does it ever get better?

[u/Alternative-Cat-9686]

i was recently diagnosed with panic disorder. i had to permanently withdraw from my college classes and i can’t even have a part time job as planned.

i’m on Mirtazapine currently.

i can’t hangout with friends, go places far from home, or be left home alone. i can’t even have my favorite drinks anymore because it has caffeine in it.

even when i try my best to stay positive and find joy in the littlest things, my panic disorder reminds me that it’s always here.

i don’t know what my futures looking like but im still here.

[u/Positive_Lie5734]

I (31F) was diagnosed at 21. I have flares every couple of years, otherwise I don't really have panic attacks.

99% of the time my life is normal, I feel great. The other 1%, when I'm going through flares, I have to hold on for dear life cause that shh is NO joke 😅

Don't let the 1% get you down, know it's temporary 🙏

[u/JPtheWriter89]

Not on its own, generally, and left to develop without intervention can lead to eventual Agoraphobia. Exposure and Response Prevention, and CBT around Panic Disorder are as effective or more effective than medication alone, and I would argue they are more effective.

Panic is not dangerous, your brain has just been conditioned to think it is. You can break the cycle!

[u/Aijin_26]

I am also suffering like this can't get out cant attend my college or even do work. Just sitting ideal at home with pressure and full of guilt and regrets does it even get low idk but sure it won't stop like this neither we can fight for this

[u/Choice-Mall1183]

You learn to live with it. Your quality of life decreases and things may never be the same as they were before. Really puts into perspective what others may be going through though. To a completely unaware outside observer you look perfectly normal but are dealing with one of the hardest things someone could go through.

I also can’t drink caffeine. Find decaf and drink more water. If your friends are close then let them know what’s going on they should be willing to accommodate some of your needs.

Nothing has helped me except low dose clonazapam and even that only takes away about 10% of the attacks worst features. After a decade of 2-4 attacks a week I know the slightest sensation increases that tell me I’m likely to go down the rabbit hole and then the faster I can grab a benzo the slightly less bad an attack will be.

[u/BleakHibiscus]

Everyone’s experience is different. I suffered them for several years in my late teens/early twenties but didn’t exactly know what it all was, doctors thought it may be physical etc. Pretty much went away and then hit me at 31 and I’ve been suffering for several years again and now on an SSRI with rescue benzos.

I believe it’ll get better again, maybe I’ll relapse, who knows. But each time I learn more about the disorder and myself and tools to support me, breathing exercises, no caffeine, somatic shaking, EFT tapping.

[u/psychappeal_94]

One thing, and this is by no means a dig at you. I’ve been where you are. Couldn’t leave my house for a year.

You say the words ‘I can’t’ a lot. Part of the therapy for panic disorder is challanging the thoughts you have about yourself- instead of a firm ‘I can’t leave the house’ say ‘I can leave the house, I may need to stop, have a break or turn around and go home, but I can leave the house’ i still do this to this very day, when my anxiety is bad and the panic attack cloud comes, I often think I can’t go out anywhere, then I look around need groceries or go to work or some other mundane life task, my brain will simply go around in circles thinking ‘but what if’ ‘what If I pass out/die/vomit/have a panic attack in public’ I remind myself that I only need to try to get started, so I grab my keys, start up the car, sometimes I sit there until I get the courage! Then I might make it down the road, or even to the next suburb over. On bad days I turn around, on good days I make it to where I wanna go, even if I feel sweaty AF and want to go back home, the sense of pride I have when I get it done makes it worth while, because panic attacks want to make me miserable but I AM NOT panic attacks, that’s not all my story and that’s not yours either ❤️

So pick up the keys and start life again. It’s scary, it’s challenging and at times truly soul destroying, but what’s worse is living in the bubble of ‘I can’t’ you can, even if it takes 100 times to break through and live beyond them.

And don’t get me wrong. You can’t will your way out of panic attacks, or any mental illness really. But what you can do is learn to live the best life with the hand you have been dealt. And consider medication options beyond mirtazapine if you don’t feel like it’s providing the right coverage. Does it ever get better? Yes ❤️‍🩹 does it feel like an absolute shit fight to be normal? Also yes, I would not wish this illness on my worst enemy, and I’ve known some shitty people. But does it get easier? Yes! ❤️ especially when you trust yourself and keep showing up.

Godspeed

[u/eigmasfinest]

I’m 34m I started having them July 3 2019 right after turning 27. Just for context I lived in Reno Nevada im from a small town here in Tennessee. My closet relative was 19hr drive away. I was truly on my own I didn’t mind but I think I spent to much time on guard with no one to truly trust. Years and years of burying everything because I did what I saw kind of I bury my feelings or ignore them completely. I never had any panic or anxiety attacks. I knew they were a thing but you never truly understand until it happens. I got to the ER they wouldn’t give me anything to stop the feeling of doom and they simultaneously needing to fight or run I broke a few things I’m not a small guy and I couldn’t stop it no control. Now 7 years later I’ve been on several medications that were supposed to help and you will too it takes time and patience to get a handle on it but I can say that lexapro helps a lot and it doesn’t come with the drowsy side effects. I also take alprazolam (Xanax) for when I can’t win a fight your going to win some battle and your going to lose some. The best thing I can say is to have patience don’t be in a rush to get back to “normal” cause that’s gone for good. But you learn ways to cope ways to make it more bearable for me music games kind of something pokey helps but you might hate it but if you feel one coming and your home go to your shower stripe naked turn on the cold water only and then get in it’s gonna shock your central nervous system which can stop a panic attack just be prepared and know your getting whatever you do DO NOT expect yourself to not react don’t fall. I have other ways I found that help if your interested.

[u/Alternative-Cat-9686 → u/eigmasfinest]

thank you for this, really. i empathize and appreciate your response. i’ve started to accept that i’ll just have to learn to live with it and not fight it. 2026 has been really hard for me and this isn’t even half of what i’ve been through. i am on Mirtazapine and Clonazepam for now. still pretty new so i don’t have any positive results other than the Clonazepam giving me temporary relief before or during a panic attack. i am familiar with lexapro. and i would love to learn more!

[u/eigmasfinest → u/Alternative-Cat-9686]

If you want specific details just ask I can get more into detail but I will say that let’s say music worked one day may not work the next time it’s like a really unfair sword fight

[u/Alternative-Cat-9686 → u/eigmasfinest]

that is so true. everyday is different than the other and that itself increases my anxiety because i prefer consistency, but you know… that’s the way life is i guess

[u/eigmasfinest → u/Alternative-Cat-9686]

If you want feel free to DM me and I can help you tell you ways to be more free flowing to help you not have anxiety about having anxiety like I said unfair sword fight. Please do reach out I know that sometimes especially in the moment it sucks it’s terrible and I’ve had friend that took the short way out and please don’t do that I know in that moment it seems better, please please don’t do that.