[melrose123]

Hi,

I have been suffering from periods of anorexia and bulimia for over 2 years now and for the past year I have also started having really bad panic attacks where I think either my heart will stop or I will collapse. My attacks are especially worse on days where I have either hardly eaten or made myself sick and it's gotten so bad that I cant tell if its panic attacks or if I may have actually damaged my heart from poor nutrition. I wonder if anyone can help me? Or does anyone have a similar experience?

[missozzy]

I don't have an eating disorder but I am familier with anxiety and panic ( hense I just got back from tescos at 11 o clock to avoid queing!)
it makes me feel light headed but it may be worth you seeing a specialist to see whether poor nutrition is to blame or not as I'm not sure.
Maybe your feeling light headed anyway cos you havnt eaten My panic always tend to be worse when I'm not 100% anyway.

All the best wishes you can conquer this

[Tessaroo]

Ive moved this there so you can get more support from people who understand anxiety

I know there are people here who suffer panic attacks and feeling like their heart is stopping so you arent alone! Just try to focus on something else aswell as your breathing and thinking that you're okay can help you slow that panicky feeling down.

[Invisible]

Hello.

I have experience of both eating disorder and panic attacks as I have both. Obviously having any form of anxiety and panic attack is hard enough, but then when you have a medical condition that can mess with the heart too it makes it worse.

The eating disorder could be triggering the anxiety, the brain is still a mystery to so many.

Your not eating (like MissO said) might be relating to your feeling dizzy/lightheaded which then can make the panic seem a lot worse.

Does your doctor know that you have an eating problem??

If s/he does then you can get them to check your heart just for reassurance, that way when you start to have a panic attack you can tell yourself that everything is fine.

Sounds like this is getting to the point of scary and if you want to gain control then unfortunately there is only one way to go...getting help.

I know that this is something that you might not want to hear but getting help for the eating could help all round. You would be eating more so the lightheaded feelings would go away, then because of these things the anxiety would not be there or would be less and getting help would help you with the panic too.

Maybe see this as your bodies way of telling you it is time to seek out some real life support??

Good luck and I hope that you feel better soon.

I know how scary it can be to get the help but once you have started there will be no stopping you.

[kuki1308]

Hey. I have bulimia and bulimarexia and any anxiety I suffer with comes in relation to being around food. I have never felt like my heart would stop beating but I do get a lot of chest pains (particularly after purging and sometimes after over exercising) as a result of heart damage and low mineral levels such as potassium etc. Are you having pains or just a general panic and feeling? I would say to get checked out if you feel you can...the heart is too precious an organ to take any chances. Much love and support. xo

[Crimson]

Hey,
I too have serious panic disorder combined with an eating disorder. And as some have said above, lack of food causes the brain to behave irrationally, and then things in life that you may be anxious about when you are eating normally are magnified when you aren't.
I know that there are definitely unexplained periods in my life when my anxiety is worse, and when I am not eating is certainly one of them. While I know that it is linked to chemicals and whatnot, it makes sense that when your mind and body are fighting over what your body needs, it is going to cause you anxiety. It is hard work to deprive your body of something that is essential to it.

Sorry if this is dull, I am feeling a bit cloudy...I hope I have helped in some way.
Just know that there are people here who understand.

Take care <3