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Posted 12/3/2011 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone,
I'm new here and I have a question.

Is it possible to be anxious even if you know, in your mind that you have no reasons to be anxious?

I'll explain.
For the past years, I've been having a lot of stress. School, and health issues that came out of no where. Doctors couldn't find what I had and for a long while I was always sick. Then, when they found out what was wrong with me, I had to go through a long process of learning how to deal with it.
Until last summer, I thought I was doing well.
I was being strong and one day I started twitching. Legs, arms, face. Anywhere. Had a bunch of tests done, neurological and physical and they found nothing wrong.
Then, I would take up in the middle of the night with an earth quake feeling. Like my body was vibrating from the inside. Then came the feeling that someone was holding my throat.
I was able to swallow and talk, but still had the feeling someone was holding it.

From what I've been told, it's all anxiety related. Or stress. But related.

Problem is, I'm good at talking to myself and understanding that it's ok, and that nothing is going to happen. I learned how to breath and close my eyes. Learned how to stay away from stressful events.
I have a good diet too, nothing like coffee or alcohol.

So, if I understand what's going on, how come my brain doesn't?
Why do I still have symptoms?

Thank you for your help.
Posted 12/3/2011 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Anna,

I know exactly what it is you're going through with this. It's as if you honestly do know that everything is okay, that you're going to be fine, but it doesn't stop the anxiety or the symptoms. I struggle with this a lot myself. I've had blood tests and what not done, and I go through bouts of being okay for about a week or so before falling back into the throws of anxiety --even when I KNOW that I'm okay!

I think, personally, a lot of it has to do with the "flight or fight" mechanism. Once that gets triggered and causes symptoms (shaking, nausea, dizzy, etc, etc) it's difficult to just suddenly shut it off. Once the brain releases those chemicals, they run their course until the mind perceives that the "danger" is gone. It's like how people get scared of snakes, even if the snake is in a cage it still makes them anxious. They KNOW that it can't get to them, but that doesn't stop the brain from releasing the flight/fight chemicals. We are also programmed to remember the things that make us anxious, or that we find to be a "threat", so any subtle reminder of that (as in, if you had a panic attack while driving your car once, watching other people drive might induce anxiety again even if you aren't the one driving), can trigger the flight/fight response and produce the symptoms, cause more anxiety, which causes worse symptoms, and so on and so forth. It's a vicious cycle if you let yourself get caught up in it.

What has helped me a lot is just being sort of indifferent about the anxiety I'm feeling, because I know I'm okay. I often tell myself, "I know that I'm feeling anxious right now, but I'm still okay." It doesn't always take away the original anxiety, but it does help to stop the cycle and prevent me from having full-blown panic attacks.

I hope this helps you. The website where I learned more about the flight/fight response is: http://stresscourse.tripod.com/id11.html

It's a bit of a read, but the information I got from it was definitely helpful.


Best wishes and good luck,
Em
Posted 12/3/2011 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome!

You have received some great advice from Em already:) I also think that you might want to consider that there could be a physical component involved.

Anxiety can run in families, which tells us that it could be from nurture, certainly, but also from nature.

Some people may just be wired-up to have more of the anxiety- causing chemicals in their body. That would explain why, even when you are not cognitively feeling stressed, your body is still having a reaction.

We have an excellent Resource Guide that I recommend for new members. It is on the main page, 3rd post down. You can check out some great links to sites that teach breathing and relaxation exercises. Practicing these daily will really make a difference!

Keep posting with us:)

Scaredy Cat
Posted 12/4/2011 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks both for your answers.

I do think it's physical or mental.
Is there meds I can take that won't make me feel like a zombie?

Tonight I went to a business party. It was evening wear. So everyone was wearing the best dress and make up.
To avoid as much stress as possible, I did everything I had to do a few days before to make sure I would have no problem today. I even asked a friend to do my makeup for me.

Nothing today went wrong. And yet, tonight out of no where my heart started beating fast. Like something was wrong. But all I was doing was sitting on a chair surrounded by friends. I wasn't stressed at all.
Then, I got this feeling in my legs, like I had a vibrator strapped to my leg.

I know it's not a heart issue. I got checked. Nerve issues, checked too. I don't know what to do. Even when I do my best to relax. No sound, disconnect the phone, getting a massage from my boyfriend. I still "vibrate" :(
Posted 12/4/2011 9:54 AM (GMT 0)
 

 Hello there, im sorry you have to be having these heart and twitch feelings. I can tell you from little anxiety experience(just started having bad anxiety and panic for last 2 or 3 months) that anxiety can really make you seem like there's something wrong, on a daily basis i feel my chest tighten up and lightly burn feeling  and also some quick pains through my stomach chest and arms. and also when i wake up i feel like my head is going back and forth quickly. I too got pretty good at realising it is anxiety and it kind of calms me down. but i still feel those symptoms even though their not harmfull or anything... I started taking Celexa coming up on 3 weeks along with ativan just for when i feel any panic coming along and i can say it worked wonders for me, even though the full affect doesnt kick in for another 2-3 weeks. and i never wanted to take medication but when i did i started feeling better quickly, first few days or week were rough since the med made me not be able to move or want to go outside, but after it settled in i love being outside and can function again. i would reccomend Celexa to you because i feel better on it and theres some other good forums on it on sites. but everyone has different medications that work for them so you could give any a try until you find the right one. And it does make you drowzy for the first couple weeks but if you have a sub drug like ativan or something like it to hold it off it helps alot too, like i said im kind of a newcomer with anxiety and panic but it feels like i learned alot and had good support from this site.   Good luck on everything and i know you can find something out there. Ty

 

Posted 12/4/2011 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Anna,

Anxiety causes weird, weird things to happen to your body --even when you are feeling okay mentally! My brother has an issue like yours, he constantly feels tingly sensations, vibrations, or even shocks throughout his entire body. He has had anxiety (health anxiety) for just about all of his life, but it finally reached a tipping point and he began to experience real fear and despair about six months ago. Along with the heightened anxiety he began to have bodily sensations.

I have experienced some of my own, but never constant nor do they honestly bother me (I've got other worries on my mind), but the fact is that anxiety just affects everyone differently and does weird, weird things to your body sometimes. I don't know why exactly, but I feel it has to do with the flight or fight mechanism, and just the general chemical changes that occur when we have anxiety.

Anyhow, I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone in the constant, strange bodily sensations. Some sensations are more typical than others, but none of them are abnormal with anxiety. It's like anything your body can do, it will. The less you let the vibration sensations bother you, the better you will feel mentally and emotionally. They might not go away when you are feeling good, but the fear is the main thing, isn't it? Without fear, anxiety would be a cake walk --it probably wouldn't even exist!


--All the best,
Em
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