Could this all really be anxiety??

[suho]

Hi! I'm 23 and I've struggled with mild social/health anxiety for probably most of my life. I've had moments when they were bad, but I was always able to get through them, and move on. A little over a month ago however, I strained my back lifting something. After that, I started getting really worried that it was something else. I started googling symptoms, and then somehow convinced myself it was my kidneys. Googling symptoms and convincing myself that I have something wrong with me is not something new to me. I've been doing it for years, and normally, I can ride it out (normally visit my GP and get some tests done), and it'll go away. But the morning after that, I woke up sweating, and my heart was so loud. I don't think it was a panic attack because I didn't feel out of breath or any other symptoms, but maybe an anxiety attack? I just felt hot all over and this dread, like something was wrong with me. The following week, I would get these same anxiety attacks (maybe 2-3 more times), and it would make me feel so weak and out of energy, as well as a burning sensation under my skin. It was like I could FEEL the adrenaline running through me. I stopped leaving the house because I was so afraid that my legs would give out on me. Since then, I don't really get hot anymore...but sometimes I get chills (which are the WORST because they make me feel like I'm buzzing out of my skin), IBS symptoms, muscle twitches, joint stiffness, and these weird jolts/pains that run up and down my extremities. I also get pins and needles very easily, and some days, my left arm goes numb (this usually goes away the next day). My appetite also fluctuates. Sometimes I can eat, but other times I just look at food and can't do it. I also think I get derealisation because I'm so worried all the time. Though I don't really get the anxiety attacks anymore, I feel like I'm CONSTANTLY worrying and dreading something, and so the anxiety is always there, and I always feel so weak even just getting out of bed. Sometimes I just feel this worry/hollowness inside of me that I don't know how to fix. I've had a blood test and everything came back normal...my GP just said anxiety, and I've gone for my first session with my psychologist, but it's just so hard to convince myself that all these physical symptoms are anxiety. Especially since I don't tend to get the main anxiety/panic attack symptoms like chest pain, breathing problems or heart racing. How did you end up accepting your anxiety??

[Sophie_M]

Hi suho, good on you for taking steps to address your anxiety and thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds like you are having a difficult time and seeing a psychologist should help to get you on the road to recovery. Recovery can be different for each person, if you'd like to read up on staying well, we have resources available on the Beyond Blue website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/recovery-and-staying-well 

[suho]

Thank you Sophie, for responding! 🙂 Yep, I've been to counselling before this a couple years ago, but I didn't feel like it helped me. This time though, I think I like my psychologist better, and I also really want to feel better (which I know will take time), but yeah, it's not an easy thing when I feel so stressed out all the time. I will definitely have a look at the link you sent me.

[blondguy]

Hello Suho

Welcome to the forums. The 'dread' you mentioned is a symptom of anxiety disorder. The feeling of something bad is going to happen..the hot feeling and waking up perspiring are all common symptoms too. Anxiety or panic attacks dont always have the tightness of the chest or breathing problems.

I used to be an overthinker (worrier) too which only made my anxiety worse because you have an impending sense of catastrophe (thinking the worse) that sits on your shoulder like a bird and wont let go.

Sophie_M brought up a good point about seeing a psychologist..On a regular basis they can help you a great deal to 'unlearn' this automatic type of thinking.

Google can be a great source of information which can be a problem for anxiety sufferers as trying to absorb all that information can also make us over think. Everyone's symptoms are different so google may do more damage than good.

You have great courage to post Suho. I hope some of this may be of help to you.

It would be great if you stay in touch

Kind Thoughts

Paul

[suho]

Thank you, Paul!

I think I get so worried because I normally see people saying they have chest pains and breathing problems with anxiety, and I don't get them at all, which in turn makes me feel like this can't be anxiety, even though logically I know that it is, especially since I do feel better certain times of the day.

I'm currently seeing a psychologist, so I do hope that I'll be able to unlearn this behaviour and move on from this. And I'm trying my best not to google every symptom I find now because I know that's only making me feel worse about everything.

You've been very helpful, so thank you so much for responding. Sometimes it's nice to just talk to other people about how I'm feeling and that can be enough to ease the anxiety just that little bit 🙂

[blondguy]

Hey Suho 🙂

No worries at all...Thankyou heaps though for posting back....it really means a lot.

You are so right about having a talk to others as it can be a huge weight off your shoulders...I still do it now even though most of my anxiety has faded away is actually 'boring' to me.

