Getting PTSD from a seemingly non-dramatic event?

[kukukukukukukukuku]

I’ve always struggled with my mental health, but things have really taken a nose dive right now. I’m off work because I absolutely cannot function, can’t sleep or eat properly (although I force myself to because I’ve lost weight and look awful, almost haunted).

This all started in January this year. I was doing well managing my anxiety and low mood and had just found a lovely new job. On the way to work one day I randomly collapsed in the middle of the road and was taken to the resuscitation department in A&E. I was very agitated and tried to get up to leave and a nurse said “well you can try but you’re at risk of cardiac arrest right now”. I kept asking if I was going to die and I couldn’t feel my heart beating. After the morning spent there, I was given loads of tests and discharged in the afternoon to follow up with GP. So obviously nothing life threatening. Well, I’m still waiting for referrals now because of waiting lists (which I understand because obviously mine is not a priority)

Since this happened I have not left the house once on my own. I hang onto my partner’s arm if we have to walk anywhere, but I will mostly avoid it. I can’t go into busy places where I cannot see an exit, supermarkets seem too stimulating and I end up having panic attacks, I have night terrors and wake up at 3am most nights and struggle to get back off, I’ve lost my appetite and can’t seem to find anything that gives me enjoyment. When I see news stories of people fainting in public it makes me physically tremble and sometimes vomit. I am forever checking my pulse, dizzy and lightheaded.

it’s not just in public either - in my house I will lie down most of the time so I can’t faint, I spend most of my time sleeping to get through the day. Random images of waking up on the floor or all the staff around me in A&E frequently come into my head.

I constantly discuss what happened with anyone who will listen - asking what they think happened in the minutes after I collapsed or whether it is normal to have no warning signs. It frightens me how out of my control it was.

I went back to work the day after it happened and work constantly up to 3 weeks ago when all these symptoms just intensified to the point of being debilitating.

i know it doesn’t sound so scary and I’m almost embarrassed it’s affected me so much, but I feel like I have a genuine physically rooted stress response that won’t go away. I keep saying to myself well it was a one off, nothing bad will happen if it happens, everyone helped you last time. I’ve had CBT but it didn’t really help. I know my behaviours and thoughts are irrational, but when the “panic” strikes in public or even when I’m waking up gasping for air, I can’t rationalise it to myself.

i hate living like this, it’s been 9 months of my life, and no matter how hard I try nothing gets better

I wholeheartedly agree with this!

Posters are trying to be supportive diagnosing the entire history as anxiety related and offering advice based on the theory that the collapse was merely a symptom of pre-existing anxiety - but this is entirely a guess without specific basis for kukukukukukukukuku 's individual case!

kukukukukukukukuku you need to get to the bottom of why you collapsed if you possibly can. Push for more detailed cardiac investigation through your GP, and if your heart is fine then yay - you know it's fine, but there are other physical causes and you should not accept being fobbed off - although you certainly could consider going private if you can afford to.

Most physical conditions can be mitigated one way or another, and above all you'll know and be able to stsrt living your life with only any adjustments that might be objectively necessary.

If you still need therapy after that then of course access anything that helps, but knowing what you're dealing with physically will make the psychological aspect easier for you to address too.

Have you got private health care? Ask for a referral?

I’m about to see a cardiologist at a Nuffield hospital, the cost for initial appointment, to include ecg, echocardiogram, blood tests and a stress test is £200. Appointments available within a week or so, I would recommend paying it if you can, it might help you move on and stop the panic attacks?

Sorry op I didn’t realise you had a cardiac arrest.