Background

27, overweight. On 10mg per day of dexamphetamine (ADHD medication). Have been on adhd medication for a month or so. Before starting medication I would smoke marijuana on and off periods. Since starting the ADHD medication, I found giving into my addictive tendencies heavily reduced.

2 nights ago I had a little bit of weed. Had been almost 2 months since last smoking weed which was a long period for me. Felt good. Went about my night playing some video games. Last night I intended to do the same thing, except I smoked a little more than the previous night. After about 20 minutes I started to feel disassociation. Like I was losing my mind. I went to lay down and being with my own thoughts laying down just made things worse. I started to freak out, breathing heavily, heart racing. My heart started to feel like it was going to burst out of my chest. I thought I was dying. I honestly feel like it was the closest I've ever been to death. Started questioning my life, wa so upset and ashamed that this is how I was going. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving my pregnant wife behind. Felt like my life was flashing before my eyes. Eventually it settled, I calmed down. I was worried I was having a heart attack, and debated calling an ambulance. I convinced myself that how I'm feeling is just amplified due to the weed, so decided to wait it out and think about wtf happened coherently the next morning.

It is now the next day, about 18 hours since. I still have chest pain but feel like it comes on more when thinking about last night.

I'm scared. Was it a panic attack? I think it was but what if it was a heart attack? I just feel like my brain is all over the place and don't know what to do.

Jesus. I’ve had bad moving and floating and unsteady sensations for months and weakness walking and standing but never considered my heart. I didn’t feel good, got up and drove to work, talked to my therapist on the way and got stressed, was pretty unbalanced and felt weird working, I have a habit of checking my chest lately. When I felt it it felt like my beat was missing or fading and stopped and I instantly felt doom and weak and hot and I was like WOAH. I was 20 miles from home, phone was gonna die and I called 911 and laid down and felt horrible with shaking and tension in my chest, trembling and weakness. They came and did a ekg and blood pressure and blood oxygen and they said i seem okay, put me in the ambulance and said I really didn’t need to go to the Hospital but I was pretty afraid and weak and shaky and went but of course I waited in the waiting room and they didn’t do shit, like my usual hospital does. They just let me out.

I was just seen at the ER weeks ago with the full rundown and then cardiologist did the ultrasound and ekg and said my heart looks okay, so I don’t know why I have heart or heart attack worries now but I do

Really need some advice.

Just in case anybody needed to know, I found out the hard way. Steer clear.

Has anyone tried using cannabis gummies for panic attacks? I’ve heard they have a different affect then actually smoking a blunt or bowl (which I cannot do because I get anxious). Someone close to me offered me some but I’m hesitant to try as I don’t want to make an attack worse in the moment. I know my anxiety and attacks don’t mix well with alcohol, so I do not drink. But I’m curious if a gummie or even a piece of one would be helpful

Hi, I’m at 23YF and a college student and panic attacks have been taking over my life since Covid. I don’t believe all hope is lost but I feel like I’ve tried every treatment - I’ve tried holistic meds, a dozen of better different antidepressants, talk therapy and it seems like nothing has changed. I’m no longer on antidepressants because they didn’t change a thing and I’m frankly reluctant to get back on anything - I was also disappointed with the effect they had on my daily energy levels and my libido and I really, really don’t want to go back. I’m technically in therapy right now but I’m sick and tired of hearing the same things from every therapist. “Just focus on the present.” I’ve tried mindfulness and in my perhaps controversial opinion, mindfulness temporarily distracts you and once that distraction fades, the panic returns. I’ve told therapists this and they’ll say, Well, try it again. WHAT THE ACTUAL F@!K is up with this push for mindfulness?? I guess I’m like a guy when it comes to things like this - I don’t want distractions and I want to find a solution and get this fixed.
I’m at a point where I’m in a constant state of panic even when I know everything is fine and the things I’m worrying about/fearing are stupid and not worth worrying about. I do the deep breaths, I try to focus on what’s around me but nothing. I’d like to believe there’s a cure for panic disorder and it’s been four years and my mental health is constantly a big concern. Any tips? Words of encouragement? Reminders I’m safe?

I hate shopping, it makes me feel like absolute shit about myself. I get in there, and I don't know what looks good on me and I start freaking out in my head and need to leave. Which sucks, cause I need to look good for work. But I just can't fucking handle doing this, and every time I last 5 fucking mins and quit. I'm outside the store trying to breathe and I feel like an idiot. I'm a straight, 40's Male. I can handle everything else in life but this. Shit, I'm not even fat, but I just....ughhhh. Anyone else?

Hi ! I’ll try to make it short. I’m 27F.

Went through panic attacks from 12yo to 18-19yo. Then, it stopped and was able to live a normal life for 8 years.

Went to Barcelona as a travel with my class in april 2024, had to go back to France the day after due to intense derealization and panic.

