[*Laurie*]

For the past year+ I have been experiencing severe anxiety. When I feel the anxiety/panic sensation it feels like a "spinning" sensation, or a tightening in the center of my body, below my chest and above my stomach. I'm wondering if others of you feel extreme anxiety as a sensation in your body, or is it more like thoughts in your mind only?

[Bumblebuzz12]

It's kind of both but more so physical. I get really jittery and start to shake. I feel light headed and get bad stomach aches. Sometimes if I have to speak I get a lisp. I also have thoughts constantly racing through my head. I hope your anxiety gets better. I know how much it can suck.

[pnw1]

My gets physical too, I get nausea, shakes , I sweat, etc.......

[*Laurie*]

Thanks, Bz12 and pnw1.

Oh it def can cross over into the physical side

[Disorder7]

Particularly when you start hyperventilating....which most of us with anxiety do and we don't realize it. Your body loses too much carbon dioxide and it throws off your blood ph. That causes dizziness, tingling sensations, headaches, and a lot if other panic attack symptoms.

It's possible to hyperventilate to the point of passing out. The only positive about passing out is you'll start breathing normally while unconscious.

So yes, in short, it can become very physical.

[kultking]

After CBT, I had lingering physical symptoms. I guess my body is use to reacting that way even without the negative thoughts. But now the physical symptoms have triggered my negative thoughts again. I shake, sweat, have mild pain in my throat, tunnel vision, have a hard time breathing/shallow breathing/shortness of breath, rapid heart palpitations, painful breathing/chest pains, & sometimes it feels like a lot of pressure on my heart/chest area (I imagine it's like a ball of anxiety), etc. yikes!

[pearlys]

My body feels tense, muscle tone is higher than when I am relaxed (can't remember when that was the last time though). I have a constant roalercoaster feeling in my stomach. Terrible.

[Turtlesoup]

Mine manifests both ways-seems like it's always a different combo of each-a lot of times I try & walk or shake it off, go to a quiet place, journal, have some tea, listen to relaxations music etc. I'm taking propranolol 10mg twice daily to address the physical symptoms. I tend to hyperventilate when it gets really bad so I have small paper bags (from the pharmacy-the perfect size) stashed in the house, my purse & in the car.

[*Laurie*]

Thank you all so much. This thread is very interesting. I became aware of the tendency to hyperventilate some time ago, so I focus on my breathing. And....I'm feeling so anxious right now that I forgot what I was going to type

[fivegates]

The exaggerated worries and expectations of negative outcomes in unknown situations that typify anxiety are often accompanied by physical symptoms. These include muscle tension, headaches, stomach cramps, and frequent urination. Behavioral therapies, with or without medication to control symptoms, have proved highly effective against anxiety.

[Em6265]

First time poster, having a bad night and decided to look into some forums!

I'm sorry if this is TMI but I'm assuming it's ok to share, when I'm having a panic attack or just more nervous than usual (I'm pretty much always a little bit on edge), I shake, drip sweat like I've ran a marathon, hear static, my vision is blurred, and my mouth will start watering which often times results in vomitting profusely but regularly I have stomach issues and use the bathroom numerous times. Aside from frequent urination, it's as if my body is completely flushing itself out and I'll sit there until I have calmed down, not necessarily because I am still using the toilet but for peace of mind. I don't hear about people having bad stomach issues with panic attacks so I'm interested in hearing if anyone else experiences those symptoms as well.

It's really comforting yet unfortunate knowing that there are so many people also struggling with the same issues as I am.

[pearlys]

Originally Posted by fivegates

The exaggerated worries and expectations of negative outcomes in unknown situations that typify anxiety are often accompanied by physical symptoms. These include muscle tension, headaches, stomach cramps, and frequent urination. Behavioral therapies, with or without medication to control symptoms, have proved highly effective against anxiety.

So?

[brookeK]

That kind of sounds like a text book panic attack. So sorry you have to deal with that, I just feel my blood pressure sky rocket and my vision becomes cloudy/foggy and I almost feel like I'm in a dream or that I just smoked weed

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by Em6265

First time poster, having a bad night and decided to look into some forums!

I'm sorry if this is TMI but I'm assuming it's ok to share, when I'm having a panic attack or just more nervous than usual (I'm pretty much always a little bit on edge), I shake, drip sweat like I've ran a marathon, hear static, my vision is blurred, and my mouth will start watering which often times results in vomitting profusely but regularly I have stomach issues and use the bathroom numerous times. Aside from frequent urination, it's as if my body is completely flushing itself out and I'll sit there until I have calmed down, not necessarily because I am still using the toilet but for peace of mind. I don't hear about people having bad stomach issues with panic attacks so I'm interested in hearing if anyone else experiences those symptoms as well.

It's really comforting yet unfortunate knowing that there are so many people also struggling with the same issues as I am.

