Hello, F27 here.
Background: iron-deficiency anemia since my teenage years and panic attacks for about two years, leading to agoraphobia.
I stopped taking the birth control pill two years ago (I was taking it to reduce my menstrual flow). Since I wasn’t getting the results I wanted and because of the side effects, I stopped taking it after three years, abruptly. It was a sudden stop and caused quite a bit of change in my body, but also mentally. I started having panic attacks over just about anything and no reason at all.
Just two months after stopping, I had a blood test and discovered that my ferritin had dropped dramatically (it went from 43 to 8). My hemoglobin was too low, and my B9 was at 2. My B6 and D levels were also too low, though I no longer have the exact numbers (they should be between 4 and 6 for each).
I had tachycardia, dizziness, and fatigue. The tachycardia caused a lot of anxiety, especially in the car, on public transport, and also in shops. I felt forced to flee on numerous occasions, unable to bear being in those places.
Through constant repetition and anticipation, I eventually limited all my outings. It’s now been two months since I’ve felt able to get into a car, a bus, or go grocery shopping. I can still go outside, take a walk around my neighborhood, and that already seems like a pretty good start, but still... I’m terrified of getting trapped in this state.
Of course, I'm seriously considering therapy, and I'll do everything I can to get through this.
However... I’ve been wondering a lot. Could it be that my deficiencies are linked to the various panic attacks I’ve experienced? I’d be interested to hear about anyone else’s experiences, perhaps. Ultimately, the answer doesn’t really matter, but I’d really like to understand what’s going on in my body and mind.
Thank you for your insights.