I am SOOO thankful that I have found this site. Up utnil tonight, I have felt very alone in this battle against anxiety/panic attacks. Until one goes through this, they can not begin to fathom how completely horribel and debilatating they can be!
I woke up in the middle of the night with my first panic attack 14 months ago. I struggled for about a week with them and they disappeared for over a year. I thought I had "conquered" them and it was just some weird physical glitch or whatnot.
About 2 weeks ago, I had a very traumatic experience (my father stopped breathing while I was sitting with him in the hospital room, they rushed me out and I assumed he had died for a few hours before finding out he was actually breathing again!).
Anyway, ever since that night, my body/mind has gone absolutely haywire.
I had a few panic attacks directly after (which usually last me for 10 minutes). BUT, for the first time ever, it's like I've had a 2 week ongoing battle non stop with anxiety/panic.
My body feels like it has totally wigged out. I have lost about 8 pounds because I have absolutely NO appetite, I literally went THREE ENTIRE nights with NO SLEEP (Zero sleep). My mind wont' stop racing. I feel soo strange. It's almost as if I'm in a tunnel and totally disconnected from my body and reality. It's just too strange to explain.
When I do fall asleep, I wake up gasping for air and feel like I can't breathe or am choking. My heart is racing out of my chest.
This has been NON stop for 14 days now.
My husband and I did all we knew to do in the spiritual realm... we prayed, read our bible's, begged God for deliverence and healing, etc.. After 6 days of this, out of complete desperation I finally saw a doctor.
I feel like a failure that I could not overcome this with God's help.. My husband is a pastor and many people look up to me. What would they think of they knew I could hardly function?
Regardless, I left it in God's hands and since it wasn't getting better, I had no choice but to see a doctor. I have two children to care for ( one of whom is autistic and has special needs that I tend to). I can not afford to be this way.
I've been on Lexapro for one week now. So far, no real changes... well,