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Posted 11/22/2013 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all, I'm new here. Bit of background info - my anxiety started not long after my step father had a stroke. It was a shock because he looked so healthy, ate right etc. He survived and was out of hospital in a week. This happened on my 40th birthday. A few weeks later, we were travelling to visit family and on the motorway, we went up a very long hill and down the other side. The pressure affected me and I could no longer move my mouth properly, I'd been singing along to my iPod. I had to really force myself to speak and I was convinced I was having a stroke. I felt horrendous for the rest of the day, had diarrhea, cold waves across the back of my head and was very aware of how I was feeling. After a few days I was back to normal. Every few weeks, it would start - I'd b out with friends and all of a sudden I'd be taking more notice of how I was talking, I'd get the cold wave across the back of my head and I'd start getting a headache. Again, after a few days I'd be back to normal. I'd spend my time checking in the mirror that my face looked normal, pulling faces to makes sure I could smile, and putting my hands up in the air to make sure I had control of them.

The last week has been hell for me. I'm not sleeping at night and can't remember the last time I slept through. I then end up sleeping during the day, so a vicious cycle. Wednesday was one of the worst days of my life. I woke up feeling unwell, I had diarrhea all day, I felt nauseous and drank water, I couldn't eat and I ended up with tingling and numbness in my fingers, the side of my face and my arm felt cold. My face was hot yet my hands and feet were freezing. I was convinced I was going to have a heart attack. I felt like this all day and struggled to sleep that night, it was very on and off. By the morning, I felt ok, just a headache.

This anxiety has really started to take over my life and I hate it so much. I fell asleep for a while tonight but my arm has gone cold/numb and it woke me. Another time I nodded, I dreamt I couldn't swallow and woke up in a panic. I also find that I cannot enjoy anything I eat, especially if it's bad for me and I immediately start thinking that it's going to cause a stroke. I have a doctors appointment booked for 6 December but I may have to go sooner than that after the last 2 days I've had. I am finding it hard to concentrate on anything I normally enjoy as I try to take my mind off this. Sorry for the essay but I need as much help as I can get. Thanks for reading.

A x
Posted 11/22/2013 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
Wdwfan

So sorry you are having such a rough time. Anxiety manifests in so many ways and if you're like most of us you focus on the symptoms that your body is giving you. Have you tried breathing to calm your anxiety? It really does work. It's also good you have a Dr appointment to rule out anything serious. Try the breathing techniques when you find yourself overwhelmed. Please keep talking to us here, we're all in this together and support each other and cheer each other on. Best of luck yo you yeah
Posted 11/22/2013 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome.

I sorry that you are having trouble with your anxiety. I understand how it can effect your entire life. I can tell you that you are NOT alone in this and that we have all gone through this in one way or another. I had the tingles and numbness. I also had the freezing feet and hands too. This is all very normal for anxiety and since it was a stroke that first came to mind that is how your body reacted to the stress. As longs as you can breathe and function and do not have the classic symptoms of a stroke you should be just fine. I know that this is hard to "hear" as you are in the middle of it all but this is the truth.

Now please look at the resource page as they have the best tips to learning to cope with anxiety. Deep breathing has been the best for me. Also do not fight the anxiety as this is something everyone deals with. Tell it that it is allowed but the fears are not. Fear is what panic lives off of and the more we fear the longer it will conduct our lives.

Please keep posting we are all family here and you are the newest member. Take care hun.
Posted 11/22/2013 7:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Wdw and welcome.

I too am sorry to hear of all that you are going through. It is very scary and cofusing to experience all of this. However, now you are surrounded by support, so I hope that you will continue posting and let us walk with you through this journey to wellness.

It is good that you are seeing your doctor soon. It is always good to be checked out thoroughly, and be able to discuss your treatment options with him/her.

Most people are recommended medication, therapy or both for a recovery plan. What you choose is up to you, so ask questions and get your doctor's input...but also do your own research in order to make an informed decision.

