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Massive panic attacks after Vaccine- Please help

Anonymously_Me
Community Member

Hi, so I want to start by saying I'm all for the Covid vaccine and people should get it.

So after I got the jab I knew that I'd feel like fainting and told the nurse and doctor about it- Knowing how my anxiety affects me I wanted to get to it before it got bad. I needed to lie down and then on the way home had to lie down in the car as every time I got up and felt like vomiting. But I knew that would happen so anyway.

I got it a couple of days ago and I keep getting constant anxiety about blood clots and not being able to breath- which has been making it difficult to breathe. Last night I had 2 extreme panic attacks that required my Mum to help me with breathing and counting, I was shaking I was sweating I was rocking back and forth and crying and I was asking my Mum to help me I was in so much mental pain and so emotional and distractions won't helping which I normally do to help calm me down, I tried sleeping with my fidget cube in my hand, listening to music and watching tv and nothing helped because I was in this continuous cycle of fear and my anxiety kept adding to that.

After half an hour I managed to calm down but then it flared up again. I had to wake my brother up and asked if I could watch some TV in his room for a bit which helped. Finally later on I managed to somewhat sleep but even today when I got up now it's got me again and it keeps coming back. Please if anyone can think of anything to help because it's tiring and it's like getting constant panic attacks I've had anxiety for all my life but this is extremely emotionally painful šŸ˜ž

20 Replies 20

You are not alone, i just had my second Pfizer vaccination today and the strongest side effect i am having is dizziness.

Its very disconcerting and is causing my anxiety to go into overdrive. Keep in mind though that dizziness is a somewhat common side effect of the vaccine and in most cases passes within a few days.

You 100% made the right decision to get vaccinated and when the side effects pass, you will have comfort knowing you are protected from serious complications from covid.

Hang in there, you have got this!

Thankyou for your advice. Feeling a little better today. I am taking day by day. I have games on my phone to distract me I also have Apple Watch with Breathe on it which helps and I find touch like having someone gently rub back leg or arm helps I concentrate on what I am feeling helps distract mind. when I am having a panic attack though all techniques seem to be forgotten.

yes I am stressed over 2nd jab. A whole lot of things at the moment I think withdrawals donā€™t help. My eldest son isnā€™t living with us or talking to us anymore and recently had a falling out with my inlaws.

I am hoping meds kick back in soon. Drs put my medication back up. I think with everything that has been going on and withdrawals it was to soon to taper just to start new meds because of weight gain. I have been so good now o am constantly anxious.

Hope you are feeling better. Anxiety is the pits.

Ric65
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni

Hello Anonymous me,

First I would like to thank and commend you for sharing. Awesome. The first step is always the hardest, accepting and reaching out, you have done it.

Anxiety can stem from many reasons. I understand the way you feel as I did go through the same. I got a life coach and we worked together, I got to face my fears head on. It would really be worth your while to get coached on this. I am willing to help coach you as I have coached a couple f anxiety cases and they are happy now.

The best thing is reaching out knowing that you are not alone in this. Talking about it helps a lot.

After my first vaccination I was a mess. My chest got tight, couldnā€™t get a deep breath, kept thinking about it constantly and sort of still do. Iā€™m due for my second dose tomorrow.
my husband is getting his done too so Atleast he will be there.
I went to the doctor last week because I just couldnā€™t stop worrying. After going Iā€™m abit more at ease but still very worried. Not about the needle or anything itā€™s more that there has/is so much negative comments about it and Iā€™m reading too much into it and scaring myself.

JakeM13
Community Member

Iā€™ve been struggling a lot after the shot too, the first two days after the shot I was fine but then from day 3 onwards I started getting more and more anxious. I had to check my self in to emergency one week after my first shot of Moderna because i was peaking that much and no matter what I was doing I couldnā€™t settle, I was certain something was going on with me, long story short all tests came back fine and 2 days after visiting emergency I finally have my breath semi back to normal and I am starting to come out of the spiral, although I have a deadly headache and I am completely exhausted from being so absolutely wound up for the good part of 5 or more days.

I hope youā€™re doing okay now. Thanks for a relatable post thatā€™s making me feel not so alone.

Ric65
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni

Hello anonymously me,

Just thought I would check in and see how you are going? Remember, we are here to stand with one another and to assist one another.

Ric

Hi!

I know this post is kinda old but I wanted to know how you went on your second dose? I have my second dose tomorrow and I am a basket case of stress because I too check my heart constantly and it is always racing. I am so terrified itā€™s going to give me a heart issue!!! I would love some reassurance šŸ˜„

Sorry I had just got this message. My second dose was fine

but now I have to get my third one to keep my job and Iā€™m a mess.

sbella02
Community Champion
Community Champion

Glad to hear that your second dose went well, Bell87.

I also experienced a lot of anxious feelings before my third vaccine. I'm quite afraid of needles, which I never really used to be until the past few years, so these feelings are new to me. I had a brief chat to my GP before my third just to ease my mind, so you could always have a little talk to your GP if you're feeling anxious at all.

SB

Bell87
Community Member
Iā€™m getting it today. Iā€™m thinking of talking with the nurse before hand. I just think with all the media around the vax has contributed to my anxiety a lot. I had a whooping cough needle around 3 years ago and it didnā€™t bother me this much. I didnā€™t google or anything. I have health anxiety so just so so worried about my health.