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Can you guys tell me about your pysical symptoms due to anxiety?

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 3/30/2014 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
I have trouble believing that all of my symptoms are really from anxiety. I never thought you REALLY could be "worried sick". I've been to 5 different doctors and they all say I am healthy and I pass their pysical exams. I've also gotten a chest xray and stomach ultrasounds for different pains I've had and they came back normal. My experience has been stomach issues (diaherra etc.), chest pain in my left side that my doctor says is from "tension", shortness of breath, and just feeling like there are weights on me. I feel like I haven't felt normal since my anxiety really started up badly again 3 months ago after four years of being fine. Tell me about your experience and how to cope with the physical effects of anxiety. Thanks. Hope you all feel well soon. Anxiety is a horrible thing :(
Posted 3/30/2014 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gina and welcome.

I am sorry to hear of your anxiety and health worry issues. This is common subject here, so I am sure that you will be hearing from others as well.

Know however that more important than focusing on your phyical symptoms, is finding ways to treat the anxiety.:)

Have you considered therapy to help you work through your fears? I found it immmensely helpful and recommend looking into it!

Here is a link to our Resources. In it you will find so many great ideas for anxiety management. 

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

Here is a link that I pulled out of it regarding physical anxiety symptoms. It may bring you some comfort...but be sure to also check out the stress relieving exercises to practice for anxiety and symptom reduction!

Anxiety Symptoms, Anxiety Attack Symptoms (Panic Attack Symptoms), Symptoms of Anxiety:

http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml



Keep talking with us.:)

Scaredy Cat

Posted 3/30/2014 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Ginax I feel for you. 2 weeks ago I was in the er on and off for 2 days. All my results were normal. They told me to follow up with my primary dr so I did. I was still having this pain. My dr said I have stomach ulcers from all my stress and anxiety at work. She put me on Prilosec but if I get really anxious that tummy feeling comes back and I get diahrea. It's awful. I'm starting therapy and reading a self help book. Unfortunately these things take time to work, even when we wAnt to feel better now :( just know I feel for you!
Posted 3/30/2014 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gina,

Welcome to HealingWell.  The term used to be the "worried well" but is now referred to as Health Anxiety and as SC mentioned we have many members that have this very disorder.

Cognitive behavior therapy is frequently the therapy of choice for health anxiety. Our resource that SC provided a link for has several sites to look at re CBT.

What works best for my anxiety is to stay in the moment, positive mantras, my psychiatrist and the use of medications.

One of the best therapies for me is to come here and be with others who understand and live with anxiety so do stick with us. :-)

Posted 3/30/2014 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gina. My symptoms are burning from my thighs to my feet . My hands hurt and burn sometimes. My chest hurts some times and it feels queasy like a sick feeling in it. Some times I get pain in different places. I get tired. I shake and tremble. Some times my head feels weird. Misty.
Posted 3/30/2014 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gina (& everybody else!)

Anxiety sucks. My last real bout of anxiety was in 2007 and have 'relapsed' over the past few months, I struggle with health anxiety. I am a male, aged 35, normal weight and otherwise healthy.

Not sure why it happens, I need to understand that part better. For example, my partner and I have decided to try for children so my first thought is 'what happens if I am unable to' which is an irrational response. It then snowballs to the point where I start researching infertility in males and then convince myself that I can't have children.

This time around, my physical symptoms are mostly confined to muscle twitching and the general thought of having 'jelly legs' - both are quite annoying. Previously, heart palpitations were my nemesis - I guess each time is different.

I am at the stage where I am likely to seek professional help via a counsellor / psychiatrist as I need to tackle it head on so that it does not impact on my (great) life.

Anyway, all the best and - you are not alone, it is a very common ailment in todays society.

