New to Anxiety .. Some advice?

Good afternoon everyone! (for myself at least)

I am a 22 year old female, and new to the world of panic attacks and anxiety. I've always been a bit of a hypochondriac, and I've been through therapy before ... but lately my symptoms and experience with anxiety have taken a turn.

Starting in June of last year I began to have panic attacks--infrequently. I've had maybe 5 since then, and was prescribed a half dose of Alprazolam to use if my breathing exercises failed to calm me. My symptoms were pretty typical: impending sense of dread, chest pain, tingling/numbness/pins and needles in my left arm and side, shortness of breath, and extreme fear of having a heart attack. More often than not the alprazolam managed to remedy this. A year ago I went to the ER when the alprazolam didn't help my symptoms, and I had an EKG and a CT scan--nothing showed.

I should mention as well that I tested positive for a genetic clotting disease called Factor V, and that in combination with me being obese (I weigh 315 lbs.) has really just left me in fear of my health. Specifically my heart.

I'm on the track to taking control of my health. I work out, I eat better, and I'm trying to live well. However, last night at around midnight I began having symptoms of what I thought were a panic attack, except different. Pain instead of tingling in my limbs, so tense and sore in my shoulders and upper back, as well as faintness, hyperventilating and extreme fatigue. I took alprazolam--only for it to again do nothing.

I managed to calm myself and went to sleep, but now almost 12 hours later I'm still feeling effects. Pain in my shoulders and upper back, pain in my forearms and tingling in my finger tips, pressure on my chest, and such exhaustion.

Is this typical? My attacks have usually passed in a matter of a few hours, but with my symptoms lasting so long I fear the worst. Im torn between making a doctors appointment and risk making a fool of myself (as well as racking up medical bills) and trying to just calm down.

I'm now seriously considering medication. Any thoughts? I apologize for the long post! But I'm really excited to be a part of a forum where other people are going through similar experiences.

M

Hi MM! Welcome! You will find lots of kind people here! I'm so sorry to hear that you are dealing with so much anxiety and panic. I've been there. I know how real and scary it is. Just yesterday, I was driving and all of a sudden thought I was going to die. I thought my heart was going to stop. But, as always, it didn't! I try to remind myself of this every time, but it's hard.

I have also had tingling, and random pains. I think a lot of it is just from the tension I carry a lot in my shoulders.

One thing I have found that helps me, is walking. It is hard to continue to panic when you are doing something. The fresh air and movement helps me. Also, meditation is very helpful. I know people say it all the time, but that's because it really does work! It calms our overactive, racing minds.

I hope you find something that works for you soon!

Welcome MM.,

I agree with the above advice...you are worth ruling out any issue of a physical nature concerning these new/different symptoms.

Do not worry about the cost, or looking foolish...it would be foolish to ignore your health.:)

I do hope that all will check out well...please let us know what you learn...

...and come on back and allow us to support you.

We are glad that you found us, and look forward to getting to know you better! :)

Scaredy Cat

Wow!

I have to say, I was not expecting this level of support or encouragement. Thank you all so much! It's a wonder what those kind of things can do to soothe a persons mind. :)

Update: My symptoms have thankfully lessened throughout the day, but they're not totally gone. My weekend is packed with weddings and family events so I scheduled a Dr's appt for Monday. I think it's time I really make an effort to become more educated about my own anxiety and what I can do for it, medicinally and otherwise.

Thank you all again, SO much! I hate to think that others out there are going through the same pain as me, but knowing that there's a space created for us all to communicate comforts me enormously.

M

M.M.

Glad that you have started to feel better...and yes, please let us know how the appointment goes.

Hope you enjoy all of your events this weekend!:)

S.C.