Posts by Robin Anderson

Feel free to drop any questions here regarding blood donation or basic first aid. I’m also happy to dive into alternative medicine—anything you're curious about but haven't quite figured out yet... I'll do my best to get everyone the answers they need.

Grace Richardson23 said:I'm 24, and I've spent my whole life under constant stress and anxiety, though I always managed to push through... mostly because I wasn't thinking about myself at all; I was too busy trying to take care of everyone else, including my sick mother, while dealing with the fact that my husband has been neglecting me... then one night, out of nowhere, I felt like I was actually dying. It was this sudden sensation of darkness, choking, heavy rubbery legs, just fading away... I went to the ER and they told me everything looked fine, suggested I just drink some chamomile tea, and sent me home... since then, I've been searching for answers, and they told me it was likely a panic attack... I also found out I have WPW, a heart condition, which isn't dangerous, but it still shook me to my core... now I'm constantly crying, terrified of dying, rarely leaving the house, and hyper-focused on every single thing my body does, especially when my heart skips a beat, which just fuels the fear... it feels like everything is hitting me at once... my psychiatrist prescribed some valium to take as needed, but now I'm struggling with these dizzy spells... I'm genuinely scared... could this all be psychological, or is there something physically wrong with my heart? Nothing brings me joy anymore, and I feel lost... I neglected myself for so long, and now that I finally want to fix my life and rediscover who I am, I feel like I can't...

You're far too young to be living in fear of death. Try not to let things spiral into such a negative outlook... there are so many ways to make life meaningful. We only get one shot at this, and we should probably try to make the most of it. Do your best to stay calm and steer clear of stressful situations whenever possible, because they take a massive toll on anyone, regardless of age... from what you've described, it sounds like you might be experiencing vertigo. Not just a lightheaded feeling, but that intense spinning where everything goes dark and you feel like you're falling or dying during an episode. I'd suggest seeing a doctor to have your neck checked out—specifically the cervical spine. Sometimes issues in the vertebrae can affect circulation or blood flow to the brain, which might be causing those dizzy spells...