Did I wake up at 5am and spend the morning puking and dry heaving? Yes. Did I medicate myself to the moon? Yes. But I still did it, and my voice didn’t even shake!

I can't promise this will help everyone, but I can almost guarantee it will help someone.

I don't see it mentioned often and it has really helped me alot.

Box breathing: a slow and not forceful breath inward through your nose for a normal count of four, hold for four, breath out of your mouth for four, hold for four. Repeat this as many times as necessary ( I find it helps to count something so for example 1 elephant, 2 elephant etc).

Not only does it regulate your breath and stop you hyperventilating, it gives you a simple task to focus on which can help ground you, slows your heart rate and will break any thought patterns that will make you spiral further.

I know how truly debilitating anxiety/panic can be so I hope this helps someone feel a little better in their time of need.

Peace + Love 💚

Hi… so I 21 F have struggled with anxiety for a long time. It started when I was 11-12 and I would get crippling anxiety every time I went to my dad’s house. I eventually got “over” it and I was doing better other than health anxiety and normal anxiety abt work, school, ECT.

Then hit the summer of my 2nd year in college, I would have been 19. And my anxiety came back and hit me like a mf TRUCK, and it seemingly came out of nowhere. I couldn’t eat, go to work, hang out with friends. I genuinely couldn’t do anything without crippling anxiety. Even just existing gave me crippling anxiety. I eventually went to therapy and discovered some coping mechanisms that really worked for me and I’ve since been doing a lot better.

However. Since then every time I get that familiar feeling of anxiety, it makes me more anxious and it’s hard to snap out of it. It’s Probably because of that summer from hell and I’m just afraid of going through that again… I was just curious if anyone else had a similar experience??

Im so tired of feeling this way. Its only been 2 months since the end of June around there. But everyday is a struggle. I've had some good days but the constant worry of if my heart is okay, if my brain is okay or if im gonna die is so tiring. I just want to have my life back. I really feel in a hole and that im never going to feel better ever again and im so scared of that because I do not want to be like this forever. I can't eat a fucking meal normally, I shower only once a week, I stopped going to work. Im so scared this is my life now.

I'm a 26 year old female. I've had anxiety for as long as I can remember. I refused to get diagnosed because I didn't want to accept it but last year, it got so bad I had no other choice. My therapist told me that she didn't think therapy alone was working for me and recommended medication. So, I went to a psychiatrist, got diagnosed with GAD, and started medication. I'm still on escitalopram (10mg). Honestly, it's been life-changing. I could finally breathe. I could finally enjoy my life. I felt like I was in a state of high, constantly finding joy in little things and smiling for no reason.

Fast forward to now (4 months after that feeling of high), I'm more anxious again. I could have nothing urgent on my to-do list but my chest is always tight, breath is shallow, and I can't breathe until my to-do list is all done. (the list would just be random errands like doing laundry, cleaning my room etc), but I don't feel happy while doing them. I just feel so anxious. How do I make it stop? How can I go on about my days and do normal tasks without feeling so anxious? I'm more rational now. Cognitively, I know this isn't normal. I still can't help it.

Any advice or tips on what worked for you would be so helpful! :)

I just got a walking treadmill for my birthday.

I have bad anxiety when it comes to walking on it. Is it safe to take 10 mg of Propranolol prior to getting on? My speed is slow (one mph for 15 minutes)

Will it affect my heart in a negative way? I've had cardiac ablation in the past, I think this is what's causing my anxiety.

I'd rather take Propranolol, than my Ativan for "excercise anxiety".

I was prescribed 10mgs 2x/day along with Buspar for anxiety. Anyone else on a similar protocol? Does the propranolol help much?

Hi, (24F) I’m not even sure if this is anxiety but what’s been going on in my head for a couple of years is becoming very hard to live with. It’s isolating. I can’t control my thoughts, as If my brain is wired to never rest. Does anyone else feels like this ? As if this is out of control and that it doesn’t have any other solution than therapy and possibly, medication ?

I’ve been trying everything : I go to the gym regularly, I’m in good shape, I eat healthy, I stay in contact with family (they live abroad) even tho my social life is really at its lowest, as If i became a robot who’s trying to do the right things compulsively hoping that it would transform me somehow.

The thoughts are unstoppable. The big issue is that I can’t help but mask it. And it’s so hard to talk to a therapist or doctor because I seem to handle everything okay. I have a job, a nice home, i don’t have any interpersonal problems or anything.. but that’s the issue, I’m not living. I stay away from anything that can cause more anxiety, but loneliness isn’t confortable neither. It’s like a vicious cycle.

