New to the site...but not new to anxiety

  • Thread starter Thread starter tiredofworry
  • Start date Start date
Hey george, thank you for the response. MY neck is also bothering me, that along with my TMJ is my problem....I know that, when I try to think rationally, then, somehow, fear sets in anyway sometimes. I did not have a pain in my head in bed last night, but did this morning when I was putting a shirt on. I wonder if I move a muscle somewhere a certain way and boom, a head pain. I took aspirin this morning, I seem to just feel like I could have a headache, my left jaw is aching too anyway. I see head pain for you is a stroke coming on, for me I looked on the internet and found some people that had head pains for a while and had aneurisms, etc. Which, reading that just set in my fear. My head has bothered me with that darn pain on left upper side now, almost 2 weeks and I am tired of it. If I could just relax and realize I am ok, and nothing is killing me, I would feel better. I recognize this is my pattern, I get something bothering me, research it, and find the worst scenerio and get anxiety ridden, until it goes away, then the next symptom comes and I am on to that. I like you george, have gone to the doctors, ers, etc., and always have something totally minor, which only racks up med bills...Which, I haven't even gotten the bills from my last bout of tests. I am really NOT going to look up symptoms today, and pray this soon will pass....I hope the same for us all. Thanks for letting me vent everyone:)
 
Hi Stefanos06, I'm glad to hear from you. I'm very sorry your struggling too. I feel exactly the same way, as if I'm too familiar with my body. Any ache or pain and I start ticking down all the possibilities. I tend to focus on different things each week, depending on what bothers me. I can't just have a stomach ache or sore back any more, it always has to be something else. Isn't it draining?

It really helps to talk about it because it allows us to say how we really feel, with people who understand. If you haven't ever felt this way, it's hard to relate. My husband has had anxiety for years, not health related though, and I never understood it. I was sort of dismissive about it actually. Now I do understand and I try to be more sympathetic. I don't share my own anxieties too much though, because he doesn't understand my health anxiety. Funny, huh?

Stay in touch and don't despair, you'll feel better eventually. It's a mental game for me every day. Mostly when I start to dwell on something I have to force myself to do something else...go for a walk, watch a movie, browse the internet (avoid health related articles), whatever it takes. I have a check up on Wednesday and I'm working hard on not obsessing over it.
 
Hi 17Mary,

I don't take Xanax, but I did briefly a few years ago. It really threw me for a loop, but if you are seized with anxiety, maybe trying it in small doses would be helpful. I have had long perioRAB where the anxiety has almost completely subsided, but sometimes it will start to surface again. The sames things seems to trigger it for me...and it's always health related.

I completely agree with the internet researching...it isn't good for people like us. I also agree that I find this board helpful. I find a lot of encouragement from others who truly understand how we feel, and don't think we're just whining. Plus, learning about coping strategies is very helpful.

I struggle particularly in the winter, because it gets dark early and I don't get to be out as much. I have paid special attention lately to pursuing my hobbies, finding a good book, working on a puzzle, knitting a scarf, scrapbooking, anything. That way I always have several choices of things to do, and I won't get bogged down in my own thoughts! If I'm cleaning house or running erranRAB I try to play music or listen to a show that's entertaining and funny. It keeps me occupied and breaks the circles of negative thinking I can get caught up in.
 
hey everyone
yet another day with moments that a I think will be my last. Stress is a big factor as I know that I feel worse on the days that I work than when at home. I have a new symptom that I am trying not to check the internet for and that is a pain or more like an uncomfortable feeling underneath my right eyebrow. Its not sinuses as that was ruled out by my very patient gp but he is not sure what it would be. I now think that I need cat scans and mri to rule out tumors. gives me more stress then more anxiety short of breath feeling of likely death and all the rest that goes with the territory. as my wife says you may have felt like you were about to die but you didn't so just remeraber that next time an attack comes on. easier said than done. heart starts to race, breathing difficult, face tingly, confused and can't think clearly, don't feel right in the head?????
i say that I feel that I am going to die and that is the best way that I can describe it but heres a fact for us all. None of us has died so how do I or anyone know what the feeling before you die is.
Try telling myself that when having an attack though.
soldier on more for my family than for me.
drinking used to make me feel better but stopped that because I thought I had liver disease.
what do you do
doctors dont really help
i tried this today
laugh when having a panic attack look in the mirror and really laugh
don't know that it helped but it certainly didn't hurt.
typing this seems to soothe a little so sorry if I go on
its good to know that you are not alone

heres to good health i just can't seem to remeraber what feeling good is
 
Chrystal . . . so sorry to hear about the stroke, but with proper medications and physical therapy, she should be able to get the full use of her hand back. I am so glad it was not more severe.

