Newly Developed Panic Disorder

Panicked_Kylie · ‎06-07-2021

Hi! Im about to type a novel. I don't expect anyone to read it, I just wanna write it out. I'm not into posting my stuff on Facebook for the world to see, and I know it's safe here.

I'm 32 years old and I've always had general anxiety. These last two months though, I've developed a full blown panic disorder. I'm constantly nervous and my chest is in almost constant discomfort or pain. I've been on anti-anxieties for a few weeks now that have only slightly worked. I've had my heart checked, I recently had all my bloods done and they came back clear. I'm in otherwise good health apparently.

I have no idea why this is happening to me now. My doctor recommended I quit coffee- apparently I drink a lot of it. I use it to substitute sweets, snacks, and food cause I have a habit of binge eating. So my coffee consumption might have a little to do with it. We'll see. It's my only vice, and I'm not sure what I can replace it with.

Otherwise, I'm tired, frustrated, confused, in a constant state of discomfort and worry... it's become a self-fulfilling cycle of panic and symptoms. It's difficult to know how to stop it when it keeps feeding itself.

I do a lot of things to help distract me. At night, I play thunderstorm sounds. I still get woken in the middle of the night feeling like my heart is beating out of my chest. Feeling waves of nervousness wash over me as I try sleep through it or ignore it. The pounding heartbeat just gets louder and louder. I have a lot of trouble sleeping these days. Either I don't get to sleep til all hours of the morning, or I get woken at all hours and can't get back to sleep for hours after. My GP has finally prescribed me with something to help me sleep... I hope it helps. I still have a couple of weeks to go before my anti-anxiety starts taking full affect.

I have to trust the doctor when he says he's not worried about my heart. Its really difficult with the physical chest symptoms, but I have to have faith. It's been going on for 2 months now, and I'm not dead yet. I don't feel sick- just nervous and uncomfortable with an almost constant chest discomfort/pain. For it to apparently develop out of nowhere just adds to the anxiety.

I've had anxiety my whole life... why is it now suddenly eating me alive?

white knight · ‎07-07-2021

Hi, welcome

Yes, I used to have anxiety and those panic attacks.

Anxiety is a serious illness that is often under rated in its affect on our lives. Therefore the remedies are vast in that one tablet isnt enough, life changes are usually necessary.

You mentioned worry. Worry is a symptom and I cover that in a thread in this post.

A lot of what you need to do is from your own plans and changes like career, environment, employment workplace, toxic family members and diet. So make the changes you need to make.

You only need to read the first post of each.

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/worry-worry-worry

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/anxiety-how-l-eliminated-it

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/a-city-to-country-relocate--why-not-

Repost anytime.

TonyWK

David35 · ‎17-07-2021

I found there's usually a subconscious reason why the panic attacks occur. Mine are caused by back spasms and fear of being idle. It's almost like I worry about not having something to worry about! This last week I felt anxious and couldn't identify why. Then I realised it was coming up the fifth year of my dad's death. Sometimes a bit of soul-searching can help or talking it out with others around.

Hanna3 · ‎24-07-2021

Hi Kylie and welcome!

I had panic attacks long ago but they gradually almost disappeared. So you can get over them!

Prolonged chronic anxiety can cause them and I wonder if this has happened to you.

There is a book called Living with It by Bev Aisbett which is a quite fun little book on how to deal with panic attacks - the author herself used to have them. Maybe your local library might have it?

Deep breathing exercises and meditation/yoga and relaxation techniques can help.

Are there any stresses in your life that you could somehow reduce? It's good you've started some medication.

It sounds like you're already taking steps to help yourself which is great.

I hope you can also find help and support here! Panic disorder is so unpleasant but you can beat it! All the best.

I like the idea of playing,thunderstorm sounds! 😊

therising · ‎25-07-2021

Hi Panicked_Kylie

My heart goes out to you during this incredible challenge you face to make sense of things. You've led me to wonder about a lot. I can see others here who have thoughtfully offered you advice and suggestions based on their own experiences and/or sense of wonder.

Looking at anxiety from the perspective of 'hyper activity', I suppose the question is 'What's hyping you up so much?' Another question could even be 'Are you becoming more sensitive for some reason?' Are you becoming more sensitive to your thoughts to the point where they send your heart racing or ramp up your nervous system more easily? Are the triggers that usually give you some basic amount of energy or activity leading to excess levels of energy or hyperactivity? I'm a gal who can relate to the coffee factor. I'm good 'til the 4th cup then bamm. Sometimes it's even a bit of a combo factor. I can have 3 cups and then drink a couple of glasses of water after that. Water naturally energises the cells in our body. So with the 2 drinks combined I'm primed to feel a hyper nervous system. I have to vent.

I have a friend who's going through peri menopause, who was waking up at night in a sweat. This coupled with fatigue and waking anxiety prompted me to lead her to consider what kind of hyperactivity was waking her up in such a way. Was she having nightmares she actually couldn't recall, setting off her nervous system or maybe she could consider being tested for sleep apnea. With SA, the body goes into hyper mode as it gets shocked into breathing. At first, she insisted this is normal for someone going through peri menopause before she got tested. She was diagnosed with severe SA. With a CPAP machine, her symptoms have gone.

COVID lock down has been a challenging factor for people who suffer with anxiety and natural hyperactivity. While outside activities which normally shift focus aren't there, there's more time to spend in the mind, triggering the body. With natural hyperactivity, it's not hard to imagine the challenges faced by a person who has ADHD who has had their 'go to' venting resources removed. If they play team sports to vent or travel afar for an intense bike ride work out, without these that's a lot of activity to keep in and feel.

If you're sensitive to increases in mental and physical energy, are you possibly becoming even more sensitive to it, hence feeling it more often? Personally, I've become a lot more sensitive to caffeine, my thoughts and other triggers.

🙂