Developed severe health anxiety after first panic attack
I had my first and absolute worst panic attack on May 16th of this year due to a heart palpitation. I went to A&E since I thought I was dying and ended up going to hospital three days in a row with severe panic. I had three ecgs, three lots of blood tests and a chest x ray and they said I was medically fine.
Ever since that day I have not been able to function properly. I can’t leave the house alone or be on my own for too long without freaking out. I’ve completely cut out caffeine and alcohol and started eating much healthier. I used to exercise but now I’m far too scared and have had to take time off work.
The problem is because I believed I was dying, I now have developed major health anxiety. I constantly believe I am about to die or have some health condition that will kill me.
Even when I’m not panicking I feel anxious and horrible constantly and have symptoms such as tight/tingly chest, shortness of breath, weird shooting pains in my ribs, dizziness, brain fog and constant panic attacks and adrenaline dumps seemingly out of nowhere. I’m 24/7 anxious I could die at any moment and my brain will not register that I am healthy and okay. I’m sat on the sofa and just now I felt like my breathing just stopped (it didn’t) I was then hit with a huge wave of adrenaline. My breathing has felt off all day. I constantly have headaches behind my eyes. I feel desperate for any kind of relief at this point.
I’m on day 40 of 50mg sertraline and have started therapy and been diagnosed with panic disorder but I’m so fed up I feel like I’ve completely lost my life and 90% of my brain is taken over by the thoughts that I will die, panic or the physical symptoms will never go away and I won’t have a normal life.
Has anybody else experienced constant physical symptoms and has it ever got better? How did you manage to finally realise this is anxiety.