Anybody around? I’m in a bad way 😓

[Ckd123]

I cannot stop thinking about cardiac arrest, I’m so terrified. My panic attacks have increased so much over the last few weeks. I keep getting chest pains/movement/weird feelings/stinging/jolting etc etc etc also a lot of jaw pain. I’m embarrassed to keep going to the ER. I started sertraline 50mg about 5 weeks ago but they are not helping. I haven’t felt any different, good or bad since starting them, i’v had no side effects are anything. I never stop checking my pulse, iv become obsessive compulsive about it. I’m just so scared and on edge all the time. I’v also just finished 6 weeks of CBT, so I really don’t know what else to do or where else to turn. Please help.

[Sillysausage234]

youtu.be/eSGSmCMcZQQ(Not working as expected?)

[Sillysausage234 in reply to Sillysausage234]

This can help if your stressed out.

[Ckd123 in reply to Sillysausage234]

Thank you x

[CJ13]

I have similar fears, usually when I'm stressed I find myself feeling nauseous and start worrying about having the flu, which isn't likely. The reason I feel nauseous is actually the panic itself, you see when you have a panic attack your body goes through allot, including a accelerated heart rate, or for me the body pushes blood to the muscles causing a feeling of nauseousness.

But it is all natural, it's the bodies fight or flight, normally you wouldn't notice, let say if you where skydiving, but since you are not really fighting or running you notice all the small effects that turn into a fear themselves. You will not go into cardiac arrest over a panic attack and the pain, at least for me, can last quite a few hours.

The easiest way I've found of getting around these irrational panic attacks is self confirmations or simply telling yourself what is happening and why. as for the medicine I fear i don't know much about it, though i feel my medication isn't working many times when i'm having an anxious week.

you should see when you check your pulse it is accelerated, but still beating perfectly fine, and as for the pain, it will pass with time, I know this isn't the perfect help, but knowing that it's natural helps me allot and the fact that panic attacks can't cause cardiac arrest, why not just keep chanting it, like "my heart is only beating like this because of adrenaline, when i calm down, everything will be okay.", or " Breathe in, and I'm calm, Breathe out, and I'm okay.

sorry for the long message

[Ckd123 in reply to CJ13]

Don’t apologise for the long message, it distracted me and really helped. Thanks for taking the time to reply. The last few months has seen death everywhere in my life, iv been to three funerals over last three months, one an uncle and one my grandmother, the other person a friends mum. I’m really sensitive at the moment and Life is so stressful at the moment too. I just feel so exhausted of the constant worry and negative thoughts xx

[CJ13 in reply to Ckd123]

negative thoughts are everywhere when you have disorders like ours. I find it best to think of it like a ship sinking and being on a piece of drift wood (I don't remember where I originally heard this), but basically you keep going under, the bad times, then back up, the good times, but as time progresses the waves aren't as hard as when they sank the ship, you still go under, but no as often. I guess it's like the old saying "give time some time". Though when you feel like life is taking a turn for the worst this saying doesn't really help, but it's okay to not be, okay. You are allowed to hurt, and you are trying your hardest, the odds of fully recovering from a anxiety disorder isn't high, but the odds of controlling it is high, and gets higher the more you live. You've lived through every single of your worst days, that proves by itself how strong you are. I think it is best to just accept that it will hurt a bit, I believe it was queen Elizabeth that said that the cost of love is grief, the more you grieve the more it shows how they made a difference in your life, it's healthy, though it can make you afraid of death. One moment at a time is all anyone is expecting, I honestly wish you the best.

[Jeff1943]

Calm yourself Ckd123, things are not as bad as they seem. You will recover from this, I promise. Many people who have come to this forum over the years have had the same symptoms as you. You are not alone.

You know from your visits to the ER that these bad feelings are not due to organic illness, they are caused by your nerves becoming over sensitised. You are no different to anybody else: if you experience too much worry, overwork, loss, disappointment, stress then you reach anxiety overload. At this point your nerves start to play up. It happens to everyone who reaches that point.

I don't know what caused your anxiety in the first place but you must neutralise it or distance yourself from it. We all have some anxiety in our lives, that's normal, but you need to deal with the cause of your illness. Talk to someone who is wise and trustworthy and take their advice if you can't think of how to handle it.

I know the chest pains, jaw pains and stinging sensation seem real enough. But they're not, they are due to your nerves mimicking real organic illness, something sensitised nerves are very good at doing.

If the Sertraline isn't helping you go talk to whoever prescribed it and talk about an alternative. Sometimes it takes a little time to find the right med. But there are other ways of recovering other than medications. Every time you have a panic attack or chest pain etc you respond to it with fear and you try to fight it. This creates fear and stress hormones which just go on re-sensitising your tired nerves. The key to recovery is to stop frightening yourself half to death every five minutes. If only you can do that your nervous system will de-sensitise and recover.

