Tim............ in the below quote from you..........

What happens with me is that I will convince myself that it is just anxiety and that everything is going to be fine. Then, I'll be sitting there trying to relax or do my work and suddenly my arm will start tingling or I'll be a little short of breath or my neck will hurt a little bit or I'll get a sharp pain somewhere and that starts the whole ball rolling all over again. It's not like I have a scary thought and THEN the anxiety starts. It's actually the other way around.

TYPICAL panic/anxiety response ! Thats EXACLTY how an anxiety or panic attacks starts. We feel OK, then something happens in our body - like you mentioned - and BOOM - its OMG - something is wrong with me !! TURN ON THE FULL BODY SCAN.... FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG by focusing on whatever that "trigger" (symptom) is. THAT is what starts the cycle. We dont "feel anxious" and THEN have something go awry in our body, its absolutely the other way around.....just like you said happens with you.

See if this makes sense - my husband doesnt have an anxious bone in his body. He can get a "flutter" in his chest, and it doesnt faze him. On the other hand, IF he were anxiety/panic prone, that feeling in his chest would then snowball into WHAT IF I am having a heart attack, WHAT IF there is something wrong with my lungs, WHAT IF I get more and more of these feelings, should I go to the ER? WHAT IF, WHAT IF, WHAT IF....... and that is what is happening with you. You state you can feel FINE, not anxious at all, and BAM, you get a tingling, or a stabbing feeling, etc, and you lose it...........THAT IS ANXIETY/PANIC.

You KNOW that anxiety/panic/agoraphobia can be 100% debilitating ! And YES, it can and WILL get worse, unless you get help. You are so determined that you have a physical issue that is causing this, that you cannot stop dwelling on that, and deal with this for what it is.........anxiety/panic.

You also state above that a therapist would try to tell u it is all in your head when you *****KNOW****** it is physical because you feel bad everyday. WHen I had anxiety/panic/agoraphobia - I felt physically ill 24/7. Thats the nature of this beast ! How can you possibly say that you *****KNOW******** that breathing techniques, guided imagery, visualization, etc will not work for YOUR SERIOUS CASE of anxiety? Many of us here could have a good "pissing contest" as to who has/had it worse. But - I made the decision to do ANYTHING suggested to help me get better - and who'd a thunk it - I GOT WELL !!!!! I think you can too, once you change your 'stinkin thinkin' and accept that you have anxiety/panic/agoraphobia, and deal with THIS, rather than keep on looking for a physical ailment, and a magic pill or magic wand. I have been there, and have a T-shirt to prove it.

I hate to see anyone as miserable as you seem to be! But dagnabbit - so many people here are really trying to help you, and altho I KNOW you are grateful, you are clearly stating WE ARE WRONG. What IF we are right? WHAT IF the things we suggest to you WOULD help you feel better? WHAT IF you actually put some faith in those of us who have walked the same path you are walking, and WHAT IF, you got better ? HHHMMMMMM............perhaps thats the key here, WHAT IF YOU GOT BETTER?

Tim, you know me a bit better than most people here do. You KNOW that I am on your side, in your corner, and here for you. I seriously do not think u have GAD, I think you have PAD with OCD to boot. Of course hypocondriasis on top. BUT - you can get better. You just have to want too , and eventually accept that you do not have some rare, yet to be discovered physical disease causing you the EXACT symptoms we have/or had with PAD.

You know how to reach me when you choose too. I think you are getting some great responses, along with a good (and needed) dose of tough love !

Keep on keepin on !