I think of all of you guys whenever I start going through a stressful moment (been very stressful here with company coming Sunday and our house being a construction zone due to husband wanting to paint the walls in here). I try to imagine we are all together in my mind and that makes the stress a little less for me.

When it gets bad, try to envision us and that we are all together.

Lindaru :)
 
Hi, Chrystal . . . I, too, am dealing with the Pap situation. Had an abnormal one in August and will have to get another in March to see if it has improved.

I was pretty bad off for a week or two after hearing about that abnormal one. I find I do not dwell on it now but probably will get anxious again when it starts getting close to the retest date.

One strategy I try to use is the affirmation that "right here, right now, I am okay."

Anxiety could cause you to pee more because you may unconsciously tighten your core muscles and then once the stressor has eased up, everything relaxes and urine is allowed to come out, so you would probably have built some up in there, sort of like when you sleep all night and have to go a lot in the morning.

I would imagine tight muscles can cause back pain, too. Just amazing what we can do to ourselves when we are anxious!

Hang in there and keep us informed on how things go!

Lindaru :)
 
Well I am relieved to hear that you are handling your health anxieties so well Chrystal36! I completely agree about the muscle pain. Often I wake up with a stiff neck or sore back from sleeping in a weird way, but as the day goes on I feel better. It sounRAB like you are exactly right. No worries! ;) I had a nice holiday, and generally avoided worrying as much as I could. I had a few moments when I felt the urge to dwell on something, but I try really hard to re-direct my thoughts. It's a daily challenge, as we all know!

tigger29, how are you? It seems like you've been having such a difficult time lately, please let us know how you're doing.

The holidays can be very stressful, so we need to make sure not to put all the stress into needless worry. It's a coping mechanism for us, and it can be so easily triggered by holiday stress! Hang in there everyone.
 
welcome rapture323 and 17mary:) I am very glad you found us on here. I am also sorry you suffer from horrible anxiety. Rapture, I can relate, as I often think I have something wrong with me that is going do me in. Since you read thru the posts, you know about my head pains, etc. Well, those, after over 30 days have subsided, now I keep getting a cool sensation on the left side of my head. It isn't constant, but happens alot. I notice when I dwell on it, as anything, it is worse. I believe that my anxiety level is so high it causes weird things like that, and I will sit here and get fearful and get myself in a circle of a mess. Sometimes I get funny tingly sensations on my head in various spots too. As stated before, I have TMJ, scoliosis, sinus issues from a deviated septum and health anxiety that makes me nervous, I think my anxiety has anxiety on some days, lol..My mom also tells me I am in perimenopause as I have the same other symptoms she experienced when going thru it....Now, my advice rapture, which I hope will help you some, is this- I try to remind myself, through all of my worries, that everything in the past I have had anxiety over turns out to be nothing serious or deadly. Even though, everytime I am convinced of the worst, and this must be the problem, it is not....MOST things in life are minor , and the simple fact that we question a symptom is a good indicator it is not a major thing, but based on fear. For instance, you cut yourself, a person doesn't have to stare at it to figure out that it's a cut and neeRAB a bandaid, right? I am better at giving this advice, and I have to teach myself to accept things are ok too. So glad you 2 new posters felt comfortable enough to share and I hope you continue. Tiredofworry, I always enjoy reading your posts....Chrystal
 
Such encouraging news! I think a large part of anxiety is isolation, and that isolation breeRAB more anxiety. By being able to verbalize our anxiety in a safe place, we are then able to take away some of it's power. This has been an amazing week for all of us. For the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to winter, the coziness and the warmth and light. We have made some huge strides through this board. I've talked and talked with my Mom and sisters about my anxiety, but to have talked with others who truly understand it has been amazing.

Let's have peaceful, anxiety free weekenRAB. Maybe we'll be able to get through the holidays together without overwhelming anxiety! That's the best gift of all.
 
Oh tigger29, so sorry to hear that you're having a rough day. I'm very happy you're finding some comfort just writing it out. We all understand how difficult this can be. Find comfort in the fact that your Dr. isn't concerned at all. The pain you're describing could be a simple muscle thing, so don't let your mind wander.