Felt good until august. I had to travel to Italy, was unable and stayed in France.

Then, a week or so later I went to the pub with my friends, nothing would say I’d have a panic attack and yet I had one, different from the others. It was so intense, I went to sleep and when i woke up, i was on the string of another one. Anxiety rising and all. It was so bad i went to the ER and stayed 4 days in psychatry.

I got up slowly but surely. The increased my treatment (quetiapine and paroxetine) and prescribed xanax 0.25mg in case I had a huge attack. Then, my contract for my job expired so I went unemployed. But i had this desire to fight and rationalize.

As soon as i got out, I began seeing to different psy. Was going good. I was able to go outside, do things normally without having to worry too much. Sometimes my anxiety was rising, so I meditate and it goes away. Still a strong desire to fight and not spiral down until…

5 days ago, I was worried about something, for hours. But then I woke up, i was feeling okay and when i went to te grocery store, I began feeling the same things I felt in august. Thought it was hypoglycemia cause my life rythm isn’t good. Went to sleep. The day after, I went to the grocery store again with my grandma and it went good. The couple days after, I went for my psychatrists. The day after I saw them, I began spiraling. And bam, another huge panic attack. I could feel it coming somehow. I went to the ER again and it was horrible cause even if i was able to calm down a bit, it felt like anything could send me in attack again. This time they didn’t keep me and sent me back home. Today I woke up after going to the ER and at first I felt… somehow okay but i couldn’t help but think about what happened, with the stress of going through this again. It began rising again. I ended up taking xanax,(never taken any until now, it was prescriped just in case) which calmed the physical feelings and a bit mental.

Just woke up, and as soon as i open my eyes, I feel the panic very present. Since it’s the night rn, i’ll tru to go back to sleep until tomorrow morning, so i can wake up early.

My main problem since the past few days is my head. I wouldn’t mind having a panic attack if once it ends, I could go back to normal. It feels like it lasts for hours, days. I freeze. I have an intense wave of fatalism that i can’t get out off, and it feels like it was never okay or normal, i don’t remember how it feels like and yet, last week was okay. I can’t rationalize anymore, I feel stuck in rumbling waves of anxiety and panic, I struggle to eat, and i slowly realize that maybe it’s not just « episodes » but that it will be my actual life from now on.

I want to go back to last week. When i could go to the market and enjoy life, when I would think « if i ever have a panic attack, it’s temporary it’ll be ok, i’m not in actual danger »

I feel stuck in my head. Do you go through this after a big panic attack ? Does it ever go back to normal ? Sometimes I have some little peaks of lucidity where I realize it’s just a question of perception and that nothing changed around me but… me.

I used to focus on something else and it would just… pass, naturally. Now it don’t. In fact i feel like what’s putting me in such anxiety these past 5 days, is the fact that nothing that used to work to help me overcome it until now, works anymore.

Guys I seriously don’t know what to do. I’m getting medical help, a therapist, I have my grandmother and my boyfriend with me (he doesn’t really understand any of this), i’m not alone.

How the hell to I get out of my head. How long will it last. This feeling of impending doom, like i’m doomed to feel and be like that forever, that death might be the only way out (i’m not suicidal) is just… so present. I wish I could function like I do usually.

Hey all I have been a weed smokers for the past 2 years. I have a very stress free job (for now) and was offered a new job yesterday but will come with some more responsibilities but more pay with money I need for a young family. I have had long history with anxiety and depression and up until yesterday I thought the worst was behind me. I smoked some weed and had an edible last night and since then I have been thinking of every negative scenario that can come of the new job I was vomiting from stress this morning (in Australia) I haven't had a meltdown like this for a long time. What are the chances the weed has made me extra paranoid?

I've had panic attacks for much longer than the last 2 years, but in the last 2 they've become much more prevalent. I don't know what triggers them, and most of the time I get lost in the panic and fear and cannot even realize what they are until they're over. I've had several blood tests done, been on multiple SSRIs, hydroxyzine, and more. Cortisol, testosterone, and everything else is within range. I've been to the ER 4 times and dismissed with "anxiety".

Anyway, each time I have an attack (which can sometimes be every day) it completely destroys me. I cannot function beyond fight or flight. I want to run away from where ever I am and lay in my dark room until I sleep. Sometimes even sleep doesn't save me, as I have attacks in my sleep, too. I can't function enough to preform daily tasks or even work. I feel like I am going to collapse or have a heart attack constantly. Endless brainfog, dissociation. I've changed so much stuff in my life trying to fight this, and I feel like I've gotten virtually nowhere. I changed my diet. Lost weight. Started exercising. Getting outside more. Facing my anxiety. Powering through attacks. But it seems like the further I go forward the more insidious the attacks become.

