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WHAT SYMPTOMS DO YOU HAVE WITH ANXIETY?

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Posted 8/25/2009 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
I have had panic attacks off and on for about a year and never knew what they were because I would have one maybe every few months.  But then about two months ago, I started having them about every two to three days a week.  Then I was having them every day, sometimes two or three times a day.  I thought I was dying or something.  I would sometimes wake up at three in the morning with a full blown attack.  My heart would be beating so fast, I thought it would come out of my chest.  I couldn't hardly swallow, shortness of breath, hands and arms tingling, felt like I was losing control.  I kept thinking about when I would have another attack and would it be as bad as the last one.  They have tapered off some recently.  I try not to think about having one and it seems to help me.  I have gerd and ibs which doesn't help the attacks any.  It seems like when my reflux acts up pretty good, is when I have a big attack.  I have been losing weight because when my reflux gets bad, I feel as if  I can't swallow and if I try to drink or eat anything, it feels like I am going to choke on it.  I also have been lightheaded when having an attack.
Posted 8/25/2009 5:22 AM (GMT 0)
For susieq610212001 - please get the book Hope and Help for your Nerves by Dr. Claire Weeks. It is very cheap paper cover book. I had all symptoms as you have now- Woke up with panic attack at night, or having them few times per day. I was so afraid that I will get heart attack or die.. That book helped me a lot!! Don't be afraid from panic attacks. When you feel it is coming, don't fight it - let it go. If you will not fight it will go away faster and eventually you will have less and less frequent attacks. Adrenalin releasing nerves have only limited power, so even if you try to make it worse - you can't! If you will not panic your self from your feelings, adrenalin will be absorbed by your kidneys and other organs and will go away. Try to seat and breath. I know it is so hard to do deep breathing, but just breath as you can. Don't be afraid, it will go away in 10 min or even less if you will not panic your self. I wish I have a better English to express my self, I hope I help at least a little.
Posted 8/28/2009 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
i have

weight loss
feel cold then hot
sweating
feel out of it
blurry vision
poor short tern memory
shaking hands
very tired
loss of interest
back pain
and a lot more,anxiety sucks
Posted 9/10/2009 6:09 AM (GMT 0)

Hi all, decided to chime in! My anxiety generally leads to panic attacks. Symptoms I experience most frequently:


Lightheaded state, feeling off balance
My breathing becomes really shallow
Twitches in my legs
Feeling very very chilled. I usually have to have a hot shower, and it doesn't seem to help
Upset stomach, throwing up
The feeling like at any moment I'm going to have a seizure (lose control)
Fear of going crazy, having schizophrenia, ending up in a mental institute - of course I think of how all my friends and family would react, which just adds to the panic. This is by far the WORST symptom. Everytime I have a panic attack I'm sure the "craziness" is here to stay this time.
At night, everytime I'm about to doze off, my body "jumps" so to speak as if its in survival mode and falling asleep is not an option

When I had my first full blown panic attack, I didn't know what was happening. I just remember thinking something in my chest had collapsed and I begged my dad to take me to the hospital. All I could do was envision the doctors having to cut a hole in my chest to get air to my lungs. We showed up in the E.R and it turned out I was hyperventilating.

I just wanted to say that I feel for everyone!! I see some of us share similar symptoms while some are very different then others. Either way, they are alll very frightening, and we all must be so strong to face them time and time again. I truly hope that I will find a way to beat them for good some day!



Posted 9/10/2009 6:15 AM (GMT 0)
The prime symptoms that I have noted in myself are thoughts not related to work in hand but something that is not going right all the time, dizziness, hair loss and at times, headache. I guess these things are really common, aren't they?
Posted 9/10/2009 6:18 AM (GMT 0)
Headache, random thoughts of almost anything.
These two are almost always there.
No hunger, dizziness at times and a sense of extreme displeasure with strong feeling of dislike for everyone around me also happens to me.
Posted 9/10/2009 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
I read something today that was really helpful to me, so I thought I would share.

"Anxiety is a learned emotional response. You were not born with it. Since it is learned, it can be unlearned." -Sharon K. Ferrett (Humboldt State University).

There is hope. We just have to teach ourselves strategies for prevailing over the symptoms.

Good luck to everyone!
Posted 9/10/2009 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
A feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by physical symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, and feelings of stress. Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately 19 million American adults. These disorders fill people's lives with overwhelming anxiety and fear. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event such as a business presentation or a first date, anxiety disorders are chronic, relentless, and can grow progressively worse if not treated.

Do you have a link to the study by Humboldt State University as I would truly like to read the information re the study?  My email is to the Left side of this page ( the blue enveloe)  :)


Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations, and events. The benefit of this fact is that we can change the way we think to feel / act better even if the situation does not change.

