Panic Attack/Anxiety/High BP. Bad lately :( I feel like I’m dying or something.

[Gotti1990]

Hey, y’all.

First post here. It’s been a really bad week .. just wondering if any of you have an advice or even similar stories. I’m 30 y/o and in good shape but have constant high blood pressure. It comes from my terrible anxiety and just feeling geeked up all the time. I take 5mg of lisinopril for my BP but recently I had a bad panic attack and my blood pressure got so high I had to Go to the ER ... they said it was just a panic attack and gave me a Xanax and also 8 others in a prescription. I’ve taken Xanax on and off (usually just partying in college) but I’ve always enjoyed it but stayed away because of how dangerous it is. I ate those 8 they gave me in two days and now I feel absolutely terrible. My anxiety is so bad! I have this throbbing heart beat I can hear in one ear at night and I have been having these pounding heart racing episodes where I become sweaty and clammy and I become shivering cold.

It’s not a stroke or heart attack because it’s the second time I’ve been the ER for this and obviously the Blood pressure is a problem but .. I smoke a lot of marijuana and I think that’s been making everything SO much worse. I’ve done it since I was younger and have never had these issues. But as I get older I find myself constantly battling what I put inside my body. I don’t do hard drugs or anything but xanax here and there and weed everyday. I just wanna feel normal! I wanna stay completely sober! ... the last 3 years I bounced back from terrible depression/anxiety where I literally thought I was dying. The physical symptoms are real! Because our minds make them real through our hormone imbalances because of our thought and reactions to them :(. I usually always bounce back but I’m scared that this feeling won’t go away. I’ve been jittery, unable to eat, heart pounding, sweaty and cold for about two days. I was only taking .25 Xanax (3 of them a day) for two days recently after my ER visit, so I don’t think I’m dope sick from those. ... but I think my anxiety and panic attack bounced right back because I ate all that crap in those two days.

Sorry for the long post ... just trying to vent and find some similar experiences and good advice. Anything to help ease my mind.

Hope you’re all feeling good.

[Agora1]

Hi Gotti, I may not be a doctor but I had been on that merry go round of 0.25mg

of Xanax (once a day) and yet getting off it was a nightmare. I am thinking that

by you taking Xanax now and then and when you do, taking high doses is like

teasing your brain.. It likes the fix at the time but then balks like heck when you

don't continue. Then comes all the aftermath of symptoms from withdrawal.

It will have to run it's course before you will start feeling better.

I had the high blood pressure too and a Xanax would bring it down. But as you know

that's not a permanent fix.

You wanted some good advice. I can only tell you how my journey went with Xanax.

It no longer worked, I was safely weaned off it, my brain healed and I am no longer on

benzos. Never felt better. Good Luck with your doctor finding what works best for you. xx

[Gotti1990 in reply to Agora1]

Hey, Agora.

Thanks for quick response. You made the best decision! I’m no doctor. Ironically starting nursing school in August. The last 3 years of school to get into the nursing program at my university has been stressful so I think that plays a huge role recently.

Anyway, you made the best decision ever!!! I feel blessed to have never taken a long and rough path with xanex and to not be addicted. It’s poison! Proud of you for quitting that and healing. I think it takes time too. Thanks for your reply :).

[Gh0st]

From where I see it you are trying to fight many things at once and that is what os mostly wrong. The bounce back effect of drugs, anxiety, panic and all that is also hurting you, but I think that is the reason, wanting to fight everything at the same time. What I would tell you is since you know that you have problems with your blood pressure, you know that this is a reality, fight the rest but one at a time, not all at the same time, the main thing is anxiety, I have been Too many times in emergencies, doctors have seen me, they have taken my blood pressure, they have done many ecg, blood tests and any number of things, they all say that physically I am fine, but if I do not try to control the chaos in my mind the body will eventually get sick. Try to choose a fight, and fight it, one day at a time, without rush but constant, with patience and perseverance changes will be seen.

[Gotti1990 in reply to Gh0st]

Thanks, Gh0st.

Very good advice. Makes me feel much better reading these.

-you’re right.. the BP is a reality and must be in check (and usually is) with my bp medication (which is fine no side effects nothing) ... but the xanax here and there, the marijuana use, stress from school, long runs that get my BP up, pre workouts sometimes ... eh .. I guess I just haven’t been making the best decisions of what I put inside my body.

It’s hard too sometimes when you get back to feeling great and I’m not overweight or have any debilitating symptoms so I think it’s fine ... then BOOM you realize that the mind is so sensitive :(. It’s the mind that is lacking not the body for me

Thanks for the message I really do appreciate it and will sincerely take your advice. Hope all is well on your end!

[Carrie_is_anxious]

When I had my first anxiety attack it was because of marijuana, so after that I promised myself to never smoke it again, or mess around with any other drug including alcohol... I can remember right before school waking up beside my boyfriend, ready to wake and bake and then all of a sudden... after I had 3 bowls I layed on my boyfriends chest and I decided to stay home because I was high... I was smoking high THC weed from the distillery... then out of no where I could feel my Heart at first i thought nothing of it.. then I started to worry, and I went down the spiral of panic.. I thought I was doomed, I felt like I was gonna die or having a heart attack... I tried pushing it aside and went to have a shower... I got in the steamy shower and thought it would calm me down... it just got worse... my chest was stabbing in pain.... and it felt as if my chest was made of glass and it was being smashed... I could hear my heart beat in my ears... I turned the shower off and I was getting dizzy and weak so I sat down in the tub... I told my boyfriend to call the ambulance and he did... I was blacking out in the tub, my vision was going, and I couldn’t hear too well... I couldn’t even head my boyfriend saying my name and he was slapping my face (not hard) to try wake me up.. I finally came out of it and was So weak... I got dressed and the ambulance took me to the ER... and that’s when the doctor diagnosed me with a panic attack.. I had no clue what anxiety even was, or that I had it... anyways that my first story... but it’s gonna be a long night my heart won’t stop pounding... and I don’t even feel anxious, it’s becoming really annoying... I can’t believe I’m going to spend my quarantine being panic driven... I hope this goes away soon

[Amy615]

Hey there...u r not old ..u r young..n at this point of life u must b looking forward to ur entire life thats ahead of u...of course life is a rollercoaster ride fr evey1..bt hey ..u need 2 live with it..try 2 comr off ny addiction u hv..im sure ull feel there r other bettr things..as fr bp...almost 1 out of 5 individuals r facing this issue..n its v normal 2 hv meds fr that..try following a healthy routine...den all ur fears..panic..anxiety...will vanish..spend time in da gym..party wid frends..eat healthy...travel..good luck

[Mrspjsmom]

There are many things that could be going on physically and the mind and body go hand in hand. If you continue feeling badly go back to the Emergency Room. When you are there please tell the doctor and nurses EVERYTHING!!! They need to know everything you have taken and when. They are required by law to keep what you say confidential. It's the HIPPA law. But they need to know all the medications you have taken including any marijuana and how and when you took the Xanax. That way they can give you the proper treatment. Believe me they will be grateful for your honesty. But regardless of what is causing the high blood pressure you need to find a way to control it. I hope I don't sound like I am preaching to you. That's not my intent. I just get on my soap box at times because my Mom didn't take care of her health and died when she was 42. My husband has been an Emergency room nurse for more than 30 years and my brother as well as both of my children are all in the medical field in different roles. Be safe and stay well. Please keep us posted.