New to anxiety. Does anyone else get constant changing symptoms

[Trakka]

Hi all,

i started getting anxiety and panic attacks about 6 months ago when diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I'm now 27 years old and male and when diagnosed completely changed my life. I've lost 23kg in that time and my diet is completely different. Although I've made all these changes I am still convinced I'm going to have a heart attack or stroke when I feel my chest gets tight or when I feel dizzy or when my arms hurt or when I have a full attack my arms burn and I feel as if I really am having a heart attack my chest gets painful and my heart goes wild. I've had stress test done, multiple visits to the emergency and holster monitor and loop monitors and everything comes back normal. I only have a ultrasound left. Now that it's come down to anxiety I'm now on an antidepressant which was terrible for the first 2 weeks but then I was great for a week an a half and now I'm back to googling symptoms and feeling like everything I feel all day everyday (it's now week 5 since starting the antidepressant) is a major health crisis about to occur. I'm seeing a psychologist I'm trying to do things to sort it out but I just wanted to know if anyone else constantly had symptoms or feelings that sets them off for all day worry and changing symptoms.

[white knight]

Hi Trakka welcome

Back in 1987 I had such a bad panic attack I was diagnosed with a heart attack. This was because my ECG came up abnormal. The chest pains were quite painful, shaking in my arms uncontrollable and sweating all over.

Like you my symptoms after starting medication would come and go.

My GP placed me on meds and sent me to a therapist. A good move. I consulted my therapist for 12 months. During that time I learned deep breathing, realism and muscle tensioning exercises. Lets go through them now.

Realism- a case of asking yourself, when your mind thinks unrealistically, to be realistic. If this happen" what if that happened?

Deep breathing- easy to do anywhere any time

Muscle tensioning exercises- lie in bed before sleep relax, tension up your feet muscles for 15 seconds, do that with all muscles making your way to your head. Then tension up all these muscle at the same time. Your heart rate will drop and you'll nod off to sleep easier.

Of course see a qualified therapist. Start with a visit to your GP to discuss your issues regularly.

To rid myself FULLY of anxiety took me 25 years. Dont expect quick cures.

Tony WK

[dolphin24]

Hi Trakka, I experience the dizziness and tight chest most days but not at the same time. I find when i'm dizzy if i try to keep doing whatever i'm doing it will often pass. The only thing i've found that helps with the tight chest is hot shower as it relaxes your muscles. The tight chest is frightening i know but the best thing you can do is tell yourself it's anxiety playing up again and try not to focus on it, which is hard i know, but if you worry about it you will make yourself worse. I was grocery shopping recently and had the tight chest and all of a sudden i started getting sharp chest pains. Very frightening, i thought i was going to have a heart attack in woolies. I told myself it's anxiety, don't worry about it and continued my shopping. If i hadn't been able to do that i would've panicked and i don't know how i would've been able to get myself home. I had a panic attack while driving which has caused me to have a driving phobia. Different symptoms may appear at different times. They have with me. Wish you the best with this horrible anxiety.

[kimberlee82]

Hi there, I got diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder and a congenital whole in my heart and a fast heart rate last year. I have taken myself to the emergency room so many times thinking I'm dying and now the doctor's don't take any notice of me anymore. I get dizziness; headaches; sharp pains in my head; heart palpitations, chest pains, tight chest ect...  

I'm terrified all the time and I no longer work; go out; see friends and I'm sure I've now got depression. I've gained weight. I used to be the skinniest; prettiest girl in the crowd and now ive lost all my confidece. I've recently lost 14kg's and I'm feeling better for it. 

I have NO support unit and I think this makes my health anxiety worse. 

I am a highly educated person and am currently doing further study but I find it hard to concentrate on a topic because my mind wants to focus on my health issues and if I'm dying.

It's really scary and it's real in your own mind. I guess there's comfort in knowing that the recurring symptoms haven't killed me yet and they're probably not going to.

I feel so lonely and helpless and I dont know what to do either. I pray that these symptoms will just dissappear and I will return to my old life! 

