Shrek, thanks 🙂 I’m with you on the pills—I honestly can't stand them. I try to avoid them whenever possible. And honestly? I feel like actually getting out and grabbing a few drinks with friends would do way more for my mental state than just sitting at home stuck on an antidepressant and being told I can't touch alcohol. I'd just end up feeling even more miserable, which makes it way harder to actually get better than if I were just out being cheered up by my buddies.
Thanks for reaching out via DM, I really appreciate the support. I’ll definitely hit you up if things start hitting a breaking point. I guess I’m just one of those people who needs to talk through everything—it’s how I process things and let off steam, though I always worry I might be getting on everyone's nerves by venting too much. 🙂
Jamie Clark74, I don't think you ended up on the losing side of this; if anything, you're showing all the traits of a true fighter. 🙂 People like that just aren't built to be losers, no matter what life throws at them.
Shrek, I’ve realized that a ton of people just power through this stuff without ever reaching out for help. Honestly, I don't know how they do it. For me, my mental state just completely flipped once everything hit the fan, and I knew right away that things weren't going to be the same and that I couldn't fix it on my own. Sometimes I even wonder if maybe it would be better to just let it pass and not even deal with it at all.
Now I'm sitting here wondering if I should even talk about this or if I should just shut up and ramble about other random things instead... You see, I try to distract myself, because if you don't actively push those thoughts away, they just start creeping in.
Adam Booth7, you're making a lot of valid points there... And in a way, it's actually kind of comforting 🙂 especially when I read stories about people who have actually overcome it. Like, I really want to believe that everything can go back to the way it was before. 🙂 I honestly think every mother deals with these kinds of fears. For example, my mom used to be terrified of traveling back when my brother and I were just babies, worrying that we'd get into an accident since nobody would be there to watch us. 😁 You know, total nonsense, and she isn't even an anxious person.
I guess I just believe that when things like this happen to you—it's a clear sign that you're strong enough to beat them. 🙂
Personally, I find that having the radio playing really helps me out, so if you can study while listening to some music, I’d definitely recommend it.
I don't know how big your apartment is, but it's a known thing that anxiety tends to feel way more intense when you're in a larger space. Maybe try to find a corner where you have the best possible view of the whole layout. Honestly, it doesn't matter at all if you feel a little silly doing that; you'll get used to it eventually and won't even think twice about it.
Oh, and have you thought about getting a pet? Even just a little bird or maybe a hamster? I honestly think that might be the best move... It gives you this constant feeling that you aren't actually alone, especially if the little creature is vocal. Plus, you'll have a buddy to cheer you up and someone to play with during your study breaks. 🙂
I don't know about the intellectuals, but I've heard that highly sensitive people are definitely the biggest targets out there.
Look, I don't mind being a sensitive person, but honestly? In today's world, there just isn't any room left for people like us.😢 Nick doesn't care to ask how you're actually processing things or what's going on inside your head. Nobody understands how vital that internal connection is—with yourself and with others—or those deeper layers of reality. The world is just too linear, shallow, selfish, and frankly, ruthless.
I really just want my old life back... I want to live normally, to experience things and even the shocks of life in a totally regular way... instead of just sitting here constantly waiting for the next wave to hit me.😢
So you're saying you managed to push through all that without asking for help?
Gee, I don't know, I feel like this panic was probably the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. I don't know, it was just such a horrific feeling.
Kyle White2, I did start therapy (it's all written up above), but I ended up stopping because I actually started feeling better. I found a way to deal with it without relying on pills, and honestly, it felt amazing—especially lately, I was back to being happy and optimistic, just like I used to be 🙂
And then, out of nowhere, that attack hits 😢
You aren't just talking nonsense, far from it. And thanks, I'll definitely give some thought to everything you guys are saying 👋
It wasn't just random people... we're talking family and my closest friends here. They just don't get it. 😢 For instance, last night when it hit me, I wanted so badly to wake up my mom just to have her calm me down... but I couldn't bring myself to do it because I already knew exactly how that would end.
