u/Due-Club-5408

Hi all, I hope you're all doing okay out there.

I had another severe panic/anxiety attack recently that built up and peaked over 4 hours. It felt like an extreme surge of adrenaline and cortisol, and it was genuinely terrifying.

 

It began, like it often does, with a single negative thought (a sense of dread), and spiralled from there.

 

The next day, I woke up feeling emotionally overwhelmed, detached from reality, sad, shaky/shivery all day, and stuck in waves of high anxiety that kept coming and going, struggling to leave the house.

This is after months of building up my confidence again.

I feel at rock bottom with this and need some hope that things can improve. CBT hasn’t helped much with how severe these attacks get, so I am seriously considering medication now.

 

- Has anyone with severe anxiety/panic attacks like this found that SSRIs or different medications significantly reduced or even stopped the attacks over time?

 

- Did they also help reduce future anticipatory dread and help you deal with stress over time?

 

I’m currently considering Sertraline, Escitalopram, or Venlafaxine.

 

Thanks in advance.

Hi all, I hope you're all doing okay out there.

I had another severe panic/anxiety attack recently that built up and peaked over 4 hours. It felt like an extreme surge of adrenaline and cortisol, and it was genuinely terrifying.

 

It began, like it often does, with a single negative thought (a sense of dread), and spiralled from there.

 

The next day, I woke up feeling emotionally overwhelmed, detached from reality, sad, shaky/shivery all day, and stuck in waves of high anxiety that kept coming and going, struggling to leave the house.

This is after months of building up my confidence again.

I feel at rock bottom with this and need some hope that things can improve. CBT hasn’t helped much with how severe these attacks get, so I am seriously considering medication now.

 

- Has anyone with severe anxiety/panic attacks like this found that SSRIs or different medications significantly reduced or even stopped the attacks over time?

 

- Did they also help reduce future anticipatory dread and help you deal with stress over time?

 

I’m currently considering Sertraline, Escitalopram, or Venlafaxine.

 

Thanks in advance.

Hey guys, I hope you're all good 😊

I have recently been diagnosed with ADHD, and my clinician has recommended trying Concerta, 18mg.

I also experience anxiety, mainly in public situations, where I can sometimes feel overwhelmed by my surroundings/crowds and can get caught in negative thought loops and 'downward spirals'.

So, my questions are…

- Has anyone found that their ADHD medication has actually helped reduce baseline anxiety, stress levels, or spiral-type thoughts and overwhelm?

- Does anyone take weekly breaks with Concerta (e.g. last dose on Friday and restart on Monday)? Has this worked for you, and how do you feel when you stop and restart?

I've already spoken to a clinician, and the meds are being delivered, but I’d be really grateful to hear some real-world experiences, as I am a bit sceptical.

Thank you! 🙏