Why does it feel like I'm going to die?

[Lily_s371]

Help! It's night time and I'm feeling like I'm going to die. I feel light-headed and just have this uneasy feeling like I'm going to die. Everything feels so weird and it's scary. I'm just really scared right now and can use some advice. It feels as if I'm slowly slipping away from everything.

[masa2333]

Hello and please know that you’re okay and you’re not going to die. Seeking help is brave and smart because all of us went or are going through exactly the same feeling. It’s a horrible feeling, but remember - anxiety doesn’t kill, as strong as these sensations seem to you it’s just your body response to the panic you’re in.

[Lily_s371 in reply to masa2333]

I want to tell someone but I'm afraid they won't understand me.

[masa2333 in reply to Lily_s371]

I know that feeling, but believe me you will feel better just by letting it go from yourself, you could even go to the psychologist if possible.

[Lily_s371 in reply to masa2333]

I would love to go see a psychologist but I haven't even told my family I feel this way. I'm 13 and I'm scared to tell them, I know I shouldn't be but it's hard. I'm just scared my life won't ever be the same, and I keep on thinking what comes next after death which freaks me out.

[Willie211]

You will be OK. Anxiety does odd things and makes you feel weird. It scares you and makes you think you have something major wrong with yourself. But you really don't. Accept the feeling - over and over if you have to. YOU WILL RECOVER.

[Lily_s371 in reply to Willie211]

Thank you so much.

[Calm_mama]

Hi Lily,

The other posters are right! What you are experiencing is actually quite common and normal for the circumstances😀 understand and trust that. For your parents- first I will say that my daughter had such panic and fears that she kept hidden for years. I so so wish she’d told us sooner! It all worked out just fine but the sooner you get the right support, the better👍🏻Maybe write your folks a letter if it’s too hard to talk to them? We do letters in our home when it’s difficult stuff to talk about. It’s easier to gather thoughts and communicate that way sometimes.. Just an idea...

You should have a visit to your doc as the first step, and he/she can get you a referral to a good therapist👍🏻

My daughter was 14 when she felt exactly like you- bewildered, confused, like the world was changing all around her, like she was dying, impending doom, and constant panic. She’s 16 now and after Lots of therapy and learning so much about anxiety, and losing the fear of all her symptoms, she is doing great.

We all understand how you are feeling. We’ve been there and you are not alone.

Keep us posted😀

[Lily_s371 in reply to Calm_mama]

Thank you so much l 🤗 quick question did your daughter ever get headaches because I have been getting headaches non-stop.

[Calm_mama in reply to Lily_s371]

Hi Lily, the anxiety symptom list is really endless:

anxietycentre.com/anxiety-s...

Yes to headaches. I have amazing anxiety too (we call it amazing anxiety in our house - we have super power anxiety that is trying to protect us at all tines😀) and in the past I have been tied up in the same anxious knots myself and headaches were a regular feature for me.

But the first step is definitely your regular doc- tell him/her everything, don’t hold back anything, and he/she will decide if you need any medical tests. Docs will usually check a few basic labs. Maybe a physical exam to make sure the headaches are just anxiety related.. once your doc agrees this is all anxiety, then it’s time for therapy. Therapy is awesome and can be incredibly helpful.

[Lily_s371 in reply to Calm_mama]

Thank you so much, I told my grandma about what was going on . She really helped and you really helped. I think my problem is I keep on thinking what will happen after death. Like will everything be dark or will there be a Heaven. Just thinking about it scares me.

[Elfje in reply to Lily_s371]

Lissen I have anxiety disorder too from my past

Now I taken a benzo if I can reach nobody

I just whant the say

What you feel

Don't be scared

That is just anxiety

[Underthestressvibe]

After a 11 year long term break up, I would panic and lay in bed at night and have terrible fear. I'm a divorced Mom of a 29 year old married daughter, and want you to know that you are experiencing panic and fear. It's wonderful you told your Grandma. Keeping it inside is not good for you. So glad you told her! 🤗 and hope you feel better. Try to listen to 🎶 in bed or 📺. That creates a diversion. ☺

[Lily_s371 in reply to Underthestressvibe]

Thank you so much 🤗

[Underthestressvibe]

You are welcome Lily!! Im here to help! 🤗

[Want2BHappy3]

I get kind of like that when evening comes. You need to distract yourself try Not to think of what's coming. Are you talking medication?

[Lily_s371 in reply to Want2BHappy3]

No.

[Want2BHappy3 in reply to Lily_s371]

You should look into it.

[Lily_s371 in reply to Want2BHappy3]

Ok, thank you so much! 🤗

[Kkimm in reply to Lily_s371]

Hi Lily

I agree with all the other posts, you will get through this. Medication does help alot but can make you feel worse before you feel better so you do need to make sure you have told your parents before you start so they can support you through it. I told my family but it was hard for them to understand it fully. My grown up daughter and a friend who had been through it herself were the best supports.

