Anxiety symptoms

Hello everyone! I'm 19yo guy from Slovakia and anxiety ruined my last month. Sorry for another, maybe annoying, post about anxiety. I've got anxiety and panic attacks for a month after a few strong and short stress situations. First time I just almost passed out with a tense on my chest. I thought it's hearth attack so I was forced to call an ambulance. They took me to cardiology where I was twice and they told me that there is nothing wrong with my heart. I had no mental difficulties so it took me about 2 weeks until I found out, that it's probably anxiety.During these 2 weeks the only problem I had were breathing difficulties which stopped when I wasn't thinking about it or when I drank valerian tea. This fact helped me to found out that it's probably anxiety. I went to my doctor (because my breathing problems were really really tough to manage) who prescribed me Atarax, a nd after I asked him, he told me that there is no problem with valerian tea and I can keep drinking it. I took 1/2 of pill in the morning, 1/2 of pill in the afternoon and 1 pill in the evening. One hour after that 1 pill I drank valerian tea and it has triggered the worst panic attack I ever had. My heart was beating horribly fast, I perceived the reality like I was out of my body, I had a feeling that I will get crazy and I also thought that my heart is beating irregularly which made me feel 8x worse. All the next day I perceived the reality like I was out of my body and I didn't want to see that Atarax anymore. It helped me with my breathing problems but since that (1 week) I have much more panic attacks (not that strong) almost every day and it has also triggered some other symptoms which are making me much more worried about what's going on with me. I've got some vision problems, numbness in my left forearm and also in my left leg, some muscles pain and sometimes pain on my chest right over my heart. I have 6 more days until my psychiatrist so I would be happy if someone of you can help me a little with this. :) I've got some questions which would help me to get through this, at least mentally.
Is this still an anxiety or it could trigger some heart or other diseases? Can it start some serious health problems during this next 6 days? Why did this Atarax made it so much worse? :( What should I do when the thing with numbness started 3 days ago and it's worse and worse every day?

Thank you very very very much for responses! :) I'm trying to stay positive, but it's pretty hard when I am still worried about what's going on :(

(Sorry for some leaks in my poor english :) )

Post Edited (Dendik111) : 9/11/2014 10:28:13 AM (GMT-6)

Thank you very much for nice words, Cornell!
I'm just curious what's going on with my body for example when my left hand or leg is getting numb and it's worse day by day. Why is it only of the left side? I'm just scared of upcoming 6 days before my psychiatrist, because is getting worse and worse :( To be calm I just need to find out why is my vision getting worse and worse, why are my left hand and leg numb and it's also worse and worse every day. How far can it go?

Sorry for that much questions. :-/

Post Edited (Dendik111) : 9/11/2014 10:40:12 AM (GMT-6)

I remember being so frustrated that all of my symptoms were on the left side only. I kept coming to the conclusion that it must be my heart if it's only on that side. Every doctor kept saying they could find nothing wrong, and that it was anxiety. Now all of my symptoms have shifted to the right side, lol. Which still has me just as anxious, now for other reasons.

Anxiety is just such a tough problem to deal with. :( But it is pretty common to have all sorts of symptoms. Were you nervous to take the medicine atarax? Maybe that could have triggered more anxiety attacks? I remember when I wore my holter monitor, it triggered more anxiety than I could handle. Attack after attack after attack.

Once it starts, it's hard to get ahold of it, but with time things will slowly return to normal. Deep breaths for now, and talk to people that you trust about all of your feelings.

Hello Den and welcome!

You have had great input so far...so I will just add my welcome.:)

Post with us anytime...we understand, care and support is key!

Scaredy Cat

Den,
Here are some Resources to help get you through until your appointment next week.
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

Hey Dendik welcome. It's nice to see another person from my timezone :) hehe

As for your symptoms, numb feeling anywhere in your body is pretty much related to axiety. Also, have you ever thought maybe you did something bad and pinched some muscles/nerve.

My ex husband used Atarax but i unfortunately dont have much info on that one. I recommend you to stick with your meds without thinking about effects. So you can focus on the healing process.
Feel well soon.

Hello everyone again! :)
I just want to say that my last 2 days was much much better than the days before! I believe it's thanks to your feedback :)

Thank you very much Scaredy Cat for links you have found for me. I've saved them already and I will definitely try out something! :) And for that Atarax. I just think it was too much of "calming down substances" which made my brain working differently and it scared my so much.

Rrakkma: That's nice! Where are you from?:) I thought I carried some heavy thing and that's why it hurts me and then I feel numbness there.

What happened to Jen?: I exactly know what you are talking about! No chance to take a deep breath. Like my lungs 80% full would say: "No! No more!" Thank you very much and hope you will get better soon as well ! :)

*Slovakia :)

Well, today I had little breathing problems again, and tomorrow I'm traveling 300km by train for a school and in a 3 days I've got my appointment with a psychiatrist. So I hope it will be all fine in the train and in the school as well. :)

D.,

Sending postive traveling thoughts and wishes your way!! I am sure that all will go well.

We go along with you in spirit and support.:)

Let us know how you are doing when you can.

S.C.

Hi Den,

The Rx that you have started on, Escitil/Escitalopram can initally cause an increase (ironic I know!) in anxiety and symptoms. This is a temporary effect, and should start to fade, as the med builds and levels off in your system.

In one of my responses above, I posted some coping skills that will help you to get through this rough time of starting your new medication.

Be sure and let your doctor know all of your experiences, and hopefully in your upcoming appointment, you can continue to get guidance, and will be on your way to feeling better.:)

Keep posting, we are cheering you on!

S.C.

Den,

It can take up to a few weeks for the med to level out in your system, become effective...and for the side effects to lessen.

It can be really hard to get throug the start up phase, but if you can push through...you could end up with a med that really works for you.

However, if you feel that you are suffering beyond what you can manage, call your doctor. Other alternatives can be explored if these effects are too much to bear and function with.

You will not lose consciousness from the dizzyness. I know it is a miserable symptom. I get this symptom from the anxiety alone (I don't take meds) and from migraines too.:(

Drink lots of water to make sure you are hydrated....and do those coping skills that I keep going on about.;p   I know, I am a broken record...but they really work!! :)

Keep up the efforts, and thanks for the updates! Keep them coning...we are cheering you on!

S.C.

Den,

Glad to hear that posting here has helped.:)

I know what you mean about doing the exericses. At first it is a struggle, because it seems to bring the focus more on the problem! However, try to keep practicing them, because you do eventually get past that point...and then they start to really help.

So in answer to your question...yes, I still have anxiety, but it is managable. I no longer have a lot of physical symptoms, and when I do, I use my coping skills to relax and am not bothered by them for long. I believe I now live my life better than before...because I am aware of how to deal with my stress!

Keep finding ways to treat your anxiety, and continue your recovery with hope...it does get easier with time! :)

S.C.

Hi Den,

I am so glad to hear that you are having good days!! There will occasionally be the not so good ones thrown in there too...but it sounds like you are really on your way to recovering and feeling better!

I am sorry however to hear that you are sick.:( No fun! I have not heard that one can't take ibuprofen with an SSRI on occasion...like say, when you are sick. It is the everyday use of both of these meds that can pose a risk...so you should be fine to use the Ibuprofen for a few days.

If you are really concerned, you could simply take an Acetaminophen (Tylenol) based medication instead. It will reduce fever and pain the same as Ibuprofen.

I hope that you feel much better soon and that your illness is brief and mild!

Let us know how you are doing soon.

S.C.