Sudden sense of dread today and trying not to panic

[AlwaysAnxious32]

Anyone else get a sudden sense of impending doom? I've had this wash over me today suddenly and it feels horrid. I just have this sudden sense of dread and I'm finding it really difficult to explain. I have suffered anxiety and panic in the last and I have OCD. But this doesn't feel like the kind of panic I would normally get. After a quick Google, it says could be a heart attack or PE. I don't have any chest pain but not I feel like I've got pain iny shoulder but I don't know if I'm making that up. I've started to really panic some more. Anyone else had this?? And been ok?. Working myself into a right state, also feel.silly going to A and E and I saying "I feel a sense of dread". On the brink of a massive panic attack. Can anyone calm me the hell down. Hand hold needed.

It has been questioned whether I am neuro divergent. My son has severe autism and ADHD too. So possibly

Thank you for your advice. X

Have a warm shower and a hot drink. At least that way you’ll be nice and fresh if you have to spend 6 hours in A&E if you’re not feeling any better.

Strongly disagree all you like :)

But I had health anxiety after a PE and ended up back in hospital with panic attacks afterwards and chronic health anxiety. I find checking my stats very reassuring if I’m ill and my health anxiety has now completely gone. No therapy needed!

A warm shower and a hot drink sounds like very sound advice.
Might be just what you need to warm up OP.
Feeling anxious like you have been today is definitely not pleasant and your DP with his lack of sensitivity isn't making it any easier I'm sure.
You've had a lot of advice on here, much of it very good, very kind and thoughtful, and others not so much.
I can only offer you the handhold you asked for and I'm hoping that you will warm up and feel more relaxed.
I hope you'll feel a lot better tomorrow x

This is really good advice and I agree with it but just to add- when I ask Ai for advice when I’m similarly unwell, I’m always advised to sit upright and not lie flat. I’m not sure why this is but apparently being propped up is better?

This. They're not too expensive. I regularly check my own blood pressure (I am on meds for high bp), and we've had an ear thermometer for years since the kids were little for whenever they had high temps. During lockdown I bought an oximeter. I don't have any kind of anxiety but I do like to know what's going on with my body if I think there's something off, so checking these basic stats does help to reassure.

I once had the feeling of impending doom when I was on some medication. I can't remember whether it was from the painkillers I was on for back pain or the stomach pills to protect my stomach from the painkillers, I think it was omeprazole (!) but it was scary. I've never had a panic attack in my life, and from out of nowhere just while I was going about my business getting ready for bed, I went cold and clammy and just felt that something was terribly wrong. My legs went to jelly and I was crouched by the toilet thinking I was about to vomit. I shouted down to DH but when he came up all I could get out was "something's wrong" so it freaked him out a bit. As quick as it came it passed and I've been as right as train since (but I did stop the medication immediately as I suspected it was that).

Ok this is a ‘normal’ symptom for some people with adhd.

Honestly.

I suggest lying in bed, wrapped up warm with a weighted blanket or heavy item of clothing over you, with your phone out of reach and on silent or off, put something familiar on tv or iPad (or phone if nothing else but have far away out of reach) - a movie or a series that will keep playing (start from the beginning). The familiarity will bring comfort in a wierd way but trust me it works.

OP, breathing slowly in through your mouth and out through your nose is a proven way to relax your vagus nerve (a big nerve that runs through you and can cause lots of symptoms if you anxiety triggers it.)

AI Overview

Deep breathing, particularly with long, slow exhales and diaphragmatic (belly) movement, directly stimulates the vagus nerve to activate the parasympathetic ("rest and digest") nervous system. This reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and reverses the "fight or flight" stress response. Effective techniques include abdominal breathing, the "psychological sigh," and humming.
YouTube +6
Top Breathing Techniques for Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Diaphragmatic (Belly) Breathing: Place one hand on your belly and the other on your chest. Inhale slowly through your nose, ensuring your belly rises more than your chest. Exhale slowly through pursed lips or your nose.
Extended Exhales (4-7-8 Breathing): Inhale for a count of 4, hold for 7, and exhale slowly for a count of 8. The key is making the exhale significantly longer than the inhale.
The Psychological Sigh: Take two quick inhales through the nose until lungs are totally full, followed by one long, slow exhale through the mouth.
Humming or Chanting: Because the vagus nerve passes through the vocal cords, humming, singing, or chanting (like "Om") produces vibrations that activate it.
Cedars-Sinai +6
Why Deep Breathing Works
The vagus nerve passes through the diaphragm, which separates the chest from the abdominal cavity. Slow, deep breathing acts as a mechanical massage for this nerve, sending "safety" signals to the brain, which in turn reduces stress-related bodily functions.
Yale School of Medicine +2

Yes thanks you. I often listen to music in bed or just have the TV on in the background and it works eventually.