 

Thank you,

Kitt

Posted 9/12/2009 10:21 AM (GMT 0)
Generalized anxiety disorder with occasional panic episodes. The word "terror" fits the bill - the mind and body reacting to a life-threatening event that never comes. I feel like I'm choking to death. My panic episodes began as night terrors in early university.
Posted 9/13/2009 9:53 AM (GMT 0)

I just realized tonight for the first time that everything that I've been experiencing for the past 2 weeks is most likely anxiety attacks.  I just found this site tonight and Wow! what a RELIEF to realize, "I might just be okay", maybe I'm not dying of something terrible. Maybe it's something I can manage. Just that thought, in and of itself is a huge relief! I've been really worried!

I've honestly thought, for the past few weeks, that I was dying of something. I woke up with cotton mouth, the inside of my head feeling like it was on fire, shaking uncontrollably, FEAR, thinking I was going to pass out and probably die. Seriously! I told my wife I HAD to go to the emergency room NOW.  She calmed me down though.  I had no idea why I was feeling this way though. I kept thinking, "what's WRONG with me???!!!   I don't want to die and leave my wife and kids.  Very scary!!!! 

The strangest symptom I've had, and I haven't seen anyone else mention this exactly, (other than the feeling like you're going to pass out) is waking up, when I'm already tired and sleeping in bed and feeling like I was going to pass out while I was already in bed.  That really scares me, because it feels like all of my thoughts are going to just cease and well I guess that's what happens when you pass out, but I already felt exhausted, so why if everything was already black and dark, was I feeling like "Woomp, Woomp, Woomp" like everything was going to just STOP in my brain.  Scared the you know what out of me!!!!  Still worries me.  The inside of my head was so hot that while I was stumbling out of the bedroom feeling like any second I was going to just pass out, I went straight for the freezer and quickly stuck my head in there right up against the ice bucket, and instantly felt relief from that. I've had so many of the other symptoms I've read about from other people too.  But it wasn't until tonight that I found this website and said, "oh, I guess it all makes sense now." I've most likely been having anxiety attacks.  I wouldn't have thought that, but seeing my life right now it does makes sense.  

I don't like to admit it, as I'm a man, and that doesn't sound like something men should have a problem with.  You know, the whole macho, male ego thing. :-) "Only women have anxiety attacks", guys say.  Well, I know I'm not a woman, and I AM having all the signs of an anxiety attack, so.......Oh well. :-)

I've never had these problems previously before a couple weeks ago.  I'm a 36 year old, married, father of two who is currently unemployed though and desperately trying to find work so we don't lose our home.  Needless to say, I suppose that is what's going on with my body.  VERY scary though!  I'm not a typical manly man, (I hate to admit it) I've always been, according to my mother, "a sensitive soul". I've always scared easily, always had scary dreams since childhood where I'm being chased or something fearful. I've always been a worry wort. :-) I guess seeing this forum really opened up my eyes and I'm seeing now that "it all makes sense, maybe I've always been a nervous Nellie", which is my wife's name. :-)

Anyway, I've written enough. My wife always tells me, "You don't have to make every email response a novel."  :-)  Sorry.

I'm just glad to know that I'm probably not dying.  I don't have insurance though, since I'm unemployed, so I suppose I'll just have to try to find a natural, holistic way of helping myself.  Does anyone have any ideas that might help?

Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences!!!  It really did help me ALOT!

Gotta go to bed now and TRY to fall asleep.  Wish me luck.  ~ Danny

Posted 9/14/2009 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
I have anxiety, OCD, and depression. With anxiety my heart races, sometimes feel like I might pass out. I've had full panic attacks in the past. My OCD is checking things which controls anxiety to a point. I'm on meds now which help some.
Posted 9/14/2009 1:20 PM (GMT 0)

Good Morning Danny Triplett and Purpleiris

Welcome to HealingWell. Thank you for sharing your thoughts re your anxiety sx.

I think we have a great thread going here and people are sharing their sx with each other.  Glad you both joined in.

If you would like to start a thread of your own, please feel comfortable in doing so.  You will find the members here warm and caring and belonging to this great forum is like belonging to a family.