At times I could have used someone who would be Ok if I woke them in the middle of the night just to hold my hand and talk to me until I could fall asleep again but I never told anyone just how bad I was at first.

Now I am fully recovered and never feel like that in the night or day time. The medication, antidepressants, seems to have taken away my fear of dying completely. After I was alot better I told my neighbour who is a good friend, how bad I had felt sometimes in the night and she told me if it ever happened again I was not to hesitate but to call her. It is amazing how helpful people can be. My daughter would have helped but she lives 100 miles away.

It is important to have therapy alongside antidepressants however. You may not infact need antidepressants, your doctor will help you decide after you have talked it all through with them.

All of our thoughts are with you, you will get better.

Kim

[Bassgirl in reply to Kkimm]

I have really bad anxiety attacks and I’m having one now. What has helped you medication wise. I try to watch tv and listen to music but my mind feels like it’s going to shut down. This month I have been to ER 6 times cause I thought I was having heart problems but they say it’s nothing wrong. My doctor put me on cymbalta 60 mg but when I take it I get nausea. I use to be on generic form of Xansas which helped but this new doctor took me off. Any suggestions. I hate these feelings

[Kkimm in reply to Bassgirl]

Hi Bassgirl

I really feel for you, it is so horrible to be going through what you are experiencing. Your post was 6 hours ago so I hope you are feeling better now and perhaps getting some sleep.

The antidepressant that has worked so well for me is Venlafaxine. It has various names including effexor. I have read it works for alot of people when nothing else has. But possibly because it is strong it also can be difficult to come off when you want to stop using it. I have no plans to stop if it carries on working for me. It does have side effects including nausea when you first start it but that was very short lived for me, only about a week I think. Eating regularly helps to get rid of this side effect. Some people get a dry mouth which continues. I do not have any lasting side effects except vivid dreams. The worst side effect for me was the increased anxiety for the first few weeks which was really horrible. You can take a benodiazapine along side it to counter this but I was not given one as my GP said if I wanted sleeping tablets as well I could not have both. I am free of both depression and anxiety now after 18 months, really as happy and confident as I was before I became ill if not more so. I have a few minor feelings of breathlessness still most mornings but I just ignore and accept them and I think they are gradually going. Going out on a short run or a longer fast walk gets rid of them completely. I found the first few months on velafaxine very hard but I am so glad I persisted along with always pushing myself to do more and more and working through all the symptoms.

Was the drug your doctor told you to stop taking Xanax ? If so that is possibly because it is a benzodiazapine which are addictive which means some people find that they are taking more and more to get an effect and they can finish up with a very bad addiction problem. If you are very careful never to increase your dose it is fine however. They are certainly very useful alongside an antidepressant like Venlafaxine for the first few weeks to help you through the difficult early period when you do get side effects such as nausea and an increase in anxiety.

Another effect I get with Venlafaxine is that at times I become much more happy than normal, euphoric really, which is a side effect I enjoy but when that happens I find I cannot sleep. I got that more after about 2 months and 4 months after dosage increases. When I was high I could also be intolerant if other people and a bit uninhibited so was inclined to fall out with people. This had its good side as it sorted out certain relationships where I had spend many years putting up with all sorts of shit from people that I should not have done and I am pleased it gave me the boost I needed to do this as it has benefited my life overall. I do not think everyone gets these sort of effects. It is when there is too much drug in your system either due to a dose increase or in my case because I was on holiday and having a great time so that I was producing alot of my own serotonin which the drug was preventing the reuptake of, which is how antidepressants work. When I get this now I just really enjoy it and take a low dose of the sleeping tablet zopiclone to get me to sleep at night which work really well. I will only take this for a few days as it is addictive. The high period always comes to a natural end when I come back from holiday etc anyway.

Discuss with your GP what antidepressant could help you most, and if you are changing whether or not you could have a benzodiazapine along side to help you with early side effects only.

What I described above are just my experiences and will not be the same for everyone, but whatever you take, therapy alongside it such as CBT is very helpful because it will help you not to be afraid of your symptoms and set yourself goals to achieve everyday which is ultimately what will help you to recover. It is a massive help however to have a good antidepressant to support you in this.

Very good luck to you and everyone else who is suffering from depression or anxiety.

Kim

[Amrinlama]

Hi

I been through this all the way and it could be up n down but now I have motivate myself doing running fitness which I like very most so I would suggest you to motivate yourself and please do drink water more than you used too

Make yourself busy with either music or something’s else pla don’t over think

[Lily_s371 in reply to Amrinlama]

Thank you so much! I have a Ukulele so I guess I'll motivate myself to play it. I recently got it. 🙂

[Tea--cup]

I feel this too!!! Are you ok now?