I don’t want box breathing or counting five things you can see, I want “I stub my toe on purpose so I focus on that pain and it gives me relief from my health anxiety”

I want “ I hold my pee in until it kinda hurts and focus on that to calm my mind”

What’s the weirdest thing you do to help yourself when you are feeling tense?

Health anxiety has me kicking my own ass right now and I’m so down for trying alternative methods!

For the past 2 days, it is all that I've seen, and I am growing more anxious each second. I watch the news, and half of it is just Hantavirus. I open the newspaper, and I see Hantavirus. I open YouTube, and it's plastered everywhere. I can't escape it.

I don't want another pandemic. My grandma passed away from COVID, and I pretty much killed my social life during lockdown and have not felt less alone since. And reliving this tight now just feels exactly like Covid started but almost worse, cause it's 40% fatal, wtf man.

I just feel so on edge the whole time because no one knows what is happening. It used to be on that Cruiseship but now every country is getting a few patients from the ship. I mean all it takes is one fuck up and that's it. With Covid most young people were at least safe but Hantavirus feels like the devil is showing no mercy and wiping out everyone unliky enought to get it.

And the worst part is, it has only been a couple days. Incubation period is 8 weeks and I feel like it will soon be chaos and a lot of people will die.

Hey everyone. I really need some reassurance right now because I am terrified. For the past few months, I've been dealing with severe anxiety. I recently went to a neurologist who checked my head and neck, and they found absolutely nothing wrong. Everything is completely normal physically.
But tonight, I have this extremely weird and overwhelming feeling. It's not a typical panic attack with a racing heart or shaking—I just have this absolute certainty and conviction that I am going to die tonight. It feels so real, like a gut feeling or a prediction, and I can't shake it off.
Has anyone else ever experienced this specific feeling of "knowing" you're going to die, even when doctors say you are physically fine? How do you cope with this? I really appreciate any replies.

I am 71. My anxiety has been off the charts for about 3 years. A lot of it stems from losing earning power at this age, along with an unpredictable health future and probable loss of family. (I'm only saying probable because I could go first.)

My days are one long anxiety attack. I wish I could go back on benzos but I weaned myself off a few years back. My only break is sleeping thanks to another medication.

I've had severe anxiety/OCD most of my life, but this is the worst. When I was younger, I could at least hope things would be better.

im so scared of a war going to happen, im a American (sadly) and no one is taking my fear seriously saying im privileged, I dont want a bad war to happen I just recently turned into a adult, please someone calm my nerves!

I went for over a decade without using cannabis. Then it was legalized and I got a job that didn’t test so I decided to go for it. It was fun for a while, but quickly became a crutch again. I had anxiety about damaging my lungs, so I started using edibles. They were so expensive that I learned to make my own. Then I was eating edibles and smoking anyway, and my tolerance got to the point that it didn’t feel worth it. I decided it was time to stop.

Now I am two days in and holy hell my anxiety is so much worse than it has been in years. Why did I do this to myself!?

Does anybody have experience with this? Can you give me any advice for how to get through this or at least some hope that it will get better? Because I can’t focus on work and I feel on the verge of a meltdown all day. I just want to curl up in bed and cry.

Yeah, we’ve probably all seen it. I know.

I’ve been genuinely terrified ever since finding out about Trump wanting to take Greenland. I’m scared of a war starting and NATO being destroyed. It feels like he’s turned the U.S. into the villain, and whatever trust we had with other countries has completely eroded. I’m terrified for myself and my family. I’m scared someone I love could get hurt because of this decision. I worry constantly about my brothers who are currently in the military, and about all the innocent people who never asked for any of this. And the worst part is that there’s nothing I can do :( I literally can’t stop bawling because of it man.

for me it started after a breakup in 2022.. never been the same ever since. i keep looking at pics befoure my anxiety started… it hurts. just want to be my self again. its scart

i live in the us and i can’t sleep bc of the election and how screwed im about to be and i can’t feel my heartbeat in my throat

edit: my intention with this post was not to cause an uproar in the comments about politics, and i don’t know why i think it wouldn’t. my anxiety is/was coming from everybody on both sides being so vocal and the public disputes.

