Cheebobo I hear you. If you hang in there it will get better, somehow some way. You are not alone. I’ve had times where I’ve felt so hopeless like things would never get better. I’ve had strange physical sensations as wel. If you’re not getting the support at home then count on the people here for your support.

Welcome to the anxiety board at DS.

You've taken the important first step in writing it out.

Start 'doing' thinking and making the natural anxiety helper work for you. Keep writing out the words, the thoughts, feelings, emotions, and sort out the way they give you clues to how to find your calm in the moment.

Best wishes as you find your better balance.

Cheebobo, I understand what you are saying. When we've had panic attacks, it is common and normal to fear having another panic attack. You survived the other ones, and you will survive another one, if you have another one. Maybe you won't have one, though.

You said in your other post you are in therapy and on medication. I would suggest telling your therapist about the things and fears you are experiencing now. Have you been taking your medication? Ask your parents if you can make an appointment with your psychiatrist for a follow-up to discuss how your medication has been doing. Tell the psychiatrist about your fears about your health.

Keep writing things out. It helps to get the anxious feelings out. Write about your fears, thoughts, feelings. BUT, also write about those good things - your poetry, the fun you will have when you graduate early and how you are happy that you will be out of school soon and the fun things you plan to do next, and what you will be doing over this summer, etc.

Talk to friends... just to chat. Don't have to talk about your anxiety. Talking helps get your mind off the anxious thoughts.

I understand about focusing on anxiety and then it seems to just not stop. Think about other things that you like doing. Do some other things, distractions.... these will help the anxious thoughts to get less and less. Actively doing things keeps our mind off the anxious thoughts. Even just walking outside helps to feel better... the sun and fresh air helps us to feel better.

Also, having a healthy lifestyle would help with those things you just wrote. Eat 3 healthy meals a day. Drink lots of water every single day (8 glasses a day). Cut any caffeine (will disrupt your sleep). Cut way back, or completely, on sugar. Get some form of exercise every day.... walk, lift light weights, play a sport, do some kind of cardio. All of these things will not only help calm your anxiety, but will help your overall health.

Also, since you have been having trouble sleeping, and not sleeping enough will cause you to feel more anxious, try things that will help you sleep. Write down your thoughts before bed, read a book (reading will help make you sleepy), listen to calming music, and try some calming apps on your phone... I think there is an app called "Calm" that I have heard is pretty good. Maybe you will find other apps to help you as well. I also have read books about anxiety, to help me find coping mechanisms.

You are going to be okay. You are not alone in this.

You are not alone. !
There is a grounding technique I learned in therapy that brings you back from some of this disconnected feelings. Sit in chair. Name 5 things you hear. Name 5 things you feel. Name 5 things you see. Than do 4. Than 3. Keep going. It forces your mind to focus on yourself. Your. Senses. It does work.even if it’s quiet. U will hear your refrigerator humming. A bird outside, a car drive by, the clock tick. You can feel. The floor under you, your chest rise as you breathe. Etc etc. it helps me

A feeling of my body not being my own is part of what I call, "Dissociation." I got the term from an unknown number of therapy supporters, both pro and peer. By to the stage of feeling like my body is not my own, I am generally not feeling anything enough to be much of anything. It is downright terrifying in review and my angst of ever going **there** again is even more terrifying.

As I have grown more aware of my dissociation cycles, grounding techniques have become my preventative medicine for the phenom. There are tons available and it is worth experimenting. Tactile grounding is my go-to tool. That is using my physical senses to come back to my senses. Taking note of a breeze on my face. Noticing smells upon that breeze. Running my fingers across a table top. Listening to the birds in the trees.

Gentle support while you find what works for you, Cheebo. You are not alone.

Anxiety is a part of all of our lives…we just hate it when it won’t ease up and leave us at peace. So, if our bodies get out of order we need help. Let’s all use every tool we know of to keep ourselves sane!