[EmeraldLily4]

I feel physically ill quite a lot of the time. My main symptoms are nausea/queasiness, headaches, backaches, tightness in my chest, lightheaded, and that sense of impending doom that most people would feel.

I also suffer from anxiety and stress disorders. But the thing is, it's often the way I'm feeling physically that triggers my anxiety/panic attacks. For example, I may suddenly start to feel nauseated, and that will immediately cause me to become very anxious, and then I shake and shiver, and feel the urge to pace around the room which I have not done in a very long time, but sometimes I text my friends for advice, which sometimes helps, but never seems to be enough in my thoughts.

Often, if I get nauseated, that's when the brewing thoughts kick in. Like "is there a fever?" "Am I becoming sick?" "I have to get this schoolwork done there's no time for this!" And so on, so forth,

I'm wondering whether other people who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks also have physical symptoms, even when they aren't having an actual panic attack (but I could be wrong, it could be mostly imagination going non stop to scare the body into submission).

Can anxiety really make you feel physically ill a lot of the time? Because at this point, I'm willing to believe my overwhelming disorders are just wanting to spiral out of control.

I have gone to the infirmary at the school many times for nausea kicking or sudden bursts of anxiety. The nurse gets tired of me coming because she knows what to easily expect and I feel like such a hassle to everyone when I ask if I look okay but there's a part of me that still worries that there is something physically wrong. And usually it's when I'm on my menstrual cycle that I absolutely CANNOT go to school on the first day. But I'm homeschooled now and it's taken a rather extreme toll on my body. I can no longer eat or sleep properly, not even manage to function for my schoolwork...it's gotten out of hand, and I'm going to be moving out of my parents place soon, but I new this dilemma out of the way. At least so it won't affect me having to pay or so many things later for my health. I'm at the last string, on the edge of my seat, etc.

Thanks for listening at least. I'm hoping someone in this wide world has been through either the same thing, or has had a dilemma similar to it.

"Emotional symptoms of anxiety
In addition to the primary symptoms of irrational and excessive fear and worry, other common emotional symptoms of anxiety include:

Feelings of apprehension or dread
Trouble concentrating
Feeling tense and jumpy
Anticipating the worst
Irritability
Restlessness
Watching for signs of danger
Feeling like your mind’s gone blank
Physical symptoms of anxiety
Anxiety is more than just a feeling. As a product of the body’s fight-or-flight response, anxiety involves a wide range of physical symptoms. Because of the numerous physical symptoms, anxiety sufferers often mistake their disorder for a medical illness. They may visit many doctors and make numerous trips to the hospital before their anxiety disorder is discovered.

Common physical symptoms of anxiety include:

Pounding heart
Sweating
Stomach upset or dizziness
Frequent urination or diarrhea
Shortness of breath
Tremors and twitches
Muscle tension
Headaches
Fatigue
Insomnia"

Credit: Helpguide.org.

I think that illness (like when you get nauseated) is your trigger for an anxiety attack.

So yes, the physical aspect of an anxiety/panic attack are very real. Also the triggers for them may be unrecognizable....like for me, there doesn't seem to be one at all that I can find.
There is medication available that you take every day (I do) or there is medication for when you feel an episode coming on.

I have not sought therapy for it, so I can't speak to that side of it.

[hvert]

Have you noticed whether you have those symptoms when you are in a completely different environment? I had similar symptoms that (I believe) were caused by air quality (or something). When I moved out of my parent's house, the problem stopped. Maybe your move will help!

[CaptainChaos79]

Have u considered the possibility that u may have gallbladder issues which would cause the nausea....causing the anxiety whiche then makes the physical symptoms worse?...Just a thought. Citris juice freshly squeezed is good for the gallbladder especially grapefruit.

[shabur]

Is it possible something is triggering your anxiety just before your physical symptoms start?

[EmeraldLily4]

Originally Posted by hvert

Have you noticed whether you have those symptoms when you are in a completely different environment? I had similar symptoms that (I believe) were caused by air quality (or something). When I moved out of my parent's house, the problem stopped. Maybe your move will help!

Yes! I've been there a lot! I noticed a complete difference in how when I was at my aunts home moving stuff from her place to my new house. I felt at ease because her place was a place I was well known with, but her in the new home it's completely different. It's the same when I go to a new friends house, I end up having anxiety and then their parents tell her that I'm very weird. I get so ashamed after I have anxiety attacks...

[EmeraldLily4]

Originally Posted by shabur

Is it possible something is triggering your anxiety just before your physical symptoms start?

Well there's a few things that can trigger my anxiety. But the one that triggers it mostly is unusual thoughts, suicidal thoughts (not often I do that), stress, and worrying about another anxiety attack.

[EmeraldLily4]

Originally Posted by CaptainChaos79

Have u considered the possibility that u may have gallbladder issues which would cause the nausea....causing the anxiety whiche then makes the physical symptoms worse?...Just a thought. Citris juice freshly squeezed is good for the gallbladder especially grapefruit.

What about cranberry juice?

[Lillybet]

I have those same physical symptoms. I think it's my body's way of telling me something has triggered me. I spent many years suppressing my feelings that my mind one triggers my body to get me to focus.
Every time I get these symptoms I now sit down and try and find out what the trigger was. I have found that quite often it relates to the trauma I suffered as a 5 year old. It's like the panicked child does not have the skills to deal with it and triggers the fright flight response in me. I find once I sit down and track it back I can see the trigger and talk myself down.

[EmeraldLily4]

Originally Posted by Lillybet

I have those same physical symptoms. I think it's my body's way of telling me something has triggered me. I spent many years suppressing my feelings that my mind one triggers my body to get me to focus.
Every time I get these symptoms I now sit down and try and find out what the trigger was. I have found that quite often it relates to the trauma I suffered as a 5 year old. It's like the panicked child does not have the skills to deal with it and triggers the fright flight response in me. I find once I sit down and track it back I can see the trigger and talk myself down.

Yeah I had been there as a child a lot. My dad didn't like me having friends or talking to my mom back then I have no idea why, I blame all the drugs he was taking. But yes I ended up talking myself down a lot do it's kind of a small habit I formed.

[justbeingme80]

Originally Posted by CaptainChaos79

Have u considered the possibility that u may have gallbladder issues which would cause the nausea....causing the anxiety whiche then makes the physical symptoms worse?...Just a thought. Citris juice freshly squeezed is good for the gallbladder especially grapefruit.

Good point about the gallbladder, I had that problem and it did cause nausea.

But something else, watch the grapefruit juice to anyone who is reading this. It doesn't mix well with A LOT of psych meds. And with certain classes of antidepressants can cause life threatening drug interactions.

[IowaFarmGal]

Have you had a general physical recently? Even if you do have anxiety it doesn't mean you can't have physical illness too. I think illness can be missed sometimes because the patient is not taken seriously and listened to.

[shabur]

If you are on meds, you should stay away from grapefruit. Grapefruit increases the absorption rate of your meds.

[Gus1234U]

there is a post in the Anxiety Forum that might be of use to you,, i can't get to it just now, but search the forum for Coping Skills..

best wishes~
Gus

[hvert]

Okay, I am keeping my fingers crossed for you that moving helps solve this problem! Maybe there is mold or something where you are now -- or flourescent lights? Maybe check out sensory defensiveness to see if anything rings a bell?