Different Anxiety Symptoms

[Crumbled]

I'm new to the forum but have had anxiety on and off for 3 years (probably longer, but diagnosed 3 years ago). Has anyone else had different symptoms during different periods of anxiety? 3 years ago I had symptoms like a racing heart, chest pains, feeling detached, diarrhoea and tingling in my arms. I was medicated for 18 months and they all the symptoms went away. I was fine for about a year and then symptoms started coming back but they are different this time round, it's constant nausea (almost non-stop), dizziness and a stuffy head so it's hard for me to accept this as just anxiety as it's manifesting itself differently this time. I also am back on medication but it's not working so have doubled my dose, but this will take 6 weeks to kick in. I'm SO exhausted and sick of feeling sick! Has anyone else had this or do most people get the same symptoms each time?

[CJ1998]

Hey Crumbled,

Sorry to hear that you have been experiencing such awful anxiety symptoms. Worrying about these symptoms on top of your regular anxiety can bring anxiety levels to an all time high (at least it does for me).

I posted a similar thread yesterday about my own physical symptoms. I have always been an anxious person but it never was as severe as it has been in the last 18 months. My first main symptom was a racing heart and palpitations which didn't bother me too much until after about a year I started feeling dizzy as well. I didn't understand why this started happening all of a sudden and was convinced that there must be something wrong with my health. I still feel this way a lot of the time but am starting to accept that anxiety can bring on many different symptoms and can change at different stages. I also visited my GP multiple times and and had several tests done but everything came back okay.

I have never tried medication and am hesitant to do so but my anxiety has been so debilitating lately that I am considering trying it to see if anything improves. I have heard it can be different for everyone. I completely understand how you feel as my anxiety makes me so exhausted and tired all the time, even when i have not been doing anything that day, which again makes me feel as if there must be something else wrong with my health. Just know that you are not alone in this, and after reading many of the posts in this forum i have come to find that many other people have been struggling also with a range of different physical symptoms.

[blondguy]

Hello Crumbled

Welcome and good on you for having the courage to post too!

I understand what you are going through and have had excatly the same symptoms in the first few years as well.......and they are horrible to have. The earlier stages of anxiety are the most difficult

In the early 1980's we weren't aware that frequent ongoing therapy was a huge help to reduce these awful symptoms..Here are some basics re anxiety treatment that I hope you find beneficial.

• It may take some time to recover from an anxiety condition
• Medication is never a fix all on their own.....they work at their best with ongoing regular counseling
• Please avoid caffeine...and turn off your mobile/ipad/tablet at least an hour before you sleep to prevent your brain from being overstimulated. Some quiet time before bed is crucial
• If possible....ensure that your home environment is a reasonably happy place to be in..

I can only speak from my own experience yet even though in recovery I require a monthly visit to my GP for a 'tune up'. I always feel a lot better after seeing my doc

Can I ask if your GP has been helpful? Dizziness is very common where anxiety is concerned and especially feeling detached. Exhaustion is also very common as anxiety does cause our adrenaline to work overtime thus making us feel so worn out so often

The Good News! Anxiety can be reduced with meds in conjunction with regular counseling. It will require determination and strength though....Just by reading your post I am sure you can work your way to recovery

any questions are always welcome! There are also many gentle people on the forums that suffer similar symptoms that can be here for you too 🙂

my kind thoughts

Paul