My Story with Anxiety and help with management or long term solutions

[Colt98]

Hi Guys,

This is my story with anxiety.

Firstly since I was young i've always been shy and nervy person from time to time. When I was 16-18 I had to take blood tests monthly for Acne as was on a certain drug to heal my skin. Anyway I've been a fit person for most of my life and done activity/basketball/sport since I was 6 but found I had low blood pressure and sometimes would get a light head when having blood tests so always laid down for them and did that why I was getting tests for the Acne.

Also over time besides the blood tests I've always had small amounts of negativity in me about scenario's and life in general but normally try stay positive and there is known history in the family with negative thoughts and etc..

Anyway to the Anxiety and how it all started.

I was about 23-24 and was getting a routine blood test but at the time forgot to lay down and once got up I fainted and landed and hit a desk then woke sweating and loss of energy. The next day I had a stiff neck and from then on had 2 years of ongoing tests including MRI's, CT's, more blood tests and etc as after the fainting incident I got some sort of whiplash from the fall and ever since that always got electric shocks in my head and chest, tingles through my whole body, pinching feeling in my chest and shoulders and list goes on.. My heart felt it was racing and going to explode and my anxiety was at full speed! Always the thinking I'm going to have an heart attack and yes I'm young but couldn't get the feeling out. Also always felt uneasy or uncomfortable. Sweating and blushes all the time. Even had physio and other treatments to my back and neck including osteo.

Anyway 2 years later one day it just went away and only sometimes would get the electric shocks but wouldn't make me feel with anxiety and other symptoms. Since then I've had a lot of changes in my life with a child and etc. But since that fall I have a constant feel of scared of blood tests

Now 3 weeks ago it has all come back!! why? Started to get all the same symptoms like I got 10 years ago. I'm now 35 and found out my dad got an heart attack and its in the family! Straight away after hearing the news it made my body change and got chest pain again, electric shocks, tingling sensation and just don't feel normal! Stressing out that I'm going to get one even though I eat differently and is no guarantee that I'll get one just because my Dad had one. Any suggestions for managing my anxiety to get back on track again?

[Colt98]

Also to add to my anxiety both cases I got sensitive feeling around the centre of my chest. Rub my finger across it like its a bruise. I've read posts could be something to do with muscle around the chest? Also not sure from the fall this that one of my nerves was damaged that triggers anxiety or anxiety triggers that feeling in the chest.

Any suggestions would be great? I've started using vitamins and iPhone Apps to try and calm my anxiety. Also Breathing techniques to help calm myself.

[Sophie_M]

Hi Colt98, welcome to the forums.  Have you had a look around some of the other threads in this section?  This one in particular has some great tips:

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/self-help-tips-for-managing-anxiety

 

[Pixie15]

Hello Colt98,

Sorry to read that you are struggling with your anxiety at present.

It seems from reading your post that stressful experiences have triggered a bit of an anxious spiral in you. I think anyone can get anxious if there are enough stressors. If you have not seen your doctor to talk about this I would say that would be a good way to start back on the road to recovery. From my experience from being stuck in a bit of an anxious spiral it is easy to talk myself out of doing the simple things like this and instead do all the worrying increasing activities like searching the web for something that might be wrong.

Also it might be an idea to check the vitamins you are taking with your doctor or chemist if you are on any other medications.

best wishes,

Pixie.

[Ace6913]

Hi colt and welcome😄,

we sound very similar with symptoms right now I've been dealing with anxiety since July and I can almost certainly tell you it has been a horrible experience I to had an experience with anxiety a few years back when I was a lot younger and it to just went away with all the other physical symptoms now I'm 34 and it has come back with a vengeance but this time I decided to tackle it head on I've been doing cbt therapy and also seeing a psychiatrist to help with medication and it has all been so helpful but really in the end it comes down to us and how we treat ourselves and the self talk . For the past 2 months I've had left shoulder pain and will go down into my chest and a dull ache down my arm I was to worried about Symptoms of heart attack as my dad has had one but these are constant symptoms that really just won't go away I'm doing physio at the moment and learning a lot from how our mind can give us pain and all the muscle tension I to am very tender on the chest I've done ultrasounds just to make sure there's know underlying problem but I just have to trust the doctors know what there doing and that it is all due to constant months of intense stress. Go have a chat with your doctor make a plan to tackle this head on I know it's scary as hell I to have children wich adds to the pressure but take alittle time out for yourself try and be really honest with yourself and find what that core fear is and most importantly be honest with the people you trust the most it's amazing how much we tend to hide away our feelings . I hope this post guides you just abit 😄

[jojo01]

For years I experienced a lump in my throat. I was tested for tyriod issues, and there was a lump yet not cancerous. A friend told me it was anxiety. I paid more attention and sure enough the lump comes and goes with stress.

I had a feeling in my right arm. No I have, I can feel it now. It comes and goes. One night I sat watching tv watching my arm pulse, the veins. I laughed I'd been drinking, I wanted the kids to come see it as it was so funny, but they were busy.

I started to feel a pressure in my heart. Like some one was reaching into my chest and squashing my heart. I went for an ecg, I had blood tests. The arm and heart thing was all anxiety. So I started medication.

Just my experience.

[Colt98]

Thankyou everyone.

Update how I'm going. Had blood tests, GP check up and all good and healthy and since chest pain and anxiety symptoms have gone away! Still get the occasional panic/anxiety attack at night when trying to go to sleep and heart races and get feeling in the cheeks/jaw. Sometimes takes a while to get to sleep.

Anyway GP referred me to Psychologist for a mental health plan as also want to stop the thoughts fear of dying i've always had even before my anxiety attacks.

Will update how I go after that.

[Pixie15]

Hello Colt98,

Good to hear you are feeling better and seeing your GP has alleviated your anxiety symptoms.

Just a thought with the cheeks and jaw. I clench and grind in my sleep and had cheek and jaw pain from that. It might help to see your dentist and check if you might be damaging your teeth.

cheers.

[Colt98]

Hi Guys,

An update on how my GAD has been over the year since my post at the start of the year.

Saw Psychologist for a mental health plan and seen him about 6 times and worked on CBT and homework on how I think about things and how to cope which has helped a bit but still getting symptoms.

My new problems are

electric shocks and pinching feelings across chest, left arm and sometimes legs and back.
Always after eating bad foods I feel these symptoms as think will get a heart attack as my dad had one most likely due to his health and eating bad foods. I know I'm younger and fitter but still get these symptoms and thinking methods.

My sleeping is fine these days, but still when I have time to think especially when driving, waiting or not being busy my physical symptoms happen and sometimes my thinking repeats the same things.

Its always hard with busy life and trying to find working on CBT and things my Psychologist asks to do. Trying to keep fit and eat healthy (especially hard when I'm a fussy eater).

Any more suggestions what can help me get on top or if dare I say it something else going on? Even though thats what anxiety does. Keep questioning is it mental or something wrong with me?

Thanks