I started having panic attacks at bedtime about 8 months ago. They would occur once out of every few times my boyfriend stayed over. Since then, the panic attacks have mostly stopped and became much less severe (with help of short term therapy and occasional half tablets of Lorazepam when I felt a tightness in my abdomen and the persistent feeling of needing to breathe deeply, {the first sign for one of my attacks}) I was mostly free of bedtime panic attacks by late Jan '14.
Over the last week, however I have had the tightening right in the center of my abdomen and the feeling of shortness of breath all day, every day. It's a scary feeling, having that with my all the time, when I feel like all is well. I'm also much quicker to start crying and am not sleeping well.
My boyfriend, who is always so supportive and sweet and who I always know I can turn to when I am having a hard time, also moved in around the middle of June, and I can't help but feel like this more general anxiety is in part because of our new living situation. For example, yesterday, I had the day off and was generally anxiety free and was bustling around, looking forward to seeing the boyfriend after work, and making dinner when he got home. I started feeling the chest tightening when I heard his car pull up to the house, and my heart absolutely sunk when I thought that he may part of the reason for my newfound anxiety issues.
I am wondering if anyone has any advice or suggestions for the tightening in my chest, as well as maybe some advice for co-habitation, since I now can't ignore that maybe this is related to my anxiety. As a note, I began seeing a new therapist last week, I don't take regular prescriptions for anxiety, but I have been taking GABA and B12 to try to help the anxiety and Valerian Root to help me try to fall asleep. I also work out 5/7 days a week and try to eat healthy, for what it's worth. :)