r/PanicAttack

Hey. I just wanted to know what kind of event \ or when specifically it all started? In my case the admiration of stimulant drugs has led to the appearance of panic attacks. Or better say, when I was using I never thought that the panic can actually occur when high (I thought that these two condradict each other).

Nevertheless, in May this year having experienced some traumatic event (basically betrayal) my brain just shut down one day and I even called an ambulance. I was afraid that I might have an overdose (or die) but suprisingly I got extemely calm in the ambulance (therefore the was no possibility of me dying, otherwise any physical symptoms would remain). After that I am basically living in panic 24\7. Some days get better, some days get worst but overall I don't even remember how my life looked like before. It's been only 2 months living like this, but feels like forever.

I am not using drugs anymore, but even when I do I see no direct connection to panic attacks anymore. It's like my body has learned \ remembered this state and regardless of me being sober or not I am still suffering.

I can only envy to people that don't experience panic attacks right now, seriously. This is like the worst thing that ever happened to me. Thank you.

TL;DR summary: Hydroxyzine 25mg my first time did nothing to help my anxiety. In fact, it escalated my panic to extreme levels, added confusion, dizziness. In attempt to mitigate I took 40mg of propranolol. Oops! That made dizziness and confusion worse, and super sizing my anxiety panic into a 10/10 unacceptable!

I have severe GAD. Xanax saved my life in rescue situations for nearly two decades. I tapered off a year ago not wanting to depend on benzos. I recently found a good med combo for my ADHD and depression: Auvelity and Dyanavel, but with panic on occasion, I requested a rescue med. Went with Hydroxyzine over the benzo klonopin also offered…oops.

This last weekend was my first true panic creeping up since having Hydroxyzine, and it was time to test it. Popped my 25mg dose. Spent 20 minutes on chair trying to breathe 4-7-8. Then, I went to stand up and OMG!! I remember thinking “I’m simulating a really drunk person huffing nitrous” — I don’t know how, really, but I ended up outside. A loud ass firecracker exploded 6 ft away (or, at least felt 6 ft away). I was in full fight or flight and I was sweating from head to Toe, massive amounts. Blood flow to my head felt non- existent …so hazy and groggy…and dizzy…and freaking out! I had to reverse course and quickly.

I grabbed whatever else I could for anxiety. I settled on my 10mg propranolol , that should at least take the edge off the sweating. I popped four of them. Now to retreat into my quiet corner of meditation and go all out on mindfulness & breathing . I barely even remember. I only remember intense, morbid fear that wouldn’t settle. My Wife tried to check on me. According to her, I said something along these lines: “no ambulance. I got this, it’s going to get worse before it gets better. But im ok”

I don’t really remember saying that but I remember my fear. Then the propranolol started to kick in,taking the foggy groggy fizzy dizzy and turning it up full blast. Legs felt like jello. Ad it turns out, one should not take propranolol with hydroxide or dizzy extreme!I didn’t know what was going on but I was convinced o was going to die. My wife said that I was mumbling what she made out as
“I’m scared I’m going to die, but that’s fear from the toxins, brain cooties, and germs who are dying off right now. I can’t die off because they are in die off, not me.” I hazily recall something of the sort, but I
Mostly just recall actually thinking I’d die. Scared out of my wits.

This lasted a decent 8 hours, far too long! This med is NOT for me!!

Hi, I’m20 years old. Started psychotherapy 5 months ago for a little bit of anxiety and everything was well.
Until 2 weeks ago I had a first panic attack, and spent the last days being unable to do anything, with moments of tension and worrying and can’t live my life. The difficult thing is that I mentally control nothing, even if I’m quite and I know it’s just panic, it comes and make me discomforted for the whole day. It is like it comes directly from my body.
But I’m worried about starting an ssri therapy, because I would like something short in time and don’t want to last years or being addicted to them to be ok.
Could you share your experience for me pls?

I’m currently on a trip with my boys in Alaska, and on the first night I had slept 1 hour on the flight and was hella hungry so I couldn’t sleep at the hotel when we got there. I was the only one awake and I started panicking like crazy over any minor uncomfortably in my body. I didn’t end up sleeping, and had to call my mom at 3 am, but I made it to the next day. However, the following day I went to sleep at 7 pm, and I just woke up at 2am. I’m not tired anymore but I’m just worried that what happened to me last night after the plane flight will happen again, because I’m up sitting in my bed at 2 am and not tied at all since I just slept 7 hours.

Also, throughout the day yesterday I was constantly trying to control my emotions as everything was making me nervous and uncomfortable (I think it was the lack of sleep)

Any tips on controlling this? Don’t want the boys trip to go south just cause of my anxiety.

