Panic disorder. Will I be like this forever?

[harryetta]

I have developed panic disorder. I have a panic attack every 1-3 nights. Sometimes severe, sometimes very mild. Occasionally during the day. Once whilst driving. I'm starting to feel scared to go out. I live in constant fesr of having another one. I am a social butterfly and avoided a social situation for the first time in my life tonight. I feel like I am losing it.

I went to my GP who gave me propranolol and advised therapy. Was offered therapy on the NHS but they could only do a very specific time that just wasn't possible for me.

I feel like I'm dying. I don't know what to do.

I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling like this. Can you pinpoint what started them? Are you particularly worried about something or is it a general fear?

I’m sure you’ve looked into it but I suggest breathing techniques really helped me when I get them

Is there something that is triggering each one?
Or something that has happened generally that has made you more anxious?

Sometimes it's something specific. Today it was alcohol (I had one drink and very rarely drink). Then it was because I was getting fasciculations over my body (not anything to worry about). Sometimes (most) just completely random.

Woah OP. Panic attacks are entirely harmless despite their best efforts to persuade you otherwise.

There's a Dare programme which is brilliant. But mostly you have to accept that what you are dealing with is not able to hurt you, it's designed to protect you, but you are safe and they can't last forever.

It feels like the end of the world, but reframe the conversation and it will get better. This isn't the cliff edge you think it is. Give me a PM if you need, any time!

Exercise really helps me. As does propranolol... avoiding coffee and alcohol. Avoid Smoking vaping snacking on a load of junk food etc. I am exactly the same and if I don't look after myself now I end up a. Anxious mess.

From someone who's been there it gets better but yiu have to put in the work.

Therapy is rubbish imo, you will wait months when you can fix it yourself. But it'll be hard work but worth it

Panic attacks are extremely frightening and unpleasant. Until you've actually experienced one you have no idea how awful the symptoms are.
Luckily there is a lot more information now, especially online. Because when l started experiencing them in my mid twenties , over thirty years ago, there was nothing l could find that was useful.
Panic attacks are one of the reasons school refusal has hit pandemic levels, it leads to avoidance because of the fear of suffering a panic attack in a public place.
Many adults present at A&E thinking they are suffering a heart attack when it is actually a panic attack, that's how intense the symptoms are.
My advice would be to read whatever you can, "Dare" is one of the best books on panic attacks in my opinion as the author suffered them himself.
I didn't take medication for mine. I couldn't afford not to go to work so l pushed through, it was extremely difficult at times and my world did become smaller.
Panic End is an online forum, many people in the same boat.
Breathing exercises can help, but changing the way you think, becoming more aware of your thought patterns and to try and keep life to some kind of normal was what worked for me.
I don't know how l would have managed if l had had them younger and still at school.

It's so horrible when you're stuck in the cycle of them but I do believe you will get over this. I had panic disorder after covid as I was getting strange symptoms which were then bringing on panic attacks. I tried different things- cold water showers (short bursts), rehydration drinks, low histamine diet (some of this was for the other symptoms but could have helped the panic). I believe Sertraline stopped my panic attacks and is listed as a drug for panic disorder. I hope you work things out and feel better soon.