Anxiety/depression/panic/DPDR

New here. I am a 27 year old dealing with mental issues over the last 9 months. The most important thing to me is my faith in God. I love my relationship with the Lord and do my best to live for him daily. I’m looking for any other individuals out there that also are strong in their faith, but struggle with mental illness. I had my first panic attack when I was 19 years old. I didn’t know that’s what it was though at that time. Didn’t have another one until I was 23. That then lead to a battle with anxiety and depression for about a year and half. Combination of graduating college, studying for my board exam, going through a difficult breakup, and lots of failing and waiting. That was really the pivotal moment of my faith and I grew spiritually in so many ways. God healed my illness and restored my faith as I studied scripture, prayed, and devoted all my time to Him every day. I didn’t have any thing like that for the next two years - panic attack free, no anxiety or depression. I was happy and content just focusing on my relationship with God and serving him and my job. I’m 27 now and have experienced probably 8 mild-severe panic attacks since last July. I had one July, one in December, and then like 6 or 7 in the last 4 months. These panic attacks lead to DP or DR or sometimes both. It is absolutely terrifying. My job is extremely stressful and have been waiting for an open door for almost 3 years and I got involved in 4 different church ministries at once that stressed me out so my stress levels were already high throwing me into attacks with a single negative thought or emotion. The pandemic has been a blessing in disguise for me as I was laid off. I’ve been without work for about a month now, which also has its downside. It has left me feeling very useless and isolated as I live alone. I’m getting better every day as I stay close to God. He is working on me and it’s a blessing that I have endured all of this without a single pill or medication. I just focus on eating very clean, exercising, praying and meditating. Just wanted to see if there was anyone out there that was going through this too without medication.

[Jason_16]

I get panic attacks maybe every couple weeks, generally about a friend of mine who is suicidal who I think could kill herself any day. Feeling useless and helpless is the hardest part as I think there is nothing I can do. I have only told one person about my feelings, and they were not a doctor, so I am on no medication currently. I was told to try and stay positive and try not to worry about things I can not control but sometimes its hard not to worry.