Panic/depression nervous breakdown

[Indiaav]

Hi, I have since July been suffering panic attacks and anxiety and odd days of depression (black hole feeling) and doc says nervous breakdown. Started with vertigo attacks I thought was a brain tumour, then inflammation found in bloods (still ongoing) and an ovary screening which frightened the life out of me. I had a heart attack 6 years ago Christmas Eve coming and was lucky. But I now suffer from total fear of cancer, serious illness or dying. These feelings will not go away and today I am in a deep depression and scared that I am going to go out of my mind. I started feeling good for a few days until my doc said he was doing ovary screening and it all came back, just getting over that and doc rang out of the blue and said he needed more bloods in two weeks for high inflammation markers and I am at it again, thinking they will find cancer or something sinister. I have no interest in anything and lost my appetite and now to top it all got constipation which is not responding to anything. Any advice folks. I am on 40mg amitryptaline

[Beckybecks]

Hi. Vertigo is very common with anxiety and depression. And thinking its a brain tumour is also common.
It sound like you have health anxiety, possibly started at the time of your heart attack. Often when people go through a serious health issue they then develop a fear of illness, doctors, hospitals and tests.

It's normal to experience loss of appetite with anxiety and the stomach usually suffers too. So don't worry about these symptoms. They'll disappear when your anxiety calms down.

Maybe your doctor needs to review your medication if the amitryptaline isn't helping you.

[Indiaav]

Thank you for replying. My heart attack was sudden and strange because I have always suffered from anxiety/panic every few years as my son was born extremely disabled and I had to care for him for years. It was when he moved into his own place and got full time carers that I suddenly had a heart attack and was the calmest person in the room at the time, it was like "so I am dying" and was not really bothered at the time. It was a bad attack and the heart specialist was amazed they were able to save me. That was 6 years ago and I have been really happy in my life with my first boyfriend coming back after 54 years and we are hoping to be married and now this! He is great about it, but I am so scared he will get fed up with me like this nervous wreck. I cannot take SRI's as they don't agree with me from past experiences. :scared15:

[randomforeigner]

He wouldn't have come back after 54 years if he didn't like you...

[mezzaninedoor]

Can you get some additional support from somewhere. It feels to me like you need to talk to someone to talk through your health anxieties, to talk through where this heart attack has left you feeling vulnerable.

It might be that with NHS Wellbeing and therapeutic support you can really have a crack at overcoming the negative feelings associated with this.

I realloy wish you well.

[Indiaav]

Thank you for your replies. Really do appreciate them xxx

[KeeKee]

Sorry you are feeling this way Indiaav. As others have suggested maybe a trip to your GP is in order. They will be more than understanding I'm sure.

[dale12345]

I am so sorry for what you are going threw.