Do you have headaches often with your symptoms? I ask because some of what you describe sounds like it could be migraine related...another thing to discuss with your doctor perhaps?

Until you can go in, why not have a look into our Resources and try some of the self-help ideas there? The breathing exercises as S2S mentioned are very powerful! Progressive Muscle Relaxation and meditation are really helpful as well in reducing stress. The instructions for these skills can all be found in the links in the Resources. (main page, 1st post)

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

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat
Posted 11/22/2013 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, thank you for the welcome and helpful responses. I am having a better day today. I will definitely look at the resources available. I need all the help I can get. This week has been a nightmare and I really want to get better. I feel a bit rough today, sore throat and a fuzzy head but my thoughts of impending doom etc are less so that's a good thing. I have confided in my husband and my mum and they've both been so supportive. They were a little cross that I hadn't confided in them before but I honestly thought I could deal with it alone. Now I know I can't. I will definitely keep posting as I'm sure it will help me.

Many thanks, A x
Posted 11/22/2013 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Wdwfan, Welcome to HealingWell   and the A & P Forum . This is the place to come if you have questions or concerns about anxiety/panic, related medications and their side effects and recovery. Some of our members have been living with anxiety and related disorders for years, while others are new to this disorder.   I was first dx in 1982. I'm sorry that your anxiety is so bad and really affecting you in a negative way.  It's hard to try to deal with this on your own. Certain therapies, like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy can usually be really beneficial for GAD and other anxiety disorders. I do hope you feel better once you read through our resources and that you find some information that will help you now.  Keep talking to us and know we are here for you. Kindly, Kitt  
Posted 11/22/2013 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
I can totally relate to what you've experienced!! A few years ago after coming home from the lake, I was awoken in the morning to heart palpitations, which didn't really bother me too much. My husband put his head on my chest and said "whoa what's going on in there? You're heart is beating stangely!" Well, as soon as he said that, I started thinking the what if's! What if I'm having a heart attack,stroke etc... Well within minutes, my left arm went completely numb and my face began to flush, so off to the ER I went. I was taken in, put on a heart monitor, reflexes checked etc.. and all was completely fine! The doctor explained to me, that the palpitations were nothing to worry about, and that some people notice them more than others. As far as the numbness goes, it was just a manifistation of my anxiety, brought on by my fear of having a heart attack!! I had a very stressful drive home from the lake the night before it happened, and it was just my body saying slow down! I've had tons and tons of neuro symptoms in the past too, and use to worry that I had some debilitating disease, but guess what? I don't!! I will never minimalize what you are experiencing, because I know all too well how scary it can be, but I can say that you are definitely not alone, and that you will get through this, I promise!! There are so many wonderful people here that will guide you through!! Peace, Lisa
Posted 11/24/2013 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the responses all. I'm still trying to get my head around all of this. I can't understand why it's happening and what the triggers are. The only things I've gone through as such are my step father's stroke on my 40th birthday and a laparoscopy. I can be sat watching the tv and the feelings start followedby the panic. I find I a quite quick tempered and snappy plus whenever I try to talk about all this, I burst into tears. Hubby is asleep now and he said to me "no crying once I'm asleep ok?" I can't promise that. My arms are aching and I'm getting twinges in my face so I'm trying to keep my mind occupied and am constantly telling myself to shut up. Does anyone find they get frustrated and get an urge to do themselves harm? I don't mean anything like suicide but sometimes I just want to slap myself to knock some sense in to me. I don't like feeling like this at all. I may have to bring my doctor's appointment forward.

