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How do you know of its just anxiety or something else ?

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 1/1/2016 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
I've always wondered how do you know if the symptoms you're feeling are just anxiety or something serious ? Everytime I go to the doctor they tell me all my problems are just anxiety and send me home and barely bother to check my vitals and check any pain I'm having on my body. It just worries me a lot especially since a lot of anxiety symptoms are considered emergency symptoms that a person without anxiety should go to the hospital for.
Well sometimes I get symptoms that I'm not sure if they are anxiety or not. For example really severe heartburn and shortness of breath and abdominal pain where it feels as if something is inside my stomach. I don't like going to the doctor because the only answer they give me is anxiety without even checking my body or blood. But what if you ignore the symptoms and something bad happens and you die ? I always have this fear and feel like I'm dying sometimes
Posted 1/1/2016 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
I totally understand how you feel really :/ This can be very troublesome.
Especially when it comes to coping with your symptoms. It makes coping process harder.

The most important clues for me are;

- If the pain/discomfort wakes me up from my sleep, or not (this is something many doctors told me to rely on).
- If I feel the pain/discomfort when I am busy with something else, or not.

When you sleep all your muscles relax and brain works in a different state where you don't have anxiety. So if your regular pains (muscle, bones, joints, chest, heartburn, etc) do not wake you up, and you start feeling them again after you wake up and start your day, that means anxiety plays major role in aggravating your symptoms. And even if they wake you up it doesn't mean you have a life threatening sickness, it just means you need to visit dr. Usually then, other symptoms also contribute to your pain.

And when you keep your mind occupied with something else, if the pain goes away it's absolutely anxiety related.

I know it sucks, so hard to deal with.
Because there will always be a new thing which makes you think "oh this time it's for real..." :(
Until it's gone for some reason.
Posted 1/1/2016 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Brandii! I've had to deal with the same thing recently and understand your frustration.. Go to another doctor. maybe get a referral of a good doctor from a friend or someone you know. lay it out on the table as soon as you start yoir appointment. Say "ive been to another doctor and theyre not taking my symptoms seriously. I want blood work done and possibly other tests." It's crazy to me that a doctor would just assume it's anything without doing bloodwork or tests of some sort and I'm like, I'm paying you to help me! I was never rude, but just assertive about what I wanted. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

Post Edited (sunnyday009) : 1/1/2016 7:35:28 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/1/2016 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
Brandii,

Great advice above!

I will just add that if you are getting a check up every 6 months, to once a year. ..

...and you are otherwise healthy, then you can be pretty confident that your symptoms are anxiety related.

Also, be sure to practice your anxiety management coping skills regularly to keep your physical symptoms as much under control as possible. (see our Resources for great material!)

Peace and progress!

S.C.
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