Never had anxiety before now... help..

Hi and welcome! Yes, it happens that an isolated incidence like yours can be a trigger for anxiety. Unfortunately that anxiety lingers long after the episode that caused it:(

I think that the tendency is already in the individual, but something that is traumatic or disturbing can 'flip the switch on' so to speak.

My anxiety didn't start in this way (had started previously) but I do have a similar story. My husband and I went away for a weekend, and as luck would have it, I got hit with the stomach flu. We had to come home early, but not before I spent the most miserable night of my life in the most expensive hotel room we had ever been in!

The association of being away from home, and fearing getting sick, made it really hard for me to go away again. I had to push myself, and do-it-yourself exposure therapy a few times, until the association was broken.

I suggest you try this for yourself. It will be hard at first! But keep on trying until you break this link you have in your mind between going out and getting sick. It was after all an isolated incidence and a fluke. We can't control these types of things, and just have to allow life to happen.

If you truly can't get past this, then you may want to consider therapy to help you through the process. (but I would try it on my own first, as a therapist will most likely have you do just what I suggested;)

I hope that this is helpful...I am sure you will hear from others as well with other ideas. Let us know how you are doing. This is a great place for information and support...post anytime:)

Take care,
Scaredy Cat

I know how you feel. A couple of months ago, I was in a limo to a wedding and the driver had absolutely no clue where he was going. And unfortunately, I get carsick very, very easily and I forgot my iPod which usually prevents getting carsick. So I start to get very nervous that I'm going to get carsick and we won't be able to stop because we have to be at this wedding in time. I was doing a reading at the wedding and I didn't want to be sick at all.

Also, well I have a history of stomach issues. Ever since I was a little girl. My parents dismissed it as just eating too much sugar and junkfood. A few years ago, I was finally able to go to the doctor and I figured out I was lactose intolerant. It's been difficult since because I had become accustomed to having a stomach ache at least a couple times of week.

Anyway, while sitting in this limo, I started to get nervous about also getting a stomach ache and thinking what would happen. I can't just rush off the to bathroom in the middle of my reading and so on and so forth.

And with all of this going through my mind, I just lost it and started crying. I ended up not doing the reading because I was too nervous and making frequent trips to the bathroom through out the night.

And ever since then, when I'm somewhere that's not my house, I just get that horrible, dreadful feeling that I'm going to get a stomach ache. I have completely cut out dairy from my diet and I eat quite healthy. But that doesn't matter. I'm still terrified. I was in the car the other day, driving to a place 5 miles away and the entire time, I was taking deep breathing and just pleading that I would be home.

I saw a flick in theaters today and I was feeling great and not feeling an ounce of anxiety. And then I realized that and of course, here comes the feeling that I'm constantly on edge.

When I try to talk to someone like my mother, I get the "What are you nervous about? Just stop being nervous." I wish I could just switch it off and enjoy my life but it's difficult. So difficult.

Pepto bismo tablets help when I'm stuck in traffic and my stomach hurts. Sometimes just crying lifts a weight off my shoulders. Deep breathing and remembering a happy memory always helps. I will be seeing a doctor in September though so hopefully I can get past this.

I wish you the very best and know that you're not alone in this.

Hi everyone, my health anxiety started from a similar incident, I was away from home and I had an af attack, my heart goes out of rhythm and I have to get to a hospital quickly..anyway we didn't know where the hospital was finally found it no dr on duty, took 2 hours to get dr there the whole time I was convinced I was going to die, now wherever I go I have to know the nearest dr or hospital is... It's really taken over my life so I do understand where your coming from with this anxiety really is the pits....best wishes to you