Today I woke up with slight headache, brainfog, and I slept weird in my arms and chest. Went directly to panic. Now I feel like I have trouble taking deep breath, my arms and chest feel weak/trembling. My whole body is fatigued. I feel like I can collapse and lose consciousness at any moment.

I am so beaten and tired by these constant feelings and how far I've come with almost nothing gained.

Thanks for reading.

Went to the ER yesterday night bc of huge panic attack. Since then I calmed down, but I still feel like it could start again at any moment. I’m exhausted. It honestly makes me depressed. Rn i’m shaking, having shortness of breath etc but i’m not at the peak with that impending doom feeling. I got xanax prescriped. Should I take one to completely break the cycle i’m going through since I got out the ER ?

Also i’ve seen people having even worse panic attacks after taking xanax. I’m scared, any tips or good reviews about it ?

I'm 16 and in the beginning of October I had my first panic attack on weed and I genuinely believed I was laced or that I was hallucinating. I'm not a frequent user or anything like that, it was the first time in a while. When it hit, I felt like I was inside a bubble and that I was trapped in my own mind. It felt like people were zooming in and out of me, I was trying to explain it to the people around me, but as soon as I tried, it would get worse. Weeks later, I started getting these dissociative moments where I believed I was out of my body or that I was dreaming, or that my body was about to shut down. I felt detatched from my own body, like my body would go numb or that the things around me would disappear. This Tuesday I went to the psychiatrist and while she was asking me questions I noticed something around me was kind of off and suddenly I was stuck in the same sensation as the day I was high. I tried shutting my eyes so it would go away but everything appeared fake or warped. Things appeared to be closer or further away, like I was the only real thing. This really freaked me out and I started trying to hold on to someone to make it go away, but it wouldn't. She concluded I was having panick attacks, but I haven't seen people talk about this feeling. It felt like I was in a box, it was extremely visual. I keep having nightmares about this feeling and everytime I get slightly nervous it starts happening again. I've been prescribed Rivotril whenever I get this feeling and Lexapro to take daily. Has anyone experienced anything similar?

I think it happens every 7 to 11 hours

it's really scary, is weed the fault of this?

will it stop?

Three months ago, I experienced my first panic attack, and ever since, I haven’t felt like myself. It’s been really traumatic, and I feel like my anxiety has only gotten worse. I keep obsessing over the thought of it happening again, and the fear of another attack is always lingering. It feels like I’m trapped in an unbreakable cycle. I’ve tried everything—breathwork, meditation, exercise, all of it—but the worry just won’t leave me alone. What to do?

I’m 16 years old and was prescribed with propranolol, before this I had frequent panic attacks and couldn’t leave my house for over two months. After being prescribed it I was more then scared reading a couple bad reviews however I then took a 2 x 10mg tablets it took me a week to kick properly into my system after taking them daily however I can successfully say they work and I haven’t had a panic attack or any symptoms since taking them, my heart rate rests at 65-70 (Before taking them it was averaging 100) and I can finally be seen in public again, the next step it to get back into education before I fall behind. So my advice to you if you’re scared of taking them, don’t be over the past week it’s been a lifesaver!

During these episodes I am hyper aware of my heart/heartbeat (I always am tbh). It usually starts with random palpitations followed with impending doom and then tingles in my hands and sometimes feet. I usually get weird feelings around my body like shooting pains and chest pains, clammy, hot and cold, difficulty regulating my breathing

I only recently realised that these were all symptoms of a panic attack and indeed not a heart attack which is what I always convince myself is happening even though obviously, it’s not!

It doesn’t matter how calm I am or what anyone tells me (that I’m going to be okay) I always feel like I’m gonna die :/ it doesn’t even have to be triggered by anything, eg I was sleeping and woke up to palpitations during the night ..

So I mean this as like a general question about how do you calm yourself down when a panic attack suddenly happens in public? I just find for me the embarrassment makes it so much worse and just spiral way deeper.

On another note, I had a huge panic attack yesterday, freaking tf out uncontrollably and apparently sounding like my boyfriend was beating me so I texted my landlord apologizing for the noise and he didn’t even hear it cuz he was in the shower 🤦‍♀️

Hi, basically the title. It’s 7 am and I’ve already cried twice and couldn’t sleep. Days are usually bad but yesterday was horrible for multiple reasons. Anyway today I need to go to college (I’ve begged to stay home but I’m just told to suck it up. And I know I’ll never hear the end of it if I just skip) and I don’t want to cry and freak out in front of everyone again. Any advice, please, on how to keep it together today. Thank you. I might reply late since I have to start getting ready soon and will be there six hours. And sorry for no paragraphs, I’m tired

I came across this group and wanted to share some hope. I am 23 year old female.

3 years ago, I had a traumatic event that sparked panic attacks. Now, I thought I had experienced panics attacks before but I was wrong - those were anxiety attacks. I found the panic attacks far more scary. I constantly struggled with derealization and intrusive thoughts too.

