Can GAD cause real physical symptoms?

Ive had anxiety since I was 14 years old and got blood work done at 17 to see what was going on and was told there was nothing wrong. That's why my doctor wasn't too concerned with what was going on. Im going to try the meds for a month and see if my anxiety goes down. The doctor knows what hes doing.

when i am alone and uncomfortable, i get very anxious to the point i salivate a lot and don't swallow often enough.

I thought you said you haven't had bloodwork for 3 years. If so i dont understand how your Dr could say that nothing could have changed over such a long period.

Thyroid issues are often missed with standard bloodwork. There are several markers and it seems to be something of an art to really diagnose properly.

Another possibility is Magnesium deficiency and apparently blood testing is not reliable.

There's also environmental issues like mold or chemical sensitivities.

I see absolutely no reason to assume the root cause is not physiological. Might just require some serious detective work. If a Dr's idea of detective work is running basic bloodwork, i personally would not go back.

Just my opionated 2c from going thru similar stuff.

What happened when you were 14?

Good for you. I was shocked at how much meds helped with my anxiety. For me it was a very subtle change. I didn't think I felt differently, until I looked back and realized how much had changed. I hope you have similar results. I also had physical issues due to such a high level of anxiety. Keep us posted on how it goes.

I haven't had bloodwork for 3 years but my doctor said that where I live the government has been strict and they dont do it for younger patients often. My doctor did examine me though physically and said everything was fine. Something triggered my anxiety when I was in school at 14 and ever since then it's been at an all time high.

Ok well good luck. I'm finding this thread disturbing so i will bow out...

I had physical symptoms through GAD. Dizziness, fainting, rushed breathing...led to panic attacks and fainting in busy public places...led to a lot of isolation and me avoiding people and sunlight for a time. My heart still goes a bit haywire in a busy supermarket around Xmas time when it's especially noisy, busy, colourful, and bustling with people but it's not a massive problem like it has been in the past.

It was worrying at the start when I had no idea what it was and it took a while to get to the bottom of. My ECGs were a bit irregular so I was a cardiology outpatient for a while - monthly tests, then 3 monthly, 6 monthly, yearly. They did regular ECGs, checked my heart structure (fine) using an ultrasound I think, tilt table test (what an experience that is!) and probably some other things. I think it lasted about 2 to 3 years and it was at the time in my life when my anxiety has been at it's worst.

I think the only underlying physical problem I have is a very slight heart arrythmia - everything else was just anxiety, stress, not sleeping well, not eating well, worrying about health......it compounds smaller problems and makes them bigger. I haven't had a faint on years now but at one time I had it 5 days in succession (around 2007 I guess) and it really takes it out of you - physically and mentally. Makes you feel helpless when it just keeps happening and you don't know why. People assume you must be drunk or drugged too. And when you come around you have no idea where you are if it's a proper full-on loss of consciousness.

The first time it happens you have no idea what's going on. I had my first one in a bank and smacked my head off the counter on the way down. I came around lying on a floor with people stepping over me and somebody trying to get me to drink water which I couldn't hold steady and poured all over myself.

Another bad one I had was at a family meal. I could feel myself getting dizzy and eventually realised I couldn't fight it and I'd need to go lie down somewhere. Unfortunately I was at a table and there were lots of chairs to go around. I think I got as far as the door to the adjoining living room and then took a tumble and (again) smacked my head on the way down. I came around that time in bed (somehow) and my mum was handing me a phone and someone from some NHS 24 hour helpline was on the other end. I probably was concussed but I just remember going straight to bed at about 6pm.

Another one I remember was the tilt table test. They strap you to a bed and then elevate the side your head is at so that you are at the kind of angle someone being crucified might be (I know this because I watched some historical documentary around the time and they made mention how people who were crucified would lose consciousness through being held in this unnatural position for a while). Going in, you don't know what is supposed to happen so I fought the loss of consciousness with everything I had thinking that might signal a problem and lasted a full 45 mins despite feeling dizzy after about 10 mins. By the end I couldn't even lift my head. I think my tongue was even handing out! I've never been so tired in all my life. (You sweat unbelievably during that and other fainting or panic attacks - I've never been sure on the difference as I always had both rather than one or the other, or at least both threatened.)

Those three are the worst incidences I remember but there must have been...dozens anyway. Yes, I think if anxiety is high enough then it can affect you physically.

