Last year, I was convinced something was deeply wrong with my body. Heart palpitations, dizziness, chest tightness, shortness of breath—you name it. I bounced between doctors and specialists, had every scan and test under the sun. Everything came back “normal.” The frustration was overwhelming until someone finally asked me: “Have you considered that this might…
Last week, I walked into a grocery store and was hit with a strong scent of cinnamon from a nearby bakery section. Within seconds, I felt my chest tighten, my heart race, and a surge of panic that seemed to come out of nowhere. It wasn’t the smell itself — it was the memory tied…
Last summer, I rushed to the ER convinced I was having a heart attack. Tight chest, shortness of breath, dizzy spells—it all screamed cardiac emergency. But after several tests and a few hours hooked up to monitors, the doctor calmly said, “You’re not having a heart attack. It’s anxiety.” I remember blinking at him, trying…
If you’ve ever found yourself panicking in a crowded elevator or avoiding small rooms with no windows, you’ve likely asked yourself: is this claustrophobia or anxiety—or both? I used to confuse the two all the time. What started as a mild discomfort in tight spaces spiraled into full-blown anxiety attacks in places I wouldn’t have…
If you’ve ever clutched your chest in sheer panic, unsure whether it’s your heart or your head betraying you, you’re not alone. I’ve had that moment — sweating, dizzy, chest tightening like a vice. I thought, “This is it, a heart attack.” But after a few nerve-wracking ER visits, the truth surprised me. It was…
You know what’s ironic? The medication that’s supposed to help you feel less anxious… ends up giving you a whole new set of reasons to feel anxious. I’ve been there. When I first started taking meds for my GAD, I remember feeling hopeful—finally, something to quiet the buzzing in my head. But then came the…
Ever been lying in bed or sitting calmly when—bam—your heart suddenly starts pounding like it’s racing a marathon you didn’t sign up for? I’ve been there. That terrifying moment when your pulse takes off, your chest tightens, and you’re sure something’s wrong… but the doctors say your heart is fine. Welcome to the frustrating reality…
I remember the first time I felt like I was floating outside my own body. My heart was pounding like a jackhammer, but oddly, everything around me felt… distant. Like I was watching my life from behind a glass wall. It wasn’t fear in the traditional sense—it was something stranger. If you’ve ever experienced *depersonalization…
It started out subtle—like not wanting to go to crowded places, or feeling off during grocery runs. I brushed it off, called it stress or fatigue. But then, I found myself turning down invites, avoiding public transport, or even skipping errands just to stay within my “safe zone.” That’s when I stumbled across a term…