Greetings Victoria,
Those of us with anxiety and panic do understand! Have you tried online calming sites? Meditation? Adding calming apps to your phone? This really does help in the time of an anxiety attack and will assist you with slow breathing and rest. Try joining the panic disorder site as well. Many people who have not experienced these feelings have no idea what a nightmare you are going through! Hope that these ideas will help!

It's been a goodly while since I had anxiety that bad. One of my most effective therapists used physical analogies to help me understand the nature of anxiety and how to manage the symptoms. I got a bit of a grin when you compared your symptoms to the flu. "Psychic flu" was one of her personal favorite names for anxiety. She coached me in how to treat the anxiety attacks like a case of the flu. Her coaching is still serving me well, decades later. It works when I work it.

Lots of rest, soft foods and liquids. Stay hydrated. Be gentle with yourself and patient with the process.

Keep venting within your therapy network. Even if your family was easy to talk to, family tends to make for lousy therapists. They can best help *as* family. This very website is one of the nodes on my own therapy network. Nobody understands like somebody who lives with the condition. Vent freely. Vent often.

You are not alone, Victoria. Listening. . .

Hi Victoria,

Oh, I definitely understand what bad anxiety feels like. It's probably the worst feeling in the world. And you are right, no one can understand what it feels like unless they have experienced it themselves.

I'm sorry that you can not talk to your Dad about this and he is not supportive. Having support is incredibly helpful, mandatory actually. You should probably look into a depression and anxiety support group. Unfortunately right now it's going to have to be teleconferencing because of Covid. But I would think that is better than nothing. I wonder if there is a DBSA group near you that you can contact.

For now just realize that the medication that was given to you at the emergency clinic will eventually kick in. It's the time between now and then that is pure hell, I know.

What helps me in the mean time while the anxiety medication is not kicking in is I make sure to take an hour walk every day. Sometimes two one hour walks a day. One in the mid afternoon and one in the evening. Just gotta be careful because it's so hot out right now. So don't walk outdoors in the daytime if your health can not take it. You will have to do it early in the morning and in the evening.

It will give you something to "look forward to" each day. You have your 2pm walk then you can look forward to another walk at 8pm. Any chance you can walk with your Dad? And maybe not talk about any anxiety just talk about other things with him?

Good luck, hang in there. I am suffering right now too, you are not alone.

I'm sorry you are going thru this but I can totally relate. My anxiety causes a long list of physical syptoms that sometimes are so crazy to believe anxiety causes. It really takes a physical and mental toll on everyone who suffers. I suggest trying YouTube videos they've helped me a lot. You're not alone in this. I'm here anytime you need to talk it out. Sending healing vibes ♥️

Hiya! welcome! yrs ago before I knew I had pretty bad anxiety--I thought I had this amazing immune system--because I would get all these flu-like symptoms and then they'd go away...lol....when I realized they were symptoms of anxiety, I was like "doh!" yes-other people get that! Here are some free things that help me: the anxiety network (website) and youtube videos on meditation, deep sleep music, eft tapping, the sedona method...and I've also had good experiences with yoga. the website 7 cups has some type of free counseling (never been there myself) and Daily Strength--a great place to share!

Thank you all soooooo much for the support!! I went on a 30 minute walk today and that helped a bit. It’s a little hot, so I didn’t want to get dehydrated. I’m going to wake up and do the same thing early in the morning. Unfortunately, the emergency doctor did not give me meds. Im hoping this goes away. I hope everyone is doing alright this evening. You all had great thing to say. Hugs to you all!

Hi Victoria, I hope you are feeling better. You mentioned that the anxiety started about a week ago. Did something happen to you 1 week ago? Or did you start having anxious thoughts about a particular situation in your life?

Sometimes, if we know what is causing us to feel more anxious, we can work on that something, to help us feel better and less anxious.

Keep journaling! That helps a lot with getting stuff out of your mind and on to paper or the computer.

Best wishes.

I hope you feel better. The other responses seem to have some good advice. I’ve used a lot of it myself. Like the others, having a routine has helped me and giving myself something to look forward to is important. Even if it’s something little.

Hi Victoria! Thanks for sharing. I am having similar issues, anxiety and depression.... and all at once. Nothing different has happened. However, I believe the stress of Covid and the rioting and not being able to get out like I used to is contributing to mine. I feel "trapped" so to speak. I am glad you got out to take a walk, and I believe that helps for sure....clears the mind.... think I will take one today as well! Thanks for the idea.... and sharing with others helps, as well, with people who understand, even if it's just online! Thanks for reaching out and hopefully you will have a great day today! :)