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circulation problem? anxiety

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Posted 7/5/2011 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
ok so do any of you have circulation problems even when your not anxious or in an attack? After my first panic attack the next day i noticed when standing for too long i would feel my leg start to tingle like it was falling asleep then the weird head tingles would come almost feeling like i wasnt getting good circulation to my brain or something. its very scary and brought on another attack in which i literally thought i was going to die. im so scared and just want to feel normal. anyone have any experience with symptoms like this? do symptoms from previous attacks linger around even at time when one isnt anxious? please help
Posted 7/5/2011 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
I have some problems in when its cold, my hands will go very cold very fast, even when wearing gloves, and I often get pins and needles, can't sit down for long before having to move around to let the blood flow. Sounds like you didn't fully recover from your panic attack, I try to relax as much as possible when I think I got one coming on. Trying desparately not to get too anxious all the time. Probably not really answered your question :/
Posted 7/5/2011 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
same here with the pins and needles and the sitting down. if im sitting or standing in place for a long time i neec to move arojnd to get my blood flowing. i get the pins and needles in my hand sometimes legs arms and i thought i felt a little on my face
Posted 7/5/2011 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
also with the neck stiffness can it linger? like with me it comes at random parts of the day
Posted 7/5/2011 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ASK, I always find it amazing just how many physical symptoms anxiety can cause, and how every time anxiety hits, they can be different!

Here is a great url for the most comprehensive list of symptoms I have seen:

www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety symptoms.shtml

This is of course not a replacement for a medical check-up or for use in self diagnoses, but if you have seen a dr. and all is clear, then you can be sure that stress is the cause of your complaints...one you are sure to find at this site!

As far as your second question. Yes, p/a's can have a rebound effect. It used to happen to me often. Try to get some good exercise to help burn off some of the adrenaline in your system. Then double up on your breathing and relaxation exercises until things get back to normal:)

Take care and keep posting.
Scaredy Cat
Posted 7/5/2011 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
thank you for the reply. its just so scary. These head tingles and neck stiffness makes me think i have a tumor or some kind of cancer that spread to my brain. i keep scaring myself. didnt have an attack today but i felt anxious and scared. i hope that doesnt lead to me having an attack later
Posted 7/5/2011 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Ah the brain tumor worry, I know it well! Actually that is a pretty common one...we should come up with something more obscure and creative Lol! I am of course just joking around, it helps to have a sense of humor to diffuse the fear.

I have been where you are (and some days I still fight those same fears) but have found much relief from the majority of it. You will get there too:)

Try not to anticipate another attack. It is hard not to, and harder to accecpt that you have no control over whether it will happen or not...but the more you dwell on a possible future one, the higher your stress will become, and that will possibly be setting yourself up:(

I can't remember if you are in therapy, or what you have tried to do for treatment. If you haven't looked into it already, I highly recommend it. If you have any questions about it, feel free to post back!

Hoping you have a worry free day:)
S.C.
Posted 7/5/2011 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
you are so helpful SC. haha i didnt know it was such a common. The first part of that post gave me a laugh i really needed lol. Im not in therapy yet but i am considering it. It is hard trying to not anticipate another one. very hard. I have been trying my best though and ill continue to. today i did what you told me not to do and googled brain tumor symptoms and scared the crap out of myself which caused me to shake a little bit before i calmed myself down. Afterwards my neck and shoulders were tight and my legs were weak and got more freaked. I need to block google on my computer. DEFINITELY CONSIDERING THERAPY i havent seen anyone yet though.
Posted 7/5/2011 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
If you read through your post you can see the classic worry cycle happening. You are stressed to begin with, experience something that increases the fear (reading scary medical material i.e, trigger) and then having physical symptoms increased as a result.

When this is happening, this is hard to see and recognize. When you go through therapy, this will be part of what you learn...how to recognize the thougts/actions that trigger our fear, and how to combat them.

I am glad that you were able to calm yourself down...that is huge. I have sat in front of my screen a shaking mess too, and it's hard to come back from that, so good job:)

TTUL8R (and no more symptom searching!)
S.C.
Posted 7/5/2011 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Anxskyhigh,
I know exactly what you are talking about with the pins and needles..I think it is mostly adrenaline coursing through your system.
After a panic attack I am exhausted for a couple of days and so are all my muscles, it feels like I ran a marathon, everything hurts. One thing I have found that helps for me, not to say it will help for you but worth a try is when I am having the panic attack I get in the shower..sometimes I lay on the floor and let the shower relax me, for some reason it helps get my mind off the attack and relaxes me enough to focus on my breathing it also helps with that"pins and needles" feeling.
I would hope that you do seek therapy to help you through this time. It might also help to keep a journal. Write down what you were doing when you had an attack or when you just feel anxious..this might help you to see your "triggers."
Bring your journal with you to therapy, it would be most beneficial for the therapist and yourself.
Good luck, hope it helps at least a little,
Leslie..
Posted 7/6/2011 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hey las thanks for the reply. Yes i feel the same way. After that first attack my body felt completely shot. Today (2 days later) my body is feeling back to normal just a little shaky. Your explanation for the pins and needles makes a lot of sense too. I really appreciate you reply. It sucks that we all go through this but it feels good to know im not alone with these symptoms. Im loving this forum so far as well as the members. Posting and reading on here has really helped me a lot so far :) oh and i am glad to report i felt great for the remainder of my day. Like my normal happy outgoing self. Just wish i could get back to feeling like this every day. I am going to try my best to makd that happen and i know i have all of everyones here support.
Posted 7/6/2011 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
oh SC i read your post at work and didnt get to reply right away. Your so right about that cycle. I see it now. Its ridiculous how much anxiety and panic can mess with our heads!
Posted 7/9/2011 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi ash NO DR GOOGLE remember.....you and I are banned from dr google, he will only scare you and make you more anxious guaranteed....Shan :))
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