My anxiety symptoms keep changing

[MickeyM]

Hi all! I've been diagnosed with anxiety a number of years ago, but something I've noticed is that my symptoms can change. When I was first diagnosed, I was actually having full blown panic attacks; I was waking up with a racing heart and feeling sick. I'm waking up ok now (still grinding my teeth and generally tired, but no where near as bad as I was.) Nowadays, I occasionally get the racing heart & shortness of breath, but for milder anxiety, I could get any combination of dizziness, tightness if the throat, upset stomach or just generally feeling "jittery"

Its frustrating as I feel like each time I challenge the anxiety in some way to minimize the impact, it's like the anxiety says "oh yeah? Well cop this!" and comes up with some new symptom.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks

[blondguy]

Hi Mickey and thanks for the good thread topic too!

I had chronic anxiety in my 20's and it was exactly the same as yours.....and its an awful/ frustrating place to be in

Your system is oversensitised and the anxiety can arrive in different shapes and forms even though they are all harmless. They are awful when we have them though Mickey....I hear you there for sure.

Fighting/challenging the anxiety rarely works. I used to do the same as well until I learned to use genuine and calm 'acceptance' instead.

I wasted 13 years thinking I could 'get over it' with a visit to my counselor every six months and I was so wrong

The best and first step is a really good GP that knows a really good psychologist. They can discuss 'acceptance' therapy with you. In a nutshell you end up finding the anxiety attacks 'boring' and they do decrease over time with regular counseling.

I had a psychologist when I was 23 say that I had 'free floating anxiety' and she was right. The symptoms and severity of each attack varied without any reason which made these feelings even more weird and scary

Every symptom (feeling) that you have mentioned is anxiety related.

The good news is that they will decrease in severity over time with super regular therapy 🙂

Just in my case I had to start using meds which were great as the counseling was then more effective as the meds provided me with a solid platform on which I could recover. (Subject to a GP's approval of course)

The forums are a judgement free zone for you too Mickey. No one will judge you here. We take great care to make the forums a very safe place where you can post

I hope some of this has been of help to you. It would be great to hear back from you if you have any questions or even if you just want to have a chat 🙂

my kind thoughts

Paul

[MickeyM]

Thanks, Paul

My psychologist suggested that one of the reasons I found anxiety debilitating was because at that point in time, I was anxious about anxiety. He kept telling me that while it was very uncomfortable, anxiety can't hurt me. He gave me tools to, in his words, challenge my anxiety. In reflection, the tool is to acknowledge the feeling, and 'allow' it.

Many years ago, my piano teacher recommended a book called The Inner Game of Music. One of the techniques in the book about performance nerves was to acknowledge the nerves e.g.: shaking hands, racing heart, and asking yourself can I read music while my hands are shaking, can I play while my heart is racing, etc.

I use these techniques for nerves, feeling sick, but when my anxiety is more severe, I'll need to do more.

Thank you, Paul, for your words of support.

[blondguy]

Hey Mickey

No worries at all and thanks for posting back too 🙂

You have actually given me some great feedback with 'The Inner Game of Music'....you mentioned 'acknowledging the shakes and all the other symptoms' or accepting this feelings...I will check out the book as it sounds like good value

I really liked what you said too in your first paragraph Mickey....

Mickey said "the tool is to acknowledge the feeling, and 'allow' it"

You have really done well and know some great mechanisms to lessen the severity of anxiety Mickey

If you have the time and when convenient for you it would be great if you could stick around the forums so others can benefit from your experience.

Thankyou again and my kind thoughts for you and being a part of the Beyond Blue Forums 🙂

Paul

[MickeyM]

Hi Paul. I read your reply on another post that you used to work at Mt Buller.

Theres also The Inner Game of Skiing...and tennis, and golf! I've only read the music one, albeit many years ago. Funny how something I read in a music book helps with anxiety...it makes sense.

Something else that the book mentions is that even positive self talk can be a distraction from what you're doing, whether it's music or sport. Funny how when I ski, I often find myself chanting to remind myself to shift my weight, inside, straight, outside, and for some reason, I chant this to the tune of Dory from finding Nemo's "just keep swimming(Skiing,)...until my 8yo dashed off down the mountain, then I had no choice but to stop thinking about what I was doing, trust myself and go. We really are stronger than we believe, aren't we....if only this bloody anxiety will give us a break!

(Now I know what to do if I want to attempt a black run-send my kid there first!...kidding)

[Croix]

Dear MickeyM~

I would like to thank you for your fragments of memories in:

Forums / Staying well / Store Your Happy Memories Here:

Those three patches of peace when skiing and camping put me in a contented relaxed mood thinking of my own camping experiences. I think others will be like me, and I hope you can come to them and the other posts in that thread when you need a small break in heavy thoughts

Croix

[blondguy]

Hi Mickey

Youve really got some good strategies happening and good on you!

You said "We really are stronger than we believe, aren't we....if only this bloody anxiety will give us a break!"I hear you there Mickey...It is a major pain....Its like having a broken leg except we cant see the injury because its in our head. We sure are stronger than what we think Mickey...Hard to see sometimes but you are so right

Your psychologist is spot on....when we are anxious about anxiety the attacks can happen for sure.

True and genuine acceptance of the anxiety feelings takes time but does lessen the severity of the anxiety. It takes a long time to master 'acceptance' but it does work well. Your psychologist would know about acceptance therapy

You also mentioned 'distraction'. The power of distraction is a great way to 'offset' anxiety. I remember getting a thick elastic band and pulling it tight on my wrist and then letting it go....whack! Ouch!! The sting took my mind off the anxiety!

Great to know you are a snow skier too 🙂

my kind thoughts

Paul