Doh... it's happening again!

It's been about a year since I've had any notable anxiety problems, but I think it's happening again. There's the usual edginess and difficulty relaxing, but the main symptom is slightly different...

I keep getting a head rush whenever I stand up, I often feel faint and there's a feeling like my head weighs a ton! It feels like some sort of blood pressure problem, but I did occasionally experience the same sort of thing before amongst my other symptoms and the doctors checked out my BP at the time without any problems. I push myself quite hard when I'm excercising (I'm a keen mountain biker...) and I'm fairly sure any cardio/BP problems would show up then rather than when I'm at home trying to relax. Because of this I don't want to start making doctors apointments and stuff as I feel - in my case - it would risk 'fuelling' the health anxiety, rather than easing it.

I've also started feeling edgy again, but I presume that's cause rather than effect!

I don't know what's brought this on. I'm happier and more sucessful than I've ever been before - I've got quite a lot going on, but it's all positive stuff. Unfortunately the anxiety is starting to have distinctly a negative effect. I get paranoid - it feels like even if there's nothing physically wrong with me at the moment there will be after a few more years of this.

I know there are plenty of people far worse off than me (including many anxiety suferers), but I still just feel like it's really unfair nonetheless. Maybe it's a bit self-pittying, but when I get really wound up I just start thinking "why me?"

Sorry for the slightly negative tone, but I feel like it's on top of me at the moment and just wanted to vent!

Sometimes, being happy and successful can make me stressed and worried I might lose that happiness at any moment then I cause more stress. So for me good things cause stress as well as bad things. Karen

Thanks guys.

I feel better today, but mystified as to what's been up the past few days. Thought I'd got the better of it and then it came back. The main thing is I've been at least half-sure it's anxiety related this time.

The cycling - or indeed any excercise is good - for two reasons. Firstly, it physically de-stresses me. Secondly, I can get really paranoid with health anxiety. A major worry has always been heart problems, despite the fact there are no reasons in my lifestyle or history to suggest it. (I'm a 25 year old virtually t-total non-smoker with a resting heart rate of 55bpm, yet I can still convince myself I'm minutes away from a heart attack!) Going out and pushing myself physically helps to put my mind at rest I guess - if I can survive going flat out up the hillside, it's a fair indication that everything is working ok.

That's also why I don't want to go to a doctor. I became a regular visitor when I had really rough spell last year. Every other week I was in 'with' a different incurable condition and eventually they all turned out to be anxiety symptoms. Obviously if I started getting something very intense - severe chest pains or whatever - I'd go back, but the rest of the time there's too much risk of feeding the paranoia. I dunno if that makes sense - the chances are overwhelmingly that the problems are anxiety based and if I start booking doctors appointments and so on, it kind of feels like I'm letting it win.

I have been wondering about what's caused this 'relapse'. It may just be increased stress, possibly a change of diet (lots going on recently, so I haven't been eating quite so healthily!) and possibly less excercise. I've been so busy lately I haven't had a chance to get out on my bike or go for a run.

I am so glad you are feeling better
I am hoping that you have another good day today
keep us posted plz

My anxiety goes thru the roof at times as well

LYN