Welcome aboard to both of you,

Kitt

Posted 9/14/2009 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
tongue  i am so glad you are on meds that are helping some...how often do you get these anxiety attacks???i was real bad till i had gone through the surgery with morphine pump...but i am set so low, i want to go slow at this, but i have had to take break through meds over weekend..i go back on wednesday and have it upped again till i find my own spot, where i don't have to take my percocets..i can hardly walk...and i am still recuperating, it was a tough 2 surgerys..i hope it was worth it..but this has brought my anxiety down a little i noticed...i hope you find your spot, on meds for anxiety.  because it is a terrible thing to go through...

 panheadvic,   3 cats and a multipoo, in which my older son brought the multipoo when his 2 year old son told him, yes i was being mean to little luey.. he,jaime  little one, does not need a little puppy yet..they also have a baby....( little luey )was here the next day.. ...hes a handful......anyways, keep trying meds, to see which ones work for you..i was really bad.....the non-narcotics did nothing for me...it was scarry... let me now how you're doing...panheadvic    peace

Posted 9/15/2009 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
I hope your recovery from your surgeries go very well.  Meds I'm on now for anxiety, depression, and OCD are Remeron, Zypreza, and Vistaril.  The depression has went away, and my anxiety/OCD are alot less now.  I had a hysterectomy awhile back and had to stay in the house for two weeks straight.  When I could finally go out again it triggered some anxiety, but didn't take too long to go away.
Posted 9/16/2009 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
idea  Danny, have you tried acupunture for your anxiety???  i tried this for my, R.S.D., or (complex regonal  pain syndrome 6 years)..mine is related  to the  brain...my anxiety attacks like i told ya before, are terrible...If you don't have insurance, the hospital will always take you....If you get that bad, like me....panheadvic,  3 cats and a mulipoo....which are quite tiring if i must say...i am hoping one day, just one day, i can take luey out for a walk...Just One Day.....vickie, ( i am waiting for that day still)..anyways have to get my morphinme pump upped today, pain all week..just had it put in 4 weeks ago..i am going slow with the morphine.....v

  vickie kendall,  R.S.D 6 YEARS,  ANXIETY, ,PAIN WHOLE LOWER SECTION OF BODY, IT HAS CRAWLED FROM FOOT. 5 SURGERGYS...AND MY OLDER SON, JUST SCREWED ME OVER ROYALLY. nono .HIS OWN MOTHER, thats enough to put anyone in  a anxiety attack...but i am trying not to think about it...........vickie

Posted 9/16/2009 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Helo to all you sufferers of this horrible life controlling illness. Ive been suffering from panic attacks for about 5 months and its driving me crazy its making me angry and scared at the same time. I keep thinkin that i got some horrible desiese like cancer or a tumor which doesnt help matters i feel so alone and the doctors just give me a blank look when i tell them all my symptoms the pescribe me anti depressants. It just feels like ive got somthing more serious wrong with me and ive been to the hospital more times in the past 5 months than ive been in my whole life its getin me down i jus want someone to tell me how im feeling is normal for a sufferor. Thank you and stay strong
Posted 9/19/2009 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Jaime21, NO, you are NOT crazy...These anxiety attacks are terrible. I have been to the hospital and have hid behind the curtains there..the only way they can bring me down is, I.V> ATIVAN, Then i am a normal person again...It's terrible you are not you..So I know exactley how you feel..The hospital turned me awayone time, The DR said he don"t deal with (CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTYS ANYLONGER), I TURNED HIM IN WITH A COMPLAINT... That was a suffering whole weekend...I could not come out of the bedroom, i suffered laying there not being able to breath, sweating, actually detoxing..and to take extra anxiety meds does not work, don't waste them...Good Luck. And stick around, We will get ya through it.. 3 cats and a mutipoo, vickie
Posted 9/19/2009 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
tongue   DANNY, How are you doing? are you doing better ? Did you get meds that help with your anxiety attacks?  Just worried about ya.    3 cats and a multipoo,  vickie
Posted 9/19/2009 2:02 PM (GMT 0)

Good Morning Everyone,

I am glad to see so many of you sharing your symptoms but now I would really like to see each of you sharing what you are doing to control your anxiety.

In order to feel better we all need to take positive steps in kicking this dang "stinin thinkin " to the curb so lets share what works for us and by sharing we will be helping others.

I know many of you have shared before but I feel we need to refocus on how to  conquer our anxiety.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Posted 9/19/2009 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't been around lately because I've been ignoring my anxiety problems for a while now with some success.

My symptoms run the gamut, really. I'll be really hot and then chilled within a few moments and all the while I'm inside and the temperature is the same. I tend to get abdominal distention that at times which can be so severe that my skin hurts from being stretched out. This problem is generally less frequent and less severe than it used to be although I still have my moments every now and then. When this happens I get nauseated, and the nausea makes me very nervous so it can compound the problem. I'm not sure if this is a symptom or not, but when my anxiety level is elevated I tend to touch my face a lot. Rub my nose, eyes...that sort of thing. Probably not a good habit during a flu pandemic, haha. Sometimes my ears will ring. What else...and my mouth can get really, really dry. No matter how much I drink or what I drink that feeling will not go away. Very odd.

