Welcome to PC! Glad you found us! For me, I can best attack the cycle through the part related to irrational thoughts.

For me, the cycle goes: scary event-->flash of memories-->scared feeling-->nausea, sweating, choked feeling, etc.-->thoughts like "I can't handle this" and "gotta get out of here" -->more painful feelings-->memories of other anxious times-->continued nausea . . .

Some people get good results by attacking the physical part through slow breathing, chamomile tea, rituals, visualizing, and relaxation. Getting enough sleep, meditating, exercise, and other daily ways to lower stress help in the longer term.

Since my anxiety starts and increases because of social fears, I have to try to get to the thoughts. I can calm my body, but then more thoughts pop up to start the cascade again.

I usually start off not realizing there are scary thoughts. I really have to slow down and listen to myself instead of curling up and trying to force things out of my brain (or escaping the situation or distracting myself). This is not easy, and I can't always do it. My first instinct is to try to make it stop, not face it.

For me, it helps to journal, to do affirmations that say the opposite of what my brain automatically generates, and to read parts of self-help books about anxiety so I can identify irrational stuff that seems sensible during an attack. Therapy helps the most: having someone else identify the irrational stuff and make suggestions is a lot easier.

I hope this is an isolated incident for you and that you are able to keep managing your anxiety with medication, since it has worked for so long. Would going to a doctor about the actual illness you were afraid of help you to knock out those irrational thoughts that started this? Hope you keep posting and feel stronger soon.