Social Anxiety and Panic Attacks

[Calalily]

Hi,

I'm new here, so hello everyone! I have been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks on and off for many years. I have been on Zoloft for about 3 months and while it's helped somewhat, I still have terrible social anxiety. I stress about driving anywhere, even if it's down the street, I hate long drives away from home even when my husband is driving and I can't even go out to dinner with my husband or have coffee with a friend without major anxiety and panic attacks. Anyone have similar experiences and any suggestions on how you cope? Thanks!

[LucyKe]

Yup mine started I think 2013/2014?!? My first panic attack i was getting outta the shower I was terrified cause I didn’t know what it was, moving forward I started having them daily sometimes 2/3 times a day, any and everywhere, I’ve been rushed to the hospital, ems have had to come get me off the freeway, I was in the er daily sometimes multiple times a day to the point where they thought i was abusing the meds when I didn’t even care about the meds I just wanted to be fixed. I was literally disabled. I went into isolation mode, scared to go anywhere, talk to anyone, definitely didn’t wanna drive, I was even scared to look out the window, whenever i had to go out it absolutely had to be a quick trip or a panic attack was coming, my son was scared to leave home because of all this. This went on for a while honestly before i started seeing any relief, then I got diagnosed with S.A.D even worse!!! You gotta try to catch it when you feel it or even think it’s coming on, go about your daily life open the blinds, take walks, talk to people, cook, clean, listen to music, etc. etc. these things used to work for me.

[Calalily in reply to LucyKe]

Hi LucyKe,

Thank you for sharing your story with me. How are you doing now? How is your son?

I can go out, just in small doses. And I don't like to be far from home or be in any place where I can't leave freely. I even sometimes get panic attacks in church (where I'm supposed to be at peace) because I know I have to sit there and be among people for a certain amount of time. Sometimes I feel like a little kid with ADHD who can't sit still because my anxiety causes me to be "on" all the time doing stuff, but generally always by myself.

[LucyKe in reply to Calalily]

I know exactly how you feel & what you going through, that was me, that is me & honestly I don’t know how to turn it off or really cope with it all I can tell you is to try your best to go about your days as usual because once you stop it’s gets worse I’ve been at worse you don’t want that, I pray you get some kind of relief from this