I have Panic Disorder too (and Generalized Anxiety Disorder). One thing that I discovered is that panic attacks are anxiety about anxiety. Which means the harder you try to avoid them (ie. not doing the things that make you anxious) the worse and more frequent they are. So instead of trying to live my life around the panic attacks, I live my life through them. I've also found it helpful to repeat over and over to myself "my anxiety can't hurt me." I find reminding myself that I'm not actually dying, even if it feels like I am, the panic attacks don't get as severe. Basically, I don't fight it, I live with it. It helps a lot. My anxiety isn't as bad as it used to be and I barely dissociate any more (which used to happen literally every time we drove somewhere)

I've been having some pretty intense anxiety surrounding work due to my RSD and it's so hard because I feel like I've worked so hard to manage my anxiety symptoms in my life, but then circumstances change and my coping skills fly out the window. It's nice to know that I'm not alone because I can feel so isolated when I go through periods like this. This video came at the perfect moment.

I'm so happy to hear you have managed to get to a place where you feel you are more in control of the anxiety and panic, it must be an incredible feeling. My world is literally my house and garden, I can't leave the house without extreme distress and physical illness. You have given me hope that maybe one day I will be able to find some control over it. Your smile and how proud you are of yourself gives me hope and is amazing to see. Thank you for sharing

6:27 I related to this, "dreading the evenings". I use to have intense panic attacks, not often but afterwards I would dread the times they would return, and this would cause anxiety. What helped in the end was making mindfulness meditation a daily practice, as well as journaling CBT exercises or just journaling my thoughts and emotions, spilling them on paper and throwing the paper out, it's a technique I got from the book called 30 Days to Reduce Anxiety by Harper Daniels, which I really like. It think it's on amz. Also, eliminating caffeine in the form of coffee was a huge help....coffee was overstimulating my system and that would trigger attacks and deep lows. Maybe this can help someone, I don't know. I hope everyone has a moment, if even a few minutes, of tranquility today :)

Ella, I have found your channel unbelievably Comforting the last six months. This video could not have come at a better time. Thanks for all that you do for the community.

It happened to me also. I was undiagnosed till 28. At 20 my brain just crashed. I developed panik attacks, severe OCD and mood swings. It took me 8 years to be better and I am still experience these things just not as severely as it was before.

I am so sorry to hear what a difficult time you have been having and very pleased that things are improving for you. I am now 68 and had my first panic attack in my mid twenties nothing like you have been experiencing at all. I thought l was going to die as l had no idea what is was. it's so scary. I have had them on and off for years. I have with the help of people like you realized that l may be autistic. I actually have my assessment after a long wait next Wednesday. Thank you so much for your videos and way of presenting things.

As a former resident of England and a late diagnosed autistic person who was unceremoniously 'treated' (badly) by the NHS... I also found travel (especially by train) extremely difficult. My life got so small during my time there ...the result of many years of cptsd in various countries and a LOT of very scary travel experiences alone...but really worsening in the UK. This video has made me realise that in recent years I actually have made progress on this, which is very comforting and further motivating. I am in awe of how dedicated and brave you are. What a beautiful video 💜💜💜

thank you for sharing this part of your life and congratulations for no longer living up to neurotypical standards

This is SO similar to my experience - wow. I'm in the learning to consciously look after myself stage. So much I needed to hear, thankyou!! 💛

You're the first autistic person I've learned about who also has Panic Disorder. It's such a vague anxiety disorder, so I have trouble finding people going through the same thing I did. I remember going through the same thing when you told your recovery story. My trigger was a stomach bug in 2019. Because of how sick-like PD symptoms are, I thought something was very wrong with me. I was terrified of going to sleep for months, so I stopped going to school and work. Changes were made once I got the diagnosis, medicine, therapy, and help. It took so long because I thought these would "cure" me when it really made it worse. I had to take the fear out of my reactions (which I learned from Barry McDonaugh, who also went through this journey). Presently, I am doing great, just like you. Thank you for sharing this, Ella

Thank you for your honesty. I'm 2yrs into Autism diagnosis and nearly 1yr ADHD. Unmasking and accepting is not a quick process or nice, for me, it's a mess. Perimenopausal and cPTSD too, so, it's gross, it can be gross, but, I always have hope it'll get better and I'm good at, eventually, taking action. Your initial train experience sounds horrendous, sending ❤