The absolute worst part is that you just can't find the right way to explain how 😢
People have this obsession with seeing everything in black and white. You’ve got one group trying to convince you that you're just being dramatic—and they do it in such a condescending way, like, "Oh, you're imagining things; my heart skipped a beat once or twice at night too, but I don't make a big deal out of it" 🙄 . Then you've got the other side, the ones who think you've completely lost it and probably belong in a psychiatric ward.
I mean, honestly, it's like they can't grasp that life exists in the gray areas. It's as if they don't realize there's a massive community of people living with these disorders, holding down regular jobs, and actually building lives... all without being branded as either lunatics or weaklings.
It’s such a solid method, and honestly, I knew I HAD to go through with it, but man, I have to tell you, it was pretty brutal. Clearly, I’ve got to put in the work moving forward 🙂
I mean, this will help right away, but I really wish I had someone to talk to—someone who could actually help me dig deep and find whatever it is that's holding me back. You have to pull the weed out by the roots, you know?
Well, I'm back after three months... and trust me, there's a very good reason why I'm reviving this thread.
I had a massive panic attack last night. 😢
Where did this come from? How did it happen? Honestly, I have no clue. I haven't even touched Helix in two months now... I was actually starting to feel so much better, especially over this past week after I finally managed to cut out a few major stressors from my life.
Everything was just exactly the same as it used to be. 🙂 What’s up for tonight? 😢
Honestly, guys, I don't even know when my life has felt this bad. I woke up with my heart absolutely hammering against my ribs—just pounding so hard and fast that I could feel it vibrating in every single part of my body. It was terrifying. I was suddenly hit with this wave of intense heat and my stomach was just turning over with nausea. I felt completely weak, like I couldn't stop shaking. But the absolute worst part? My room started feeling so tiny, like the walls were closing in on me. I had to get out, so I was just pacing around my apartment like a total lunatic. And through all of that... God, the worst part was that sickening, overwhelming feeling that I was actually about to die. 😢
It lasted maybe 15 to 20 minutes... It slowly started to taper off after that, but I didn't want to take any Helix because I’d had a few drinks just a couple of hours before, so I just had to grit my teeth and power through it without anything. I ended up passing out again about two hours later. Honestly, it was terrifying—every time I tried to close my eyes, I had this overwhelming feeling like I was completely losing control of my own body.
It’s actually kind of a shock to the system because, for the first time in forever, I’ve been genuinely happy this past week. Like, truly unburdened. I haven't been stressing out or spiraling; instead, I’ve actually been looking forward to everything coming my way. But then tonight hits, and I’m sitting here trying so hard to conjure up just one single positive thought—just one!—and I couldn't do it. Not even one felt real or good. It's just... frustrating.
I’m just not the kind of person who throws in the towel; I have to fight my way through, especially since my mom completely fails to get it. She just keeps going on about how I've already lost my mind and asking what's going to happen to me ten years down the road. 😲We didn't even tell Dad, because honestly, he would have totally lost his mind on me out of pure ignorance, and things would have just gotten way worse.
Honestly, I can't help but wonder where this is all heading. Sometimes I just want to hate myself for being such a sensitive, soft-hearted pushover. It’s frustrating as hell, man. 😢 I mean, seriously? Every single little thing just hits me like a ton of bricks. I can't believe how much stress affects me this way—it’s honestly unreal.
I don't even know where to start... who do I talk to, what am I supposed to do? I just want a normal life. I really, really don't want tonight to happen all over again, but honestly, I'm terrified that it might. Who can I actually turn to? Do I go back to my doctor? Is this something physical—like, do I need to get my heart checked out or something? What does that even mean? I just want to resolve these internal conflicts, but I have no clue how to even begin digging them up. How am I even supposed to figure out what's actually tearing me apart??
