Stuck in Limbo

dojopo

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2012

Posts : 43

Posted 7/10/2012 1:11 AM (GMT 0)

Anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, difficulty concentrating at times - my current Big Four problems. Even minor things now seem like a big effort. Just going to the food store today seemed so hard for some reason. I don't know why but my brain seems to get overwhelmed in some situations. Feels like it is has trouble processing when too much going on which increases the anxiety levels. Hard to stay focused and attentive often- even watching tv at times seems challenging. It has been gradually building and it's affecting everything including work which has temporarily let me work from home.

Many of the docs I've seen attribute all the symptoms to general anxiety / depression. However, several specialists believe Chronic Lyme Disease is the root cause of these symptoms based on blood test (I was infected 2 years ago and now I am again showing positive in a number of bands - although the non-lyme docs believe this is from the prior infection).

So I treat both anxiety (Lexapro) and the Lyme (antibiotics) yet still do not feel any improvement. I know both treatments may take weeks (or longer) to show progress but I feel like such a bystander in life right now and am withdrawing more. Feel like in limbo in that I'm stuck worrying about multiple conditions and how to best treat them both. I look back a few months ago and wonder how I declined to this point?

My instinct tells me that I've always had some low-level anxiety issues and the lyme perhaps just magnified it. Plus a dose of hypochondria is not good with these vague and common symptoms as I make anxiety worse by trying to research and figure it all out.

Ugh. Any encouraging words?

Scaredy Cat

Elite Member

Joined : Sep 2006

Posts : 28868

Posted 7/10/2012 5:11 AM (GMT 0)

Hi and welcome the the A/P forum!

I see that you have found the Lyme room already and that is great since you are dealing with those issues as well. We have many members who have both a chronic physical illness and anxiety as well.

Whether is was the illness that set off the anxiety, or it was always sort of lurking...is a chicken/egg sort of question, and understandably confusing and frustrating!

I think that you are doing the right thing though, in treating them both appropriately. If I could just add one suggestion, it would be to consider therapy for the anxeity. Many of us here have benefitted tremendously from it! No matter what the cause of the anxiety...therapy can give you the tools to deal with it, even if it is brought on physically by the Lyme. You could ask your doctor about a referral the next time you go in.

Keep talking with us as well. We understand what you are going through, and will be here to listen and support!

Talk to you soon,

S.C.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply