Hi everyone, I've been lurking this subreddit for a few months now, but this is the first time I've ever posted. Please let me know if there's something wrong within my post, thank you!

I'm a third year nursing student going on to my fourth year and for the past year, I've had this constant feeling of shortness of breath and palpitations. This was right in the middle of my clinicals in which nursing students go to local hospitals to basically shadow nurses and perform basic skills while monitored. At this time, the vaccine was not announced and I had relatives including my mom who were directly treating COVID patients. I was constantly under the fear of catching COVID from my shifts and passing it on to my family and I was socially isolated because I never went out unless completely necessary. I figured that these symptoms must have been related the stress of all this and that I would be better when I had my vaccine. 

Fast forward about six months later, and I was able to get both doses but my symptoms didn't stop. I started worrying that I had COVID myself, but I know I couldn't have as I had been properly following all guidelines. Other than the palpitations and the shortness of breath, I had no other symptoms like fever or sore throat. 

When I first had these symptoms, I first told my mom who is an ICU nurse. She told me that I was stressed and that it wouldn't last long, but now it's been months. I haven't told her that it's still going on because I've been told that I overreact how I feel. I've told her about my thoughts of possibly having some kind of anxiety disorder and seeking a diagnosis but both my parents agree that I shouldn't have anxiety because there's nothing to be stressed about and they're right. I have a home and I never have to pay rent, a loving family, a potentially stable career in the future, and friends whom I hold very close. This is also because my mom is caring for my grandpa who has cancer and I don't want to add to any stress she already has.

I don't know what to do. It's gotten to the point that I sometimes wake up and I feel like I'm suffocating. I can't fall asleep because the sound of my own heart beating keeps me up at night. I have crying fits about once a month for no real reason. And I don't want to say anything because everyone else has their own stuff to deal with.

I'm sorry if this post has been too wordy or difficult to understand. I actually made an appointment with my GP so that seems like a good first step. While I'm scared, I'm hopeful for the future and that I can finally put this behind me.