Crippling anxiety - I don't know what else to do

The neighbour called an ambulance. I work in ED and I despair at some of the things people come in for , but with a panic attack you can feel like you’re dying. I’ve had them they are completely debilitating.
You seem to be on this thread to make snide comments?
Maybe if you’re not feeling helpful this isn’t the thread for you?
Or are you just in that sort of mood ?

Oh I was younger than 42 as well. Try a different doctor to try and get HRT. I only got HRT 3 years later and it's been life changing. Davina's book menopausing is a really easy listen or read.

I was also going to suggest an iron test (ferritin) as low iron can cause air hunger and might be part of the issue. Wishing you well 💐

Why are you nit picking at everything the OP posts?
You are clearly not sympathetic to what she is describing so why be on this thread?

I know two people who had leaky heart valves who had severe anxiety, breathlessness and insomnia.. not trying to make you more anxious but please contact your GP and ask for a full physical check up - blood tests etc.

Then ask for a referral for someone to talk to. You’re grieving your mum - Jan is very recent.

So sorry this is happening to you - this happened to me over two years ago now. my ferritin was only 8 which we think was a huge contributing factor but otherwise it was a full on breakdown. You really do need support so please reach out to anyone you can and ask them to take you to see a GP. Diazepam may be prescribed whilst the sertraline is kicking in. Hand hold 💐

It would be reasonable to assume that after the neighbour phoned the paramedics the paramedics were able to take the blood pressure.

This, 100%. Give the Sertraline time.
Propranolol helps with the physical stuff.

My main peri symptom was terrible anxiety, I had 5 weeks off work, I was just a ball of sickening dread. Get an advocate if needed and get HRT!

So sorry about your mam….and the severe anxiety you are feeling right now, only a few weeks later, is understandable and often part of the process of grief. Hopefully it will diminish of its own accord but talking to a bereavement councillor online may also help

That's your interpretation.

If your sister took you, do you think you could make it to the doctor? It sounds like you really need support and they might need to change the medication. I don't think you're well enough to be babysitting, that wouldn't be safe when you are feeling so unwell.

Your posts are coming across very much like repeated small digs. For someone already struggling, these will no doubt feel horrible.

I am not being awful.

I'm asking questions, questions are allowed it it a forum.

Yes I know they're freely available.

Why are you being awful to someone in clear distress?

ps. Lots of people have blood pressure machines. The chemist and Amazon sell them for about £20.

Oh op. This really could be peri menopause. I was horrific, uncontrollable crying etc, and the gel transformed things. I as 43 and realised I’d been having symptoms for years.

Take a look the symptoms of menopause, and see if any others fit, if so discuss with gp on phone, or if you can afford that private appointment a video call one would be great.

Your neighbour was able to take your blood pressure?

Offering sympathy. 💐 I have CPTSD and every five years or so suffer from bouts of extreme anxiety. Panic attacks are the worst.

Sertraline really helped but it took 6-7 weeks to work last time. It felt worse before it got better - which is obviously awful when you have anxiety.

Wishing you strength OP. And really urge you to call in all the support you can. The invisibility of it can make it hard to ask for help, but if you had a broken bone or couldn’t walk you’d have to step away from some responsibilities for a bit - it’s no different. X

Sorry to hear you’re having such a bad time at the moment. I know what it’s like. I’ve been there, unfortunately.

Propranolol didn’t work for me either. I got stabilised on Cipralex (worth asking for if you’re still no better on sertraline after a few more weeks). I do think SSRIs can take 6-8 weeks to work.
My psychiatrist then added Pregabalin and that combination gave me back my life. She said I could go up to 600mg, but I noticed a massive difference on just 200mg and I was then able to engage with the cbt and the desensitisation. I agree on the Claire Weekes recommendations.
I was housebound for years. Flying off on holiday soon.

That sounds horrendous OP. My sister had anxiety/agoraphobia and it was debilitating for years. Someone earlier mentioned exposure therapy, she did this with CBT and medication but it was a long road for her. Her GP organised home visits for my sister with a local mental health nurse for her medication, could that be an option? As for your sisters childcare, you need to look after yourself first, it’s her issue to deal with if you’re unable to go out at the moment.

There’s no one else, but they aren’t you kids. Your sister needs to talk to her work about flexible working, or she needs to look into holiday clubs/childminders.

I’ve been in your exact place, feeling like I’m unable to say no to babysitting when I’m nearly at rock bottom myself and it made it so much worse. In the end I just had to learn to say no. You’re not being horrible, you’re just putting your MH/yourself first. 2 weeks of looking after a couple of kids while suffering intense anxiety isn’t going to bode well.

Yep i do yes im adult, but it helps it really dose, calm soothing and calm focuse on the breathing.
We do what we have to do to help ourselfs, and if a silly toy for 4.99 helps then so be it.
Also have a patting plushie just in case the bears battery runs out.

This. I had extreme anxiety and a 40ml dose of citalopram transformed it. But looking back, it was menopause.