Physical Symptoms

Did you have thyroid testing done? Some of your symptoms suggest at least pursuing that, though sounds like it's already been considered. I wish weight loss were a symptom of mine! I do get weird tremors and twitching. I had an EMG done, and all was well, but the neurologist suggested daily B12 vitamins for that.

Hi Betsy,
Thanks for the reply. Yes, I've had thyroid tested many many times. Had all the neurologic tests, too, in addition to what seems like a thousand others. I am so grateful that all has come back normal, but my anxiety always seems to get the best of me and I worry that I have some awful ailment. I guess maybe this is part of the anxiety picture? Thanks

Mrs. Worried,
You are so right, I can't believe that the mind has the power to cause such physical manifestations. I am sorry you go through this, too, but I'm comforted knowing I'm not alone and I'm hopeful that you have improved. I hope to be there soon. You mention the Resources section - is that somewhere on this forum? I'd like to learn more. Thank you for replying and for your continued kindness and support. It makes a huge difference.

Big hugs

Betsy,
You are so right! I'll find that when I get a test done and leave with normal results, I won't notice those symptoms for a few days - it's like they disappear with the good news - but then they'll resurface some time later and I'll end up back in that tail spin. Thanks for the reassurance and support

Here is the link to the Resources!

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

S.C.

There is a clinical psychologist who posts on YouTube and he describes anxiety or health anxiety as like a person marooned on an island who is told that there is a wild beast after him and he must constantly run for his life each day. This marooned person is your subconscious mind which cannot tell the difference between an actual wild beast and a fictitious wild beast.

If you were to examine this man after a week, a month or a year of being on the run for his life can you imagine the host of physical symptoms of chronic stress that would have presented - the person would be a wreck both mentally and physically, paranoia, twitches, nervousness, physical discomfort. In the same way if your subconscious mind is continually activating the fight-or-flight response in the hope of being able to out run this fictitious wild beast can you not imagine that you also would produce a whole host of physical symptoms. The fight or flight response was designed to be used in once off bursts by our stone age ancestors to deal with danger. It was never meant to stay continually activated. If it is then it will naturally have long term affects on the cardio, GI, neuro systems etc. A zebra uses its fight or flight response to outrun a tiger. When the tiger is gone it immediately returns to grazing in the field. It does not worry about where the next tiger is going to come from. For animals there is no such thing a linear time like we humans perceive. The old addage goes that if you ask a hippo what time it is then he will simply say IT IS NOW (assuming the hippo can talk!).

It is important people see anxiety as a PHYSICAL reaction to an over stimulated fight or flight response. Anxiety itself is the symptom not the disease. You need to look beyond the anxiety to overcome it. Too often anxiety is described as a kinda dark arts lurking in the recesses of our minds. If you cut your hand or catch a cold then you will take physical steps to make yourself better and get rid of the trauma you are in. So with anxiety you need to take physical steps to reduce the cortisol and adrenaline pumping around your body. You weren't born with anxiety. You learned the bad habit.

You are not your anxiety.

damo,
That is a great analogy and makes a lot of sense when put that way. It's reassuring in a way. It's amazing what anxiety can do to the body. Thank you for writing.

prew,
Thank you for sharing. I'm glad to hear that your weight recovered - I hope to be writing the same soon, too.

Big hugs