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ANXIETY/PANIC- Shift in symptoms!

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Posted 12/20/2006 2:22 AM (GMT 0)

I am 29 yrs old & have been dealing with GAD & Panic disorder since I was a teenager. A couple of years ago I got help through medication & therapy and it really made a difference. My symptoms were completely under control and I was able to go off the medication. Now all of a sudden my symptoms are back with a vengeance! Usually my symptoms are the ever popular trembling, sweating, fear of going crazy, heart racing, etc. But now on top of that I am experiencing something that I have never dealt with before- extreme tingling in my feet, hands/arms, and even my head! It feels very strange & scary. My doctor said it is anxiety. I am going to another doc for a 2nd opinion but I suspect he will say the same thing. I did have a CBC done & all of my blood results came back normal, of course. The only other health issue I have ever dealt with is endometriosis. Otherwise I am very healthy. I also feel a hot flush going through my body like someone has injected me with something! I just began taking lexapro a few days ago so hopefully that will help along with going back to therapy... Has anyone else ever experienced new symptoms with anxiety after having the same symptoms for years? What symptoms do you experience? What do you do help subside the symptoms?

Thanks for reading this & I look forward to your responses!

Posted 12/20/2006 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
HI,

I have had panic/anxiety for 17 years, and my symptoms are always changing and new ones always seem to appear.  This go around it's severe stomach issues and the same tingling and tightness you are talking about throughout your body and head...drives me crazy!  It seems to me that as soon as I lose my fear of one symptom, another one shows up!  To calm the symptoms, I have always used the methods that Claire Weekes teaches, they really work for me.  I also use deep breathing and relaxation and just let the panic and all the weird sensations come and go, as best I can, without adding any more fear to it with scary thoughts.  Hope things get better for you!

Junebug

Posted 12/20/2006 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
I also had A/P beat for a while (through therapy/CBT) It came back tho! I blame it on post-partum depression and changes. This time I needed meds and still do 10 years later. My symptoms vary and change quite a bit. Sometimes its my stomach/acid reflux, then it could be the dizziness & tingling,etc. Once in a while I get hot flushes, cold sweats, tunnel vision - always get the racing heart no matter what other symptoms are present! The one I hate the most is the derealization.

Therapy & a "full dose" of paxil for a while did the trick the second time around. Now I can "control" it for the most part, with a low dose of paxil plus the relaxation/CBT. Your symptoms are classic of A/P, but better safe than sorry (plus for us just putting your mind at ease is worth a fortune!).

Sounds like your dealing pretty well with the setback - hope things improve quickly for you!
Karen
Posted 12/20/2006 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Yes my syptoms change also.It drives me nuts because its like I get use to the old ones and then the new ones start and I start pancking all over again that maybe something is really wrong with me! Anywho guess we have to learn to take it in stride!
Posted 12/20/2006 4:29 PM (GMT 0)

Hey there,

My symtoms have just recently changed...Instead of the intense shaking and derealazation and a pounding heart beat, I now have intense upset stomach, with nausea and I guess acid relux, that I can taste in my mouth.  This has been going on for five days straight, and it is driving me crazy.  Just went back on Paxil, and I am just waiting for it to kick in.  Time will heal all!! 

Posted 12/20/2006 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
hi, My symptoms also tend to change a lot. I know what its like to go through a long period of time feeling great and then suddenly..wham, the a/p is back. I get the bad tingling sensations in my head and hands but especially on my arms.I also get the intense heat rushing kind of feeling that gushes through my body..( if u get whwhat i mean!!)...CBT helps me...and meds!...jayne
Posted 12/21/2006 8:10 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Pixygirl and welcome to HW :))

Well, from what you have described here it sounds like P/A to me...tell you what, even though you have slightly different symptoms than the last time you went through this..you won't suffer the same as last time because you know what you are dealing with..and if you start thinking back about the skills you learned last time when you went to therapy you can use them again:)) And yes I get the tingly thing happening when in panic mode..but I find the secret to it all is in the breathing department..when I take time out to deep breathe symptoms subside pretty quickly thank goodness.

Take good care.

Maree

Posted 12/21/2006 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW
So glad you found us
You will find that some ppl are going thru what you are
I too believe like Maree it is P/A
My fingers and toes will go tingly or numb in panic mode as well and I do the breathing and relaxation techniques I have learnt thru HW and others here
You will find so much caring an supportive ppl here
Hope to see you become active in the forum
Take care and be well
God Bless
Lyn
Posted 12/22/2006 7:02 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your feedback! This is such a great forum & everyone is very helpful. I went to a Dr. today for a 2nd opinion & he confirmed it was anxiety...thanks again:)
Posted 12/22/2006 12:36 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Pixygirl

Welcome to HW you will find great support and friendships here and other members going thrw the same things anf feelings. I just replied to your other pose and I can see you are already off to a great start here. Bless you and hope your feeling better soon.

Posted 12/22/2006 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Symptoms always change...there is something new i would say every other month or so...hang in there you will be fine...
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