Anxiety and Chronic Illness

Morning all, I have been carrying allot.
Allot of chronic illness baggage, Lupus, sjogren’s, Fibromyalgia, Addison’s disease, and all they entail....pain, fatigue, nausea and GI issues.
But I have also been carrying a pile of grief and PTSD, after twelve years of caring for my parents who were diagnosed with cancer, then a sudden and hideous loss of my dear friend and brother in a farm accident.
Although I have always carried on, it is at all times a heavy load that is my reality. You can’t wish away being miserably sick and you certainly can’t un-ring a bell.
I miss my folks allot, and after five years of finding my brother that night, everyday things trigger the horror, the grief and sadness, and I am right back there body and soul beside my brother as he began his ascent to heaven while I whaled at his side and let him go.
My mind is clear, my life has clarity and meaning and I enjoy and experience joy still.
But as my health deteriorates it limits me. It keeps me from growing, accomplishing to my full potential.
I have noticed a strange unsettled feeling inside. Like I am holding my breath. My chest tightens, my breathing is uncomfortable, it makes me cough. Like a man who just has to loosen his tie and breath.
There is some fear that I don’t understand, and an empty feeling of aloneness and sadness.
I do some deep breathing and find some restful place in my mind and it passes.
I have been curious about it all. Is it a physical symptom or is this anxiety brought on or triggered by a memory?
I don’t really understand anxiety, but I have read a little about it.
It seems anxiety can be an actual physiological thing when it comes to server chronic illnesses.
It can also be a learned response to a fear.
What I don’t know is causing mine nor how to find out. Lots of doctors are happy to attribute everything to a mental/emotional response disorder, a few of those guys darn near killed my by such a diagnosis.
So how does someone trust getting an appropriate diagnosis?
Thanks,
Wishing you all heavenly peace. Tuffymason

H.,

Hello and welcome! I too want to offer my condolences on your loses and past trauma. These things definitely factor into anxiety, as does dealing with CI's.

So it is not surprising that you are challenged in the anxiety management dept., but neither does that mean that you have to just accept it as something that will always be...there is help and hope!

First of all, keeping your physical health and CI's well controlled will be a goal. It is always good to feel your possible best from a bodily health standpoint, so you are best equipped to work on your mental health.

Therapy, medication and self help (alone or in combination) are the usual choices people make when seeking to treat their anxiety. What you choose is a personal choice of course, but talking to your doctor to get informed and discuss what might be best option for you would be a good goal.

For now, have a look at out Resources at the top of the main forum page here for great self help material that you can get started on right away.

Keep talking with us as well if you find it helpful. We care, understand and support is key!

Talk soon,

Scaredy Cat