Thanks for reading, A x
Posted 11/24/2013 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
Wdwfan, wouldn't it be wonderful if PAD made us feel healthy, intelligent, and strong! It's a darn shame but
it always seems to be the opposite. PAD can make one have every symptom you have experienced and then
some but don't cancel your appointment you need the peace of mind that a clean bill of health can give you.
After you get your results you will be able to use many of the resources here at HW to give you back the
control you once had over your life. It will happen and you will get better and if you move your check up
to a earlier date it will just make things happen sooner for you. Peace

Larry ***
Posted 11/24/2013 6:40 AM (GMT 0)
Have hope Wdwfan!

Things can and will get better:) Use coping skills such as the ones found in our Resources to get you through until you can see your doctor and get some treatment recommeded for you.

Keep posting with us, and we will encourage you and support you with understanding.

We care and are here anytime!

S.C.
Posted 11/24/2013 6:46 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to you both Larry and Scaredy Cat. One day at a time right? I have been reading about different techniques and am determined to learn how to meditate and have started the deep breathing exercises. I will cope with this! I'm lucky I have the support of my husband as well as everyone here. Thank you :)
Posted 11/24/2013 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Wdwfan,

Good Morning from Minnesota where the temperature is 10 degrees and the wind is gusting.  Brrrrrrr.

One thing that helps me is journaling.  You may want to try this and  make it a part of your routine knowing that if you miss writing in it, the world will not end. :-)


Keeping a journal is an easy, stress-free way to privately express yourself. It can be as simple as writing down a description of what you do each day: you’ll find yourself adding little details about how you felt and what you thought about the people and events you encounter, and pretty soon you will be able to write entries entirely made up of things you are thinking about. If you enjoy writing, keeping a journal is an inherently soothing experience.

Whatever your skill or interest level, you will find that journaling is a reliable way of decreasing your anxiety.

Journal writing, when done regularly becomes more than just a chore. Your journal is a space for you to say whatever you want and examine how you really feel without any judgment or pressure from the outside world. The anxious brain appreciates reliable routines and spaces where it can feel safe, and over time you will begin to find that just picking up the pen in your hand and opening your journal to a fresh page in and of itself has an instantly calming effect on your mind and body.

I use an free online journal as I have a problem with handwriting due to osteoarthritis.  I use Penzu which is a free online diary and personal journal focused on privacy. You can Google their site, or even make a document on your computer if you can password protect it.

When you are anxious, sometimes what you need the most is a temporary escape. Journal writing can serve as an opportunity for meditation, not just on the event, person idea causing you stress but upon any subject you can possibly think of. When you need to calm your mind, writing in detail about what you see around you, or things that make you happy (such as baby animals, walks in the woods, your favorite holiday) can help you to stop obsessing and reach a more positive, functional mental state.

The added benefit of journaling is that it forces you to make time for yourself. In the midst of texting and running errands and getting to our jobs and various appointments on time, it’s a rare moment when you are allowed to get in touch with yourself. Use this time to organize your thoughts. This allows you to find out, almost from an “outsider” perspective, what your thoughts/experiences “sound” like when written out, which can give you valuable insight into what parts of your mental process are less rational than you may have realized, and show you how you can behave more rationally next time.

I guess you can see I believe in journaling.

I wish you peace,

Kitt

 

Posted 11/24/2013 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Ok you sold it to me :)

I'm willing to try anything (within legality) to get some relief from HA.
Posted 11/25/2013 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Kitt. I love writing and have always kept a diary of sorts but now I am using my diary to try to sort through everything. I wrote down all the things I've been thinking about and/or worrying about. The list is a page long! I didn't realise I had so much rattling around my brain. I've realised how critical I am of myself. After 40 years I still cannot look in the mirror and like what I see. I am now going to set aside a few minutes a day to jot down my thoughts and how my day has gone. I didn't do so great yesterday, things were tingling and hurting and I was very aware of how I was speaking and what I was doing. If my brain starts I tell it to shut up. That seems to help as well lol. I spent some time with my best friend so I was able to help her by listening to her problems and she listened to mine. I've now got three people I'm telling about what's going on with me - I figured the more I can get off my chest the better.

Thanks again, A x
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