[Taash33]

Hey there,  🙂

I'm nearly 21 and I've been battling severe separation anxiety for 16 years now and I'm here to tell you that your not alone! I would like to say great job on your weight lose and you should be proud of yourself! You need to sit down and write all the good things about yourself to help you see that your a beautiful strong, smart women! You need to put some positive thoughts in your head to make yourself less depressed. 

As for no support, if you go to your GP and ask them for a local anxiety and depression support group, they really help. Support is all around you, you just need to ask for it. The more you understand anxiety and depression the better you can be a managing it. That's why support groups or saying someone about it is great. 

now with your health, just work on yourself to get better. One thing at a time. If I have to much going on at once that's when I start freaking out and panicking. Don't take on to much. 

Theres so many people with the same problem so please don't feel alone because your not, and don't feel stupid about anxiety and depression you just need to know and learn how to deal with it, manage it, and get on top of it. 

i hope I helped a bit 🙂 

beat wished to you xx

[percy1984]

when i get the tight chest feeling i rub a whole heap of vix on my chest where it all hurts helps me feel beta 

[Fosh]

Hi,

I'm a 27 year old male, I started having panic attacks like 3-4 years ago, of the first 2 I didn't think much of them until the 3rd one that happened right after the gym I got freaked out by my rapid heart rate and palpitations (which are normal during exercise) my HR did nor decrease for 45 min after the gym then I went straight to ER, I have been to ER 3 times, I've got tests done afterwards (ECG, EKG, Ultrasound, Stress test, blood tests, thyroid ....) they all have come back very good I even waited 2 months to see the head of Cardiology of RPAH and he said that I am normal and healthy. I know it is very hard to believe that anxiety can cause such a tremendous effect physically and at the beginning you are sure there's something physically wrong with you, while it is good to get check physically to see if everything is fine, you need to stop obsessing over it. Think about it this way; these HEALTH PROFESSIONALS have studied for years and have long careers and they know what they are talking about, it is almost next to impossible for you to have a 1 in a 6 billion unique physical disease.

Also think about this in cars if the electrical system is wrong the car won't function normally, even if mechanically is all good, it is kind of the same, if there are some issues with our psyche then our body will show what it seems physical symptoms. I would suggest you to see a Psychologist and hang in there for at least 8 weeks, also choose one that you are comfortable with this is key. Be careful with SSRIs, try to drink calming tea, go for walks, listen to relaxing music relax, meditate.

To me the hardest part was to accept anxiety as a cause of this symptoms, but now that I am starting to accept it and treat it, my chest pains have been almost gone for 2 weeks now, I get the occasional 'light-headed' feeling, once I start feeling this I look in Google "anxiety and physical symptoms" to me it works to read what other people have gone through to accept anxiety as my disease. And after reading this I feel normal and no more symptoms.

The MIND IS EXTREMELY POWERFUL and once you start having these fake symptoms, you release "stress hormones" into your system due to the fact you obsess over these fake symptoms, the more you obsess the more hormones you release and it the long term they will give you a physical disease. Try to relax acknowledge your symptoms and accept that they are not dangerous just scary and move on All the best!

[CMF]

Hi Trakka,

Yes! Mine is to do with my teeth and gums. I'm convinced they are going to fall out or get eroded by bacteria under the gums. If I get little gum discomfort for whatever reason I think the worst, even though I was at the dentist a month ago and had a thorough clean. I have a thread called 'Terrified of losing teeth and dental anxiety'. I've had some great replies on it including that what I have is health anxiety. I felt a little better when I read up on health anxiety.

Hoe this helps you a little.

cmf

[Jessme]

Do any of you health anxiety sufferers have any dysmorphia in the form of what illness you are fearing?... I've convinced myself I have a premature aging syndrome so I am starting to see my skin change ie. Thin ankle skin, but no one else can see it. It's like physical symptoms weren't enough for my brain to conjure up, now it's tricking my other senses too.