From Debilitating Panic Attacks to graduating Nursing School
Thank you Aubrey for sharing your story!
“Hi, my name is Aubrey. My first panic attack put me in the ER (although I didn’t know what it was at the time). I was 25 years old, in my 3rd semester of nursing school.
Out of the blue, my heart would begin with scary palpitations which would then race up to 190bpm within seconds. I was sent to a heart specialist to rule out any arrhythmias. I was prescribed to wear a holter monitor to track my heart rhythm for 48 hours. The results came back exceptionally normal and healthy.
Unfortunately, one trip to the ER soon turned into multiple.
I was scared for my life, believing I had a rare and life-threatening condition.
Soon I started not to be able to walk. We were concerned I might have something neurological going on (later I would find out I had conversion disorder)
Although I had tried to heal in natural ways, my symptoms became severe enough to try medications. I was first started on an antidepressant called Celexa, which unfortunately had a paroxysmal affect.
My panic attacks worsened in severity and frequency. They would cause me to wake me up in the middle of the night.
At the time, in my mind this had to be anything 𝗕𝗨𝗧 anxiety.
I was having panic attacks multiple times a day, even during class. I thought I would have to drop out of nursing school, even though I only had one more semester to go.
Without knowing it, I had also developed depression. My condition had debilitated my life, and I began to lose hope of a bright future. Not only was this hard for me, but also for my family and friends.
To add to my fear even more, I blacked out one day. I saw a neurologist for concerns that I might be having seizures. But of course the results came back… normal.
Although I was nervous because of my last experience with medication, I decided I would try a different antidepressant called Zoloft under the direction of my doctor. I was also referred to see a psychiatrist, as well as a therapist, to help me recover.
I had to be brave. After a lot of fear, tears, trial & error, my treatment plan finally started to work.
Anxiety was the cause all along. While it still remains possible I had an underlying condition, 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿.
Despite my hardships, I still finished nursing school with my BSN, RN.
𝙲𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚎𝚡𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 (something I never thought I would be able to say) 
After my experience, I knew I needed to document it and share it with others. If I had known that anxiety was 𝗦𝗢 𝗠𝗨𝗖𝗛 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 than simply feeling anxious, I might have been more accepting to my diagnosis of panic disorder and conversion disorder.
♥︎ ♡︎ ♥︎ 𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘. Please know that peace can be found not only after recovery, but even DURING the periods of distress and major dysfunction.
Anxiety is a serious illness, and you are not alone! There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Anxiety doesn’t have to label you forever. You can conquer and overcome. I’m walking proof.
For more information about my story, you can read my blog ‘Anxiety. Depression. Peace’ at treatyoselfhealthy.blogspot.com or follow me @anxiety.depression.peace for support & inspiration."
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