[Brcat2000]

Hello. I would like to hear what physical symptoms anyone with anxiety has felt. I have had (self diagnosed) anxiety for a long time, but it was always in my mind. Lately though, I have been feeling tingling in my hands, feel like my heart is racing (although I check my pulse and it's normal) and scariest of all is a feeling like I might pass out - feeling "unreal". I have had a couple of panic attacks in the past. I also have sleepless nights, feelings of dread, etc...

I have researched and it seems like these could be anxiety symptoms. I am a nurse, and aware of other possibilites like low BP or hypoglycemia, and check those occasionally and they are not the cause. Of course I have already concluded I have MS or somethign else eqully devestating. I am going to try and get a doc. appt. today. I do not have a primary care doctor, so it might take a while to get an appt. I think it's time to get some help, as it is having an effect on my life.

Also - from what I read meds. do not cure, but help manage while you work through the cause of anxiety......I really do not want to get on a med. Any thoughts?

[Perna]

Sounds like you could be feeling anxious about feeling anxious :-) You have checked and know there is nothing "actually" wrong, I would get standard blood tests with your primary care guy, make sure you aren't deficient in some vitamin/mineral or hormone and then start fighting the symptoms with "logic". If you have no literal reason to have panic attacks or feelings of dread, make fun of them and shift your concentration (as often as it takes) to doing something else. When I have sleeplessness, I get up and eat a bowl of cereal with a banana (mostly for the milk to help with sleep :-) and "play" online for a bit and then go back to sleep. Often I find my problem was I had to go to the bathroom or turn the thermostat up or down, or just wanted some comfort food.

Do you have a therapist to help with discussing and working through the anxiety? Therapy really helped mine; I still get anxious but can deal with it much more effectively and it is never a show-stopper anymore.

[Brcat2000]

Thanks for your reply. I actually have an appointment in 2 weeks. I will discuss everything with her then. I think you are right that I'm anxious about my anxiety!

Also, one thing I have noticed for years is that as the day goes on, the worse I feel. I am often okay and hopeful during the morning, but by bedtime I am a wreck. Didn't know if anyone else had this happen as well.

[Ipod1]

Can't breathe, racing heart, something feeling stuck in my throat, weird head feeling, racing thoughts, body tingling," twitchy" feeling, awkward movements, depersonalization, derealization, feeling like I'm floating, blurred vision, dizziness, feeling like fainted. I could go on and on but these feelings are the most often. I hate it :/

[Ipod1]

Originally Posted by Brcat2000

Hello. I would like to hear what physical symptoms anyone with anxiety has felt. I have had (self diagnosed) anxiety for a long time, but it was always in my mind. Lately though, I have been feeling tingling in my hands, feel like my heart is racing (although I check my pulse and it's normal) and scariest of all is a feeling like I might pass out - feeling "unreal". I have had a couple of panic attacks in the past. I also have sleepless nights, feelings of dread, etc...

I have researched and it seems like these could be anxiety symptoms. I am a nurse, and aware of other possibilites like low BP or hypoglycemia, and check those occasionally and they are not the cause. Of course I have already concluded I have MS or somethign else eqully devestating. I am going to try and get a doc. appt. today. I do not have a primary care doctor, so it might take a while to get an appt. I think it's time to get some help, as it is having an effect on my life.

Also - from what I read meds. do not cure, but help manage while you work through the cause of anxiety......I really do not want to get on a med. Any thoughts?

You're right about the meds. I'm really hesitant to go on them.. I am on Xanax as needed and its really helping me get a long. Calms me down for a few hours anyway. Have you tried any at all?

[IndigoRose]

Some people experience heightened anxiety at night, along with a lot of the other symptoms several people have beought up. I often have anxiety attacks in my sleep and they wake me up in some pretty awful ways. Initially I was on the "I won't take anything" stance, but how long do you have to allow yourself to be tortured before you let yourself know that medicine isn't evil?! When an attack occurs, I take Klonopin, and try to go back to sleep. Sometimes that solves the immediate issue, other times it's temporary. My agreement with myself is that if I don't fall asleep within 15 minutes, I won't just lay there staring at the ceiling. I get up and distract myself until I get sleepy or I read until I am literally falling asleep on the book or my Kindle. I know not everyone enjoys books, but they help me tremendously at times to escape my own mind.

[waynec]

Originally Posted by Ipod1

You're right about the meds. I'm really hesitant to go on them.. I am on Xanax as needed and its really helping me get a long. Calms me down for a few hours anyway. Have you tried any at all?

i also have low dose xanax i take as needed. january is always a stressful month and i had a sinus cold and no work. even then i did not take it every day. if i awake feeling anxious i look at my schedule. if it is busy i usually dont take anything because i know i will be focused on other stuff. if not i may take it because i just dont feel like dealing with it. another day i may decide to do my relaxation techniques: hot bath, read, jigsaw and other
puzzles, wargames, model building, meditation, biking.

my doctor told me to take the damn things when i need it. keep me informed pand we will adjust based on your usage. you have them for a reason so use them.

[DenisDonnacha]

Was just thinking about this the other day, if it's bad I have trouble breathing and shake etc. Sometimes my anxiety causes bad stress and that gives me bad symptoms like muscle cramps and headaches.

[Brcat2000]

Originally Posted by IndigoRose

Some people experience heightened anxiety at night, along with a lot of the other symptoms several people have beought up. I often have anxiety attacks in my sleep and they wake me up in some pretty awful ways. Initially I was on the "I won't take anything" stance, but how long do you have to allow yourself to be tortured before you let yourself know that medicine isn't evil?! When an attack occurs, I take Klonopin, and try to go back to sleep. Sometimes that solves the immediate issue, other times it's temporary. My agreement with myself is that if I don't fall asleep within 15 minutes, I won't just lay there staring at the ceiling. I get up and distract myself until I get sleepy or I read until I am literally falling asleep on the book or my Kindle. I know not everyone enjoys books, but they help me tremendously at times to escape my own mind.

Well, I am sorry others experience this too, but am relieved that it is not unusual! So funny that you mentioned about it waking you up at night, b/c last night that happened! I also may have been too warm, but I kept waking up panicked. I am "oncall" today, so I was expecting my call at 5:30 a.m. I never sleep good on nights like that.

[katejoan]

thanks for sharing the Anxiety - Physical Symptoms