When you're prescribed vitamin D. You need to take it. Please start taking them.

Buy a thermometer as well if only for your childs sake.

I suffer with really bad health anxiety and I’ve felt this sense of dread a few times and like you I googled it and was convinced I was having a heart attack. Then had the pain down my arm. I kid you not I could have written this exact post myself. Google told me to go to hospital, Everyone around me told me I was being “silly”. I didn’t go to hospital but the feeling continued for a few hours, no doubt because I got myself in such a panic. Woke the next morning and it was still there slightly but not as bad. It’s happened another few times since and I just reassure myself it’s my anxiety. Maybe try some breathing exercises and a bit of tv as a distraction then see how you feel in an hour or so? I sympathise with you because health anxiety is ruining my life.

Put some head phones on, play lacrimosa really loud. Concentrate on the music and the voices. Lay down. Force yourself to relax your body parts one at a time. Start with your toes and work your way up.

I just can't shake the "what if this time it's real" feeling.

Yes-my FIL had sepsis (felt cold, and dread)-there were other symptoms too, but please ring 111 to get proper advice.

Do you ever call The Samaritans? They're amazing. Their number is

116 123

Just tell them how you feel. They will listen and talk to you about your worries.

https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

more gut feeling and a kinda flash forward moment,

It does sound like an anxiety attack, and they can be very scary. But be aware if you develop a crushing feeling in your chest, breathlessness, and cold sweats if that develops. I don't mean this to scare you at all, but I had those particular symptoms and the ambulance crew said it was an anxiety attack, but it did actually turn out to be a saddle pulmonary embolism and it almost killed me. You're not wasting anyone's time to be on the safe side. A call to 111 isn't a bad idea if you're worried, even to put your mind at rest.

The doom feeling had lessened. I've had myself in such a state, now my neck and head is really hurting and one of my eyes, hurting so bad I can't open it. Obviously I'm getting myself more worked up because I had the impending doom feeling earlier. In my head I'm thinking it was a sign and now the other pains I've got are really something bad. Debating whether to just go to A & E. But I have really bad social anxiety too so this is also scary

@AlwaysAnxious32 I had something similar happen to me, I was in my 20s and the feeling came out of nowhere…I ended up shaking and shivering, and feeling extremely unwell…it was a long night. I believe it was a terrible panic attack (was Xmas holidays so was home- both parents spent most of the night awake with me unsure what was happening).
my mum did take me to see GP who prescribed beta blockers- I think they helped; but I had a difficult two weeks, feeling very low.
I hope you feel better, and for reassurance maybe do give 111 a call.

Your neck and head will be hurting from being tense and stressed about how you were feeling.
obviously I can’t say for certain that there is nothing seriously wrong BUT I have felt similar to this in the past and it has always turned out fine.
please try some relaxation techniques, there have been a few good ones mentioned on this thread, tell your dh how you are feeling and ask him to keep an eye on you so you don’t have to think about how you are feeling, he will look for any signs something might be wrong.
another suggestion is headphones and adhd hyper focus music, or binaural beats, it plays different tunes in each ear at the same time and quietens your brain a bit

I had sepsis and I was freezing even when burning up . I didn’t realise how ill I was and it is only because I fell getting into bed and have no strength in one leg that meant I got help. The paramedic noticed symptoms I hadn’t z-I thought I had flu. Swift treatment probably saved my life if I had made it to bed I might not have woken up

I have severe anxiety and panic disorder. I've also just been through a load of medical stuff with my family.

What you're describing doesn't sound like normal anxiety or panic to me and I think you should give 111 a call or use the online service.

https://111.nhs.uk/

Do you take any medication?

That's fine but as far as we know OP doesn't have a physical health condition that she needs to monitor. She's is just anxious. Obviously there are situations where it's good to monitor things, if the issue is just anxiety it just tends to feed the anxiety.

I’ve had shivering and an impeding sense of doom come over me before coming down with a virus. It has hardened a few times when instead of feeling ill I feel depressed and anxious - hard to explain but then ends up being an illness. I hope you feel better today!