Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Do I really have Panic Disorder or a Phobia

I am a 22 year old female and I've currently been diagnosed with a Panic Disorder.  Since I've been having these attacks, it seems like all I think about is death. I find myself continuing to check my heart as if I'm going to have a heart attack. And I continue to think about it throughout the day. Its hard to sleep at night because I think I am going to have a heart attack or stop breathing in my sleep. I get really scared when my heart starts to beat fast. And if I have any lil problem I find myself to be at the doctor or in the ER room. Is there any help for this??? Do I have a Phobia or a real Panic Disorder?
6 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Yes, I have talked to my Doctor about it and they've prescribed me all kinds of meds. And even referred me to go to therapy.  I hadn't went through therapy yet but I think it will help me out alot. Only thing, my doctor had me taking Xanax and Paxil, And those two had me like a zombie and I felt really high and I didn't like the feeling so she switch the paxil and now I take Celexa.  I've been switch from Effexor to paxil, from Paxil to Celexa.  Now I'm to the point where I don't like to take any of it.  And I don't know if this is the right thing to do. Now I'm constantly having terrible headaches.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the imformation, it was really helpful, I never knew that i wasn't the only one who was going through this. When I talk to other people whose not experiencing what I'm going through, it always made me feel as if i was crazy or something. I've actually had people to come up to me and say, "I heard you over there going crazy" It made me feel kind of down but for them not to know what's going on in my life, i paid it no attention.
Helpful - 0
366811 tn?1217422672
Awwwww, shucks.
Helpful - 0
400867 tn?1371753094
You have once again posted an EXCELLENT and informing response directed towards someone else and helped me in the process.  

"You already know from experience that the scary heart and breasthing stuff does not result in your making an early exit -and probably will not any time soon. And so, you can make this small step:

Understand yourself NOT as someone who might be having a heart attack, but rather as someone WHO IS AFRAID THEY MIGHT BE having one. Focus on the difference between those two ideas, the frame of mind that goes with them. The little, mental sideways step you take in understanding the situation in this new way is one step toward leaving it behind you."

I LOVE HOW YOU PUT THIS. I will try to utilize it myself JSGeare.  Thanks again!!!!
Helpful - 0
366811 tn?1217422672
Phobia or "real" panic disorder? I'm way too familiar with that death thing, and as you will find, you'll have a lot of company here; people who are afraiud of dying and terrified, as well, by the mere concept of one day being dead. It's a helluva life, right?

It doesn't matter how you label or classify what you've "got." But for the sake of observing a commonly understood vocabulary, let me give you my 50 cent tour. A "Phobia" is an irrational fear of an object or situation which compells you to avoid it or eliminate as a condition of returning to a "normal" state of mind. The irrational fear is usually limited to the object or situation and does not otherwise interfer with your life. A phobia victim may life a life entirely normally by simply avoiding the object or condition. Got all that? Not bad, I made it up myself.

Panic Disorder (my words again) is a generalized, often predictable intense, continuing fear and phsyical symptoms such as heart rate, breathing and nausea which often seem to arise independently from unknown causes, or no causes. Phobias may accompany or trigger panic attacks. How's that? Pretty good?

One of the key differences between phobias and panic is that the phobia is almost always related to something external to you. You may be phobic about the sight of your own blood, but when you do see it, it is outside of you. But in general, it is a thing or situation that bugs you: elevators, bridges, spiders, taking communion, whatever. You indentify panic, however, as something that comes from inside you, a set of feelings or symptoms that just "happen" for seemingly no reason. And thus, fear of a panic attack itself becomes something that contributes to your vulnerability.

Anxiety and panic may either arise from an independent, pathological source (see the post on PANDAS) or may arise from the ways you think based on past experience and unresolved emotional conflicts, or a mixture. Not surprisingly, a physical condition (like asthma) that carries anxiety as a sort of chemical "side effect" may also support vulnerability to panic whose basis is mental or cognitive. This is why panic victims do and should undergo rigid testing of symptoms to identify or to rule out other, physical causes.

You may, of course, have BOTH a phobia (the spiders) and panic (out of nowhere).

What needs to happen with you, dear 22 year old female, is to get busy with a mental health professional who can help you deal with the symptoms, perhaps with some medication, do any relevant testing, and then start a course of therapy to dig out the root experiences and thinking that are serving up panic attacks. You should also feel free -and I invite you- to describe the situations you deal with that seem to set you up for a attack, and to read what others have had to say.

You already know from experience that the scary heart and breasthing stuff does not result in your making an early exit -and probably will not any time soon. And so, you can make this small step:

Understand yourself NOT as someone who might be having a heart attack, but rather as someone WHO IS AFRAID THEY MIGHT BE having one. Focus on the difference between those two ideas, the frame of mind that goes with them. The little, mental sideways step you take in understanding the situation in this new way is one step toward leaving it behind you.

Trust me.

I see you are not a member, and invite you to actually join the Anxiety forum and contribute your questions, answers, and experiences. Our strength and effectiveness is based totally on participation. Its easy to do; just click, enter your information -maybe a picture- and that’s it!


We are all in your corner. Thanks for a good post; believe me, you spoke for many tohers.
Helpful - 0
400867 tn?1371753094
Hi shugg32.  I'm a 30-yr old female and I do the exact same thing.  You may have panic disorder or at least healthy anxiety.  I have them all and know EXACTLY how you feel as I'm sure many of here on this forum do.  I've been to the ER many many times thinking I'm having a heart attack.  I think about it constantly, especially the past few days again because I've been having heart palpitations.  I also go to the doctor for EVERYTHING.  Have you sought counseling of any kind, whether it be just a therapist or if you end up needing meds, a psychiatrist? You sound a lot like me.  A lot! And I certainly take meds. Maybe it would be beneficial to just have a low dose prescription for a benzo (xanax, klonopin, etc.) just to take when you have these feelings to calm you down rather than running to the ER every time. I had to switch hospitals because I went so often to one that I thought they thought I was a nut job. Are you able to talk to your doctor about this?
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community

Top Anxiety Answerers
Avatar universal
Arlington, VA
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?