Try to spend some time thinking about small, positive things that happened to you today. A smile, a kind word. It sounRAB like your wife is being very supportive, that's a positive thing! Please take a deep breath, take some time to relax each muscle, and unwind. Try to find something fun to do this weekend. Maybe a funny movie marathon, playing games with your family, or just treating yourself to a fancy coffee. Whatever it is, do it to bring a smile to yourself or someone you love.

Stress is a major factor in all of this, and I know it can cause symptoms that mimic things. So find comfort in that, and think of anything at all that you can do to minimize stress each day. Please stay in touch and let us know how you're doing!! :)
 
Hello Everyone,

I'm also new to this site and thought it would be a good idea to reply and express some of my feelings towarRAB anxiety. I had my first panic attack in August and ever since then I have been having a lot of anxiety. I think all of this started because of major changes in my life style (changing school to a different college, moving and just a lot of stress) But as I was told panic attacks and anxiety don't just appear they build up like an avalanche. Before a avalanche occurs snow builRAB up for a period of time just like stress in our lives do. Then after a while all it takes is just one tiny snowflake to create a avalanche or a Panic attack/anxiety. Now I am on Effexor Xr 75mg which seems to help some. I go though period of time where I have no anxiety and then out of no where anxiety appears. It could be one thing that triggers it and then I worry about it for a couple of days while my anxiety builRAB and then it slowly subsides as I realize why I'm having anxiety. Some of the side effects I receive include: dizzy, soar mouth/cheeks, jaw gets tense (T.M.J.), Soar neck, get extremely tired which bothers me the most because my eyes hurt. Doe's anyone else get any of these side effects from anxiety and how do you diminish them? Well I hope everyone else is hanging in there!! Thank you for reading!!

Tyeshe
 
Hey Lindaru:) My birthday started out with a trip to the Gyno, yea, tell me..Now, having said that, my birthday was really good. I got some nice gifts and carRAB. I was hoping to get my test results yesterday too, but, this morning was fine, I am so happy everything is ok. I have been stressing over one thing or another continuously for so long. I hope I can relax and settle now. Waiting 3 weeks for pap results is ridiculous and torture for those of us anxiety ridden people. Sometimes I did not think I was going to make it another day without knowing. And right, I don't have to go back for a year or 2 for an annual exam. I totally understand the money fretting, especially now with holidays. I have been stressin' about that already myself. Glad to hear you are doing well, keep positive, we will get eachother thru the holidays....
 
Hello everyone! I'm so sorry to hear about your Grandmother :(. It's good that she is already home. I know that this type of thing can send our anxiety overboard. Try not to go there.

I loved Lindaru's suggestion. We are "virtually" here for you. I think of all of you often, and when I'm anxious I know that there's a place for me to cope with it. This has been such a great way to find coping skills for the anxiety.

Everyone have a wonderful evening. The weekend will go great Lindaru. No worries!

Tyeshe2...are you there? I hope you're doing well.

Hugs to everyone.
 
I hope everyone is doing well:) Things here are going along better. I found, that alot of my aches and pains are made worse if I obsess over them and worry. My mom helped me discover that muscle spasms in my neck and jaw are causing my problems, good ole' TMJ,which I have had since a child. I believe, my flare up was caused by emotional stress stemming from; having to deal with an ex after a nuraber of years, as well as not getting a job I really had banked on getting,thought was a sure thing. I have gained a few pounRAB back, which usually means I am snapping out of it, as I don't eat much when I get depressed and stressed. I am the type of person, that has to be busy and keep preoccupied so don't dwell on things. Maybe some of you are like this too? Tiredofworry, I have taken your advice and I have been doing crafty things, like making a tye blanket, painting, which I love crafts and it's like therapy. I also am TRYING to learn to lean on God & not try and figure everything out myself. Come on everyone, give some upates on how you are....Chrystal
 
I only hope that you find this post, (tired of worry), I see you haven't posted here since 10/13.... I did not allow myself to look up any health related issues today other than STRESS management type things. Please always search me out on here as I will you, we are on such a good road of helping eachother thru our stresses. Keep me posted:)
 
Hi all
Im new here but suffer terrible anxiety everyday
it comes and goes like waves throughout the day and sometimes I truly feel I am about to die. Headache or pain I think Brain tumor chest pain or rapid heartbeat I think heart attack. I make sure that I kiss and cuddle the 3 special girls in my life as many times as i can a day as I have nearly convinced myself that I am dying. I t seems like I am struggling just to stay alive. Have had anxiety on and off for 5 years but have felt like this for the last 3 months. was on 100mg setraline hydrochloride per day but it did nothing
I now try to manage it with valium when it gets real bad. Anxiety sucks
 
Hi Tyeshe2!

