https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 17:35:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-and-severe-anxiety#post-2910927 Fri, 28 Feb 2020 11:20:55 +0000 MamaBear87 2910927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ThrowAway227: I would look into both those things. Good luck! I hope you find some answers soon.<br /> My couple months before we figured out what it was were the hardest time in my life. I couldn't see how it would end but it did and now 2 years past it i mostly don't have it effect my life </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-and-severe-anxiety#post-2910926 Fri, 28 Feb 2020 11:20:28 +0000 psw27 2910926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ThrowAway227: I'm so sorry that you are struggling with this. I have had 2 cycles of severe anxiety in the last 6 months. Mine were both triggered through life events but it did feel like a roller coaster I couldn't get off and stop thinking about the events and replaying worst case scenarios at all hours. It is a horrible roller coaster. </p> <p>I use CBD oil to help me sleep and manage and now I see a therapist. I also make myself exercise when I'm really losing it. I really feel that some of it is hormone related, so it could have something to do with the new Mirena. I don't have great advice, but I understand what you are going through. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-and-severe-anxiety#post-2910925 Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:52:32 +0000 ThrowAway227 2910925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chuckles: @MamaBear87: so the medical aspect is an interesting one. This made me remember that I wore a heart monitor for a few days like 15 years ago because of heart palpitations. I’ll def bring it up. Also, I recently had a mirena inserted - I know mental health side effects are rare, but now I’m curious if it’s related. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-and-severe-anxiety#post-2910923 Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:23:28 +0000 MamaBear87 2910923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chuckles: I absolutely had intrusive thoughts and constant levels of anxiety with mine. My heart was basically stuck in the bad loop and was beating irregularly even when it wasn't fast so it can be different for everyone. </p> <p>I always mention it just because on average it takes 3 years to diagnose a heart condition that is presenting as anxiety and I cannot imagine having to live through 3 years of mine. Wearing a holter monitor is an easy (though annoying) thing to do and can rule out that the heart is causing the anxiety. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-and-severe-anxiety#post-2910920 Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:13:41 +0000 Chuckles 2910920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaBear87: @ThrowAway227: That's why I asked about which came first - physical symptoms or intrusive thoughts. I also had SVT episodes a number of years ago that ended up triggering other panic attacks. But even though I was very concerned about my health during a couple of what ended up being panic attacks (the other ones I could rationalize/reason that they were only panic attacks and could stay calmer), I never had intrusive thoughts or more constant levels of anxiety. So that part seems different to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-and-severe-anxiety#post-2910914 Fri, 28 Feb 2020 08:47:15 +0000 MamaBear87 2910914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If this came on suddenly with no triggering event make sure you also get in to see a cardiologist. I had a similar version of events happen and it turned out I had a heart condition that was triggering the episodes. My PCP sent me to a cardiologist and I thought she was crazy but turned out she was correct. I had an ablation to fix my svt and nearly 2 years later I have only had a handful of episodes that were all triggered by body response, they have happened less as time has gone on</p> <p>I'm so glad you are getting help. You will get better and won't have these thoughts whatever they happen to be stemming from </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-and-severe-anxiety#post-2910907 Fri, 28 Feb 2020 03:17:41 +0000 Becky 2910907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In August my undiagnosed low grade anxiety suddenly peaked. DH and I had a counseling session and the therapist immediately recognized I had something going on. I happened to have a doctors appointment lined up 2 days later, and all I said was “I have anxiety and depression.” She had me do this quick anxiety&amp;depression screening test/scale, said yes for sure, and we agreed on a medication. It was so easy. If you are having trouble sleeping you should also express that and ask for something to take so you can sleep until your anti anxiety medication kicks in because that can take 2-3 weeks. Unlike an SSRI, you can take a medication like Xanax occasionally, so if you find your anxiety meds help you sleep you can cut them out completely. I agree, get in ASAP—it’s crazy how quickly you go downhill once this happens, and I never imagined it could happen to me that way. Communicate that to your practice if they can’t get you in within 2 days. Being on meds (Lexapro) has made such a huge difference for me—I hope it helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-and-severe-anxiety#post-2910904 Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:28:57 +0000 ThrowAway227 2910904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the responses:</p> <p>@teawithpaloma: sort of, but not exactly? The confusing part to me is I’ve had to go work the past few days when this has been happening, and I’ve been able to keep my shit together, though not productive at all.. I feel awful beneath the surface and am sure people can tell I’m not myself, but I’m not like hyperventilating in the office, which is what I imagined a panic attack would be? Middle of the night is a different story.