I feel like I’m being overly dramatic about my panic attacks. Any advice?

[BlueMusic51]

I’m new here and I’ve never posted anything like this online before, but here goes... So, I’ve struggled with numerous panic attacks since April 2018. Since my first panic attack, my anxiety seems to be getting worse and my panic attacks more frequent and terrifying. I also have a friend who struggles with anxiety. I wish I could help my best friend. I know I can’t make her anxiety go away, but experiencing it myself in what seems minuscule compared to her’s.. I can imagine how bad it is and it kills me to know that I can’t do anything to stop it. I know her’s is so much worse than mine. I understand that everyone’s anxiety is different, but I can’t help feeling like because my anxiety only affects me at certain times whereas her’s is more constant and intense, I shouldn’t be as.. affected (?) by mine, if that makes sense. I see her struggle every day and feel guilty for fretting over my panic attacks that may come up to three times a month and limited symptom attacks that happen more frequently but are much more manageable, while she has to fight her anxiety in its intensity almost every day. In comparison, my situation isn’t as bad, so I wonder if I’m blowing things out of proportion. I feel like I’m being overly dramatic about my panic attacks and whatever anxiety I might have. Am I just making this up, being dramatic? If so, how do I stop? If not, how do I accept that? I’m not quite sure what I’m trying to say or what I’m asking right now. I just don’t have anyone around at the moment that I could ask about stuff like this, so any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[Dicksoan]

Look me too I have a friend who had a mental disorder. Life sometimes bring together people with similar challenges so that they make help one another and get healed yet we fail this.so don't compare yourself with her and say yours is better no! The purpose of you being together is to talk to each other so that you open to her and she opens to you.then you will both be helped by having same problem. Go to her and share with her all your troubles and she will be comforted don't just listen to her rather speak out your heart also. And you will both find healing. Besides you just need to refuse and fight those panics and soon ull be free

[BlueMusic51 in reply to Dicksoan]

That's true.. Thank you so much for your advice!

[MomLeslieM]

No, I don't think you are being overly dramatic about your panic attacks just because your friend's anxiety is worse! You are BOTH suffering. st manifests in different ways - yours a few times a month in panic attacks and hers as a constant anxiety. Perhaps it would help for you to talk to her about yours as @Dicksoan suggested -- knowing you are having problems may help her a little bit also and you can try to support each other. Trying to figure out why you are both anxious would help and if you can talk things over together (what seems to make it worse, better, etc.) could help you both. When you do have your panic attacks does anything seem to help to make it go away or do they just sort of go away on their own? Did anything change in your life around April that may have triggered your attacks?? Have you talked to your doctor about your attacks at all? Regardless, I will reiterate, no, you're not being overly dramatic about yours attacks - panic attacks are horrible and can be debilitating.

[BlueMusic51 in reply to MomLeslieM]

I guess that would be a good idea👍 When I have an attack, I have to let it run its course. Nothing that I've tried has helped to stop them yet. Nothing drastically changed in April. I think it was just a bunch of things that built up to cause that first one. I'm still trying to identify current triggers. Any tips on how to do that? I have talked to my doctor, but the most helpful thing he's done is give me a paper on deep breathing exercises I could work on to use. I don't know, anxiety is a fairly new thing in my life that I'm still trying to understand. Anyway, thank you so much for taking time to respond!