Brain doesn't think I'm anxious, but body does

Hi all, new here! I was diagnosed with anxiety several years ago after being tested for everything under the sun. My symptoms were dizzy spells, nausea, tingling waves in my chest, diarrhea, etc. -- which evolved into a state of near-constant wooziness. Finally got sent to a neurologist who tried me on Prozac (which didn't help) and then lorazepam, which was like a magic bullet.

Fast forward something like eight years. I think the mini-dose of lorazepam I take (.5 mg twice a day) has probably just stopped working, and it's back to feeling crummy all the time. Huge bummer. I cried at the doctor's office today. This was after they prescribed citralopam (Celexa) and I'm hopeful it will help, but I'm scared to start new a new med because I don't want to get nauseous or dizzier than I already am. My first dose will be tonight... fingers crossed. There's travel coming up next month that I have to be well enough for.

I guess what I really wanted to say was that I've never considered myself to be an anxious person. Sure, I'm more comfortable at home than in public and have been under stress at work lately, but I find it astounding that physical symptoms like these could be caused by anxiety in my brain. But they tell me it's common. Does anyone else here feel mainly physical symptoms rather than nervousness, worry etc.?

Wow... so strange to have such prominent symptoms without knowing for sure the real source. GERD (or its possibly anxiety-induced equivalent) sounds miserable and I hope you get it worked out soon!

Yes, I have physical symptoms from anxiety without thinking about anything. Sorry to say but my doc refused to put me on any benzos like Lorazepam. They are addictive and eventually don't work. I am struggling myself to find the right drug. Anything prescribed comes with two weeks of nasty side effects before you know if the drug is going to work at all. I don't know about your insurance but mine is terrible so I have to also consider the cost. Some drugs are really cheap like Paxil and other are quite expensive. I know how frustrating it is when the anxiety rules your life.

Yes, it IS frustrating to have anxiety rule your life! I wish the lorazepam had continued to work. The practitioner I saw today offered to increase the dosage of that but, not wanting to deal with benzo withdrawal down the road, I opted to try an SSRI instead (see thread "Citalopram nightmare"). That was the wrong choice!

It's encouraging, melodee, that you've been on lorazepam for over a decade and it's still working. It's looking like I'll have to try upping the dosage after all. I don't suppose I mind taking little white pills for the rest of my life if it's between that and feeling unwell all the time.

Speaking of pregnancy, there was a time when I was considering getting pregnant and was a little freaked out because I'd have to discontinue the lorazepam since it's a teratogen. Didn't end up happening, though.