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Can anxiety really cause so many physical issues????

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Posted 6/26/2013 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Well hello,
I have been reading the posts for the last few weeks but this is my first posting.
I am a 24 yr old mother to a 3 yr old beautiful girl. I have been on many medications in the past for anxiety. It probably started about 4 yrs ago. My anxiety was controlled by the meds until april of this year. I had a really bad flight back from puerto rico with my husband and it sent my anxiety through the roof. Ever since that day I dont feel the same. I went to the doctors twice after that and he changed my meds both times and neither worked so I decided to stop them and he said he thinks I can overcome this without medicatiom but warned me it will be hard.

Well I didnt imagine it could be this hard. I have been to my doctors so many times I think im driving him crazy. I have been to the ER twice including today. I have had 2 EKGs, urine anlyasis (bad spelling), bloodwork and xrays. Everything has come back fine.
I have had scary chest pains that spread to my neck, back, shoulders and down my arms ( even my armpits ache sometimes). I burp excessively as if im over filled with air. I get headaches.and my anxiety makes every little ache feel so exaggerated and serious.

Even after seeing all the test results, my anxiety is still bringing its ugly head around and trying to make me think something is really wrong. I do have a supportive husband but any body would eventually get aggravated by the girl that cries heart attack and brain tumor all the time.

Just would like to know how anyone has coped with anxiety and its symptoms without medication. how long will these symptoms last. And sorry for my long post.

Thanks
Posted 6/27/2013 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
If you have been reading you are aware of the fine Moderators we have here, they have many assets
available to you and a lot of self help, I will say Welcome and let them do what they do best. Peace

Larry ***
Posted 6/27/2013 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi CM411,

I am sorry to hear of you recent anxiety problem returning. It is not uncommon for anxiety, which has been previosly managed, to return...and be hard to get a handle on again.

Hard, but not impossible.:)

I do have to ask however...what is your doctor suggesting as an alternative to the meds that you had helping you before?

I do not believe that you should just try to go without...not unless you have an alternative treament plan going, such as therapy.

When you attempt to manage anxiety without medication...especially if you have been used to the benefits of an Rx...you will need to replace the helpful effects of the meds with coping skills such as those learned from a mental health professional.

I went through two full courses of CBT. This was sufficient for me to manage my health anxiety and panic disorder without using medication...but everyone is different.

Ultimately, you need to decide for you. I definitely recommend trying therapy, but in the end...you are really the only one that knows what you need.

I am sure that you will be able to make an informed decision from learning about all of your treatment options.

Keep posting with us as well along the journey. We will be here to support and understand anytime.:)

Best wishes and let us know how you are doing soon!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 6/27/2013 4:49 AM (GMT 0)
I think one of the hardest parts of anxiety is the "chicken or the egg" question: are these physical symptoms caused by my anxiety or is my anxiety causing my physical symptoms? I personally struggle with this question extremely often.

I find it interesting that your symptoms got worse after a bad flight because I recently had a similar experience. I started worrying about my health after some small symptoms I kept having on a daily basis. I made the mistake of going to Google to self-diagnose and ended my research in a panic attack in which I almost dialed 911.

Ever since this "trigger" event I haven't been feeling myself mentally or physically. I try to tell myself that it is just anxiety and depression manifesting itself through physical symptoms because we all know how powerful and convincing a trick anxiety can play on us, causing real physical ailments. I know how hard it is to believe, especially when the pain is all day, everyday and especially painful some days.

Are there times where you feel better than others? Personally, and I don't know why or if this is common or not, but I tend to feel better and much closer to "normal" right before I go to sleep (which has been around 7 a.m. lately due to not being able to fall asleep).
Posted 6/27/2013 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
Well He didn't prescribe me anymore meds. He actually told me to start Tia Chi. He said that all my aches and chest pains and everything is due to being so stressed. The weird thing is that the only thing stressing me out is my anxiety. I am always worried that something is wrong with me so therefore I am constantly tensed up. My husband told me that I started grinding my teeth at night. Which I don't believe I have ever done. I am also afraid that being so anxious and tense has caused me to start having effects of TMJ.

