Anyone else experience this?

Hey all this is my first post here. I am sure I have an anxiety disorder and maybe you all can help. About 81/2 years ago I feared I contracted a serious illness but I never got it checked out. Over the years I have worried that I may have this disease and would constantly check to see if I noticed any symptoms appearing. I have tried to rationalize my fears away and would not worry about it for several months at a time but the fears would always return.

For the past year or so I have been worried about my health(especially my heart)and dying in my sleep which has negatively affected my sleep. I am only 39 so I know it would be very rare. Several years ago I became afraid of flying due to a bad experience one time and I have several other irrational fears that have crept up on me.

About 11/2 years ago I noticed a small numb spot on my chest and thought nothing of it until I noticed a small but larger numb spot above my right knee. I went to the doctor and he was not sure what it was so he ordered an MRI and some blood work. He said that he needed to rule out MS and ALS. This scared me to death and after that I could do nothing but check the internet constantly about those diseases. I think I even made up some symptoms from my constant worry. I'm sure I do not have those diseases but it still scares me.

About a week ago I woke up Sat. morning feeling very lightheaded and dizzy and almost went into a panic attack. Since then I have been feeling unwell and very on edge. I wake up early and feel very keyed up and on edge and I can't get back to bed. I get lightheaded at times and have lost much of my appetite. My head feels wierd, kinda fuzzy, especially at the base of my skull. My symptoms are worse in the morning and gradually get better by late morning with occasional feelings of anxiety throughout the day. Do any of you have any ideas what this could be? Have you ever experienced anything like this?

James,

Welcome to PC! I would definately discuss this with your doctor. There is no reason to live through hell, there are some fine medications out there to help you deal with anxiety!

I hope that you find some relief soon, I know how you feel and it's awful!

I was told by my family physician that I was experiencing panic attacks because I was complaining about numbness in my face, fingers, and toes. He explained to me that I was or wasn't releasing enough carbon monoxide from my body and this resulted in the numbness. Therefore,he told me to breath into a paper bag when I felt out of breath. I was shocked at this. I thought to myself; I am in control of my life, and I do not have to breath into a paper bag.

My first experience with anxiety came upon me approximately two years ago while I was planning a family reunion, going to school full-time, mothering a four-year-old, working part-time, and trying to diet at the same time. My life was chaotic, but I did not realize that all of these activities would have me going to the emergency room every week for about six weeks straight. I had my family a nervous wreck. My mother would cry with me. My dad would tell other relatives about his concerns for me. It was a terrible ordeal.

I thought something was really wrong with me. I did not beieve my doctor's expertise. Therefore, he sent me to other specialist to see if it was something else. I seen a neurologist, a heart specialist, and I even had a MRI. All of these specialist stated that I was healthy as an ox. Consequently, I did have to go on blood pressure pills due to all of the stress in my life. Nevertheless, my doctor did prescribe Xanax for me; however, I did not like how it made me feel. I felt limp and not in control of my body. Therefore, I stop taking the meds. At this time I am still not taking any meds for my anxiety I just deal with it. I do not know if this is healthy or not only time will tell. However, I believe with my family's pray, and I believe my faith in God all things are possible.

Chazi

Just a suggestion- have you taken any of the quizzes offered by this site? I only mention it because while your symptoms sound like anxiety, very few of us have the credentials to "diagnose" anything. It sounds like your life is quite stressful right now- my advice would be to take a few of those quizzes to get an idea of where you fall, and afterwards see a doctor and he/she can examine your personal worries and hopefully help you to find ways to cope. Good luck and take care!

One of the ways my anxiety manifests itself is to constantly worry about my health. If I get the flu, I'm convinced I'm dying. If I have a cough I just know it's lung cancer. You get the idea. I'm constantly about to die and yet, I'm still here.

Anxiety is the worrying disease and it sounds to me like you have it. I'd see a therapist and a psychiatrist. Meds can help a lot as can the techniques they teach in therapy.

Good luck to you.

Cyran0

What I have experienced before that you described is the constant checking of symptoms for diseases, even if it was obvious I didn't have them. For a little while everytime I would read about a disease I would say "this could apply to me", and then I would get worked up over nothing. Its starting to calm down a little (but is still there) I do worry about dying in my sleep; and sometimes if im sick I stay up most of the night because I'm afraid to go to sleep. I have to say one of the most irritating things about a panic attack is when you wake up and actually need sleep and the panic keeps poking at you as if its saying: "wake up wake up!"

Anxiety stinks thats for sure!

Yellow Apple, you've described me perfectly. I worry about the slightest thing to do with health. Of course, I look things up on the Internet and end up scaring myself silly. This throws me right into a major panic attack and I then think something dreadful is going to happen. I think most anxiety sufferers fixate on their heatlth.

Sue

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sunshinesue said:
I think most anxiety sufferers fixate on their heatlth.

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Sure, what could be of more immediate concern than life and death.

Cyran0