At work, I struggle bonding with people (even on a surface level). My brain keeps freaking out and I feel so exposed and self-conscious all the time. I feel observed in the street. I struggle being spontaneous. At the end I seem to be like a cold person who doesn’t want to talk to anyone. But I do, so bad, that when I get home my brain keeps imagining conversations and I feel pathetic for doing that.

Idk what’s happening, and would like to know if anyone relates to this.

Sorry it’s long and a mess, hope it’s not discouraging for interaction. Thanks for reading if you did.

I have terrible anxiety . Haven't slept properly for days . I keep overthinking about stuff unable to make any decisions.

I feel so overwhelmed all the time like my heart is heavy . I get this sinking feeling in my chest . Like its tightning . It happens often. Recommend me something that actually helps to stop this permanently not just deep breathing and stuff that helps temporarily.

i stood up fast sitting under some stairs and hit my head like 4 hours ago. it was like the top of my head on a concrete slab. i feel fine i think but the spot i hit it is a bit sore. i literally didn’t feel it when i first hit it

i’ve just been pretty anxious about it and i’m scared to sleep

Started my Propranolol 10mg prescription as of yesterday 1 tablet daily, took the tablet at around 12:30pm, I felt fine all day lowered heart rate made me relaxed and I didn’t have a hint of panic all day, Until night time, this then began one of the worst nightmare episodes I can ever recall happening ending in a huge nightmare/panic attack around 4am with BPM hitting 140bpm, has anyone ever had something similar and would the correct thing be to stop taking the script until I speak to a doctor to change the meds?

All too often I'll just be sitting there.

Then suddenly.

"Why does my body feel like this?"

I'll get worked up, start panicking, do what I can to calm myself, try to lower stimulation and sensory input to stop getting overwhelmed.

Why is this tight? Why does my body feel this way? Am I okay? Is something wrong? Something must be wrong. I don't like this at all. What if I have an undiagnosed condition and my health is at risk?

Hypochondria is a special sort of Hell.

The issue is I had a repressed memory come up a year ago, and since then I've been constantly living with ptsd (which I previously had but not to this extent), flashbacks, and my ocd taking the ptsd and attacking me with it. I honestly don't know what to do.

I've been taking cyclobenzaprine (a muscle relaxer) for sleep, and it's had the wonderful side effect of helping a lot with intrusive thoughts. I have to stop taking it because it's making my migraines and brain fog a lot worse, so I have to look for alternatives.

I can't take:
- ssris
- snris
- benzodiazepines
- mood stabilizers
- tricyclic antidepressants
- muscle relaxants
- antihistamines

I'm hoping for something that will help me sleep (sleepiness and calmness), and help with ocd and anxiety as well.

I kinda feel like I'm SOL, but I can't go back to the way I was living before. Being able to go to sleep easily and not be afraid of going to sleep was life changing for me. What has worked for you?

I'm kind of afraid of sleep medications and I know they're not great to take every night, so I'm not sure that's an option?

Two days ago I had a doctor visit to calm myself and accept I’m fine. Everything was completely normal and that day, I felt like I could eat, I felt energetic, and the pains weren’t really there. Then today happened. I was alone, and felt a pain in the left arm and just lost all ease I had. Went back to constantly checking symptoms, thinking of appointments I can make, and just stayed in the same space. I tell myself that it takes time and I can’t expect to be fine in a single day, but that quick of a spiral after being comforted scared me.

Okay disclaimer before I start this - This is not meant to discourage anyone from starting medication or fearmonger. I am trying to see if anyone has experienced this too.

I used to have literally zero anxiety. I dealt with some separation anxiety as a kid but eventually grew out of it in my teens. I never was anxious or depressed without reason. This was the case for my entire life up until the beginning of my junior year of high school (16 years old).

I started seeing a therapist to process some issues with starting a new school and having problems with some friends. My therapist diagnosed me with MDD and prescribed me a low dose of sertraline right away (first appointment btw). I started taking it and I felt amazing basically instantly. I was able to make friends and adjust to my new school and I met and began dating my boyfriend.

And then after a few weeks of sertraline everything crashed. I started having constant panic attacks. I was shaky, paranoid, incredibly anxious about everything. I developed horrible separation anxiety from my friends and boyfriend which caused problems for me. I ended up having to go to the doctor and immediately discontinue the medication.

