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anxiety and physical problems

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 8/29/2013 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
hey im 23 y/o female and i have hadd anxiety for about a year and half now but recently it seems to be getting worse. i find myself with constant pain on my left side or tingling and ill go to the er to find out its nothing. lately i have been lightheaded and dizzy and my psych put me on new meds because of it. i feel like i am alone with this problem and i am constantly told that i am over reacting from family and friends. im at work and my whole left side is tingly and it does scare me but i try to tell myself that its nothing. i feel like my condition is starting to run my life and i dont know what to do are these symptoms normal or is something wrong with me ???
Posted 8/29/2013 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
The only thing wrong with you is you are suffering from anxiety, it's enough for anyone, I want you to
spend some time here reading other peoples posts, it's important for you to see and realize that you are
not alone, there are thousands of us and our symptoms for the most part are basicly the same, we feel
symptoms that make us think we are dying and it gives us a panic attack. Two things read the posts and
then go to the resources there are so many thing you can do that will really help you. Peace

Larry ***
Posted 8/29/2013 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
You are not alone, and no one should be telling you that you're overreacting. They simply don't understand how it feels.

Larry has given good advice.

*hugs*
Posted 8/29/2013 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome!

I am sorry to hear of your anxiety and physical symptoms that go along with it.

First of all, know that you are not alone, and that many of us understand exactly what you are going through. If you read through other's posts here, you will find that we are all dealing with similar issues.

You mentioned your P-doc and med change...what else are you currently doing for anxiety management? Do you, or have you done therapy for help?

We have some great self-help ideas in our Resources here (main page, 1st post) that could give you some fresh coping skills. There are video links, informative articles, book recommendations and more. The breathing and relaxation exercises are especially effective in reducing over all stress levels, and thus the physical symptoms that you mention in your post.

Keep posting here with us as well. It is key to have care and support...and we are here to listen anytime!

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat
Posted 8/30/2013 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
Left side tingling, where does it come from?

Left side tingling in the arm or shoulder might indicate a pinched nerve in your neck. Left side tingling in your leg or foot might indicate a pinched nerve in your lower back.

Pinched nerves are real and they can be a side affected of anxiety. You are anxious all day, likely your muscles are tense and not relaxed, you are on edge and your body is reacting to it. Of course you will be straining your physical system which might result in a pinched nerve.

I do some regular neck exercises during the day to make sure my head is not in a front-forward position (lurching forward to look at laptop screen), that helps to reposition the discs. Search you tube for some videos on how to relieve pinch nerves in the neck, most methods are the same.

As far as tingling goes, I had a buzzing foot for some time, likely caused by a pinched nerve in my back. I found sleeping on my side with a properly shaped pillow and a pillow between my legs helped to keep my spine straight during sleep. Also I chose not to focus on it or call it a "mysterious" symptom of my anxiety. Don't worry its not "all in your head" but it comes from your anxiety for sure.

Try a few stretching exercises and tips above, and they will surely help you in some way to alleviate extra stress on your body that sometimes is caused by excessive anxiety.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

Joshua
Posted 8/30/2013 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all so much it truly helps knowing I can talk to people that know what i'm going through and as far as trying other things with my med$.to keep my mind off things idk how it acts up at the store ne.where really. N tonight my left.side actually whole body feels like pins n needles.its scary n idk what to do like if I should go to the er or if it is just my anxiety
Posted 8/30/2013 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
If you have been before in the last year or so, and got a clean bill of health your ok, if not you need to
be checked so you can rule things out, but at your age, well I don't want you do not see a doctor.Peace

Larry ***
Posted 8/30/2013 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
i was just in there last thursday and everything came back ok i know its my anxiety but i still cant help the feeling that its more. :(  i have a jornal now that a colleage told me to write in im up for anything to try to regain my life back i hate the fact that i cant even go grocery shopping without having one.
Posted 8/30/2013 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
Journaling and self help strategies are great! Try to keep up on this as it is a great decompression tool.

The pins and needles sensation that you are experiencing could be paresthesia.

Often when we are anxious, we breathe in a rapid/shallow manner...essentially hyperventilating. This causes the constiction of bood vessels, and thus the tingling.

To reverse this symptom, try doing breathing exercises (see our Resources) 3x a day for at least 10 minutes and see if this brings relief. It should help pretty much right away, and improve things in general as you continue to practice.:)

Wishing you a peaceful and symptom free day...keep posting!

S.C.
Posted 8/30/2013 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you soo much its just scary im not used to this sensation but knowing that it may have something to do with my anxiety helps alot to calm me down. Im 23 and its scary to think that i may have something more wrong. But i do find this site to be very helpful.
Posted 8/30/2013 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
RS13, many of our people(you are one of us now)journal, everything positive helps! Peace

Larry ***
Posted 8/31/2013 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
I'm going to share a strategy that worked for me. Big time! A lot!

Many symptoms like tingling and tightness when they're associated with anxiety come from our breaths being too shallow and we hyper-concentrate. I also noticed my pulse would kick up a notch because I was so scared.

I bought myself a metronome and set it to sixty beats per minute and just let it run right next to my bed. My "goal" was to get my heart rate down to match that 60/min tempo. I didn't do anything to try and actively try, I just relaxed as best I could and focus on the sounds of the metronome.

It WORKS unbelievably well! I love them. I haven't seen them mentioned elsewhere, but for me, it makes a huge difference. The clicking back and forth, and at that particular rate, is very soothing, and eventually my heart rate slows (and so do the symptoms). My HR doesn't get down to sixty but that's not the point, it's not a "failure" if it doesn't. It's just that I set it to what's considered a good rate for an athlete, and my subconscious mind takes it from there.

Can't have ANY other distractions though. That's why I do it when I'm ready for bed, or having a panic attack and can nap alone with just that sound.

Give it a go. They're inexpensive, and well worth it.

Good luck to you.


Sookie
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