Why do I feel like I'm dying from anxiety?

You may feel like you're dying, but this is surprisingly normal. Anxiety can cause many physical sensations, ranging from shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest pain, and dizziness. Going numb or having "pins and needles" in your hands and feet are common as well. The physical symptoms of anxiety can make us feel like we're dying because they are similar to the symptoms people experience when they're about to lose consciousness. What can help is using anxiety coping skills, such as deep breathing, visualization, holding an ice cube, or smelling a particularly strong scent (such as cinnamon or spearmint). This may not make the symptoms go away, but it can distract us from how awful they feel. I've had many experiences with anxiety symptoms as well as panic attacks. Many of them have involved me gripping a railing, or grasping onto another person's hand or shoulder. I also lose sight of reality and become disoriented. If this sounds like you, then you're definitely not alone: it absolutely, undoubtedly, feels like death.