Hi Caitlyn. I’m sorry that you suffer with anxiety and panic disorder. I appreciate you sharing your experiences and the things that have helped you. I’m getting the eye drops. I’m wishing you well.
oh the panic attacks. I always suffered from GAD and took meds for it. But the first panic attack I ever had I of course thought I was dying. I had to go to the ER. They didn't diagnose it as a panic attack, but rather shrugged their shoulders as if to say, "nothing is wrong, maybe come back if it happens again." I've learned to control them over time. The ice cube is HUGELY helpful. It sort of shocks you back into reality.
I’m so sorry that happened to you 😔 I can definitely relate! The last time I went to the ER I was shaking so badly they thought I was having a seizure lmao I’m glad you’ve been able to control them better
Your insights and recommendations are so helpful. Yes to the power of sour! When I was working as an art therapist with teenaged girls who were incarcerated they always wanted us to bring them in bags of lemons. They polished them off in two minutes!! Cuts right through anxiety.
First of all, I just came across your Substack and I absolutely love it. Your writing has been inspiring me so much. Thank you for putting such honest and thoughtful work into the world.
I wanted to share something that helped me, in case it’s useful to anyone navigating extreme anxiety or panic attacks. I haven’t had a single panic attack since November, which still feels unbelievable to say, considering what the last few years have been like.
A little backstory: 3 yrs ago, I was in a traumatic car accident. Just a month later, my stepfather, who I was very close to, was diagnosed with cancer, and he passed away the following year. I’m a stay-at-home mom, and my eldest daughter has autism and moderate intellectual disability. To say I was under stress would be an understatement.
The panic attacks started shortly after the accident. At first, only in the car. But over time, they began happening everywhere: in crowds, at home, even in my sleep. I’d wake up in the middle of the night in a full-blown panic, heart racing, unable to breathe. I ended up in the ER more than once. I had every test and scan imaginable, and of course, everything came back “normal.” I also couldn’t take medication for it, so I felt really stuck.
My functional medicine doctor had been recommending vagus nerve stimulation for a long time, but I kept putting it off. I wasn’t sure it would help. But eventually, I was so desperate I decided to try it. I couldn’t even take my daughters out in public without my husband because I was afraid of having a panic attack alone.
So I got the Neurosym device (no affiliation, just a very grateful user). I now use it for 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening…while I read, meditate, write, or even eat breakfast. And I haven’t had a panic attack since.
After 2 years of daily episodes, often multiple times a day, this feels like a miracle. The device isn’t cheap, but for me, it was the best investment I made last year. (I know there are other options on the market too, but this is the only one I’ve personally tried and can wholeheartedly recommend.)
I hope this helps someone out there feel a little less alone, and maybe a little more hopeful. 💛
Omg tqsm for these tips… I should be keeping these in mind.. when I get panic attack cause of phobia or something my legs stand still and I won’t be able to move at all.. I should figure something out soon for that
Thank you so much.❤️ I’ll have to sit down and think which ones to try, because if I hear about meditation and breathing techniques one more time, I’m going to sincerely lose my mind.
so so helpful. haven't had an episode in months (thankfully) but this is such a great reference. do you ever get to the point where you can't move at all? it happened in school when i was 15 and i didn't know what was going on. i think that was the first time it happened too
Hi Caitlyn. I’m sorry that you suffer with anxiety and panic disorder. I appreciate you sharing your experiences and the things that have helped you. I’m getting the eye drops. I’m wishing you well.
Thank you so much! I hope it helps you, too ☺️
oh the panic attacks. I always suffered from GAD and took meds for it. But the first panic attack I ever had I of course thought I was dying. I had to go to the ER. They didn't diagnose it as a panic attack, but rather shrugged their shoulders as if to say, "nothing is wrong, maybe come back if it happens again." I've learned to control them over time. The ice cube is HUGELY helpful. It sort of shocks you back into reality.
I’m so sorry that happened to you 😔 I can definitely relate! The last time I went to the ER I was shaking so badly they thought I was having a seizure lmao I’m glad you’ve been able to control them better
I will be referencing this post really often. Thank you!!!
i really really hope you can find some things on here that help <3
Girl this post is great, so many great ideas that resonated with me that I'll have to try, that also aren't: "have you tried 4-7-8 breaths?"
i'm glad you can resonate with this. and yes! i can't with the breath work.. like my mind is dying how can i think about breathing patterns rn?! :(
Your insights and recommendations are so helpful. Yes to the power of sour! When I was working as an art therapist with teenaged girls who were incarcerated they always wanted us to bring them in bags of lemons. They polished them off in two minutes!! Cuts right through anxiety.
First of all, I just came across your Substack and I absolutely love it. Your writing has been inspiring me so much. Thank you for putting such honest and thoughtful work into the world.
I wanted to share something that helped me, in case it’s useful to anyone navigating extreme anxiety or panic attacks. I haven’t had a single panic attack since November, which still feels unbelievable to say, considering what the last few years have been like.
A little backstory: 3 yrs ago, I was in a traumatic car accident. Just a month later, my stepfather, who I was very close to, was diagnosed with cancer, and he passed away the following year. I’m a stay-at-home mom, and my eldest daughter has autism and moderate intellectual disability. To say I was under stress would be an understatement.
The panic attacks started shortly after the accident. At first, only in the car. But over time, they began happening everywhere: in crowds, at home, even in my sleep. I’d wake up in the middle of the night in a full-blown panic, heart racing, unable to breathe. I ended up in the ER more than once. I had every test and scan imaginable, and of course, everything came back “normal.” I also couldn’t take medication for it, so I felt really stuck.
My functional medicine doctor had been recommending vagus nerve stimulation for a long time, but I kept putting it off. I wasn’t sure it would help. But eventually, I was so desperate I decided to try it. I couldn’t even take my daughters out in public without my husband because I was afraid of having a panic attack alone.
So I got the Neurosym device (no affiliation, just a very grateful user). I now use it for 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening…while I read, meditate, write, or even eat breakfast. And I haven’t had a panic attack since.
After 2 years of daily episodes, often multiple times a day, this feels like a miracle. The device isn’t cheap, but for me, it was the best investment I made last year. (I know there are other options on the market too, but this is the only one I’ve personally tried and can wholeheartedly recommend.)
I hope this helps someone out there feel a little less alone, and maybe a little more hopeful. 💛
these are so great, thank you for compiling these !!!
Omg tqsm for these tips… I should be keeping these in mind.. when I get panic attack cause of phobia or something my legs stand still and I won’t be able to move at all.. I should figure something out soon for that
Thank you so much.❤️ I’ll have to sit down and think which ones to try, because if I hear about meditation and breathing techniques one more time, I’m going to sincerely lose my mind.
I love this post!! I needed to read this today and some of your tips have already helped me <3
The title of this post is so real. Thank you for sharing!
This is genuinely so kind of you and helpful! Thank you so much :)
so so helpful. haven't had an episode in months (thankfully) but this is such a great reference. do you ever get to the point where you can't move at all? it happened in school when i was 15 and i didn't know what was going on. i think that was the first time it happened too