The best way to do that is to stop fighting the symptoms and persuade yourself to accept all the distressing symptoms for the time being. Accept them utterly and completely. Let them come and do nothing. Accept them for the moment and attach less importance to them in your thinking. Check your pulse if you want knowing full well your pulse is of no importance to this matter whatsoever.

This briefly is the method for respite and recovery first advocated some 50 years ago by an Australian psychiatrist named Claire Weekes in her first book 'Hope and help for your nerves' available from Amazon new or used for just a few dollars. I think you would benefit greatly from reading this book as indeed I have.

Once you de-sensitise your nervous systems by accepting the symptoms then the symptoms resolve soon enough.

[pink83737 in reply to Jeff1943]

I agree!

[Ckd123 in reply to Jeff1943]

Thanks so much for that lengthy reply. The main cause of my anxiety stems way back to my childhood. Its quiet complicated to explain but basically my mum died when I was 11 so thats the main reason. I still have PTSD due to her death and I'm 36 now.

For some reason I cant get rid of the negative thoughts, I find myself constantly thinking about death and funerals. Mainly mine. Im also afraid of the actual pain and fear I will feel while dyingand what comes after death. Im just obsessed.

I do find solace sometimes while meditating or listening to Claire Weeks audio. The trouble is life is so hectic at the moment that I barely get a minute to just sit and be.

[AD2677]

You’re not alone, I just went thru exactly the same event about an hour ago, got quite close to going to the emergency room. I remember to do my breathing exercises and got outside to get some fresh air. After a while I started getting better, although it took a while this time. Hope you’re doing better.

[Ckd123 in reply to AD2677]

Yes this is me alot. I want to go to the ER so bad but use breathing techniques and fresh air to push through the panic. Unfortunately I seem to have to be doing it so much lately, I go into a panic on a daily basis. Its the negative thoughts I need to stop but I dont know how.

[Yuki6]

I know it sounds silly, but what helps me is practicing breathing techniques. You can look on YouTube I found yoga has taught me how to focus on my breathing. It may help in times when you start to feel panicked. I too get chest tightness and a weird pain and it always sends me to think the worst but I make myself try to calm down.

I hope this helps.

[Ckd123 in reply to Yuki6]

Thank you. I do find deep breathing works for me sometimes. I find youtube great for breathing techniques and guided meditation. I hope your doing well now xx

[Yuki6 in reply to Ckd123]

I hope you are doing well too.

I find I’m in a better place but every day I have to remember to keep working on staying in a good place

[Want2BHappy3]

You don't mention counseling? I got so bad I barely ate and was looking for a gun. This has been going on for about 36 years. I've had it feeling that way, this is NOT LIVING. Im better,

[Ckd123]

i havent had counselling but i did do CBT, I enjoyed it but not sure how much it worked. How did you get better?

[SacsWorld29]

It's really amazing to hear your story and to know that I am not alone! Its comforting to me and I hope for you as well. I too felt so frustrated to have the feeling like I was going to die but so embarrassed to go to the ER AGAIN just to be told I was experiencing anxiety.. That scenario got old quick and I know how you feel trust me I do. I have been going to the gym and doing some weight lifting but mostly cardio, just getting that work out makes my body sensations subside. Also I have been listening to audio of Dr. Claire Weekes on YouTube!!! Its so helpful to be explained what you feel and WHY its happening!! I urge you to listen to her audio at least twice a day. Have you got a work up from your doctor just to be sure of things, it will give you reassurance that you are okay

[Ckd123 in reply to SacsWorld29]

Thanks for reply, it always helps to know I’m not alone. I got blood work, ekg and chest X-ray in the ER about 2 months ago and they said all was normal. I’v had atleast 20 ekgs from my doctor over the last 2 years 🙈 I listen to Claire Weekes regularly but I have to be in the right frame of mind to do so! What I really want/need to do is start exercising but I hate the feeling of my heart beating fast, it makes me panic 🙄

[SacsWorld29 in reply to Ckd123]

Yes working out can and should increase heart rate BUT each time you do and each time nothing happens it EMPOWERS you and your mind to BELIEVE the FACT that you are WELL. This will take courage my friend and you have it in you.. Start slowly but be consistent and have the live each day aware that only the fittest of the fittest will survive.. YOU ARE A SURVIVOR look back at what you have been through... 80% of people most likely dont have your kind of fortitude and gumption.. Its hard for you to understand how strong you are and trying to comprehend this is giving you grief.. but get used to it because you ARE A SURVIVOR

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Cardiac arrest ! If u r capable of diagnosing urself ,then u can also treat urself