New to this

[FranVarg]

I’ve had anxiety for about 3 years, my first encounter was when I started to feel funny and thought I was having a heart attack, my chest felt tight and my left arm went numb. I was hyperventilating and my mom rushed me to the hospital, they didn’t find anything wrong with me.. I started having those attacks almost every night and I didn’t understand what was happening until my primary care doctor told me it was a panic attack and I never knew anxiety felt like this. There’s days I feel anxious and I feel like I’m going to just break and go into a anxiety attack and it scares me. I feel like I’m about to die when I get those attacks and nothing helps me feel better. I don’t know what tricks to do to help myself. I feel depressed as well, and the thoughts that go through my own head scare me the most cause nobody can feel what I feel so I just feel so alone. People around me tell me “ just stop stressing and it’ll go away “ it doesn’t. I’ve gone to therapist and psychiatrist and they don’t help me, the pill I was prescribed gave me a massive headache and I didn’t feel a difference. Also, I see some of you on here talk about derealization ? Can someone please explain what that is ? . Lately, I’ve been having a fear of dying, I could be in the car and I feel like we’re going to crash or I’ll be in the shower and I’ll think I’m going to slip and hit my head. I’m just tired of feeling like I’m alone in this and want to know if what I feel, others have felt too. I want to be supportive and get supported. I want to absorb advice and try them.

[Hidden]

I feel the exact same way you do! I have a fear of dying too 😭 It’s so scary

[FranVarg in reply to Hidden]

The fact that it can happen anytime and unexpected is what gets me even more scared 😕 but someone told me this “ you won’t be happy and move on if you keep thinking negative “ and honestly I’m really trying but you never know

[Marvel002]

Hey you are doing well you don't have to get scared of dying you are strong you are brave you are Marvellous and you would get over this

[FranVarg in reply to Marvel002]

Thank you so much 🙂

[HekatHushla]

Anxiety is awful. I struggle as well. I understand your chest pains, they happen to me on a regular basis, too. Its terrifying. Couple it was depression and I always hope that this is the time it's real and will kill me.

Coping is a skill set we have to learn. I've just started on this path. Breathing sometimes helps me. Breathe in as deep as you can for 4 seconds, hold for four seconds, exhale completely for four seconds, hold for four. It takes awhile for it to work sometimes. I really have to focus solely on that.

Or I'll distract myself with what I call the ABC game. Pick a category, any category. Movies, books, animals, brands, characters. Whatever you like. Go a through z. Dont stop until you finish. By distracting g your brain you can sometimes cut off a major attack before it happens.

These do not always help. Some days I feel like theres nothing I can do, that I'm wasting my time with this nonsense. Breathe deeply? Tcha. Bullshit.

But that's why they're called coping skills. Just like any other skill, I have to practice to get good and make them work. It's hard and it sucks some days.

I hope knowing there are other people out there with this problem brings you some relief. You are not alone feeling this. I hear you.

[FranVarg in reply to HekatHushla]

I really appreciate that, I will be trying the A through Z whenever I start to feel anxiety coming on, it sounds really helpful. Thank you so much

[Ginqueen13]

same Here. Constant fear of dying caused a massive panic attack at which the time I didn’t know was one. I had bad chest pain going straight through to my back, my heart rate was sky high. The ambulance came out and didn’t even recognise it was a panic attack, they thought I had a heart condition and took me to hospital. Nothing showed so they put it down to anxiety. Since then I have been a mess,my heart races and I feel shaky and so on edge. I am constantly deep breathing to try calm myself down. You are definitely not alone.

[FranVarg in reply to Ginqueen13]

You aren’t alone either ✊🏼, it’s just annoying how they say we have anxiety and wanna to ship us off to therapy and prescribe us pills. My therapist was terrible, she never talked about anything to help me cope

[cmc75]

This is a good tool to use if you can manage to distract yourself or if there is someone with you who can help. Focus on the senses... name some things you see, smell, hear... it can help ground you.

[FranVarg in reply to cmc75]

Will try that too ! Thank you 😊

[pink318]

Hi- I remember my sister while reading your post. It was last year when she had chest pain. We’re worried so she went to her doctor. The results were normal and then the doctor told us that my sister had a panic attack. That was the day that she was diagnosed with anxiety.

My heart was breaking to see my sister going through that season. She lost a lot of weight because she could not sleep well and eat. She seemed hopeless and her face was so sad. Me and my other sisters are her support, we prayed and encouraged her. I started sending her messages everyday and we talk about anything just to let her know that she’s not alone.

I’m thankful that her mood has improved a lot and I can say that the support group played a big role in her healing. She also attends a life group once a week. She has pets and it helps her to see her purpose. She also volunteers in our community. It would be helpful if you have someone you can trust and share your feelings with. You can also post here anytime. We are here for each other. I hope you will find comfort here. You can also try to do things that you think you will enjoy. God bless.

[FranVarg in reply to pink318]

Thank you so much 🙂 I don’t think I have life groups anywhere in my community though, I wanted to attend a support group for anxiety and depression but I couldn’t find any so I decided to download this app and it’s been really helpful

[pink318 in reply to FranVarg]

Hello- This forum is very active and helpful. Continue to stay and post anytime.

If you are interested in joining a life group, try to connect with your local church. Most churches offer a life group and they do it online because of the pandemic.

I also attend a life group once a week through zoom and I find it very encouraging when I am surrounded with people who will pray with me and give me words of comfort based on the Bible. Keep us posted. God bless.

[FranVarg in reply to pink318]

I will look into it, thank you 😊