New but in need of help.

[Poshbird]

I have been suffering from anxiety for about 3 years now but have no idea why it started. Literally woke up one day and felt strange and uptight and haven't been the same since. I have been diagnosed with an under active thyroid which I thought may have been the cause but have been on medication for 12 months and am feeling worse than ever. In sept last year I had a panic attack in the local supermarket and since then I seem to have acquired a phobia of tills, queues and people. Now getting to the stage where I'm doing all my shopping online as I don't want to go far from home and dread a horrible feeling in my chest where my heart feels strange, I gasp for breath and then panic sets in. Even this morning I opened the door to accep a parcel delivery and had the same feeling. My shopping is due later and I'm already thinking about whether it will happen again. This doesn't help I know but I can't help it. What I want to know from anyone is a) is my thyroid the reason this happened b) are my worsening symptoms because I'm in a cycle I need to break and c) has anyone done cbt that helps?

Sorry for the long blog but my life is horrible right now and I just want to feel normal again. People at work have been amazing but as I look ok on the outside and try and keep going, none of them realise just how hard it is some days to breathe in and out.

[Hidden]

Hi Posh,

Welcome in, lots of people to help and give indeas from our experiences on here.

a) It could of triggered the panics, I doubt it was the cause.

b) Yes learnt response, in a cyclic rhythm, can be broken, and CBT is good at that.

c) CBT is helping me at the moment, it depend on how deep the problem go and how far back.

Wishing you well

B

xxxx