I thought my bio was fitting for a first post so...
Hello. I’m a 28 year old African American with death anxiety and depression. Haven’t met many people with my kind of anxiety. I fear my body betraying me so every weird feeling can trigger a panic attack. Lately it’s getting worse and I have medicine but I’m afraid to take it. There’s got to be a better way right?
Sure there is. Have you been checked out by your doctor for any possible physical problems? If you check out okay, then it's time to work on anxiety and depression. Repeated thoughts of death and dying are very common with depression. I hope you are under treatment for it.
I went to the hospital this week for physical pain and they couldn’t find what was wrong after tests and scans. Ive been dealing with my anxiety since I was in my early teens. Ive seen therapists and psychiatrists. I’ve done group therapy... medicine... self coping techniques... I’m in therapy now. It’s just something I live with and there are just times that are worse than others.
So you are young and (according to all the tests) quite healthy. The problem with anxiety of any sort is that it feels so REAL. Like the world's gonna end RIGHT NOW!!!!!
You have to realize that your brain is playing tricks on you. It's like an air-raid siren going off for no reason. Your fear is not connected to anything real, as horrible as it is.
Have you watched any videos on panic and anxiety by Dr. Claire Weekes on YouTube? I recommend them. Her books are better.
Yea that’s the part that really blows. I know it’s all in my head and that I’m just panicking. But when I’m in it it feels like the fear is what will kill me before anything else. My inability to calm down is going to be my undoing.
No I haven’t but I definitely will check her out. I need anything at this point. Thank you so much.
Knowing that "It's all in your head" doesn't do you any good. (Where else would it be?) Just don't be afraid of being afraid. That's where it really gets difficult. Anxiety is just a feeling, and it WILL pass with time.
This article may help:
Depression and Anxiety 
Death Anxiety
Having depression AND anxiety
Anxiety and depression 
Anxiety and Depression