At their worst, my father would sleep on my bedroom floor (I was 20) for weeks on end because I would wake up in night absolutely terrified. Work and school slowed down, and I stopped driving. It felt like a nightmare.

Now looking back … wow. Hard to believe that was my life. I live alone with my partner now, attend university, work, drive, go out. I still have problems but they are unrelated to panic attacks. Even in extremely difficult moments within the past couple years my body doesn’t go into panic.

It gets better.

Because I know people will ask what helped…

1. Time passing from the traumatic event for my nervous system to settle
2. Getting on a medication that worked really well for me
3. Regular therapy
4. Inviting panic attacks, saying “come at me” to myself when I felt then arise. This worked wonders to break the cycle.
5. Used Ativan as needed after 15 mins or so if I couldn’t calm down on my own. For over a year I carried it with me at all times and now I don’t even think about it.

I have panic disorder and GAD. I had been on Prozac for awhile and was feeling so well that I took myself off of it last February (mistake, I know now).

This last Saturday (today is Thursday) I had the worst panic attack of my life. ER visit and all. EKG and blood work looked fine, they gave me hydroxisine (sp?) and sent me on my way. Problem is, my resting HR has been elevated ever since. Going on day 6 tomorrow of 80 BPMs resting. A minor task has me up to 120. I’m usually a low 60s at rest, so this is uncomfortable and has become all consuming. I saw my primary today and also self referred myself to a cardiologist today and primary just wanted to put me back on my SSRI. Not worried about the high HR but just thinks “I’m going through it” and treating the anxiety will lower the HR.

Cardiologist wasn’t too concerned about the numbers but instead did an orthostatic BP test on me and told me I have POTS. I’ve always kind of thought I did, so nice to know, but he prescribed propranolol for the RHR. What bugs me is this HR issue is acute, and has only been going on this week. I don’t think that pots is to blame for some thing that is a really new problem for me. Because he could tell I was so bothered by my heart rate, he also ordered a Holter monitor for me, which will come in the mail in the next coming days for me to wear, and also ordered an echo that I will not get to do until next month.

I’m here because I am really frustrated and exhausted with this ongoing high heart rate. I loaded a heavy box into the back of my car, which for me is not a big task, and my heart rate went up to 160 doing it. Main question is has anyone had lingering high heart rate days after a horrible panic attack? How long did it last? Do I take the propranolol and see how it goes?

I had medicine in my hand today but I can't remember if I had it or not should I take one? Not sure if it will double it. Please help

Hey, currently was just playing a video game and wasn't overly anxious. Then just started profusely sweating from my hands and feet. I didn't feel anxious until the sweating symptoms. The easy answer is a panic attack but I wasn't that anxious. The symtoms without anxiety point to a mild heart attack but I'm a very low risk factor. I'm just confused. Maybe someone can help me piece it together?

Hey everyone. I had to start taking amoxicillin tonight due to an inflamed boil I have on my back. I took it about an hour ago and I’m putting myself into a panic attack right now (I have anxiety due to taking medications) can anyone talk? I’m like so scared right now and I don’t know why. I hate this

I've had ongoing Amaxophobia (fear of being driven or driving) on and off. But it got worse during Covid. I'm able to drive a few blocks away from house, but I can't have someone else drive me. I haven’t been to a doctor in over thee years. I’m endangering my health. The fear and panic come in a second and then goes away quickly. What meds would help with this episodic anxiety. I’m already on Paxil. I’m looking for something short acting which I would only use on occasion.

.5mg to 1.5mg needed daily for my attacks, is that bad? Will I become dependent. This is week two of using it to help me cope, I try my best not to use it. I'm really anxious all day and don't use it but when I bad attack comes on I have to.

I’m 28(f) and I’ve had panic disorder since I was 16. Let me tell you one thing that can help you snap out of a panic attack soooo quick. It’s so easy I’m telling you a freezing cold shower 5 mins. Shocks you right out of it. I take Lexapro and Klonopin daily. I have Xanax for emergencies and I don’t even take it bc the cold shower helps every time! Then it relaxes you after. I’ve found this for myself about 3 months ago & it’s been a life savor. Hopefully this helps someone as well :)

I’ve been experiencing reoccurring episodes of intense pressure in my frontal lobe with nasal congestion followed by one of my arms feeling weak and numb with pins and needles at the tips of its fingers, and one sweaty palm from the arm in question. Also feel like a lump in my throat/bloating. They last about 20-30mins and then everything resolves but i’m very tired. Strangely… absolutely no pain. No headache during or after these episodes. I’m wondering what am I experiencing? I wouldn’t say i’m an anxious person but i’ve had about 6-7 of these in the last month and doctors keep trying to treat me for sinusitis or panic attacks, which i don’t believe they are because im not nervous when i get these.