Hi Bud,

You might not know the background here, but the OP has severe health anxiety from something she has experienced that affected her deeply. When you list all the possible physical causes, it's similar to telling someone with a fear of the dark all the scary things that actually might be hiding under the bed. The problem is not the scary invisible things, it's the fear. I understand your line of questioning is valid under most circumstances--and always as a first step--but not in this case.

I hope that helps. And I hope the OP gets some respite from this worry.

It´s the anxiety playing a trick on you. Can you get your T or GP to educate you on the various physical symptoms ? I know it feels real, but you should be safe. No one really dies of anxiety ect.

Guys. I wasn't able to leave my bed so this morning despite my insane fear I went and got bloodwork. I actually did it. Although after that I cried and still am about results I just want to put this all behind me and see that it is anxiety. Got it done 3 hours ago so I don't know how much longer I can cry.

Hi ruh roh, I don't know any background other than what is in this thread. I responded because I saw what I would consider to be red flags -- mention of "GAD", no mention of root cause (that I could understand), and lots of urgings to do meds but without any cautions or caveats. But maybe this stuff was discussed elsewhere. If the triggering incident was traumatic then I can understand why OP is not rehashing it here.

I do wonder (just thinking out loud here) what other factors have been layered on top in the past several years, especially given what sounds like a sudden escalation of symptoms. And if the only medical support being offered is a prescription, oh my I cringe at the thought.

I hope you are feelin better and I'm glad you are tackling the problem.

I am sorry to hear you are struggling. Hang in there. It is possible to beat this. You are working hard and doing the right things. Keep posting if it helps.

Yes, there is a HUGE mind body connection

Update again. Couldn't wait for the results so I called today. I'm 100% healthy but I think I'm experiencing some Ativan withdrawal symptoms ( took my moms for a while then stopped ). 2 years of worrying... Wow.

I tend to agree with this, and I have GAD and take meds for it. I have panic attacks that have felt like (or I thought they felt like) heart attacks. Still, my doctor did an EKG and checked me for asthma. Another time I freaked, afraid it was my lungs and was given a lung X-ray.

My psychiatrist told me its best practice to examine physical causes of symptoms before concluding it's psychological. How deep you want to investigate is up to you and your doctor, but the basic tests can be run. I understand that bloodwork isn't ordered as part of an annual physical for young healthy people, but a doctor can usually order various tests and bloodwork if there is a legit reason. Shortness of breath, dizziness, rash and headaches is a reasonable concern.

I got bloodwork done yesterday got the results today and was all normal. The dizziness is a head cold/ Ativan withdrawals that may take a while.

I'm glad your doctor checked and hope you feel better

Went to the ER last night for the dizziness + heart palpitations and was checked and told it was all anxiety. The dizziness is better today but I feel pressure on my face/tingling which the doctor said is all anxiety. Glad this is all over.

Are you saying you were taking Ativan on an ongoing basis for an extended period of time, and then recently stopped? And did you stop cold turkey?

Meds can help manage the anxiety until you can practice skills to help keep it calmer. But I have GAD and sometimes even with all my skills, I get a panic attack I can't come down from. For me, my low dose of Xanax helps bring it all down. I'm at a point now in my life where I take one Xanax maybe every couple of weeks but when I was starting out it felt like it was everyday.

I took it a few times over a short period of time and then just stopped.

I haven't read through all the comments here, so sorry if this is redundant, but to reply to the OP, YES!

At first, I had no idea my problem is anxiety. I first thought I had a heart condition, then I thought I had asthma. Anxiety is almost all physical symptoms. I literally threw up once just from anxiety when nothing had happened to cause me to be so afraid.

Maybe ask your doctor about a beta blocker? They can help with anxiety, but aren't addictive and don't have withdrawal symptoms like Ativan and other benzos. Something else over-the-counter I've found that helps me is to take either Benadryl (the regular kind, not with decongestant or anything) or Dramamine if I'm feeling really anxious--they make me a little sleepy and help calm me a bit. My p-doc said it was OK to take those occasionally, too.

Thanks for the tips. When I went to the ER the doctor there said that it would be a good idea to start meds and I did. He wasnt too thrilled about the whole Ativan thing but he let it slide and told me never to take anyone's medication unless it's mine. Lesson learned. The dizziness is a tad better today but I also think im getting a bit of a head cold. Been a long/rough month. Luckily Im on break for a week at my school and I see my T in a few days after cancelling this week. Should be an interesting session seeing as what happened to me in the past week alone. Blood tests, doctor visits, and a trip to the ER all in a matter of days!