My anxiety symptoms seem unique

[FMercury]

Hi all

I am a brand newbie. Thanks in advance for this community - can't believe I didn't join it sooner.

I've been suffering anxiety for about 20 years. It has reached the point where it's completely taking over, so I've taken my approach to managing it to a new level, and making some significant changes in all areas. I've started a new medication (3 weeks in), seeing a new psychologist (who I love), changing my diet (greatly reducing sugar intake, eliminating coffee, increase vegetables, reduce alcohol), exercising daily, giving up facebook, replacing "time wasting" activities with productive ones, and spending more time with the people that matter to me.

I'm also reading / researching more about anxiety than I ever had before, including this website and joining this forum. One thing that I'm struggling with in the process, is that I feel like my anxiety symptoms are so completely different to others'. I've done a search in the forum on 'anxiety symptoms' and read a lot of those posts, and I can't find many that I can relate to.

My main symptom is that I feel like I can't get a proper breath. There's a very rare feeling of utter satisfaction or even ecstasy when, on the very very rare occasion, I'm able to breath deeply enough to properly fill my lungs. I often imagine that if I was anxiety-free, breathing in would feel like filling up a balloon to the max, then breathing out would feel like deflating it all the way. And yet for me, breathing in feels like the balloon only fills up a quarter of the way, then breathing out deflates it. And no matter how deeply I try to breathe in - I even breathe breathe breathe in until I can't fit anymore air in, and it's still only a quarter full. I have tried many many breathing techniques but none of them reduce this feeling of not being able to get enough breath.

Other symptoms I feel are: Constant dread. Constant butterflies in my stomach. Constant adrenaline. You know that feeling when you're running down a flight of stairs and you slip and skip one, and your heart skips a beat? I have that sensation constantly.

I guess I'm just interested to hear if there are many others experiencing symptoms of a similar nature, as I don't experience the ones that I've seen discussed frequently on these forums.

Thanks in advance

[CMF]

Hi FMercury and welcome,

im glad you found these forums and are benefiting from them. I love love love your new approach to dealing with anxiety and good on you for grabbing it by horns and taking back control. It's great that you love your new psych too.

as far as symptoms go dread, butterflies and adrenaline yes yes yes. The breathing issues yes however maybe not as severe as you mentioned. Is this all the time or just during an attack? I'm wondering, have you mentioned this to your gp to rule out anything Else?

I hope you'll keep posting to let us know how your new approach is going. Sounds like you're doing all the right things.

all the best

cmf

[BballJ]

Hi FMercury,

Firstly, welcome to the forums.

As someone who has dealt with anxiety for many years, I have had many symptoms and the butterflies and constant feeling of dread is one I am very familiar with.. the fast heart beats.. they are very annoying and I can relate heavily. The breathing one is interesting.. I have had something similar where I feel I cannot breath, it can be I guess linked to your chest tightening up especially when you have a sudden onset of anxiety, which can affect your breathing.

It's hard to compare symptoms because anxiety manifests it self in many different ways and what affects you, may not affect the next person, but anxiety is anxiety.

You are doing everything right with all the help you have reached out for and you just need to keep doing what you are doing.

Please, feel free to post back as much as you like.

My best for you,

Jay

[FMercury]

Thank you cmf,

Yes - the breathing sensation is all the time. Obviously greatly heightened in "peak" situations, but it's there all the time. Even first thing in the morning. Even when I'm immersed in an activity I love. Even when I'm exercising. It feels like even when I'm sleeping.

I have described it to my GP, but always in the context of my anxiety. Maybe I need to outright ask him if it could be something else? (Are there other things it could be??)

[Doolhof]

Hi FMercury,

I too welcome you to the forum and congratulate you for all the work you are doing to help yourself. Reading your words has encouraged me to continue on my own journey.

Suffering from depression and stress is more my thing, with a little anxiety thrown in that grows from time to time.

Regarding the breathing and feeling like you are not taking in enough air, I have that too, but my issue is allergy and sinus problems. You could ask your Dr if this might be an issue for you.

Strong mints, eucalyptus lozenges, Fisherman friends or anything that usually clears the airways may give you an idea if this is an issue for you.

Does it make a difference if you take in a long slow breathes counting to ten, then breathing out doing the same thing a few times over?

As mentioned by others, anxiety can manifest in everyone very differently. Hope you manage to find some answers and once again, welcome tot he forum.

Cheers from Mrs. D.

[BballJ]

Hi FMercury,

It's one of those things that is definitely worth getting checked by the doctor, I know asthma sufferers report a shortness of breath, I believe there are lung capacity tests you could take as well to see how much air they hold, of course I may be wrong but I think I have seen or heard about them before.

Always good to check any health related issues out.

My best,

Jay