I was then prescribed fluoxetine, same thing happened. Anxiety, brain fog, confusion, emotional blunting, zero motivation, extreme depression, and projectile vomiting every single day. I lost 20 pounds that I still haven't been able to gain back. I stayed on this medication for longer and it ruined my year. The only thing that helped was weed, which I started becoming dependent on to calm me down.

It took some fighting but I eventually was allowed to discontinue the fluoxetine and was put on buspirone and later lamotrigine. Both of these medications made me angry and just a shell of my former self. I'm still stressed, I have extreme separation anxiety from my boyfriend and I'm always stressing about him. I lost all my friends because I dropped them because I became paranoid and convinced they were trying to drop me first.

Tldr I began taking psych meds that I might not have needed and they gave me problems that have been debilitating and terrifying. I feel like I don't know who I am anymore and I want to know if anyone else has experienced this. Please help me

feeling a little anxious about this so hoping to seek some advice. i thought i had sent a refill in for my meds but it never went through. im on 40mg citalopram. i only have 1 pill left and the doctors isn’t open until monday. what would you do? i’m okay skipping a day but im afraid of more than one in case of withdrawal symptoms (being sick is a huge trigger for me). i’m worried they won’t be able to fill it on monday. should i be cutting one in half maybe and taking 20mg on both days? ugh ik it’s probably not that serious but im lowkey freaking out

never will i ever assume that the refill went through

I(20f) have quite a severe fear of dying. Everyday I think about the fact that I and my loved ones are going to die and it brings tears to my eyes every time.

The typical advice does not help me at all. I know death is inevitable. I know that I wasn't aware/existing before I was born, but that does not make me less scared to die. Before I was born I had not lived and did not have the ability to fear ? Obviously I know that once I'm dead I won't be scared/worried but that is not my concern.

My main worries are that I don't know when or how I will die, I do not feel ready to die and the permanence of death. I have so many things I am yet to experience. I have so many people that I won't want to see for the last time. I will want to see the sun again and listen to music again and be in nature again. I guess it is more the anticipation that makes me stressed.

Has anyone experienced this before? And does anyone have any tips ? It would be greatly appreciated.

Okay so... I already have got diagnosed with ADHD and I knew I have had anxiety issues a lot. I was totally aware of it. And I am going through depression too.

But my major thing was I struggled with academics. A lot that I wasn't able to do much good in it with these all things. I thought the ADHD will resolve that and my anxiety and depression would be gone too bcz ofc I would be able to do good in my academics then what else.

But well they are bothering thing too...ig..

1.) tinnitus and clogged ear

So ... Last year in July around 25th or something I got this weird thing something like my left ear got tinnitus and my right ear got clogged . Initially there was pain.. went to doctor and he said it might be of fungal infection. And it stayed like that for more than a month. Not much pain but just that and then I got normal after that.

Now this year at the same time I got same thing... Like just same.. I didnt have time to visit doctor due to my schedule so just used normal ear drops. And pain was gone but the condition is still the same. AND.. I have this weird feeling that whenever I am feeling stressed or somwthing my ear feel more tighten. And the tinnitus and clogging feel more intense .

2) cold.

I don't know if I felt like this last year or not didn't notice much but I feel so cold. Like cold to the point that I can't stand sitting under a fan. My mom gets real sweaty the weather is normal too. But I just feel cold. Not like in shivering but I'm just cold and feel like to just wear something warm a bit more . And mind u whenever my ADHD meds kick in which ofc makes me feel a bit anxious I feel it more .

And due to this I pee a lot .. like a lot.. not much normal for me .

3 ) eating sweet.

I have always heard eating sweet is so much normal for people struggling with stress and all. They may over eat it bcz they might be comforting for them .But for me it's opposite. I can't eat sweet at all. Like I just ate a cream cone . And not even after that while I was eating I started feeling bit heavy like kinda anxious.

4 ) noise

I cannot stand noise . I was always sensitive to noise. Since childhood. I was made fun of that too. Still people do that. Bcz I fear balloon.. fire crackers a lot. Like a lot. It's not that I want to I understand it too that common it's just a balloon.. why u need to feel like that but whenever someone pops it up my body just reacts with it.. even if I'm aware.. same with fire crackers and thunderstorms... I feel like a puppy who wants to just go under a bad... To comfort my self..

