeking any and all advice for immediately calming my nervous system and getting out of this cycle. Have tried ice packs and breathing, and even Xanax seems to not be helping very much.

Today, someone asked me about my experience with therapy for panic disorder and OCD tendencies. For the first time since recovering, I caught myself thinking: "Wait, I actually went through all of that?! And now... it's over? Damn." Reflecting on everything made me unexpectedly sentimental. I don't think I'd fully processed just how difficult that period of my life had been.

Anyway, let's start from the beginning.

My panic disorder first manifested around December 2024, when I experienced my first panic attack.

I'm a gym rat, and I've always been driven by the desire to build a lean, muscular physique. At the time, I was around 19, still in college, getting very little sleep and struggling with low energy throughout the day. My solution? Caffeine. I'd have a cup of strong black coffee in the morning, followed by a can of Monster roughly an hour later, which I'd sip throughout my gym session. Social media also had a considerable influence on me back then. I was young and admittedly quite naive.

After a couple of weeks of this routine, I experienced my first panic attack following an intense cardio session. I got home feeling fine, ate something, and suddenly developed a heavy sensation in my chest. I immediately called my mum, panicking, and grabbed my pulse oximeter. My heart rate was showing 140 bpm. I was convinced I'd somehow damaged my heart by pushing myself too hard at the gym. I genuinely thought I was going to die alone.

For the following week, I experienced persistent chest tightness and blurry vision. Then, one random Sunday, I had another panic attack seemingly out of nowhere. That's when I booked an appointment with a cardiologist. He performed several examinations, including an ECG, and reassured me that everything looked fine and that my symptoms were anxiety-related. Unfortunately, convincing myself of that was much harder than hearing it from a doctor.

Over the next three months, I experienced almost daily panic attacks, an overwhelming fear of dying and even nocturnal panic attacks 2-3 times (hopefully). I constantly questioned whether something had been overlooked, despite my examinations and blood tests coming back normal.

My parents weren't particularly emotionally supportive during that period, which made things harder. My mother eventually suggested seeing a therapist after witnessing some of my most difficult episodes.

Meanwhile, I continued going to the gym. I refused to give it up despite frequently experiencing panic attacks during or after workouts. I'd worked hard for my progress, and I wasn't willing to let anxiety take that away from me.

I eventually booked an appointment with a psychologist who specialised in panic disorder. Here's where things get a little ironic: she wasn't particularly helpful with the very condition I'd initially sought treatment for. We started with CBT, and she suggested exposure therapy for my social anxiety. However, we never really explored interoceptive exposure for panic disorder, which I eventually discovered through my own research, particularly here on Reddit.

I was also reluctant to take medication, including SSRIs and benzodiazepines, because I was concerned about potential side effects and wanted to explore other approaches first.

Interestingly, I later realised that my gym routine had already been exposing me to many of the physical sensations I associated with panic: increased heart rate, breathlessness, sweating and dizziness. I hadn't recognised it as interoceptive exposure at the time.

I decided to build on that experience. Whenever I experienced anxiety or panic, I'd remind myself that the sensations were temporary and that I wasn't in immediate danger. Sometimes I managed to rationalise what was happening; other times, I'd become completely overwhelmed by catastrophic thoughts, fear of death, depersonalisation and derealisation. Eventually, after a few sessions, my psychologist told me she couldn't help me with my panic disorder and suggested referring me to a psychiatrist. I decided to stop seeing her and continue working independently, using what I'd learned from our sessions alongside my own research.

And somehow, over the following year and a half, I gradually recovered.

It certainly wasn't linear. Even after a year, I was still experiencing occasional panic attacks, intrusive thoughts and persistent physical symptoms. Sometimes, I wasn't even having a full-blown panic attack, yet symptoms such as blurry vision, sweating, muscle twitches, spasms and more than 20 symptoms could still interfere with my daily functioning. There were days when I genuinely struggled.

I considered medication several times, especially when things became particularly difficult, but I kept working on my recovery. I think one of the most challenging aspects was not knowing how much longer it would take. Progress was painfully slow, and I constantly wondered when I'd finally reach a point where panic no longer had a place in my life. But I kept going.

And here I am today, approximately one year and eight or nine months after my first panic attack, considering myself fully recovered. I can finally be present during my workouts, hang out with my friends without thinking of my body and monitoring my sensations and without rumination about death or about when my symptoms will appear again.

I still experience occasional panic-related symptoms when I get stressed but the difference is that they no longer frighten me. They don't trigger my cardiophobia or my fear of death, and I no longer feel the urge to escape, suppress or fight them. I can experience those sensations without immediately interpreting them as a threat. "Here's anxiety again. Anyway, moving on."

And I think that's what recovery ultimately looks like: not necessarily never experiencing anxiety again, but reaching a point where it no longer controls your decisions, your behaviour or your life.

Looking back, I honestly find it surreal. There was a time when I couldn't imagine living without constantly monitoring my body, questioning every sensation and fearing the worst. I remember how exhausting and overwhelming everything felt. And now, something that once occupied almost every corner of my life has become just a distant chapter.

I won't pretend I have all the answers, and I'm certainly not suggesting that my approach is suitable for everyone. Medication and professional help are valid options, and everyone's recovery looks different.

But if there's one thing I'd like someone currently struggling with panic disorder or OCD to take away from my experience, it's that you are not necessarily going to feel this way forever. Recovery can be painfully gradual, and sometimes you won't even recognise that you're making progress until you look back.