Hi everyone, I'm new to this board and wanted to introduce myself and let everyone know what a help this board is. I'm a 19 year old female who is living alone for the first time in my life. I've had anxiety/depression/OCD for a long time now and am finding that I'm doing pretty well so far, yet I've been having panic attacks the past couple weeks on and off. I had mono a month and a half ago and spoke to a blood doctor who told me my white blood cell count was down. Now this is common with mono and he told me I should be fine eventually, yet I keep thinking to myself that somehow I have HIV or another disease and I'm going to die. Lately at night when I'm here alone I feel the worst, during the day when I'm busy at work I don't think twice about it, but here at night I'm alone and scared. I've always had a fear of a heart attack since I was in 8th grade, even though I was healthy I couldn't stop thinking that I was going to have a heart problem. I find the more tired I am the more anxious I am and I cannot seem to work through my attacks lately. I used to be able to stop and breath and tell myself I'm going to be OK, but not lately, being alone is a tricky thing for me. Does anyone have any ideas for working through the attacks? I hate being alone when I'm feeling anxious so I'm glad I'm here writing this, it helps me figure things out. Is anyone else scared of terminal illnesses? Thanks everyone. ~Pam

Hi sunshine
sounds like hypochondria, try to not worry about your health

with panic attacks, relax and accept, dont tense up or fight back, breathe deep and slow, dont hold your breath or forget to breathe and wait for it to pass

any valium type med will reduce a panic attack and works fastest if dissolved under the tongue
have you tried an antidepressant med, they often help for panic attacks and depression, etc