<br /> @crazydoglady: nothing. I’ve always been a little weird about death and had the misfortune of being in close proximity to 3 suicides (strangers) and 1 attempted (coworker) in the past few years and I’m wondering if I have some ptsd happening.<br /> @MrsSRS: thank you!<br /> @Chuckles: they want me to combine the appointment with my annual physical which meant Monday was the soonest appointment? The low grade symptoms were happening for a while with no connected thoughts. Then it evolved into passing thoughts triggering stronger physical symptoms, then a few days ago, more thoughts triggered an extreme physical reaction (similar to the feeing if a free fall, I guess) and then it’s just been a loop of thought and physical symptoms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-and-severe-anxiety#post-2910896 Thu, 27 Feb 2020 21:14:53 +0000 Chuckles 2910896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Considering how much distress you are in, I would also ask if it's possible to go in tomorrow instead of waiting all weekend. And even if you go the talk therapy route, it might be helpful to get meds on board temporarily. You could get enough relief from the panic/anxiety that you could be available for the talking part. Though I would highly recommend cognitive behavioral therapy specifically. I was wondering if the physical symptoms occurred first or the thoughts or whether they seemed to start at the same time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-and-severe-anxiety#post-2910893 Thu, 27 Feb 2020 20:50:20 +0000 MrsSRS 2910893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you can't get in to your GP until Monday you can buy Valerian at CVS. It's a sleep aide. Five capsules are usually a dose for sleep. One or two is the dose for helping with the anxiety adrenaline during waking hours. My therapist suggested it to me. It's a godsend to make it through until you get help, but it isn't a replacement for a prescription. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-and-severe-anxiety#post-2910892 Thu, 27 Feb 2020 20:43:52 +0000 crazydoglady 2910892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ThrowAway227: Hi! I'm so sorry you are experiencing this. Has something happened recently? A birth, death, or otherwise? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-and-severe-anxiety#post-2910891 Thu, 27 Feb 2020 20:42:34 +0000 teawithpaloma 2910891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is it sort of like this?<br /> <a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms/index.shtml" rel="nofollow">https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms/index.shtml</a></p> <p>Say to your GP. Will they see you tomorrow? "I think I am experience severe anxiety or panic disorder. My quality of life is non-existent. I need help" </p> <p>You can always go to the ED if you are having a mental health crisis over the weekend. They will help you in case you need to wait until Monday and something changes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-and-severe-anxiety#post-2910889 Thu, 27 Feb 2020 19:59:10 +0000 ThrowAway227 2910889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all,</p> <p>Long time user that created a throw away account for this question because I’m extremely embarrassed. I know I shouldn’t be. I hope you don’t mind. </p> <p>For the past year or so, I’ve experienced low grade anxiety. Nothing terribly serious, just periodic unexplained butterfly/nervousness sensations that quickly passed. I was irritable during those episodes but have never had a panic attack or anything close.</p> <p>Over the past few weeks, I have been plagued by regular, intrusive thoughts about my own death. For the past few days, the thoughts are near constant and I am in a state of terror/panic about it nearly the whole day. To be super clear, I’m not talking about wishing I was dead, its more of a phobia level fear of not existing. I’ve barely slept in 3 nights because the adrenaline from the fear response is so insane; I can’t get any work done because I can’t stop thinking about it and my heart is racing; I am battling back tears the entire day and hyperventilating level crying in the middle of the night. Obviously, this is not normal or healthy and I have an appointment with my GP Monday morning and a therapist Monday afternoon and will tell them everything.</p> <p>But does anyone have any experience with anything like this?? Am I having panic attacks? I thought panic attacks were brief, intense events, not 3 plus days of rolling terror. Why did it come on so suddenly? Does anyone have any suggestions about what to ask my GP? Should I ask for a referral to a psychiatrist? I’m used to talk therapy but I’m not sure I can even get the words out to work through this because I’m so panicked about this particular topic.</p> <p>I know - unfortunately - that lots of women here have experience with anxiety so any insight would be much appreciated.</p> <p>Thanks. Sorry so long. </p>