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anxiety is controlling my life, please help!

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Posted 7/18/2014 3:27 PM (GMT 0)

Hello I am new to the forum.

 I think that I have had anxiety all of my life and I never noticed until I had this full blown panic attack! (currently I am 32 years old, male). It all started on 04/05/2014, I started to full numbness and tingling on the right side of my head that spread to all of my body, cold sweats and shaking, after about 15 min it all went away, I just felt very dizzy afterwards. On 04/07/2014 I had a "panic attack" that lasted about 4-5 hours, I was at work and the numbness and tingling started again on the right side of my head, in a matter of 30 minutes it spread to all over my body, I was dizzy, numb, scared and with a rapid heart beat and high BP. I would have these symptoms for the next couple days, I have been to the Emergency room over 8 times in the past 3 1/2 months. I have had multiple test done ( MRI, CT scans, EEG, blood work, test for different neurological things) and all of them come back normal, basically there is nothing wrong with me on paper.

I still get the full numbness and tingling on my right side and it will not go away for days, then I will feel normal for a couple of hours maybe a day and again numbness and tingling. I also feel weaker on the right side and I have ringing in my right ear all the time that once in a while will migrate to both ears!

I was diagnosed with an inner ear infection on the right side, I think that this is what started everything!

I am currently taking Buspar for the second week. I feel a bit better but I still get all these symptoms and pains!

Please help, this is affecting my life.

Do you think this is anxiety? Doctors think that is the only issue with me!

Thank you

Post Edited (joshwee) : 7/18/2014 10:16:03 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/18/2014 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Joshwee and welcome!

I am sorry to hear that you are currently dealing with these attacks, and awful symptoms of anxiety. I know how that feels.

However, you are doing the right things in order to get your answers and help for yourself, so have hope...there is recovery!

Good job on getting checked out medically...and getting an Rx to help you. This is a good start.:)

Reaching out here is also a great step! Support helps...and we have a great amount of Resources here that you can take advantage of. See our full guide on our main page, 1st post.

Here are some excellent exercises that I pulled from there for you to get started on:

Self Help sites with breathing/relaxation exercises instructions

Panic attack relief exercises:

 

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/34334/breathing-lessons/

http://www.healthyplace.com/

http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/

http://www.ehow.com/video_4405003_breathing-exercises-panic-attacks.html

http://www.psybersquare.com/anxiety/panic_relax_I

 

Try doing some of these everyday (3xs a day) for a week and see how you feel. Anxiety managment through coping skills is really beneficial!

Keep talking with us as well.  We understand and care.:)

Scaredy Cat

Posted 7/18/2014 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you very much Scaredy Cat!

I am trying to learn how to cope with my anxiety. One day I hope to be able to be back to "normal" :)
Posted 7/18/2014 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Josh,

Many of us here have learned to redefine what our perception is of "normal!" The more we work to manage our symptoms, the stronger we become in the face of them. Problems, in and of themselves, never go away. But how we choose to approach them,....yep, that's what can make the difference!





M.
Posted 7/18/2014 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Merrida! I appreciate you and everyone that has taken the time to read or reply!

I'm am happy that I'm not alone, my wife doesn't understand that I can't just " snap out of it"
Posted 7/18/2014 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Joshwee,

I'm sorry to hear that you are dealing with anxiety and panic attacks and it's affecting your life. I know that can be very hard to deal with and it can be scarey. You are not alone.

I think you are very proactive for taking the time to go to the doctor and get yourself checked out, that's really a good thing. I'm glad that all of your tests and blood work can back okay.

Sometimes anxiety is not something we can get through on our own, sometimes we need support and professional support. I'm glad you posted here so you can get a little support and hopefully if you need it you'll be bale to get professional support to help you determine what may be best for you to successfully manage your anxiety.

Sending hugs to you in case you need them.
Posted 7/18/2014 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you HeartfeltOne!
Posted 7/18/2014 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with everyone else, that you are smart to have benn checked by a doctor. Have you ever thought maybe your numbness is from your spine? Maybe try a visit to a chiropractor and get an adjustment, I had your symptoms and my spine needed adgusting because of trapped nerves.
Posted 7/19/2014 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
thank you Deborah,

I will be seeing a chiropractor on Tuesday, I even tried acupuncture on Thursday :-) I'm desperate hahaha.

today I'm having horrible acid reflux or heartburn! I am trying not to panic- anyone has a good remedy, I have never experienced pain like this before, my whole digestive system is burning.


thank you in advance.

Josh.
Posted 7/19/2014 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Have you discussed the digestive distress with your doctor?

I mention it because, like many others here with anxiety, I also have GERD and for a while, I never seemed to follow through on getting my stomach checked out independently.

Can you tolerate something OTC like TUMS?









M.
Posted 7/20/2014 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you again Merrida!

Today the heartburn is gone, no more burritos from chipotle for me :p

Josh.
Posted 7/21/2014 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
hi , i will tell you i had every test you had and more , even had my stomach checked 3 times and a host of other test and procedures , and its almost two years 1000x of doc, er visits and specialist visit , on paper they find jack doodley , but yet my life feels like a nightmare ..... hang in there !!!
Posted 7/21/2014 6:00 AM (GMT 0)
The best way I've found hands down may be the mindfulness technique/meditation which encourages you to focus on your own breathing when you feel anxiousness rising and to recognise the way your thoughts can trigger anxiousness in the first place. It teaches you how you can accept your thoughts and emotions and just observe them, whenever you 'get it' it changes your entire life
Posted 7/21/2014 7:02 AM (GMT 0)
My sister brought that and its a waste of money ...
Posted 7/21/2014 8:35 AM (GMT 0)
What works for one person, may not work for another.

Likewise, something that doesn't seem to help one individual may turn out to be the greatest thing to someone else.

We each need to pursue our own paths to wellness and what works for us.

That is one of the many things I like about this forum, is that we can express what has, and what has not, worked for us in the past, so that our members can make their own informed decisions, personal to them.

:)









M.
Posted 7/21/2014 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
I have alot of the same symptoms I was just recently diagnosed with anxiety after a bad panic attack a month ago I went to the er when it happened they did the ekg blood work and xray and said my heart was fine I still felt horrible so I went to a dr 3 weeks ago and he diagnosed me with anxiety and put me on hydroxyzine 25mg...it seems to take the edge off but it doesnt go away and just in the past few days ive had bad reflux symptoms I stay bloated feels like my food dont wanna go down my chest and stomach hurt and my throat had a lump feeling and really dry the other day and then today my arms were hurting really bad I guessvthe anxiety just has so many ways it comes at u its like I get rid of 1 thing and get another so im always worried
Posted 7/22/2014 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
bamafan,

hang in there man! For the longest time I felt like you, it is a long journey but you're not alone! Are you talking about it with someone?

I am new here but the people here are awesome!

Good luck man!
Posted 7/25/2014 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Update:

No neurological problem- Amen to that

Numbness is coming from a nerve that is located under the trapezius muscle.

I am finding answers, I am looking for them. And I think is it time to stop looking for stuff!

All I have left is this horrible anxiety and sleep apnea ( I snore loudly).

Thank you very much, Good luck to all and God bless!

Josh
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