Dibilitating anxiety!!

[Chas1976]

Hi all!
I'm new to this forum and looking for some encouragement and help. I started having anxiety almost a year ago when I quit drinking alcohol. I had an incident withdrawing and thought I was having a heart attack. I ended up doing a series of testing and have since had more testing as I flip out and end up at the hospital thinking surely it's a heart attack this time. Everything always comes back fine. I've tried several medications and am trying a new one now. I had a couple of great months but now it's back. I know I would've had a heart attack by now if there was a problem but I can't convince myself of that when the panic starts. I have had to quit my job and have all but became agoraphobic. I no longer drink alcohol or caffine and have cut anyone that causes me stress from my life. Sorry for the long blog just looking for some encouragement. :)

[Single_Dad]

Hi Chas. I'm new here too but I read posts that make yours look tiny. So no worries; everyone here is out to help.

Your story sounds like mine but for me it is the consumption of alcohol that would really set me off a year ago. I would self-medicate my PTSD and underlying depression. Then I would withdrawl and go into some scary attacks. So I do my best to stay away from that stuff now; even a few drinks is enough to make me suffer a bad hangover. I also recently gave up caffinee too but that is because of digestion issues.

Well, welcome and remember to think pleasant thoughts!