  My jaw is constantly popping now and I catch myself clenching my jaw throughout the day and have to force myself to relax those muscles. My jaw clenching has started to cause headaches which isn't helping my anxiety because my mind goes to worst case scenario (Brain Problem) which then makes me more tense and anxious. This is like a visious circle that I am having a hard time getting out of.

 Then there are times that I know its just anxiety because if I am busy at work, I am fine and feel fine. It's when I get home and i'm not busy that my mind starts wondering.

   I would like to say that it's hard to talk to my family and husband at times because they just tell me that I am doing this to myself and its all in my mind. I always tell them that I have no idea why I would do this to myself. its not fun at all. its scary and its taking all the enjoyment out of my life. These are the best years of my daughters life and I am not fully enjoying them because of this stupid anxiety and that really upsets me.

   The most normal times I have throughout the day are when im busy at work. Other than that I just want to lay in bed when I get home.

 

Posted 6/27/2013 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Take a look at my forum you'll find I deal with the exact same issue but right now am having a really hard time believing because I am in a physical state I have never felt before. But your not alone I know exactly what your going through it's tough but you get through it I believe in you
Posted 6/27/2013 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
Crazimomma411 and jocipher I'm going thru the same thing I just feel so weak and have no energy I just lay on the couch
Posted 6/27/2013 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
You're not alone crazimomma, were in this together, here to listen and share our experiences ..You will find great resources and support here. I have had anxiety off and on all my life, and I think personally it's related to hormones. I am post menopausal and have had "morning sickness" heart palpitations, hot flashes, dizziness, anxiety, moodiness, for 2 years ...I find it comes and goes, and I just try to accept it and relax when I need to. I know that's hard with a 3 year old! Are you getting enough sleep? Does anyone help you so you can take at least 20 minutes to yourself everyday? Motherhood is very demanding, I raised 5 and have 3 at home right now ....a mother's work seems endless. Take time for yourself.

Carol

Post Edited (Carol57) : 6/27/2013 9:51:23 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/27/2013 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
Carol,

  Yes her father and I are together and he helps me alot with her. He knows sometimes I need just time to myself but I also feel so bad that I am not spending time with her and I am missing out on her great years and I know she needs me but It seems all I want to do lately is lay in bed. I do get pretty good sleep for a mother of a three year old and I have a fulltime job. I just cant wait until I feel normal again I just want to be "ME" I used to be so fun and outgoing and loved to laugh and have fun and now im boring and EVERYTHING makes me anxious.

Posted 6/27/2013 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
You see now us right here are our own little family. I know that we are all family here on healingwell but the three of us know exactly what each of us is going through. We will all over come one day and I have taken your advice and am going to rent off that book you recommended me.
Posted 6/27/2013 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
CM,

We have a lot of self-help ideas in our Resources here. (main page, 1st post) The breathing and meditation/relaxation exercises really do make a difference if practiced regularly.

There are also some good book recommendations there...and others specifically targeted for health anxiety that I can post at your request.

However, like I mentioned before...if you continue to struggle, I can't recommend therapy enough. It changed my life. I attended sessions when my little one was about your daughter's age...and though I did not want to take time away from her...it was the best investment in time (and $) that I could have made as a mom and wife.;)

Keep posting with us as well. We understand and care.

S.C.
Posted 6/27/2013 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
I have noticed that a lot of people who have pretty well put PAD to bed for a number of years have it
come back with intensity. Most of the time it's after some dangerous or scary happening. What follows is
my own unprofessional opinion. "I too am fearful of flying, I think its because I am not in control and the
loss of control at least for me is catastrophic". "Now why would that be, I think the loss of control causes us to face our Mortality, and this is scary as hell. Seeming as most of us have a terrible fear of death I draw an assumption. We may well need to face the fear of death and find a way to stare it down. It can't be avoided but we darn sure don't have to live in the fear that oh oh this is it! (It's difficult for us to accept but it's as natural part of life as being borne)! You are not alone sometimes it grabs me by surprise and makes me want to scream, most of the time I can think my way out but sometimes I have a knockdown drag out with my subconsciousness, even when I win it still makes me feel like I got beat up! Peace

Larry ***
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