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Posted 7/13/2012 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
Just recently began seeing a therapist and was told I have general anxiety disorder, OCD, and suffer from obsessive thoughts. I've been absolutely drained lately and it seems like I focus on every little ache and pain. I've noticed myself googling every little symptom and finding everything under the sun, which in turn, fuels my anxiety even more. I was prescribed Paxil(10mg) and Xanax(.25mg) by my MD but my therapist told me to discontinue the Paxil. My appetite disappeared for about a week, but seems to be getting back to normal. Has anyone ever noticed if their anxiety has any effects on their lymphatic system? I have sharp pains in places that worry the heck out of me, as I'm a chronic worrier also. Thanks as this is all very new to me.
Posted 7/14/2012 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi CWR and welcome!

It is great to hear that you are seeking help for your anxiety issues...well done!

It is difficult when you are getting two different answers from your professionals however. Do you know why your therapist wanted you to discontinue on the Paxil? Perhaps he/she doesn't think that it is helping, or that you don't need it?

As far as the aches and pains and googling symptoms...try not to! It will only lead to more anxiety over things that probably have nothing to do with your issues. Pain/weird sensations throughout the body tend to be part of anxiety, and we tend to focus and put a 'red alert' on common feelings that everbody gets from time to time. As long as you have had a recent check up and are healthy, then put your energy toward working on your anxiety instead of googling.:)

Keep up the good work with all that you are doing to acheive recovery! Keep talking here with us as well...it is very helpful to talk with others who understand. We will be here to listen and support anytime.:)

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat
Posted 7/15/2012 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
Not unusual that the anxiety is draining your energy, although sometimes doing too much can worsen anxiety. Chicken or the egg? I certainly know that my experience is that when my anxiety starts to rise I try and rest more and want to rest more and that can help. However you don't want to sit around and ruminate about anxiety while "resting".

Resting means just that resting.

I've been researching the amygdala a great deal recently and found some interesting information about it. Basically you need to recognize that your symptoms may very well have a biological basis and that you can lessen some anxiety by understanding the biological mechanisms of it.

This is an excellent powerpoint presentation from this year's anxiety conference. I am a MH professional and I suffer from Mood and Anxiety Issues and have for 20 years so I get it from both ends. This is really good info and has a lot of easy to understnd facts.

http://www.adaa.org/sites/default/files/Pittman%20158.pdf
Posted 7/18/2012 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
CWR:

I used to google symptoms all the time, until it caused me so much stress I couldn't handle looking through it anymore. From googling symptoms, and if I took it seriously, I most likely would have every disease/illness/sickness known to man! Which honestly at a point I believed I had horrific diseases :( Googling symptoms is probably one of the worst things a person can do if they are fighting anxiety and a panic disorder. I had to learn that the hard way. But know you are not alone in all this!


Yankeefanz:

Thanks for sharing the website! I just read over it and it made so much sense to me! It helped me see another view on anxiety, and I will be trying my hardest to use this knew information to help control my own anxiety's.
Posted 7/19/2012 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for the input. I'm really trying hard not to look and am getting better but its almost like an addiction.
Posted 7/20/2012 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
CWR,

Oh I can relate with you and it being and addiction. last year I found myself, everyday, looking on webmd, and googling symptoms, even if they were not related to me. Of course then I started thinking that I had someone else's symptoms. >.<

This also happens sometimes when I am reading over the forums, even though I don't have some of the symptoms I will start freaking myself out and say I do have certain symptoms. I have to be very cautious as to what I read. The news is bad for me to read as well, or watch. here recently there was an article about pop cans that scared me, and something else though I cannot remember what it was off the top of my head. lol. But yeah, sometimes reading and hearing things like that can make an anxiety patient have even more anxiety.
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