Help - Anxiety, insomnia and panic attacks ruining my life

[Anothercheckedshirt]

Hi,

Basically, I'm on my knees with this. Have struggled with anxiety forever, but it's gone crazy the past few months. Always struggled with sleep, but now I can go through phases or NOTHING at all. Like last night 😭 I look and feel like utter crap.

I thought I'd had bad panic attacks in the past, but the last few have been horrendous. Last night I really felt like I couldn't breathe at one point. Started hyperventilating and the more my dp told me to calm down, the more worked up I became. I kept trying to speak to say I was trying to calm myself, but I just couldn't get the words out.

I'm waiting on a mental health review/chat tomorrow and I'm honestly desperate for something to actually work. I can not live like this anymore. I've even considered leaving dp, as I feel like I'm ruining their life too.

I don’t know why I'm posting this. I really don't, because I feel like I'm beyond help. I don't ever feel relaxed or truly happy. I can have happy moments, but I never feel content. Never. I always have this background feeling of doom or dread. Sometimes it's very much on the surface, like last night.

I'm just about to cancel two meet ups I have with friends this week, as I'll be rubbish company. I don't want to do this, but feel like I should.

As I say, I don't know why I'm posting this. Another cry for help I suppose.

Thank you for reading anyway.

Anyone around?

Are you peri meno? Sounds like classic symptoms

Can you ask your gp for propanol

You need to see a GP, setraline has worked wonders for me, sleep still not great but slightly better. You need to stick with it as first few weeks it can be worse. Good luck

@Quitelikeit it's possible. I was actually prescribed these, but didn't take them in the end as read they trigger insomnia 😒

@millymoo1202 I've had really bad reactions in the past, so feeling pretty nervous about trying meds again. I'm glad to hear it's helping you though.

Sertraline and melatonin. Cured my insomnia and anxiety.

@greglet I've been looking into melatonin actually, but not sure where to buy from, as I know the UK doesn't sell it. Always feel a bit uneasy buying online when I don't know for sure what I'm getting. What do you take?

@Anothercheckedshirt www.biovea.com/uk/productlist/categorydispatch?cid=23679

It's brilliant for helping you to fall asleep but it wears off overnight so it won't help you go back to sleep if you wake during the night (although for me, it helped break the psychological barrier of worrying that I wouldn't be able to sleep, so it actually has made it easier for me to go back to sleep if I wake to use the loo or something).

I’m sorry you’re going through this. I relate to your post as that was exactly me 6 months ago - at my worst I went four nights without sleeping. I managed to get better by seeing my GP and getting a weeks prescription for sleeping pills, these knocked me out for a few nights and helped break the insomnia cycle. I then completely stopped drinking alcohol, it messes with your sleep cycle and in my case made my anxiety much worse. I also bought some 2mg melatonin tablets online to make me more ready to sleep. Once I felt a bit better in myself I then started doing some walking / exercise. All these things worked in a combinations and I’m like a different person. I hope this helps

@greglet thank you. So DHEA produces your natural melatonin?

@CET27 really glad that you're in a much better place. Good to hear a success story.

I can only say how my life changed after nearly 30 years of anxiety, insomnia and palpitations/ rapid heart rate for about 10 years and a million other symptoms.
I started taking thiamine (vitamin b1) and nicotinamide (b3) I also took/take hawthorn drops for my palpitations.
On top of that I went on a strict autoimmune diet.
Within 2 weeks I went out without anxiety. I slept through the night(the first time I slept I thought I was ill)
I have come back to life
Please look into vitamin deficiencies and symptoms of food intolerances both of which can cause those symptoms.
Also undiagnosed thyroid conditions that many women go through (especially around the menopause) and are missed by current blood tests
I'm not saying that is the same with you, but I can't believe how many years I lived like this.

I can relate to your post OP as this was me at the start of the year. The panic attacks were debilitating I couldn’t leave the house, I was in a constant state of fear and anxiety. Eventually after a catastrophic panic attack where I was on my knees on my in laws driveway screaming and crying because I thought I was going to die, I went to the doc who prescribed me Sertraline and after 6/7 weeks I was back to as near as my former self as I think I can get. Coupled with talking therapy. Most of my issues stemmed from having an overactive thyroid. So maybe have a blood test to check yourself over, vitamins etc to rule anything else out that could be contributing.

Reach out OP, you’re not alone xx

My son suffered with this too. Sertraline gave him his life back, but eventually stopped being beneficial for him and he switched to Cymbalta. Thankfully doing really well.

Also as @CyclingForSanity mentioned, if you are someone with the capacity to completely overhaul your diet, that can work wonders too. Have several friends that are doing great since making this huge lifestyle change.

I've been going through similar and found the DARE response (app and book) helped but I've also been practicing EFT tapping which seems to help me too.

I still feel anxious and panicky at times, before this I was around a 8/10 now I'm around a 5-6/10 depending on my hormones.

@CyclingForSanity I have had the usual deficiency tests, but I'm not sure if that included those. It's good to hear more positive outcomes.

@Chocpot1986 Thank you. They really are awful aren't they. I'm glad you've had success with your treatment.

@Lizzieregina you must be so relieved that your ds is feeling better.

@user098765432 I hope you keep improving. Will look into that app.

@Anothercheckedshirt thank you. You have no idea!! It was the worst time in our lives to see our son struggling so much. We are grateful that there was good help available to him. I hope you find the same.

Don't cancel seeing your friends.

@Lizzieregina thank you.

@RedHelenB I nearly did earlier, but I actually just messaged to ask if we're still on, but gave a heads up I'd been struggling a bit.

So I got some sleep last night at least, but I'm in serious deficit, so am still feeling pretty rubbish.

I've been researching the positive effects of CBD oil for anxiety, so considering giving this a go.

Just bumping this again. I'm still really struggling. I got 2 or 3 hours this morning. I have some of the OTO drops, but i'm reluctant to take them, as I read that if you really want to treat insomnia, you need to stop taking everything, as they become obsessive behaviours and that's what creates the vicious cycle.

My pattern seems to be one awful night, with hardly any/ no sleep, then one night of OK sleep, due to pure exhaustion, which is pretty crap.

I was going to enrole on a sleep training course - again, all natural, but apparently they don't take people with anxiety and/or depression!

Is there a specific time where you can sleep? I am often tired around 10:30-1130. If I miss this window I am awake until 2 or 3.