Panic attacks are very, very rare for me these days. Klonopin has really helped me out with that. I started taking it probably almost three years ago or whatever now? I don't even know when. I'm on the same dose as when I started, though, and apparently it's still working. On the rare occasions that I do get panic attacks they are like the stomach thing: generally less frequent as noted but also less severe and do not last as long. When I do have them sometimes they start with the abdominal distention and ramp up to the panic attack, but sometimes they start out with just being really strange and nervous. Even then I will almost always end up with the abdominal distention/nausea. My stomach hates anxiety, I guess.

My stress response is generally like a normal person's I think. In my line of work I am occasionally threatened with physical harm and I handle that and other stress pretty well most of the time. If I have a particularly bad week I deal with it pretty well, usually, but seem to have anxiety problems later, such as during the weekend or the next week.

I also tend to have anxiety in social situations, especially in loud environments or if trying to go out with a large group of friends. I can handle a large group of friends at a house party, but going out is a different story. I can go out with one or two friends just fine, but just not to a loud place unless it's live music.

Guess that's about it for me.
Posted 9/19/2009 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Kitt said to share what we do to control anxiety. I didn't see that until after I posted.

Well, Klonopin has helped stem the worst of things, it appears, but it will not do it all. You have to change the way you think and come up with ways to deal with it. I don't think there's a silver bullet drug solution out there that doesn't have serious side effects.

I've been having business trouble lately that has taken up almost all of my free time, but back in the day I used creativity to help conquer anxiety and it worked very well. I'm a musician/songwriter and also a visual artist, concentrating on photography. I'm a perfectionist with those things, though, so they require time that I simply have not had lately. It's taken a toll. I still write a lot to deal with the anxiety. It's an invaluable tool.

Ignoring it also works for me. Usually my anxiety is worse in the mornings, and this is common as the hormone cortisol is being released in the body and that can mess with someone who has anxiety problems. Knowing this, I usually ignore it the best I can and go out to work anyway. By the time I've been on the road a few minutes I have usually calmed down. Also, when I'm not feeling anxious I simply try not to think about anxiety, period. I find that strategy has pretty much eliminated anticipatory anxiety for me. Took practice, though.

But, as said, lately when I do have anxiety problems I have been choosing to write. Sometimes I write about the anxiety head on, and sometimes I write about something completely different. My thought/theory is that anxiety is a right brain/creative mind problem. When this part of the mind lays idle, it starts to wreak its own little brand of havoc, creating physical symptoms and the whole bit. When you actively engage it and task it to do something else, however, it has a hard time continuing. Something as simple as writing a few paragraphs can be enough to calm me down. It doesn't matter what it's about. The very act of writing is creative, even if you're writing an e-mail to your mother about how to set up her DVR or get rid of a computer virus or whatever. Constructing sentences and using vocabulary is creative, even if technical. When I write about anxiety I try to do it from a technical perspective in fact. I deconstruct what I am feeling, laying out a time line and separating the symptoms. The goal is to identify the trigger, which can be elusive. But it doesn't really matter if I find out what the trigger was...usually by the time I'm half way done with the writing the anxiety is starting to go away. I think it helps to separate yourself from it...look at it kind of clinically for lack of a better term.

Anyway, so that's how I deal with it. Sometimes I just suck it up and wait for it to pass like everyone else, though. As all of you know, it's one of those things that can sneak up on you and set in so quickly that it can be difficult to cut off at the pass sometimes. When that happens I just sort of grin and take whatever it dishes out, knowing that it will go away sooner or later.
Posted 9/19/2009 8:17 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you debaser, that was awesome sharing. You have always been one to look for a way to make things better in your life even when your dealt a not so great hand.

I am proud of you.

Kitt

Posted 9/19/2009 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Did you know that you can ask your dr for ativan to have at home - you can give yourself ativan when you feel an attack is coming on ?
Our ins doesnt cover it, but it is worth its weight in gold.

It is mostly learned behavior I feel watching my son suffer. It is also FEAR that is taught to you by other people because they do not like you.

It is very hard to over come esp if it was drilled into your head each and every day of your school year.

Fear/panic attacks CAN lead your lives if you let it.

You need alot of POSITIVE THINKING and a workbook to work on yourself or if you are luckier enough a family member or friend helping you thru it.

You can go forward, but then go 2 steps back.

Certain things will trigger the fear and then
all hell breaks loose.

But it is like a seizure -- it comes/goes.
It doesnt last long.

If only it would stop and never come at all.

Has anyone ever thought of HYPNOTISM for it ? believe me I have for my son BUT then
part of his memory would be erased and that might do more harm than good.

He suffers so from this.
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