Cheers, Simmo
Posted 3/31/2014 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Gina -

I could give you a list of all of the symptoms I feel from anxiety & panic but they really are what every "text book" list would be:

-Heart palpatations (mine feels like it's beating out of my chest)
-Headaches
-General feeling of illness (blah feeling)
-Nausea (upset stomach - I have been diagnosed with IBS induced by stress/anxiety)
-Tingly sensations in my limbs/extremities
-Chest pain (The elephant on my chest!)
-Shortness of breath
-Dizzy
-Sweating
-Pins & Needles feelings in my extremties
-Severe tension in my neck, back, shoulders & other body parts (from tensed up muscles)
-Jaw pain (from clenching my jaw)
-Burry vision (from headaches)
-Agitation
-Weakness or extremely tired (usually after a panic episode)

As I said - it's a list & everyone experiences something different to a degree. I think you can be "worried sick" as you put it because axiety (as simple as some people try to make you feel that it is) is not simple at all and can lend to many other physical ailments.

Keeping hanging in there and have hope. *Hugs*
Posted 3/31/2014 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Simmo and welcome,

It is great to see you contributing here, so I just wanted to say 'Hi'...and we are glad you found us.

Please post anytime, and consider starting a new thread of introduction for yourself if you feel comfortable doing so.

In this way, more members can say hello, and we can all get to know you.

Stick around if you find this a comforting place...there is always someone to talk to who understands...and support is key!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 3/31/2014 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
I have symptoms that I always thought could not be anxiety, until I found this site. I always have anxiety, pretty much. It sometimes goes into a full blown panic attack, and I have given myself health anxiety. I had bad anxiety back in 2005 for about 3/4 years straight. It went away a little bit, I'd say a year really. Came back again and with a vengenace, and has stayed again since.
Here are my symptoms:
Chest Pain
dizzyness
numbness/tingling(can be anywhere)
blurry vision
feeling faint
feeling nausea
shaking
pain(anywhere at times)
nerve pain
short of breath(when I have a panic attack)
heart palpitations
pain in jaw
headaches
migraines
crawling skin
tongue feels numb/tingling
ears feel plugged
ears get hot and red
hot flashes
cold hands and feet
pale/clammy


I have given myself IBS, because of the anxiety. I have been diagnosed with Microscopic colitis now too. I'm sure I've missed something, because sometimes I seem to experience something new..
Posted 3/31/2014 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Panic attack princess. Our symptoms are all most the same. I get burning or tingleling from my thighs to my feet. My toungue tingles to. Some times my hands hurt and tingle. I get pain in different places of my body. I am all ways tired.My head feels weird. Some times I get chest pain and I feel like a queasynness in it. Like a sick feeling. Dry mouth. No appetite. Princess my E Mail is in my profile. Feel free to E Mail me so we can talk. Misty.
Posted 3/31/2014 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi paddicake 77. Your symptoms are very close to mine. My symptoms are tingleling and burning from my thighs to my feet. My hands hurt and tingle. Some times my chest hurts and I get this queasy feeling in it. Like a sick feeling in it. I have no appetite. My toungue burns and tingles. I am all ways tired. My head feels funny. I get pains in different areas in my body. My E Mail is in my profile . Feel free to E Mail me so we can talk. Misty.
Posted 3/31/2014 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gina and everyone.

Took a break for the last few months though I thought I'd post and share my symptoms. It's come back to haunt me in March after two or so really good months feeling close to normal. Here are my major symptoms:

* shortness of breath, often after talking quite a bit: talking wears me out!
* tension or tightness in my upper chest, often after meals in the evening, though not chest pain
* feelings like being on edge, nervousness
* a globus or feeling like I have to cough/throat irritation
* fatigue, low energy
* urges to go (BMs)

For me at least, a lot of this anxiety is intertwined with GI/reflux issues, so I take Pepcid every day. It's sorta starting to not work so I am going to see my GI doc again, soon.

That GI doc had also asked if I've ever seen a psychologist or psychiatrist. I've never seen anyone for counseling sessions. My employer offers EAP (Employment Assistance Program) sessions so I've finally decided to take them up on it. I have an appointment with a psychologist in mid-April. The moderators have suggested CBT is a good idea, so I think I should give this a try. I think it may be a good idea to talk through the issues with someone.

Best of luck and feel better, Gina!

Ruhr
Posted 3/31/2014 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
Misty,

I think the weirdest symptoms for me, are the numbness and tingling..It drives me crazy sometimes. My arm hairs stand on end, and act like I have electricity running through them. There are so many symptoms with anxiety, it's crazy. Today I took a benadryl, because my allergies and sinus' were acting up and making my anxiety worse.
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