Anxiety does reduce in severity ....Anxiety does feel dreadful...but its still only a 'feeling' even though its rough.

I am so happy that you have posted back Suho 🙂

You are more than welcome to post back about anything you wish...You are not alone

My Kind thoughts for you

Paul

[Jimmy_H]

Hi All

I'm new to this forum and after reading the above post I'm glad i'm not alone.

Started feeling a horrible feeling of dread and chest tightness about a month ago due to stressful situation. I was consumed by worry but it normally goes away, this time it was happening daily sometimes multiple times a day for about a week so decided to go to the Doctor. I was expecting the Doctor to say its anxiety and I was fine but he asked that I do a ECG (measure of the heart beat) and my heart rate came up low (nothing to worry about apparently) but he said I should go straight to emergency to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack, WHOA

Went to emergency, had another ECG and blood test and said that I was just experiencing anxiety. But now my anxiety was on a whole new level, on the verge of panicking. I was referred as an outpatient at the cardiology department. After about a week I started to calm down. Then I had the outpatient appointment and the DR said that I needed to have more blood tests, urine samples, and ultrascan to ensure my thyroids and kidneys were functioning properly. Bang! There goes the anxiety again, I was freaking out. Waiting for blood tests, not being able to sleep at night, google doctoring through the night convincing myself I was dying, it was horrible.

This lasted a week and eventually got the results back and all clear, verdict: anxiety/panic attacks. I really appreciate the Doctors being thorougher but it only made me worse.

Its been a few days and the anxiousness is still there, tension, arms numb. I am writing this to hope to let it all out, it seems to be helping a bit. I like the sound of the ICB methods, any suggestions with this.

My wife wants me to see someone, I know I cant be much fun to hang around with lately so I will have to do something about this ASAP.

Take Care All

Jimmy H

[caitie0]

Hi Jimmy

I defiantly felt the same way as you my anxiety started in march out of nowhere, ( never had it previously this intense ) i had really bad ups and downs and wasn't coping well at all, I too worried about my health as I had no idea why this was/is happening so I worried about all I was feeling which made it worse I couldn't work, i barley ate and struggled too, lost a lot of weight, was shaking, palpitations non stop, which made me not sleep, shakes, zaps, numbness in my jaw, arms, legs, weakness ( not eating probably didnt help) hot/cold everything!, went to doctors in tears ( she was really good at listening to me )
Though I feel a lot almost like my normal self again few months on, I am still suffering from palpitations and when stressed it is heightened. Had ECG done and getting other tests done make sure its not my thyroid. Though I am fairly positive its just me thinking about it.
Doctor gave me beta blockers, but now I worry about taking them and I don't even know why.

Psychologist says I am overly critical of myself and struggling to turn off my mind ( how do people even do that haha its so normal for me )

Just to let you know I think you will get there! just breath out and try to accept all you are feeling ( I know easier said then done ) but try an believe in yourself 🙂 🙂 I am currently trying to youtube some meditation. Try and do something you enjoy.

[Jimmy_H]

Thanks Caitie0

Now that I am certain it is just me freaking out I can hopefully deal with it.

Some suggestions I have found is that trying to be busy and distracting yourself from the anxiety is just masking or hiding from the problem. If you try and face/deal with the anxiety it is a better approach so your body (brain) knows how to deal with the anxious feeling when it arrives.

Today when the feeling hit me I was excited (sounds strange) because I could see how I could try and embrace the feeling with being positive and it seemed to help. When I am convinced that I can beat this feeling my brain seems to think it can too!

I'll keep using this method and see how it goes. So far so good, even had a coffee today which I had given up since the anxious feelings started happening with fear it was making things worse.

Also got the beta blockers which helped to take the edge off but had to stop using because of low heart rate. Another short term medication was also prescribed but trying to avoid medication approach if possible.

Thanks Again for sharing and Take Care

[blondguy]

Hey JimmyH...Welcome to the forums....I have had severe anxiety for many years, I understand where you are coming from...(sorry suho for hijacking your thread)...Jimmy..you are a smart guy...I hope you can post a new topic/thread so we can have a good chat.

Hi caitie0...Thankyou for posting....Anxiety is a pain! I have had it for many years and there is a way out....I just wanted to say thankyou for posting like Jimmy did..There are many kind people that can be here for you that also have same anxiety. You are more than welcome to post a new thread/topic so we can see you and be here for you

Kind Thoughts and great posts too:-)

Paul