The absolute best way to prevent this is just stretching... Seriously, you need to make sure you're doing at least 15 minutes right after your workout (or whatever else is causing you 🙂)
If you stay on top of it, maybe you won't even need to reach for an Advil anymore. 🙂
I don't even get why people are debating this. Abortion is a personal choice, and there isn't some higher power out there that has any right to step in and stop someone from making that call.
Now, using abortion as a form of contraception—well, that’s a whole different conversation... We seriously need way, way more education on that front. That's really all it comes down to.
I haven't been through it myself, but I know girls who have. Every single one of them handled the experience in her own way, but they all feel like their decisions were valid, regardless of anything else. And honestly, I stand by them. 👍
Would I do it? That’s a tough one to answer, mostly because I worry that having a miscarriage or an abortion would mess with my chances of ever having kids later on. So... I guess I just don't know. 😢
I mean, yeah, obviously you have to wipe off your makeup, otherwise how are you even supposed to tan?.. 🙂
Anyway, I’ve already got a pretty decent glow going—I did three sessions, about 10 or 15 minutes each. I think I might hit up a tanning salon in Scottsdale one more time and then I'll be all set 👍
The New York Times said:So, some doctor told me she was at this medical symposium recently where they were discussing tanning beds. Apparently, it’s been proven that they cause skin cancer. But, they aren't allowed to talk about it publicly yet because the entire tanning industry lobby would collapse and people would freak out. But very soon, they'll be going public with the news.
That’s what she claims, anyway! She's lying—and honestly, I’m probably lying too! 😁
Everything is bad if you overdo it, I guess.
I highly doubt a tanning bed is going to do much damage to someone who just goes for maybe three or four sessions once a year...
If you ask me, my friend is in way more trouble—she got so badly sunburned at the beach that she ended up covered in blisters.
Man, everything is just easier when you stick to a chicken noodle soup recipe 😢
Look, if you actually have a plan in place, then fine, go for it. You know you have to stick to it... it’s tough, I guess, but it works.
But it's pathetic when you don't—you think you're just going to have a little bite, then you lose focus... and suddenly you've eaten way too much... I mean, after having pasta for lunch, I really should be hungry until dinner 😁
Well, I definitely need to try this... otherwise, I'm just going to gain all those pounds back! 😲
This past summer, my friends and I went to an outdoor movie night, and honestly, it was exhausting. The only thing I can actually remember is how incredibly sleepy I was—it was pure torture trying to stay awake through the whole thing.
That’s literally it. As for what movie we were even watching? I have zero clue. 😁 I can’t recall a single scene, let alone any of the actors. I’ve spent days trying to jog my memory, but nothing comes to mind.
So, yeah, that's the "movie" review. 😁 (Or maybe it's just a reflection on how much I drank that day? 😁)
Brian Martin9 said:You can eat soup anytime—honestly, the more the better—but just the soup! Don't go adding all sorts of extra stuff to it outside of your main meals.
Since I don't actually care for the taste of this soup very much, I used an immersion blender on it yesterday to puree it. Now I just add a different sauce to every meal to change up the flavor profile, and honestly, it’s not bad at all.
If you can survive those first seven days on nothing but soup, you should probably take a break (like a one-week breather) and then jump back in. After that week, I switch over to the "food combining" diet. That’s way easier for me since I’m working all day and it's just simpler to manage. I’m not gaining weight, in fact, it's coming off, though maybe not super fast.
And there are two golden rules the whole time: WATER AND MORE EXERCISE!
Good luck to everyone out there fighting the good fight.👋
Right now I’m dropping 4 pounds and I am beyond thrilled....
I was also thinking about switching to food combining next week.🙂
Day 5 -> down 3 lbs🙂 I don't know, I'm getting a little nervous now; probably 2 of those 3 pounds are just water weight, but hey, if even one pound is actual fat—I'm still happy.🙂 Great start.👍
Otherwise, I drink plenty of Kool-Aid (which helps) and water... I haven't even given up coffee (no way!)