Can anybody help with Chronic Anxiety and Panic Attacks

I totally agree with how positively life changing Claire Weeks books and tapes are. Likewise Sue Breton books including ‘don't panic’ and ‘why worry’.

Well done fir getting up and dressed. Try to do that every day and if you can get out fir a short walk. Take long slow breaths in fir 5 out fir 7. It really helps. Don’t overdo diazepam, there are better meds fir anxiety.
Waiting for tests is really hard but unavoidable especially these days. I hope your son gets his appt soon and is ok, and the hypnotherapy helps you.

I listen to Paul McKenna hypnotism tapes on utube. My current favourite is called Happy Trance. When it finishes it goes onto various lectures on anxiety etc from University of California. I’ll wake up eventually to find that one of them is still playing. I’m a terrible worrier and everything in my life becomes worst case scenario and they do help.

This is awful for you to live with Goodynanny. There are lots of coping mechanisms. But your anxiety sounds very acute and you need professional help.
While you're waiting perhaps try breathing techniques, meditation. I find distracting my thoughts helps too. My own personal favourite way is jigsaws and puzzles .

www.healthline.com/health/eft-tappingWhat is EFT tapping?
Emotional freedom technique (EFT) is an alternative treatment for physical pain and emotional distress. It’s also referred to as tapping or psychological acupressure.

People who use this technique believe tapping the body can create a balance in your energy system and treat pain. According to its developer, Gary Craig, a disruption in energy is the cause of all negative emotions and pain.

Though still being researched, EFT tapping has been used to treat people with anxiety and people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

this is on nhs site aswell and also you tube

Thank you all for your advice.

Have a listen or read of Dr Claire Weekes. My library has her audiobook-Hope & Help for your Nerves. Her advice was life changing for me. A bit old fashioned in places but it works.

Good advice re breathing deeply from Meryl. It really works as I know from personal experience. I also try and think of it as an enormous wave that's washing over me Goodynanny. It will go back into the sea, and when it does I'll still be standing safe on the shore, wet but unharmed.

That said, yours does sound severe so getting some professional help is what's needed. Having some coping mechanisms will help but I think you need more than these alone.

Please get some help with this

I have severe anxiety and like you will live the worst case scenarios in my head and feel all the emotions that comes with it.

The only way I can deal with it is to tell myself to stop, force my mind to other things. Play loud music, clean...

The way I deal with general anxiety is to look at the positives:

I am a loyal person and could never tell secrets

I'm a careful driver

I will do my job to the best of my ability

All because I am anxious about those things

What works for me may not work for you and you need help to find coping mechanisms

When your scared your body produces Adrenaline and cortisol ( very powerful hormones ) these are your fight or flight reaction.
If those hormones stay in your body then the panic attacks and sweating start.
I was lucky enough to meet a lady ( still a friend) who taught me all about this and also how to breath deeply.
There are lots of videos on YouTube and lots of information on Adrenaline Re Anxiety.

Goodynanny you do need to get some mental health help. What you describe is quite acute.

There are several anti-anxiety drugs that work well for different people, some from a GP, some after referral to a psychiatrist.

I hope the hypnotherapy helps: if it doesn't, it feels to me you are traumatised, by those severe real life events, and some longer term support/counselling to gently unwind those triggering years so you can live weller in the present.

Diazepam is effective in relieving short term acute situations, but you've probably been told it is very addictive?

and proper actual anti-anxiety drugs more appropriate imo.xx

I suffer with anxiety , mine was triggered by my twin pregnancy 30 years ago , I had so many health problems during and after pregnancy , I started having panic attacks. It improved a bit over the years but came back a few years ago , I was really poorly and diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. It was one thing after the other and I couldn't cope . I then had surgery for a prolapse and further surgery last year for another prolapse. I take anxiety medication and it does help alone with having lots of me time . I think its our body's way of reacting to things that are out of our control

Goodynanny

I’ve actually got an appointment with a hypnotherapist in 10 days time.

I hope you get the help you need
Not the same as you but I turned to alcohol quite some years ago to change the way I felt. It quickly turned on me and rendered me useless to anyone, fortunately I found my solution and have drank in nearly 20 years.
I suppose in a similar way you are trying to blot out your feeling rather than do something constructive and support your family member when they are unwell or under stress

I’ve actually got an appointment with a hypnotherapist in 10 days time.

You are asking because your know this is not a normal reaction it is though understandable.
You could see your GP for advise or perhaps with local recommendations seek out a councillor or hypnotherapist.

You need to seek some help Goodynanny. I am so sorry you have not been able to cope after losing your jusband so young and after so much pain.

Your son and family need you, what help will you be able to give unless you find a way to function. And for your sake too. Courage.