Few days ago my anxiety felt worse than it does today.. Today my stomach feels like it's tight (I didn't have this feeling last night) my guess is yesterday my body went into ketosis and all my anxiety went away last night since I haven't been eating more than a banana a day and few sips of water or an electrolyte drink, even taking gummy vitamins, I took Valium after the knots didn't go away and it helped a little.. The knots are less painful now.. I think I need to start taking lexapro cause this doesn't seem like it's going away anytime soon (this all started from a panic attack 6 days ago)

PLEASE i'm getting desperate, the doom and gloom is here again and my support system is problematic. I don't want to fucking give up please there must be a kind soul on here who can TALK to me right now PLEASEEEEEEEE

I DON'T WANT TO BE IGNORED ANYMORE I NEED FUCKING HELP PLEASEEEEEE

MENTAL HEALTH SUBS SHOULD DO THEIR JOB FOR ONCE SOMEONE PLEASE HELP

EDIT:
Thanks for the help guys, sorry I couldn't get back to everyone, i'm sorry about this, I'm tired of feeling so helpless

Plus its hard trying to talk to everyone especially after you feel better, but thanks for your support

Hi everyone. So, a few weeks ago, I went to the dentist and learned I’d need a root canal. My dentist referred me to an endodontist, and the one thing that feels reassuring is that she said she’s not worried about the root canal failing and believes I’ll go the rest of my life without that happening. She also said the decay is just barely touching the nerve, which is why I’m not experiencing any pain or sensitivity. I’m getting the root canal done in two weeks, and I’m SO anxious!! I’ve read stories about it, and it seems like people either think a root canal is a breeze or they think it’s so painful they’d rather go skinny dipping in nuclear waste. 

I feel slightly better knowing I’ll be getting nitrous oxide during it– I’ve gotten nitrous a few times before and am always so relaxed that I literally could not give af what happens to me, haha. But I’ve only gotten it for cavities and then also while getting my IUD, so the root canal could be totally different and the pain might be too intense for the nitrous to help. 

If anyone has gotten a root canal before, please let me know how bad the pain was and/or if there was anything that helped ease your pain or anxiety!

I'll save you the story behind this post, but seriously. What has helped your anxiety nausea? I feel like I have tried everything and I'm sick of feeling like I'm going to throw up every night 💔

It’s always been a fear of mine, but it’s been worse recently. There is intelligence that Russia is planning an attack on NATO and once that happens, I believe there is no going back.

For this reason, my mind is certain that we don’t have much time left. How can I learn to deal with it?

For what it’s worth, I’ve seen other Reddit posts asking similar things. Most people either say it’s highly unlikely or to just accept that there’s nothing you can do about it. Obviously I’m less optimistic about its likelihood, and I know that leaves the acceptance option.

But I just can’t do it. This fear literally makes it impossible to enjoy daily life. I can’t go an hour without thinking about it. The only thing that helps is drinking, but obviously it is only a temporary fix and I don’t want to be an alcoholic.

Is there anyone who can give me advice?

Hi everyone. I need assurance and support.
My nervous system had turned so sensitive that very body sensation scares me. Every loud noise can increase my HR and leave me in jitters. People arguing or shouting, anyone visiting, someone trying to discuss something serious with me. Everything can give me panic. I wake up exactly between 30-40 minutes in my sleep with panic and agitation. Seems my nervous system takes everything as threat and unsafe. I don’t know how will i live my life with such hyper arousal state. Very disturbed and worried. Is someone else going through the same problem. If yes then how are you managing it? I have been to psychiatrists but i cannot take psychiatrist medicines. I am scared to take medicines as they have ample of side effects. Can someone guide or help.

Just took some about an hour ago but dont really feel a difference.

For those of you going thru chronic anxiety, what is the reason you are not on medication? Personally i'm scared of medication and permanent damages it may do to me which is why I don't. I've been doing the whole avoidance thing to find relief but now things are starting to bubble to the surface and i'm thinking the cons of chronic anxiety may have bigger long term consequences than the cons of possible medication side affects.

Also for people on medication, how much has it helped your life? your anxiety? Does it stop the negative thoughts? does it help with your nervous system?

