PLEASE help. Especially if you struggle with panic disorder
This might be long but I need advice from anybody willing to give it. I feel so hopeless. I am a 19yr old female sophomore in college. Growing up and all of high school I never had anxiety or depression a day in my life until the middle of senior year. I had my first ever panic attack February 2023 and had a few more spread out throughout a few months. I don't know if it is related but two months before that I got into a car accident, and although I physically was fine, it realllyyyyy shook me up. At the end of the school year I went to college orientation and that morning I woke up perfectly normal in the hotel, made it to the opening speech in this big ballroom full of people - and suddenly everything started spinning and I freaked the fuck out. And that day leading into the summer it kind of never stopped. Honestly, I haven't felt normal honestly since that day.. almost 2 years later. I was diagnosed with GAD and panic disorder following this by my psychiatrist. That summer going into college I was literally dying - couldn't hangout with my friends, go to work, be outside. In order to do anything I had to take a Xanax but even then I didn't feel fully normal. I literally just laid in bed all the time obsessing over how I felt "sick". I found myself in the hospital that summer 4 times because of constant dizziness/lightheadedness, sensitivity to light, nausea, fast heart rate, shortness of breath, feeling "off balance", brain fog.. the list goes on but it was those same recurring symptoms literally everyday. Everytime they sent me home and told me I was fine. Fast forward to the start of college I'm still experiencing these symptoms but not as debilitating - I was able to go to class and hang out with friends. I rarely ever went out and the times that I did I would have a panic attack there and feel like I had to leave or else I would like pass out or something. I would feel so off and dizzy at bars. Football games made me feel the same way too. Even times in lecture halls. That first semester was rough but I think being forced around so many people and never being alone in my dorm helped me a lot. After winter break, second semester(start of 2024), I was like a totally different person. I went out a bunch with my friends, went to all my classes - it's like all those symptoms legit went away. I still had anxiety, but I could function like a normal person and have fun which was something I wasn't able to do for a long time. All of 2024 was amazing, the summer, and first semester of sophomore year. My anxiety was finally getting better. Fast forward again January 2025 literally out of NOWHERE I woke up one random day and it's like all those symptoms came back. And they're still here. Idk if this is related but I had a major depressive episode at the end of 2024 due to my living situation. I don't know what to do I've been to the doctor multiple times again, lungs seem fine, bloodwork is good, everything seems fine. I haven't had a non-anxious thought in over a month. I think now I'm depressed from it too. I haven't been to class in weeks and just want to sleep all day. I can't even exercise without feeling like I'm going to pass out from walking on a treadmill. Am I making myself sick? Am I actually sick and this isn't anxiety? Please someone help because the doctors don't care and those close to me don't understand. I just got put on Prozac 10mg 5 days ago no changes yet but I know I have to give it time.
Posted Feb 21, 2025, 7:46 AM UTC