I’ve struggled with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks since 2014. Paroxetine (Paxil/Seroxat) worked amazingly well for me for several years, but after a major relapse in 2019, I never fully returned to how I was before.

Since then, I’ve tried fluoxetine, venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, vortioxetine, moclobemide, bupropion, lurasidone, clonazepam, bromazepam, diazepam, propranolol, and CBT. Some helped temporarily or partially, but nothing has given me stable, lasting improvement.

My main symptoms now are persistent anxiety, depression, low energy, panic attack with agoraphobia,anhedonia, lack of motivation, and sometimes a dream-like/unreal feeling.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and eventually found something that truly worked? Was it a medication combination, augmentation strategy, TMS, esketamine, or something else?

I’d really appreciate hearing real experiences from people who went through multiple treatment failures and eventually improved.

Like the adrenaline and cortisol is so high that you end up barfing. Or is it just me?

It's awful. Especially when you're stuck somewhere. I don't puke every panic attack. It's just the really bad ones. Or if my body just feels like it.

I have GERD, IBS, among other stomach issues. So maybe I'm just more prone to seeing my lunch twice during a freakout.

I wasn't sure if this was NSFW, so I labeled it such just in case.

i 19F has sexted a guy 27M of last year before i start my first day of college and it lasted about half a week until i blocked him because he said he felt bad and that broke the fantasy i guess lol, i also sent him boob and vagina pics and i’m pretty sure i send him pics of my face too, and i realize maybe i didn’t delete pics of my face because i remember that he saved a pic of smth and i blocked him before i got to the chance to tell him to delete it, i then start panicking, not normal panicking, my heart felt fast and my chest heavy, i started to feel sick and nausea then i felt like i couldn’t breathe, my worry is that he still has that same pic on his phone and didn’t delete it, i tried to find his account that i blocked but cant find it so yeah, any tips for helping panic attacks

I’ve been dealing with dizziness for several months and my GP thinks it’s a balance/vestibular issue. I’m currently taking betahistine and I do think I’m slowly improving because I can stand for longer than before.
The strange part is what happens when I move around.
When I walk, do chores, move my head a lot, or sometimes after eating (especially breakfast), I feel really jittery. My heart feels like it’s beating harder or faster, but whenever I check my pulse it’s usually normal and feels regular.
The best way I can describe it is:
My feet feel floaty, like they’re not properly on the ground.
It feels like I’m “moon walking” or like I’m a puppet.
My legs feel shaky and unstable.
I feel like I might drop, but I’ve never actually fainted.
If I lie down, I usually feel much better.
Sitting in a car, I’m usually completely fine.
Crowded places also make everything worse, whereas being outside in fresh air seems to help.
I’m wondering if anyone else with a vestibular/balance problem has experienced this combination of:
floaty feet,
shaky legs,
feeling like you’re walking on the moon,
and feeling your heartbeat more during movement, even though your heart rate is normal.
Did it improve over time? Did vestibular rehab or medication help?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s experienced something similar.

Just a small reminder to believe in yourself. For me, that was the tipping point in lessening the length and strength of my attacks.

If you think you’re incapable of controlling your anxiety, you won’t be able to. Start by telling yourself “it’s my body, my brain, I can control it”.

Just had an episode tonight on my first night on vacation in Spain…I’ve been dreaming of this for almost a year, but the travelling, the new food, the jet lag, the new language and the intense heat go the best of me. However, in 15 minutes I was able to recollect myself, and hopefully will be able to enjoy a smoother trip in the next few days! I’m at 5mg of escitalopram only now since 6 months and I really hope one day I’ll be medication free!

I’ve been dealing with panic attacks and anxiety for the last 3–4 months. In stressful situations—and sometimes even when talking to people I know—I get huge adrenaline rushes. My heart starts pounding really fast, I feel short of breath, and it’s hard to speak. My blood pressure has also been pretty high.

I saw a neurologist, and she prescribed me propranolol 20 mg every morning and Adaptol. Since starting them, I feel much calmer, and my resting heart rate has dropped by around 20–30%. Overall, I feel better.

My question is about exercise. Is it safe to do cardio or go to the gym while taking propranolol?

What confuses me is that propranolol is supposed to keep my heart from beating so fast, but cardio naturally raises your heart rate. Could exercising while on propranolol be dangerous or make me faint? Or is it generally safe as long as I don’t overdo it?

Has anyone exercised regularly while taking propranolol for anxiety? I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences or any advice.

