Intense fear of losing parents

My dad has been hospitalized for three weeks and it’s been a very stressful experience. I believe he is finally on the mend, but this whole experience has caused a major flare-up of my anxiety and panic.

I think about the fact that I will eventually have to live without my parents and the thought is sending me into full-blown panic attacks. I get so deep into the thought that it feels real.

My parents have always been my “safe” people when my anxiety and panic disorder were at its worst. I keep thinking, “what will I do when they are no longer here? How will I be able to live without them?” I think about wanting to desperately talk to them and not being able to once they are gone. These thoughts send my panic off the charts. Like level 1,000.

I try to remind myself that my parents are still alive and I should be enjoying the time that I have with them. However, when those thoughts come in, I can’t seem to escape them. Them seem very rational to me.

I’ve always been treated for GAD and PD, but recently my therapist and psych have mentioned OCD, especially around my fear of death and self-harm.

Does anyone else have a similar trigger? Or effective ways to cope with this?