Hey everybody!

So, I’m either new at this anxiety business or it’s just gotten super bad ever since Covid and all the stresses that have come with it. 

I didn’t really have panic attacks until these last few years. In addition to that, I have really bad health anxiety, specifically having to do with my heart.

I’m 40, obese, and diabetic. I take medicine for that along with medications for high bp and cholesterol. Like, I’m doing what I should be doing as far as my meds go, but I can’t shake the feelings that literally any day I could drop dead of a heart attack.

My doctor prescribed me buspar over the summer, but I find it makes me even more anxious, so I don’t take it. On my last trip to the er (because I thought I was having a heart attack), the er doc gave me a prescription for Hydroxyzine, which actually helps a lot. He also prescribed me medicine for GERD issues he suspected might be contributing to whatever chest pain I might be having. However, I’ve had to ration the hydroxyzine because I have no refills for it. I work full time and am also a dad, so the times I can get away to see my doctor are nearly non existent. 

Anyway, I’ve lost a bit of weight, but I still have a long way to go in that respect. I guess what I’m really looking for is someone who may be going through the same thing as me. Maybe a little encouragement or reassurance would be cool. I know we can’t really give out medical advice here, but if anyone knows how to chill this shit out, I’d love some advice!