Health Anxiety/ Panic Attacks

[xxNad]

Hi All,

I’ve decided to write this post to see if there is anyone else out there who is quite like myself. A quick background I am a 22 year old female, I’ve just completed my Bachelors degree and I’m struggling with Health Anxiety.
It all began about 3 months ago,I remember being sick with a simple influenza virus at the time and like any virus the coughing began not long after. This cough progressed for over 2 months with chest pain as well as headaches. I was sent firstly for an MRI of my head (came back clear) and did a blood test and throat swab. My blood test came back high in a particular hormone which worried this new doctor who urgently wanted me to take another brain MRI, this doctor pretty much told my mother and I that I most likely had a brain tumour. This stressed me out like crazy and I began googling everything, that same night I woke up in a sweat. My heart was racing like insanely, I couldn’t breathe, my vision was declining, my skin felt as if it was on fire. I woke up my parents and thought I was either dying or having a heart-attack they rushed me to the hospital, they performed more blood tests (came back normal), 2 ECGs (normal) a Chest X-Ray for my cough which had been going on for more than 2 months (normal) and also a Chest CT Scan ( which showed a minor collapsed lung but other than that normal). The doctor at the hospital believed i had a panic attack
However, with all these tests done I’m still not content. I’m still coughing and have been told my coughing is most likely an anxiety cough. What worries me is if I have something in my oesophagus and now all I can focus is on that. I still experience frequent chest pains, burning sensations particularly in my neck region which makes me worry I have some form of lymphoma. I feel so ridiculous writing this. I have sleepless nights, I cry nearly everyday and am constantly worrying I’m dying. My parents are trying so hard, but I feel like a lost cause as I think something is honestly wrong with me. I have booked to see a psychiatrist and waiting on this.
My Symptoms:
-Chest Tightness

-burning neck

-Sleepless nights
-Cough
-Headaches
-Muscle Pain
-Weight Loss
My Tests all done this year:
-2 ECGS
-Abdominal/Pelvic Ultrasound
-Blood Tests (5 this year)
-D-Dimer Test
-Leg Xray
-2 MRIS (head)
-Chest CT
-Chest X-RAY
I wanted to know if anyone else experiences the symptoms I have or suffers from health anxiety. Any tips would really help.

[Megan1]

Hi xxNad

Well done on booking an appointment with the psychiatrist. That's your first step to recovery.

You are not ridiculous or a lost cause. You are going through a health condition, anxiety, and need to learn how to live with it and recover.

By way of introduction, I am a beyondblue ambassador and am in the video on the anxiety page. 

I had severe panic attacks that ended in agoraphobia. I had all the tests and was sure I was dying. I thought I was having heart attacks. I lost three years of life but now manage and live independently and well. I didn't think it was possible, BUT IT IS.

Everything you are describing I can relate to, including your age. Unfortunately I wasn't diagnosed with anxiety or panic attacks til I had agoraphobia.

I wish I could say it will be easy to recover, but it will take work but you're worth it. Your psychiatrist should treat you with Cognitive Behavious Therapy (CBT) and you'll learn to challenge your thinking. You should learn about how panic attacks work. You'll learn to trust the symptoms won't hurt you - this is hard and takes practise. You may also have graded exposure therapy - depending on if you are avoiding situations. Medication may also be in the plan and don't feel any shame in this; I'm still on meds.

Keep believing you will get better and hang in there. I know it completely sux and you feel alone and can't see the light, but it's a moment in time in your entire life. My agoraphobia was 20 years ago and never would I have believed I'd be speaking to audiences and on tv and radio!

The skills you will learn in your recovery will set you up for success in life. And know you're likely to have a roller coaster and as many bad days as good, but eventually the bad days will be less than the good.

Best of luck. 

Megan x

[Aoifa]

Hi xxNad,

When I started having panic attacks, like you, I had no idea what they were and at first thought it was asthma and then maybe a cold. It wasn't until I went to my doctor that I was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder.

It is a painful condition. For me I also catastrophised everything. My brain was spinning etc. Luckily I have a very good GP and clinical psychologist.

Could you see a council worker or psychologist in the interim? You really need to see a specialist in this area sooner rather than later. You need assurance and credible advice.

Talking openly about it is a huge jump and I applaud you. It wasn't easy but you have opened up about your illness and that took a lot of guts. Good for you!

In the meantime; be nice to you, do what helps you to relax, keep your parents and close friends in the loop, drink plenty of water, eat lots of chocolate and know that there are people who care about you.

All the best,

Aoifa

[anna1616]

Hi lovely,

Good on your for sharing your story and reaching out - it's not easy - and it shows that you are committed to getting better, and thats awesome!

I had anxiety for many months and had NO IDEA, until I described my symptoms to a doctor and they said 'oh, you probably have anxiety, we'll run all the blood tests but you have just described anxiety." in the end,there was nothing wrong - I just had heaps of physical symptoms of anxiety without even knowing.

The mistake I made was with that knowledge, I didn't seek further professional help. And things just got worse and worse (my body was in fight or flight, I stopped menstruating for 10 months...) and I thought by keeping on keeping on I was being brave and doin the right thing - what I needed was to learn how to manage and reduce my anxiety - and that's what professionals are for.

I wish I had gotten help sooner and explored treatment - so my advice to you is - the sooner you start taking steps towards treatment - the sooner you will be on your path to recovery. My goal is to one day live totally free from anxiety (I mean anxiety in the sense of a disorder, I know that everyone has some level of anxiety in their life) and I"m honestly not too far from it - so recovery is possible!

Another tip - relaxation CDs, Yoga, hypnotherapy, mindfulness - explore all of your options to calm your nervous system. And keep at it until you find something that works for you - there are so many options and you can google and look up apps on your phone.

Good luck with your recovery! Know that there is a path and much support available. It's also amazing that you have supportive family - perhaps make sure they check out the BB website and get informed as to how to best care for and support you. I didn't have a supportive family which made it hell on earth - but knowing you have that support should give you much confidence.

Good luck !

[dove__]

Hi xxNad!

You're definitely not alone, I also have health anxiety and am 20.
It can be very challenging at times as the physical symptoms of anxiety tend to be the ones that make us even more anxious, when this happens to me I try to use some breathing techniques, relaxation techniques and meditation.

My health anxiety is due to me experiencing thunderstorm asthma for the first time last year - it was super scary not being able to breathe as I've never been diagnosed with asthma or any lung condition. Since then I have become super paranoid of my breathing and start to panic when something seems wrong, whenever I have panic attacks I find it harder to take a deep breath making this feel even worse. I have seen several doctors who have reassured me that nothing is physically wrong and it's symptoms of anxiety. I have now recently started seeing a psychiatrist as I know that this is the right step forward.

Recovery is possible and there is heaps of support options out there so it's great you've booked in to see a psychiatrist. Good luck with your journey to recovery 🙂