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Scared and confused about my anxiety symptoms any info helps!!

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 9/18/2009 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hey,

I am 22 years old and live a very healthy active life. Last Friday, when I was going to bed my head felt extremely dizzy. It wasn't really a
headache but more like I've had far too much caffeine (ie nervous, jittery, feeling of being out of it) I felt like I was losing my mind. This has continued for the last week non-stop. I have also felt chest pain in the last few days. I have been in and out of doctors offices and hospitals but none of them know what's wrong. They have suggested anxiety or panic disorder and the symptoms seem to match. However, is it normal for the jittery nervous feeling to go for an entire week unabated?? Also isn't it strange for it to come out of the blue at age 22? I'm really scared, I just got engaged an I want to live a happy life and get married I don't want to feel like this anymore! Any shared experiences or reassurances would be greatly appreciated thanks!!'

Tom
Posted 9/18/2009 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Tom,  I experience the exact samething about 8 years ago.  It came out of the blue one day and at first it was only when I was going to bed.  It would start with a feeling in the pit of my stomach that I can even put into words what it felt like.  Once I started getting that feeling it would go into the racing heart, palm sweating panic mode.  At the time I had never heard of or was aware of what anxiety and panic attacks were.  It got so bad that even the thought durning the day about going to bed that night would set it off.  I literly lived like that fore 2 years till one day driving home from work I called the 800 mental health number on the back of my blue cross card.  They immediatly put me in contace with a social worker and long story short, I was put on a medication for panic attacts.  The medication did wonders for me.  I would think after a few months I didn't need the medication so I would take myself off just to have to start it up again in a few days when that feeling in my stomach came back.  I did however go off my meds about a year ago and keeping my fingers crossed they have not come back.  Please see a dr. for this if it con'td with you.  It can totally take over your life.  I hope this helps so you know there are lots of people out there experiencing the same thing. 
Posted 9/18/2009 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi TMJ.

Anxiety-panic attack knows no age. Mine started around the age of 8. I'm now almost 35. Had a few months off from the anxiety here and there. Panic attacks hit full force when I was 19. Went away for about 3 years. And I have had them since.

Medication does help. CBT and counceling show that they can help as well. You have been told now a few times its Anxiety/panic. Now its time for you to do something about it. No one cand do anything but yourself! So make the doc appt. Chat it up with him/her and see what they have to say.
Take a look at the CBT information.

Get yourself informed lots of information on the interwebs that can help you. The more you know about anxiety/panic the easier it is to go on with day to day life!

Take Care
Cary- Ann
Posted 9/18/2009 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you both so much for your responses! It feels a lot better just to know that other people go through this. I'm going to the doctor on Monday and hopefully I can get a referral to a mental health person. Thanks again. Just knowing
what it is and that there are
more people like me helps so much!

:)
Posted 9/18/2009 11:37 PM (GMT 0)

Hello tjm046

You have joined a wonderful forum to talk to an share experiences with others that have anxiety.  Welcome to HealingWell.

I am Kitt and I have had Anxiety and Depression for 27 years now.

We know where you are coming from and what you are going through so a warm welcome to the family.

Kitt

Posted 9/19/2009 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tom,

It is nice to meet you. Just wanted to welcome you to HW and our A/P Forum. Tons of great people on here that deal with the same issues :)

Take care!
Posted 9/19/2009 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
My anxiety and panic attacks started in my early 20s as well, same symptoms...scared me to death and seemed to be continuous because I was in "denial" of having it, thought I had it all "together" with no worries or stress.  Looking back it was the worst episode I've had with the symptoms. There are alot of people here with the same symptoms....Welcome and glad you have found the forum, very helpful and lots of wonderful support.
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