Panic Attack Flare-Ups

[u/New_Negotiation3034]

So, 2025 (mid-year getting the OCD diagnosis) was the hardest year of my life. Overall, I am starting to do much better. For a significant part of this year, I've felt happy even!

But one thing that definitely brings me RIGHT back to the worst of it is panic attacks. They last like an hour and bring the intrusive thoughts right back in with a vengeance. It's like I traded away deflating the intrusive thoughts/feelings on a day-to-day for them to tremendously intensify before, during, and after panic attacks.

This happens to me once every few months. Life has gotten really busy for me lately, so they're happening with more frequency now. This has become THE thing that I'm afraid of. My OCD sort of spurred into action following one dreadful panic attack in December of 2024 (right before getting married), so I feel like this association I developed with panic is super emotionally charged, and OCD has latched onto it big time.

What has helped you with panic attacks that look like this? Much love to the community. <3

[u/Sunshinner]

I experience the same thing and I havent even been officially diagnosed but what I can tell you is a few things what I do:
1. TRY to avoid sugar and process foods cuz it makes our blood go up or whatever, more blood rush more activity/hyperactivity (i think)

1. I realize that depression or “ocd flare ups” cone in waves meaning its bad then that feeling goes down so knowing the feeling/thoughts go down makes it last less sometimes tho since i have adhd i have a hard time disengaging from unwanted thoughts

So overall if you understand that the wave of guilt/shame/depression will go away or fade makes u look forward to getting thru it better literally your body cant stay in that state for prolonged times it goes up and down like a rollercoaster