Does Anyone Ever Feel This Way?

I've suffered from severe anxiety all of my life, but I've noticed something "new" that's been happening to me for the past two years. I'm not sure if it's a health problem or overwhelming anxiety b/c my life has become so hopeless & scary (it's always been very bad, but now it's so bad that I know for a fact that most people wouldn't be able to handle it). I don't feel this way at home, but on the rare occasions when I must go out ( to buy groceries, pay a bill, etc.), I get vertigo, like I'm going to pass out, & feel like I'm having a heart attack (even though my heart doesn't hurt), or as if I'm dying in some way. I did go to a physician about this last year, but all he told me was that I must have a protracted virus. (Everything's assumed to be a virus when Drs really don't know what the true ailment is.) Also, I had blood tests done both last year & this , which came back normal. So, I'm wondering if everything has just become too much for me, & this is how I'm reacting? Have any of you ever experienced this?

Sounds like a panic attack especially since you have anxiety to begin with. Have you tried slow deep breathing exercises? I think this is just an extension of your anxiety. I hope you feel better.

Yep, certainly sounds like panic attacks to me. Good for you to get yourself checked out medically to rule out anything else.
Anxiety feeds on itself, the fear of the feelings of anxiety feeding more fear, and therefore more anxiety. And so on. Its important to know that you are NOT having a heart attack or going to die, and that the feelings WILL pass...but being able to hang onto those thoughts in the midst of an attack is understandably almost impossible.
I believe its not unusual for this to overtime develop into agoraphobia or panic attacks.
I can recommend Claire Weekes 'Self Help For Your Nerves' book, where she explains each and every symptom of anxiety and panic, and discusses really helpful ways to deal with it (as well as breathing exercises as the previous post suggests), such as imagining youself floating above the anxiety (a sort of dissociation technique, which allows you to take yourself away from the immediate feelings and observe what is going on with a more objective viewpoint).
Also, there is an excellent FREE step-by-step CBT based programme online, called 'Living Life To The Full' by a doctor Chris Williams who is a recognised expert in the field here in the UK. It has whole sections on anxiety and related symptoms, and you can work through it as a self-help course.

Hope that helps, and I really hope you feel things turning around soon,

Best Wishes,

MattC

Matt- Thanks for the info.! I will see if the library has the book you've suggested by Claire Weekes. I've checked out the website you've mentioned, which I'm sure will be helpful, as I'm not currently in therapy (still looking).
What's really strange about my experience is that I already AM agoraphobic & socially phobic, & have been for most of my life. (That's why I rarely leave my apt.) I have had a full-blown panic attack many years ago, where I was convinced that I was having a heart attack, so I thought I'd recognize one if it happened again. (And the panic attack occurred at home, so that isn't the reason why I became agoraphobic, as is the case w/ lots of people who suffer from them.) This is different; not something that goes away after five minutes, but is always there, at least until I arrive home again. I think it still may be happening while I'm at home but I'm not as aware of it, since I can sit or lay down, & can distract myself by watching TV. You mentioned "dissociation" as a tool to deal w/ my panic, but that's what it feels like I'm doing w/out intending to do so. I feel like everything is surreal, & I'm invisible & not present. Sort of like I'm a ghost. At any rate, I'm releived that it is anxiety, & that there are things I can do to help myself.

Btw, I take 1mg of Klonopin 3x day- that's a lot!

Does anyone else experience this? If so, what do you do to cope w/ it?

Hi again Psyched - I really hope you find some help for what you are going through. I dont know how the system works where you are, but it sounds like you could do with seeing a psych doc for a proper assessment and support, rather than just a suggestion that it was a virus!

Hope others here can help from their experience as well

good luck

Matt c

I no exactly how you feel. When you have a doctor visit and they say your just fine, but they have no idea what your going through. I have panic disorsers and severe anxiety, but I seriously get the same way as you its always there its not something that goes away. The only thing that I can do about it is tell meslef everyday that it cannot kill me and when you go out just don't fight it tell your self that your not afraid of it and if it wants to harm you tell it to harm you tease it a bit this will help you get comtrol of your mind.hope this works for you.