anxiety and panic attacks 😌

[Chloekay123]

Hi everyone. I hope everyone is ok and having a better weekend than I am.

I suffer from agoraphobia and have been housebound for over 2 years now. I met someone last year who really helped with my anxiety and actually managed to get me out the house, we broke up a month ago and I feel like my life has gone down hill since then. I became very attached to my mum again to the point I am crying every time she leaves for work etc.

Yesterday she went on holiday and since she has left I have experienced the worst panic attacks I have ever had in my life (and I have had some bad ones over the years) to the point I actually didn’t feel like it was a panic attack and instead thought I was dying, I called 999 which I felt absolutely awful for once I had realised I was having a panic attack but I actually had 4 in a row one after the other and each one lasted about 2 hours long! I went to sleep lastnight after 4 panic attacks feeling rather exhausted and actually felt a lot better and more positive, until I woke up in my sleep this morning having another one. I just can’t seem to calm myself down throughout these ones they seem far more intense and a lot scarier. Very intense adrenaline rush up my body, cold and hot flashes, not being able to breath or feel my hands and feet, feeling like I need to escape but not sure where to?

I have come to the conclusion that my attachement to my mum is due to her being my safe person and because she’s on holiday I’m feeling vulnerable.

I don’t want to keep having bad panic attacks until she’s back so can anyone please recommend any coping mechanisms or things that help them.

Thank you

Chloe

[EndUser13]

Hi Chloe! I'm sorry you've been having such a rough time lately. It sounds like your significant other was a safe person for you for a while too (maybe?)

Try not to be so hard on yourself for asking for help when you had such a rough time. Panic attacks lie to you, they tell you you're in danger, even at the times when you know you're having a panic attack, it feels SO severe! Your predicament is far more common than you might believe, I've heard as much from paramedics when I've had an awful panic attack and called emergency services myself.

Since I'm not in the UK I don't really have any phone numbers for support, sorry... but there are lots of other helpful coping techniques you can develop over time. The trick is finding out which ones work best for you.

I tend to use deep breathing a lot. I'll often go to the restroom where there is less stimuli and play with the water in the sink and do my best at just slowing things down a bit. If a negative or unuseful thought pops into my head in the moment, I do my best to tell it "you're not helpful right now" and move past it (sometimes this is incredibly difficult to do).

While I am not encouraging you to ignore your anxiety, I know some people find it helpful to have some kind of distraction- something they can do to keep their hands busy. I like to embroider cute little things, but if I'm in the middle of a panic attack and that's too much, I might try cleaning the bathroom sink, anything to help externalize my focus off of my inner fears.

[Bolsy]

Hey, I had severe panic attacks for a while, they seem to have subsided thankfully but I know how you feel when you are in them. I’ve been told to deep breathe to get oxygen back into my brain and then distract my brain by counting down from 100 in multiples of 3. Also I find understanding that the panic attack is a natural biological response helps, and the science behind what happens to your body. That way when I have them I can work out how to control them. I can now counteract them faster so they are not as severe, but it doesn’t stop the negative thoughts from coming yet…

Have you reached out for talking therapies? Believe you can get them on nhs, speak to your doctor about the options in your area but in my area in Hampshire there’s a specific nhs helpline you can call. Also worth trying mind charity too, they have a lot of useful information on their website and I believe a phone number you can call.

… my task now is to understand what that perceived threat is! x

[Lve2dance]

I'm so sorry for what you are going through. I wish I could give you a real 🤗 hug