Wendy, I'm no stranger to severe anxiety also. Just last night while in bed trying to go to sleep I was feeling it. I was feeling spiritually weak prior to this, as my thoughts tend to wander all over the place when I'm tired. So I begged God to have mercy, and that is when the anxiety hit me like a truck. I told God I was scared, then realized how tense my body was. So I tried to breathe and relax my body. I must have quickly fallen asleep after that because I don't remember anything else.
As weird as it sounds, I now wonder if this is how God had mercy on me. God could have simply let me fall asleep without causing me to have anxiety and that would have been even more merciful, right? Like, why can't I have my cake and eat it too? But this is not why we were called.
We know God is working all for good, and we were called to endure His work with all faith and endurance. Thank God He has brought us together to comfort one another with His Word, just as we have all these years.
I wasn't sure if I should write as I did, so I hope I wasn't being presumptuous, Wendy. If you think you need medical attention, don't be afraid or ashamed to get it.
1Th 3:12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we also do for you.
1Th 3:13 May He make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.
Always praying for you and everyone.