Tingling and numbness in my arms and leg, is it just anxiety?!

Hi,

I have had some funny symptoms and have been told it's just anxiety but I am not convinced! about 2 months ago I was at work and suddenly my right arm went numb then the other arm did and my legs slightly too. I felt really dizzy and sort of 'out of body' type thing, it was terrifying. My colleague said I went really pale suddenly then very red. It lasted for a few minutes then I felt ok-ish and then it happened again. We called NHS direct and they sent an ambulance round (I told them I had hit my head badly the weekend before but I don't think this was related). They did blood tests and a CT scan and eventually said I had had a panic attack. Felt quite embarrassed.

I then felt ok, a bit shaky but fine, until last weekend when it happened again, this time I was just sitting on the sofa. It eventually passed as I just told myself to take deep breaths and it was ok then. I couldn't sleep that evening as I felt so worried I was going to have a heart attack. Now yesterday it happened again, in the car this time and I felt odd all day, just quite numb arm(s) and a bit heavy headed. I couldn't sleep again as I felt my arms and legs go numb and jolted awake. This morning I feel ok but still a funny arm, little tingling in my left little finger as well.

Does this sound like it's caused by anxiety? I have a slight history of anxiety but I am happy and well now and confused as to why it's happening! I am reading loads of stuff on the internet which is worrying me making me think I have MS or something like that.

I'd love any advice or response!

Thanks xx

Hi Emsy and welcome!

I am sorry to hear about the recent scary episodes that you have experienced.

It is good that you went in the first time that this happened, so as to rule out anything physical. That is a great first step.

Have you also been to see your regular doctor for a follow up visit? This is good idea so that you can get an official last word on whether you are dealing with panic attacks, and then discuss treatment options.

Until you can do this, here is a link to our Resources here which are full of great information. You can read more on anxiety and panic, as well as learn coping skills and stress relieving exercises. There are also book recommendations and other helpful materials.:)

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

Keep posting with us as well. It is important to have support along this jouney. We are always here to listen and care!

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat

Panic attacks often do happen very randomly. It is the accumulation of stressors that build up. We often suppress or don't deal with the anxiety...or sometimes we are not even consciously aware that we are anxious at all!

My first attack, I was completely shocked. I knew that I had some stress going on in my life...but I thought that I was handling it...I didn't feel overwhelmed

When it happened, I was not feeling worried, upset, nervous...nothing! It was out of the blue.

You can ask your doctor about doing more tests...but you may want to focus your efforts on treating the anxiety first, and save yourself some perhaps unecessary procedures.

Wishing you the best in whatever you decide. Keep posting!

S.C.