You have described a severe anxiety/panic so well. It is exactly as if the body is trying to flush itself out. Yes - for sure many of us have stomach issues related to our anxiety. In fact, there is no doubt that the stomach and anxiety are related...every knowledgeable doctor knows this to be true.

Do you know about IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)?

[Em6265]

Originally Posted by PoppyRoad

You have described a severe anxiety/panic so well. It is exactly as if the body is trying to flush itself out. Yes - for sure many of us have stomach issues related to our anxiety. In fact, there is no doubt that the stomach and anxiety are related...every knowledgeable doctor knows this to be true.

Do you know about IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)?

Yes my doctor has told me I have IBS triggered by anxiety but that was the extent of the conversation. All I know is that I have it but have no clue how to deal with it. I'm cautious of what I eat and avoid foods that upset my stomach but when I'm nervous it doesn't matter what I've had to eat, my body still begins to flush itself out. It's tough because I can't really face my problems while confined to the bathroom

[*Laurie*]

Okay, first of all SSRI's are usually very helpful for IBS. Even a low dose of an SSRI can calm your gut.

Please read everything you can find online & even check out some books about IBS. It is a very real, extremely disabling, and surprisingly common condition that just takes some figuring out to discover what works for you. IBS and anxiety disorder often go hand-in-hand. So much so that medical science has come to the conclusion that the two disorders are interrelated.

There's tons of info online...Here's a start... Is there a relationship between psychological symptoms and IBS? - aboutIBS.org and What is the relationship of stress to IBS? - aboutIBS.org

[pearlys]

Originally Posted by brookeK

That kind of sounds like a text book panic attack

Sounds more like an example copied from a textbook. Maybe spam, he just has one post.

[Em6265]

Originally Posted by PoppyRoad

Okay, first of all SSRI's are usually very helpful for IBS. Even a low dose of an SSRI can calm your gut.

Please read everything you can find online & even check out some books about IBS. It is a very real, extremely disabling, and surprisingly common condition that just takes some figuring out to discover what works for you. IBS and anxiety disorder often go hand-in-hand. So much so that medical science has come to the conclusion that the two disorders are interrelated.
]

Thank you for all of those resources, I will definitely look into them. I've been on a multitude of medications over the past few years. I was on Prozac for a while but I finally convinced my doctor that it wasn't doing anything (depression is not my concern, the anxiety causes some severe bouts of depression)

If you or anyone else experiences similar symptoms to mine, I'm really interested in what medications, types of therapy, other ways to help you that you use. I've tried so many things and it's just getting tougher. Any insight is better than none and I would greatly appreciate hearing any of your thoughts, experiences, or tips.

i can get to feeling really sick.

like i've eaten too much food. it feels horrible

shaking too. like the feeling you might get if the heating was turned off on a really cold day

[stuck1978]

For me, it's a combination of feelings depending on a particular situation. For example, I get this feeling as if I'm falling or dropping in between my chest and stomach. I start going weak and detached. It goes along with the thoughts of desperation and losing control. In this state, I would have to deliberately command myself to move or talk forcing every word out.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by stuck1978

For me, it's a combination of feelings depending on a particular situation. For example, I get this feeling as if I'm falling or dropping in between my chest and stomach. I start going weak and detached. It goes along with the thoughts of desperation and losing control. In this state, I would have to deliberately command myself to move or talk forcing every word out.

Thank you...you've described the exact sensation I have when I know depression/anxiety have gotten the best of me. A "feeling of falling or dropping between chest and stomach" - yes...that is the awful signal sensation for me, too. And the rest follows.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by Em6265

Thank you for all of those resources, I will definitely look into them. I've been on a multitude of medications over the past few years. I was on Prozac for a while but I finally convinced my doctor that it wasn't doing anything (depression is not my concern, the anxiety causes some severe bouts of depression)

If you or anyone else experiences similar symptoms to mine, I'm really interested in what medications, types of therapy, other ways to help you that you use. I've tried so many things and it's just getting tougher. Any insight is better than none and I would greatly appreciate hearing any of your thoughts, experiences, or tips.

My daughter experiences symptoms that sound like yours. She has found Buspar and Celexa (together) to be extremely helpful.

[Em6265]

Originally Posted by PoppyRoad

My daughter experiences symptoms that sound like yours. She has found Buspar and Celexa (together) to be extremely helpful.

My doctor mentioned buspar to me a few months ago, I'll bring it up again when I see him next. Thanks! Sorry your daughter experiences this I know how much it pains my mom seeing me panic and get sick

[*Laurie*]

Yes, she (my daughter) has battled a severe anxiety disorder that actually began showing up when she was three years old. Lots of really good therapy and, later, medication have been immensely helpful for her. She's almost thirty now, very happily married and runs a business.

Give the Buspar a try. It really helps a lot of people with major anxiety issues.