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Pain meds.. Anxiety.. Am I the only one!?!?

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Posted 9/28/2014 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
This might be a mind over matter kind of thing but as we all know I have severe anxiety as it is... But I've been taking pain meds (the lowest dose there is out there) for about 3 years now due to many chronic pain issues ... But for like the past year I feel as if the meds give me more anxiety ... Am I the only one this happens to!?! I don't like to mix meds so if im panicking I won't take my meds to calm me down after I've taken my pain meds. I'm not sure if it's cuz I've had panic attacks after I've taken my meds before n my minds playing tricks on me thinking I'm going to get anxiety once I take my meds or what! But I'm tired of it cuz I'm in a lot of pain n half the time I'm afraid to take my meds cuz I think of it causing me anxiety. Ughh anxiety just completely ruins my life ... It's anxiety this anxiety that I can't even work and I just graduated from college!! I have to pay these loans back but can't even work because im so anxiety ridden that it's ruining everything! Is anxiety mind over matter? Is it the way we think that causes our body to react physically to our thoughts!?!? I really need to get rid of this.. 11 years of this b.s. Is quite ENOUGH for me!!!!! )-:
Posted 9/28/2014 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
LMA,

I don't have experience with this...but I would say that if you are seeing a cause and effect pattern between increased anxiety and your pain Rx...then there could be a connection.

Have you checked in with the CP forum about this to see if there is anyone else who experiences this?

Also, it could be as you noted...the fact that you are skipping your anxiety meds while you are taking those for the pain...therefore, a natural outcome since you are without your help for anxiety for that time.

Consider too that pain is a trigger for anxiety. Our bodies and mind react with stress hormones as a result of physical pain...as well as endorphins being suppressed...so the reaction of anxiety is understandable!

Could be any one of these factors...or a combination, right?

Using your coping skills above and beyond what you normally do during these times sounds like plan!

S.C.
Posted 9/28/2014 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, I might be able to give a little insight into some of this, at least from my own personal perspective and experience. I'm a chronic pain patient. In fact, it was the CP Forum where I started out here on HW, looking for support with regards to such a misunderstood condition.

I've been a managed CP patient for decades. That includes medication. And of course, that also includes me doing an awful lot of things in addition to medication to help manage *both* my anxiety and my CP.

I'm not sure what pain med you're on, but some of them can cause a slight increase in histamines which can,- for we super-sensitive-type folks,-- be a segue into anxiety. Our heart rate can increase, our breathing pick up,....you know, all those things that are triggers? Yeah, well,...it's part n' parcel.

Hope that helps you somewhat! I'm here to tell you I'm very familiar with juggling anxiety and CP...






M.
Posted 9/28/2014 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I just had a surgery done a couple of months ago and they gave me perks for the pain. I'm terrified of taking any kind of medication like this because I've had bad experiences with some drugs. So when I have to take pain medication like this it makes my anxiety way worse. I think it's all in my head though. Because I'm so afraid of the effects of the medication plus how my body will react when I have to stop. I just try to stay calm and not to think about all the bad stuff. The doctors and pharmacists know what you're taking and what drugs can and can't be mixed together so I wouldn't worry about the side effects from mixing the drugs. I'm sorry and hope you start to feel better soon.
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