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Anxiety driving me crazy?

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 10/18/2012 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
I am a 36 yr old male who is having what my doctor says is severe anxiety. I am a new member to this so anything would help. This is my story leading up to today.
I think it all started about 9 months ago when I found out the coal mines I was working at was closing and I was losing my job. With a wife and 3 kids thats hard to take for 1. So going from making $4000.00 a month to 1200.00 a month on unemployment is a hard pill to take. Then with all the stress of being out of work and trying to pay the bills and keep my family fed I had a physical that showed my WBC was high from what my doctor said was an infection . This started the downward spiral into I guess what is anxiety hell. The next thing I know I constantly think that I have some serious disease or cancer. Then 2wks later my back starts to hurt at the bottom and my legs start to tingle and hurt and become weak, my arms have pains that shoot down them, they constantly tremor, and they have a buzzing sensation running through them. I had a high heart rate, high blood pressure, sweated for no reason, and pians and twitches all over my body. It was like I had the flu or something else. I went to the Dr. and he says its anxiety. He puts me on buspar and celexa, but I can't afford them since I have to use all my income to pay the bills and keep my family fed. These symptoms went on for about a month. I then felt like I was going to have a heart attack or something wrong with my heart so I go to the Hospital and they run EKG, Stress Test, Ultrasound, and took so much blood I figured they would have to put some back in. All the tests come back normal and said my heart was healthy and they couldn't find nothing. Since then the chest pains have stopped, but I can still feel palpatations, and my arms and hands still shake and buzz constantly, and
my legs are still weak and have the buzzing sensation. But now I have a new worry, my right shoulder blade hurts and down my back, and down my right side when I lay down. I now think I have liver cancer or gallbladder problems. I think about my health and if I'm going to die constantly, there is no let up in it. I wake up with my heart racing and my nerves shot. I feel like I'm tired all the time and have no energy to do anything.
If anyone out there can shed some light on this for me with personal experiences or advice it would be greatly appreciated. I'm sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.
Posted 10/18/2012 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome!

First of all let me say I am sorry to hear about your job and the resulting stress that the financial hardship has put you under. It is not hard to see how this could lead to anxiety.

Between that and a health worry...you had a catalyst for a disorder to start up. You are not alone. This is a pretty familiar scenario for many people.

I know that it is hard to believe that so many very real physical symptoms can come from anxiety. The fact is, no one feels these things happening and thinks to themselves..."Oh, I must need to manage my stress better, I sure am having some anxiety symptoms..."

No, they think "I'm dying of something horrible!"...or some similar thought along those lines.;p...but the fact is stress can and does cause quite a few alarming physical reactions in our body.

The best course of action would be for you to tell your doctor that you are having more issues and that it is affecting your quality of life. You can then discuss treatmet together. Therapy and/or medication are ususally the recommendations.

I have been relieved of my health anxiety and panic attacks through therapy, and many people use medication to help them with various anxiety issues. Some people have found the combination of the two to be what they need for recovery. It is a personl choice, and everyone is different in their needs...so your doctor can be of help in this decision.

Whatever you decide to do, there is always self-help, which is a great way to get started right away. As your stress levels lower...so do the physical symptoms and worries that go along with them.

In our Resource Guide (main page, 1st post) we have some links to videos that teach breathing and relaxation exercises. Both are excellent stress management tools that you can use to stop the negative stress effects. It is not a magical cure...but if you practice these a couple of times a day for a few minutes everyday, you should notice a difference in how you feel.

I hope that you will continue to post with us. Sometimes just talking with others who understand goes a long way in helping you to feel better.

We are here to listen and support!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 10/18/2012 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Scaredy Cat for your comments. I will try the relaxation exercises and see if this helps.
Posted 10/18/2012 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi buggy, I am also new to this board, but not new to anxiety/panic. Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone and that I too suffer from health anxiety. It is a really awful and debilitating phobia. I also get the tingly sensations and chest pains, which have sent me to the ER in the past, and all the tests came back normal. I am seeing a new psychiatrist and therapist now, and am hoping the combination of the two will help me get my anxiety in check. I used to meditate and exercise regularly, and have found this to help tremendously. I need to start them back up again. Good luck, I hope you start feeling better soon!
Posted 10/19/2012 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks maxam for your comments. Its good to know that I am not the only person with this battle. Hope you get better also! I just put my faith in God that he will take this away from me and make me whole again.
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