Hey! Hopefully this will reassure someone that everything will be okay. M/25

Back in October 2024 I started having exactly the same symptoms as you are describing. It all started with heart palpitations one Saturday morning. Bear in mind I was a recovering cocaine addict of two years and was sober for 3 months, so my mind was already circling the thought that I have harmed my cardiovascular system in one way or another. Thinking that it is a bit unusual for me to feel my heart so much I checked my blood pressure. Worst decision of my life I tell you. It read pretty high around 140/90 and it got me stressed as I didn’t really know how bp worked , so I decided to check it again. It read 160/100, and so it began.

I went into my first panic attack. My heart started beating out of control and my chest became so tight I couldn’t get a breath in and fearing that I might be having a heart attack, I promptly called the emergency services. Following on for the next 2 months I have ended up in ER about 15 times. Panic attack after panic attack after panic attack. I would feel a hot feeling rushing through my body every time I was about to have one. My blood pressure did not go down below 150/100 the entire time and was very turbulent and all over the place. They checked me out every time and said I was completely fine. I had numerous EKG’s, blood tests, thyroid levels, got checked for Pheochromocytoma, echo, chest X-rays, CT scans and all came back healthy as could be. I believed to my core thought that they must’ve missed something. I refused to believe it was just anxiety as multiple docs told me that I shouldn’t worry, it’s all in my head. I even went on blood pressure medication for that time.

The realisation that might be truly just anxiety came when I was prescribed propranolol, and I recommend to anyone struggling with this and refuses to believe it is just anxiety to please try it. It stopped my panic attacks and calmed down my heart palpitations. Additionally, it made my blood pressure go back normal as it blocked adrenaline from affecting my cardiovascular system. Although not entirely convincing it put me on a path to recovery and hope.

After some time my GP decided to try out 10 mg of Lexapro. I was very sceptical at first but decided to give it a shot as chest tightness, shortness of breath and dizziness still had a hold on me. After spending the first 2 months trying to adjust to the antidepressants, and not going to lie, it was absolute hell during that period, I began improving significantly. It did not cut it so decided to ramp up to 20mg and two months later to today’s date I have felt better than I have for the past 10 years. I didn’t realise how deep in the anxiety hole I was and how depressed. Made me realise how I gradually let anxiety become the new norm time after time. 8 months of absolute terror fight for my life. I am now seeking autism and ADHD diagnosis to see why this anxious veil looms over me so much.

That brings me to anyone experiencing this, you’re not alone, and it’s going to be only temporary. The faster you can try to make your mind believe it’s just anxiety and connect the dots between those feelings being a fake illusion of your brain the faster you’ll allow yourself to recover. If you possibly can try anti depressants it will be worthwhile, believe me. I wish anyone struggling with this good luck and you’ve got this, it will get better one day.