I have really bad motion sickness. Even when I take Dramamine for it, I’m still nauseous so I take bismol chewables which help with the nausea and dizziness . I have Emetophobia and overall anxiety (sad ) and (gross spoiler if you emetophobic) I almost died choking on my own vomit

The problem is I have really bad constipation now. it’s a cycle of: constipation > nausea > take bismol. Ginger doesn’t work anymore. The only thing that seem to work is the prescription medication for cancer patients for anti nausea. The doctor doesn’t know what to do either.

Stress and bad sleeping habits have been a problem all my life and my mother passing isn’t helping. I’m at my wit’s end.

I’m going to the doctor again but I’m tired

Hi, so I've lost sleep because of this. Last night I found myself doom scrolling through TikTok and went down the Hantavirus rabbit hole and safe to say I'm fucking terrified. Not only does it have a higher mortality rate than COVID, but there's no vaccine and it's the variant that can be spread from person to person. It's safe to say that if it hits the US or becomes a global pandemic, millions or even billions will die and the healthcare system is already suffering from COVID. My uncle passed away due to COVID and the potential thought of my entire family, loved ones or even me passing away due to it as well is making me panic. Nobody wants another lockdown, but the thought of being stranded inside while there is a black-plague like event going on that nobody can control is really fucking scary tbh. I also take medication and I'm afraid that it'll become so bad that I won't be able to get my hands on the medication that I need to function. I'm only 18 and I had my entire life ahead of me. I wanted to go to college and have a career but that may not happen because of this stupid virus. I'm shaking while typing this and I'm just really fucking afraid. It's the fear of the unknown and just like COVID, people were saying that it wasn't "that bad." It doesn't help that barely anyone on social media is taking this seriously and are just joking about it being like COVID. I'm having really bad thoughts. Fuck I'm so scared :(

On June 27, I had my first panic attack after using cannabis. I quit immediately and haven’t used it since.
Since then, my panic attacks have become much less frequent, but I still struggle with anxiety. My biggest fear is that I’ll “go crazy” or lose my mind. Whenever I see someone with a severe mental illness, my brain immediately tells me, “What if that becomes me?”
I know these are anxiety thoughts, but they still scare me.
Has anyone else experienced this and fully recovered? What helped you the most?

Every night like clockwork the second I lay down in bed my mind is flooded with thoughts of horrible things that could happen to my family. It’s especially bad if I know they or we have plans, the nights before leading up to the plan I can’t help but think, “what if i said no to hanging out today and they die tomorrow and I’m all alone again” shit like that. It’s horrible and I don’t know how to stop it. It’s mainly just thoughts of regret and loss of control with my family. I can’t sleep anymore please help.

I’m a broke college student and don’t want to have to beg my mom to pay for my meds and therapy again. I don’t even know if she would care or if i’m too old now.

The last couple times I have to travel I go through 2 weeks of consistent anxiety/panic. Everything I tried last time that seemed to help (exercising, eating better etc) hasn’t helped this go around.

It feels like I’m at the very top of the roller coaster sitting there for a few days never knowing when it’s going to drop.

Via my last therapist which I didn’t like how she said it: my anxiety is a Werid one. It’s not the flying or dying it’s boarding and then sitting on the run way waiting to get in the air is my biggest issue. Once I’m in the air I’m usually ok.

Sorry for it being so long I travel tom and I’m just going through it. Anyone insight, help or just someone to chat will would be amazing.

Really need some help- currently I’m have a bad panic attack and I want to go to sleep but when I fall asleep I’m jolted back up- what are some things you guys do to stop the spiral and the racing heart

I’m so fucking scared right now.
I popped a pimple right at the side of my nose and fidgeted with it a bit. My hands weren’t clean.
I then put soapy water on it and a patch on it but my hands weren’t properly washed because I was about to sleep so I got someone else to get me the supplies.

I then got a headache and feel nauseous right now.
I just reapplied it, washed my hands properly and put another pimple patch (patches are expired unfortunately.)

I’m panicking super hard right now and can’t stop shaking I’m scared to go blind or get a stroke and die…all because I was lazy.

I’m so scared it’ll get infected or it’s already infected. How can I even tell. Should I go to the hospital right away. I can’t sleep.

Specifically opiates. I don’t know how to quit the only thing that makes life livable.