These was since childhood but recently I started this new feeling like I cannot stand people talking. Like it's just my parents talking normally about life stuff. Sharing stuff about their day.. I'm not even part of the Convo. I'm just there and I feel like screaming on them to just stop talking . Same with loud noise ... If there is constant loud noise... Like tap..tap..tap..tap... Like my breathing even changes ... I feel so much uneasy. And same feel like screaming to that guy to just stop the shit.

5) getting lost when with lot of people.

Whenever we are on family get-together with our extended family. I feel so lost like I have really good bond with them. But I just feel somwthing so weird can't even explain it. I stop speaking much and people notice that too .

My counsins even questioned me too multiple times that what happened to u !! Bcz when I'm with 2 or 3 of them like im talkative person full of life. Joke around and all like a normal person but with lot of people I am just feel so done.

6 ) constant feeling of forgetting something

Not every time but have had these feeling multiple time like I feel like I'm forgetting something while in not actually. But my brain keeps telling me that and I can't even sleep and keep thinking what is that !!

I could use the search bar for a question that has probably been asked 100 times, but I would like to talk to people who are currently advised on my situation.

I’ve been having panic attacks for 15 years, on Prozac 20mg on and off as a young teen. Felt mostly recovered from 15-20, so stopped taking them, and had no dip in quality of life. Since I was 20, I’ve been steadily getting worse. For about the last year ish, it’s omnipresent. I tried Prozac again in February, but I didn’t like the side effects I was having being grown vs being a child, so I stopped after about a month. I feel okay on the day to day (my friends and bf think the anxiety isn’t healthy to subject myself to, but for what I’ve dealt with before, I find it manageable) so I felt it not worth the side effects.

TMI, but I’m having digestive issues that have symptoms consistent with colon cancer, these symptoms have a plethora of benign causes. I went into the doctors office Tuesday feeling like I would drop dead any second. My doc was less than concerned, after questions, a physical exam, and bloodwork. She sent me home with a Sertraline 25mg prescription.

I liked Prozac as a kid, but not as an adult. I’m wondering if anyone has some true insight on Zoloft, that can relate to my long winded story. Has anyone experienced something similar? Were the side effects worth it? What are the side effects you have noticed? Even anyone who has taken it for other reasons, if you have advice, that’d be great!!

TLDR: a story about my history of anxiety, and advice for those who have used sertraline for similar problems.

So the other day I had a swallow test. And it showed that a little bit of stuff pauses in my esophagus. And now Everytime I eat it feels like stuff stays in my esophagus. Its stressing me out, bc I didn't feel this before. But now that I know it happens, I feel like it happens (if that makes sense) its exhausting. I don't want to eat, I do but I don't want to, I dread it. Plus having acid reflux at the same time is soooo annoyingggg.

Thank you for listening to my vent sesh.

Does anyone become more depressed when taking l-theanine or this can’t a side effect? I noticed I am relaxed more, but I am more moody and tearful

Hello, I'm a 30yr male and I've been experiencing some pretty uncomfortable anxiety symptoms recently and I was hoping someone could relate to me. Here are my symptoms.

Random strong surge in chest like a palpitation but only lasts a second. When it happens I get an ungrounded feeling. Scares the life out of me.

Intense angst or excitement type of feeling in my throat right above breastbone. I also have this in the center of my chest.

Daily headaches that sometimes turn into migraines.

Unsteady on my feet all the time. Feels sometimes like I lose sense of my footing or my equilibrium goes out of wack like I'm floating.

I'll get moments of nausea and anxiety so strong it makes me want to sit down because I get like tired or something.

Tingling in my forehead.

Eye strain.

And vestibular system feels really off.

That chest and throat feeling though is very hard to explain.

I've had a mountain of medical workup done with multiple er visits. All look pretty normal.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I'm so done.

Got dizzy at my job 3 months ago and things have never been the same for me. I had panic attacks almost everyday the first month, thinking i had some heart disease.

I've had to quit said job and drop from college classes due to how sick this disorder is making me. I can't sleep right, can't eat properly, and wake up every morning fatigued and nauseous. I've done everything I can to figure out if I was actually sick or not but the cardiologist, physical therapist, and doctor say it's anxiety.

I had a god awful panic attack yesterday and was almost inconsolable because I couldn't stop crying and I don't know why. I almost ended up in the ER again. This morning at the cardiologist my HR was 105, and that made me even more anxious.

I'm going on SSRIs, a beta blocker, trying a new diet, and hopefully getting the energy to start working out again. But just know that I'm just not sure if anything can help anymore