Hey I'm a recently (2yrs ago) diagnosed ASD and ADHDer that had always been able to just keep pushing through my anxiety over and over again until I experienced burnout that lasted years. I was keeping busy up until lockdown and I have been unable to bounce back since and am mostly housebound still. I have no idea how to unmask as I have no idea who I am and my support/carers are my Parents, my mum being a possible narcissist (who suffocates and control's me still @ age 40). I feel generally unsafe in my own flat now as I have been dealing with leaks,damp and mold since 2012 which I am unable to deal with all my damaged belongings, living out of boxes and worst of all the prospect of moving (I've been trying to move to a new council house since 2013). The housing situation up in Newcastle Upon Tyne is really bad and I'm so physically unwell now that even the prospect of moving terrifies me. I suspect some of my physical health decline could be due to an allergy to the mold all over my flat that keeps coming back but my allergy test keeps getting cancelled due to a shortage in kits! Prior to living in this flat I was athletic but I have since been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, blood clots on my lungs, complete heart block (heart was stopping) so I needed a pacemaker and I have many symptoms that are under investigation. I now have health anxiety which includes a fear of doctors and hospitals which is not helpful!! I have tried going to A and E to be checked over properly (I've been putting it off all year) but I always end up panicking and leaving which is really frustrating. I tried taking a sensory kit to help me stay calm while I waited and it worked great for a while! I arrived at hospital by ambulance at aprox 4pm and gave up at aprox 1am. It was an agonising 45min walk home but I was so happy to be back in my bed again and never want to leave it again. Anyway I'm rambling because I can't talk to my parents about this as they get angry with me about wasting time, having the wrong attitude etc. Thank you for sharing xx

Your hair looks really great btw ☺️ 💕 suits you a lot!

I really enjoyed the video ❤❤❤thanks purpleella

I’m so glad that you’re so much better 😊

I'm so happy to hear that working with your ADHD doctors to get an effective medication change has gone well! I remember watching a YT short on your channel a while back where you talked about it, and I remember wishing you the best with that.

Thank you for this video. 💜💜💜

I also have had panic attacks that have lasted hours wen I was in a mental hospital, and the staff there didn’t believe me they said I was making it up , and so I believed , til I meat a anxiety specialist 6moths later and he told me that that was definitely possible and normal, and that probablyalso my autism made it worse, I went on risperidon to help with my anxiety and meltdowns witch helps immensely, I’m still on it 2 years later even tho they say you shouldn’t be on it for a long amount of time, it has just helped me function in everyday life since, I’m going to go off it as a everyday meditation soon and hopefully only have it for emergency’s ( risperidon is one of the only meditation to be fda approved for asd in kids under 16 ) witch I feel I was lucky to be able to get the medication because it was hard to get access to. Even at a mental hospital As a person who has recovered from a panic disorder I’m soo happy for you

I totally and completely relate! I know I feel better with treating myself with love and respect. Good way at putting it. I am getting an assessment next month for ASD as suggested by my therapist. I do believe that I have ADHD too. The panic attacks for me got worse when my alcoholic meth addicted husband and his alcoholic meth addicted girlfriend of 23 years kicked me out of my apartment and now I am sleeping on the couch of a mean stranger. Thank you for all that you do.❤

Always keep in mind; when you have a panic attack, you won't die. When you keep that in mind every time when you get a panic attack, your panic attacks will go away.

That would throw me off totally too

That would be cool if you came to America. Specifically California ❤

Hy.. I'm Ella.. And I love purple too💜. And this year I fond that I'm an ADHD person. Undiagnosed😢

I feel like I'm in a very similar situation I've been prescribed so many antidepressants over the years and some to maximum doses and none of them have any effect I was referred to the mental health system but 12 weeks of CBT isn't enough I have 2 sessions left then all my support is gone I'm a single adult with only one parent left who has to support my grandad and take care of my younger siblings I'm completely lost and I've got no idea what to do next I'm also in the UK so if anyone knows how I can get help I'd really appreciate it my GP has been no help at all and I have no idea what to do next

Didn’t the BHRT work?

Hi Ella, I just wondered how old you are? I understand if you dont want to answer. It's just you look young and I can relate to this, but I'm 36. I've had my referral for an autism diagnosis today.

❤

You don't have to answer but what type of medication are you taking at night as a PRN? There are so many medications that can become addictive so I try to avoid those types xx