Welcome to the board, and we're so glad to have you join the discussion about anxiety. I'm very sorry you're suffering with this too, but I hope you find as much encouragement and hope here as I have so far.

I had never really thought about the anxiety building for a while, before finally revealing itself. Thank you for sharing that. I am going to reflect on my "pre-anxiety" times and see what "snowflakes" were accumulating.

As for your physical symptoms, I can personally say yes to the tense jaw, sore neck, and fatigue. I think we expend an enormous amount of energy coping with our anxiety, and that reveals itself when we clench our jaw, are tense in our shoulders and neck, and the fatigue is from our emotional drain. I have suffered from shoulder and neck pain for quite a while. Somedays I have none, others I feel like I have an elephant sitting on me!

When you begin to feel the anxiety, take a moment to review your physical tension. From your head to your feet, note if your holding muscles tense and consciously relax them. It's easy to do, and you can do it anywhere. You will be amazed at how much tension you are holding and you don't even know it. Practice some sort of relaxation technique daily that works for you, to alleviate the tension and the side effects of it.

Let me know how it works for you, and we look forward to sharing your progress.
 
I totally can relate to your post tigger. I'm sure you have read my posts, my health anxiety is a doozy. I go from one thing to the next, and even though I know it's my pattern, it is still a hard one to stop, and even harder sometimes to convince myself I am ok, yet another time. I too find comfort and release when talking to others thru this board, it really helps. I am still having a pain in my head, for example, when I was getting laundry out of washer, etc.,seems to be when I am doing something using muscles, as you said tiredofworry. My neck hurts and I am tense all over, I know, and seem to carry a mild headachey feeling off and on... I should of never looked head pain up on the net, the fear sets in. I try to rationalize, this all started 2 weeks ago when I woke in bed with my neck in a crooked position, moving it and had the first pain, upper middle left side of head. I would, like all of you, like to learn to break this cycle, without medical help. I am not going to the doctor this time, it will settle, when it's ready. Tigger, I am very sorry you also have health anxiety, it is no fun, but I believe that thru this board we all will get thru......Chrystal
 
Hi rapture323,

Welcome to the board. I'm so pleased you felt comfortable enough to share with us. We all empathize with you. Just as Chrystal36 said, it appears that most of our anxiety is based on fear...or lack of control. It is not a rational thing, but that doesn't really help when we feel that way, does it? I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time now. I'm wondering if it's something to do with the holidays? Do you know any of your triggers for anxiety? We all have identified some episode or occassion that triggered it for us. Sometimes we can keep it more under control than others.

My best advice to you right now...do not search your symptoms on the internet. Stay away from it. We all do it, or have done it, and it never helps. It makes us become obsessive, and it adRAB to our worries, rather than alleviates it. As you well know, after the first few articles, they all say the same thing anyway. You can't allow yourself to wander down that path, it's too tempting, and it's not comforting. Play games on your computer, or come here to share with us, express your concerns, etc. Stay away from symptom checking. I used to do it constantly. It would fill my day and I would lose hours and hours of time. It never made me feel better either.

Welcome to the board and we're glad your here. Chrystal36...I'm so happy to hear from you. Remeraber, we feel so much stress during the holidays, it adRAB to our symptoms.
 
Wow! Great news on the PAP results! Now, find comfort and reassurance in that and move on. No more worrying. It's cold and flu season, so you're bound to not feel good once in a while, but that's all it is.

Lindaru, I also feel your pain on upcoming expenses. Maybe our anxiety thread will change from health anxiety to financial anxiety! :jester:

I've been pretty well myself, and even though we've had very rainy and cloudy weather in Washington, I've been able to stay pretty upbeat. I have found my anxiety is very deeply weather driven, and I struggle with that tremendously. Have any of you ever noticed that?

Chrystal36, Happy Belated Birthday! This turned out to be a great week for you. I'm so thrilled! This has made my day.

Also, do any of you ever project your health anxiety on your children? I try not to, but I had to take my son to the Dr. recently for a shoulder injury, and I had some waves of anxiety suddenly. It was almost worse. Ugh! This is very trying.

I'm going to follow Lindaru's advice, "right here, right now, I am fine". That's been the best thing I've heard in a long time! Thank you so much.

Hugs to all of you and I'm thrilled with the good news!
 
Back
Top