Totally incapacitated with anxiety

Okay, So I've had problems with anxiety for the past 4 years or so but it's never been as bad as it has been lately. I've always considered myself an active person, I like to play baseball and tennis. I like hanging out with my friends and putting a few back. Lately though, I haven't been able to function at all. I'm a 26 year old male that as far as I could tell before was healthy. I mean I drank a lot in college and haven't always eaten the best but I have never done drugs and before recently had tried to work out on a regular basis.

I am laid of right now, but wasn't when this whole thing started. My company went under and have been laid off for about 3 months, before that at work I could not concentrate, I have an impending notion that I think I am going to die or have a heart attack or have leukemia or something terrible like that. It's always some sort of disease or heart failure I'm obsessed with. I am constantly shaking, I can't sleep at night. If I try to do anything with the littlest of effort I feel like I can't breath. The only thing I do anymore is lye in bed all day and night wondering what the hell is wrong with me. It has totally taken over my life. Just the other day my friend who's wedding I am in said they we are getting fitted for our tux's next month and it just totally made me nervous because I have to go out in public. I was a regular weekend drinker before this but have cut way back, to the point where I only drink about once every couple weeks and not to access, but the only way I can go out is if I am drinking, so my life has pretty much been confined to my room for about 3 months now. It is the most terrifying thing in the world. All I can think about is my health. But get this, I am terrified to even go to the doctor because I'm scarred he's going to tell me I have lupus or cancer, or my heart is failing. I was really overweight but because it's hard for me to eat I've lost about 35-40 lbs, which i guess is good because I'm much closer to normal weight now, but it scares me because in my mind it must be from cancer or some sort of awful disease. I get twitches and have had a lot more frequent panic attacks where my heart races to 100 mph and I feel like I can't breath, my blood pressure shoots up during those episodes, I know this because I have a home blood pressure monitor I bought and probably check it 10-15 times a day. I even get freaked out when my blood pressure is normal, because it wasn't before, my heart must be getting weaker is the thought that pops into my head. When I am about to fall asleep, I'll be just about out and I'll start shaking really bad internally throughout my entire body and my head.

I know I need to man up and go to the doctor. But this is bad, and I just want to know if anyone has any encouraging thoughts for me or have shared a similar experience? Thanks.

Fred,
You are in the right place, take to heart what Scaredy Cat has to offer, most of us have had your symptoms and with meds and people to talk to on here we emerge on the other side of this viel of fear.
A good group, which is what this can be, will help, mosty because people on here have been through the same thing, some are just learning, some are far enough along to offer good help and advice. For me
it has always seemed that a former sufferer of anxity could help more that someone who never had this problem, that includes Dr's as well, but thats my take on this. You will get better, it may take a while,
give us a chance, we don't want anything from you but to see you well.
Larry

I am very familiar with this type of story. Almost same thing happened to me. But I was 22-23 at the time.(I am 31 now.) I used to have the blood pressure monitor strapped to my arm at all times.

I found what helped me was researching and finding a doctor that knows how to communicate and relate to me.