Anxiety is becoming debilitating

[Manalishi]

Hello, first time poster here, been suffering from anxiety for around 6 weeks now, I haven't received a formal diagnosis yet, but I've arranged an appointment to set up a mental healthcare plan, and over the course of multiple GP and Emergency Room visits we've ruled out just about everything else. During the last week it seems to have gotten particularly bad, with my anxiety/panic attacks increasing in frequency, along with more occurrences of symptoms such as chest pain, and tingling in my extremities and around the base of my skull. Most recently, a new symptom has appeared which is giving me significant trouble sleeping. I'll go to bed, and then start to nod off, and then seconds later I'll get what feels like a massive adrenaline rush, and be completely unable to sleep, even when I was dead tired moments before.

Despite the all-clear from the ER and my GP, it's hard not to be scared when symptoms such as this appear, any help you folks can provide would be greatly appreciated.

[cakeboss]

I to suffer anxiety panic disorder.Stress for me is a killer ,well it flairs it up bigtime.Im under a gp and a psycitrist and counciler at the moment .I have reglar visits.I had some major financial strain which has set it off .I have been told i over cartastrifi situations with my anxiety and need regular support from my gp who is great to me.My axiety is worst in the morning around this time actually .I try distractions music taken up swimming .I know its a horrible thing anxiety panic disorder and health anxiety for me was a problem a year ago but now its just the panic .Im on fortnightly visits with my gp who reasures me shes great .I know what its like when a panic attack comes on and id also like to hear what others do to ease there panic attacks to .

[Manalishi]

After a few weeks of exciting self discovery, it's back to boring old health anxiety for Manalishi. It came on this afternoon, after I'd moved two chests of draws upstairs, and I noticed my hear rate was really high (of course it would be! I'd just made 7 trips up/down stairs carrying something fairly bulky each time), which got me thinking about my heart, then I started thinking about how I had a little tingling in my fingers on the last trip I made, and so on until I was almost convinced I was having, or about to have, a heart attack. It's been about 4 hours since then so I figure if it was for real, I'd be dead, and I had a chest x-ray last month that came back completely clear, not to mention that I'm fitter and healthier now than I've been in years. But still the thought niggles in my head, unable to be silenced because what if this time is the one? If I ignore it I could very well die etc. etc.

My anxiety seems to have picked up a bit since I realised I was transgender, and I think I've figured out why. All my life up until now I've just trudged along, underachieving and sort of just, mindlessly existing, to the point where in the last couple of years I don't think I really cared whether I lived or died. Now that I know who I really am, I have a clear drive and purpose, and the thought of dying now before I achieve my dreams horrifies me.

Keep on keeping on everyone, and have a great Christmas!

Manalishi out

[baet123]

Hey Mana,

Take care of yourself over the Christmas and NY period. I wish you a merry Christmas and a wonderful 2019. Keep fighting the good fight mate.

Nick.

[cake my day]

Hi summerlove91

i feel your pain as well. I'm also suffering similar symptoms. I literally dont tell my family at all because i dont want to worry them. there are triggers that make it worse from a past experience. I am also seek help or any suggestions to better my life and hopefully it returns to what it was before i had anxiety. Just so you know your not alone and hope we all make progress that betters out life.

[Manalishi]

Well, after a fortnight on new medication, I don't think it's working. I haven't had any panic attacks, but I've been really stressed out and anxious nearly all the time. My health worries are back in full force, and I feel awful most of the time, convinced that I'm already dead, and I'm just blindly continuing until I hit a wall.

As I write this, there's one hour left in 2018 here in WA, and I'm going into the new year with nothing to look forward to (the fact that I have to start work for the dole on the 14th certainly doesn't help in that regard). I feel so worthless and broken that it's hard to envision anything at the moment, let alone a goal or dream to work towards.

Hope all of you are having a better NYE than I am, Manalishi out.

[Ah_mei]

Hi Mana,

Happy new year to you too. Like you, my NYE is overwhelmed with anxiety and sleeplessness. My anxiety first appears on Christmas day and has stayed for the whole holiday season. Never experienced anything like this. Jittery, not eating, mind spinning 100km/h, etc. Downloaded a bunch of stuff like smiling mind and did the mindspot assessment. But because of the holiday, not many has responded. My GP gave some meds as a patch treatment first, and i will go back again for the proper mental health plan. But i have max out on the number of meds each day, with large pockets of anxiety running my life for me. I tried to cope using meditation but with not much success. Probably due to the lack of practice (1 week old anxiety). Hopefully i can start something like CBT or a different types of meds soon, after the holiday is over.

This mental health issue sucks. I need constant reminder that things can improve. Good luck.

Ah mei

[jollydolly]

Hey, Manalishi!

I was in bed by 10.30PM on NYE after leaving a gathering due to anxiety and fatigue...and I felt great about it! Self care and all that.

Once more you show such clearly articulated insights into your situation. When you return to work or find a new vocation, you are going to have a lot to offer. I'm sorry to hear that the medication change isn't having an effect - I experienced a similar letdown myself recently - but is two weeks enough, i wonder? I'm often told to wait 4-6 weeks to know whether something's working. Perhaps it's just not there yet...

[Shipsta]

Hi Manalishi,

I have taken the time to read your post as I can relate (somewhat at least) to the health anxiety you have experienced. I can also relate to to your last post where you start to question your Gender/Sexuality. Through my experience with depression/anxiety, it started out as physical pain. I had this pain spreading throughout my body and my mind would convince me of a certain cause and when I was convinced it was something the pain became real. The pain would then shift around my body depending on what I thought the cause was. When I finally dismissed all of the causes for physical pain my mind started convincing me it was something in the past which was making me feel this way. Then I was convinced I was gay. Then I was convinced it was stress, then I was convinced it was my wife, my family etc and the list goes on.

I guess what I am trying to get out is that the mind could well be playing tricks on you with regards to your thoughts surrounding your Gender/Sexuality. My bet would be that when you are convinced that you are not a woman or want to be a woman, It will find something else to target.

[cake my day]

Hi Ah,

The end of years are a dreaded time for me now. mainly due to the fact people living next door are so inconsiderate. back then hen i was younger i never really cared much about the festive years and till this day i feel the same. back then i used to live at a different address but something happened and we have moved. But the new place doesn't help much since it just amplifys the anxiety. Honestly when it comes to coping i have nothing much to go on.

it somewhat comforting to know that what im experiencing eg stomach pains and quick breathing is a response to the anxiety stimulus.

But more then happy to listen to suggestions.