Hi everyone,
I’ve been dealing with something really confusing and scary for a while now and I’m trying to see if anyone has experienced similar.
My main symptoms are:
Feeling dizzy / floaty / off balance
Feeling like I’m swaying or being pulled when walking
Feeling like my feet aren’t properly on the ground
Symptoms get worse when I:
stand up
walk
look up or down
move my head or arms
My heart feels like it races or I become very aware of it, especially when I feel unsteady or anxious
Sometimes I feel shaky / jittery
I feel much better when I lie down
I’ve had my:
blood pressure checked → normal
blood sugar checked → normal
heart rate checked → usually normal (around 70–90 at rest, sometimes ~100+ when walking or anxious)
My GP thinks it may be a balance/vestibular issue and has started me on:
Betahistine dihydrochloride (8mg, Milpharm) – 3 times a day (trial for 1 week)
I’ve started it and I do feel a bit better sometimes, but I still get episodes where I feel really unsteady and my heart feels like it’s racing when I move.
What’s confusing me is:
It feels worse in the morning
Sometimes food seems to help
Sitting/lying down makes it better
But standing or moving can bring it back quickly
I’m really anxious about it because it feels like my heart is involved, but tests so far have been normal.
Has anyone had similar symptoms and what was your outcome?
Any advice or reassurance would really help.

Hi everyone,
I’ve been struggling with anxiety for quite a while, but today I experienced something that really scared me.
I suddenly felt like I couldn’t get enough air, became very dizzy, and felt like I was going to faint. The scariest part was that I felt like I couldn’t speak because I felt like I had no air. It only lasted for a short time, but it terrified me.
Has anyone else experienced something similar during a panic attack or anxiety? Have you ever felt unable to talk because you felt like you couldn’t breathe?
I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences because this episode scared me a lot.

i got an anxiety attack 3 months back and since then iam burping sm like every sec i burp and i burp air nth else it doesnt has any taste but air

I TOOK A LOT OF MED LIKE alzyme, rd 24 which is a combination of raveprazole + Domperidone .

it still aint goin away

I’ve been on 50mg for years, went up to 100mg 4 weeks ago because I was struggling with anxiety again. Been great for most of the 4 weeks, however started my period yesterday (well, withdrawal bleed from birth control) and I’ve had a return of how I was feeling before I increased my medication. I know periods alter your mood anyway just hoping it goes away when my period finishes. Anyone else experience this?

Hi all, long story short I take my daily 100mg of Pristiq and I have as needed Ativan but my panic usually is more physical rather than mental. My doctor who truly is a gem and my previous cardiologist suggest to try 10mg of propranolol because it’ll help the hand sweating/body sweating, palpitations, racing heart and such. I am scared since I have cardiophobia and that it’ll lower things to much such as hr and bp. I trust my doctor until my anxiety stops me. Just looking for advice. It’s the 10mg quick release and he said I can break it in half and try 5mg. Just looking for some relief. Thank you!

I (20F) have constant and long urges of an adrenaline rush. I usually just SH and drink or smoke because I don’t know how else to deal with what I’m feeling. I’m in a relationship and I feel like I need to feel excited all the time about something. Don’t get me wrong, I like my boyfriend a lot and I enjoy every second I spend with him. It’s just that I’ve always struggled with s*ic*dal thoughts and SH and I was fine until a few weeks ago I started to SH again. I just feel like i need to experience something to make me feel alright, like im alive. I don’t know what else to do to deal with what goes inside my head. I’ve thought about having sex with my boyfriend just so I can get that adrenaline rush I’m looking for but I’m not sure since my first time happened (with an ex) because I felt numb and wanted to feel something. Please if anyone has any advice on what can I do. I also struggle with horrible mood swings and anxiety and I just want to be okay.

Has anyone ever had like a fast heart rate and what feels like nonstop anxiety for a week? I went and saw my doctor today because I had an event last week and it hasn’t stopped since. She has since referred me to an autonomic dysregulation clinic, but they take forever so I’m not sure how to manage all this in the in-between.

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.

Hi everyone,
I’m really confused and a bit scared so I wanted to ask if anyone has experienced something similar.
For the past while I’ve been getting episodes where:
When I stand up or walk I feel really dizzy and like I might pass out
My legs feel shaky and weak
I feel hot/flushed sometimes
My balance feels off / like I’m swaying or “sliding” even when lying in bed
My eyes sometimes feel like they can’t properly focus
I feel better sitting or in a car, but worse when standing or moving
Today it got worse so I went to urgent care. They checked my blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar, and temperature and said everything was normal. They told me to follow up with my GP.
Now I’m confused because I still feel these symptoms even though all the tests were normal at the time I was feeling unwell.
Has anyone had anything similar?
What could cause:
dizziness + swaying/rocking feeling
feeling like you might faint when standing
symptoms improving when sitting or in a car
normal basic checks at urgent care
I’m worried but also trying to understand what this could be. Any advice or similar experiences would really help.