Not sure what to do...

[LS1122]

Hi - I've been debating posting here for about a week but after this morning, I just have to! I am not sure what to do or think.

It usually starts in the morning after I wake up but sometimes in the evening. My chest will start to feel uncomfortable and sometimes hurt (sometimes it's above my heart, sometimes it's to the right or left of it, sometimes below it, sometimes it feels like it's my back). Sometimes, I'll be really short of breath or my heart will flutter/skip a beat (it's been doing that all my life). Then my left arm and shoulder will start to hurt in various places. This will go on anywhere from ten minutes to a few hours and it usually makes me freak out a little. It goes away, usually when I get busy with something, but not always. But then I'm left with other stuff...my stomach will get real gassy, have heartburn, a headache my BP will go up, my face gets flushed, my throat's really dry, parts of my face and neck will hurt or go nurab, my eye will twitch and I'll start noticing that my regular every-day problems seem 10x worse (like the knee I hurt this summer, a vericose vein I have in my leg, PMS cramps, etc).

I have been under an unbelievable amount of stress lately and I've become super jumpy and worrysome (like I'll drive down the road in constant fear a dog's going to jump out in front of me). I did have some of these symptoms in the spring for a couple of months, but my doc checked my heart and blood sugar then and decided it was most likely anxiety/panic attacks. She gave me Paxil but I never took it because I wanted to deal with it myself. I'm having a harder time doing it this time around. I will sit and convince myself I have every disease under the sun and that worries me. I get scared to be alone and constantly fear I'm going to die. It does seem to away when I am not thinking about it, but sometimes it's so scary that it's hard not to.

The other thing I've noticed over the past few weeks is I'll wake up in the middle of the night, not breathing. That's been the scariest thing. On those days, my symptoms are worse. I don't know if I have sleep apnea or what, but I have never experienced that before. I don't know if anxiety can cause that or if I have something wrong with me that's causing anxiety? It doesn't happen every night. I am getting like 2-3 hours sleep a night and it's really screwing me up as I am in the process of looking for a job but when I wake up, I'm too tired to even get dressed and leave the house.

I am 26, I am overweight but I've actually lost some weight in the last month or two because I started eating better and working out. I've also started taking several vitamins. Working out doesn't seem to make my symptoms any worse or better but I've been too scared to do it this last week or two. Sitting here, dwelling on them like I am right now seems to be the main culprit but sometimes I have no control over it as much as I'd like to think I do. The times I've felt best in the last week are when I'm not thinking about them...for example, Wed. night, I had a huge stress lifted off my shoulders (I'm going back to school and I found out my financial aid went through after much fear that it wouldn't) and I felt great.

My problem is, I have NO insurance at the moment. My doctor is just a flat $60 visit but I don't know how much I can afford beyond that so I wonder if it's even worth going? I guess I'm just looking for some advice/reassuring worRAB?

 

[dvlsfan30]

ive been having alot of the same problems. im 19 years old and experiencing pressure and pains all around my chest, back and stomach. increase in appetite, diarrhea, insomnia. ive been to the doctors for 3 ekgs, an ultra sound of my stomach, a full physical and full blood work. i feel like i have cancer or something and im dieing but have been told by many people im fine. im starting klonopin and lexapro today in low doses to see how it effects me. i had no health insurance because im out of school but got it back because im back at communnity college. its hard to relax like people tell you to do when these pains come and i feel like im dieing. im in the same position as you and no one replies to my thread and lookin for reassurance. ive been told by my psycologist i have somatization disorder but its hard to think that in my mind. you gota fight it though and im sure you will be much better soon.

 

[LS1122]

well, I'm going to the doctor tomorow - I can't afford for her to do a lot of tests or anything, but I figure she can give me an idea if something horrible is wrong with me and maybe give me some way to sleep better...

 

[TEdds83]

Dear LS1122 and dvlsfan30, You are not alone. These are such common symptoms of panic and anxiety disorder. I have had this on and off my whole life. I am currently going through this right now.

I have ALL the symptoms you are talking about. Tonight my chest is heavy. I have trouble getting a full breath in sometimes. I get frightened. I DON"T like being alone. I want someone nearby incase something happens to me. I fear dying all the time too. Mostly about not being able to breathe. I hate to say my biggest fear out loud. We are all under so much stress in our lives. I am worried about money all the time. Aren't we all? Luckily I have insurance through my husband but I was a single mom for 14 years and didn't have insurance most of that time for myself. I was always afraid something would go wrong...how would I pay for it?

I blame alot of this on stress. Just know that is what is bringing alot on. I too am trying to lose weight. I was 30 pounRAB over and now have lost 12. I am thrilled about that. But sometimes I am afraid to work out. I know it sounRAB silly doesn't it. It is something in my brain that says don't overdo it. lol Gee!

I ask myself..how did I get to this place? I was here 8 years ago and swore I would never let myself get depressed or anxious again. But it happens in life We can't help it. I have made an appt. with a counselor and may get some meRAB. Just for awhile. I don't want antidepressants though. I just hate the feeling I get on those. Life is tough sometimes isn't it?

Here to talk anytime ok?

 

[Broker2]

I have some of the same symptoms. I have been to several doctors and at this point have ruled out most things that would physically cause this. I am waiting for one more test which I should get back in the next couple of days. They decided to test my hormone levels, because it can cause some of the same symptoms as anxiety. Considering I have had these problems for about a year, I have found some free things you can do to help with the anxiety. First let me to you my symptoms:
tightness in chest
difficulty breathing
nausea- not wanting to eat
diarrehea
tingling and heaviness in arms
inability to sit still, not wanting to sit, stand or lie down
racing thoughts
Feeling of detachment
Feeling of not wanting to be alone, but wanting people to leave you alone
Waking up extremely early because of the racing thoughts
at the end of it all crying and this is just the generlized anxiety, not a full blown panic attack, where flushing occurs, hot flashes and a feeling of inpending doom.

Now I have found eays to control the generalized anxiety without medication. First off journaling. I get up in the morning and the first thing I do is find a quiet place and write down whatever thoughts are in my head (usually abot three pages or a half hour). I do not go back and read it, it is just to get the wandering thoughts out of your head. This takes a couple of weeks to work. Secondly, deep breathing, to breathe through your diaprahm and not your chest. Going for short walks outside helps as well (I think it is the fresh air, admiring nature) Finally, relaxation techniquesm visualization helps. There are CD's that you can buy to help with this. The most beneficial thing of all though is not to suppress those thoughts of doom, but acknowledge them, no matter how unlikely they are to occur by saying I cannot control what I think but I can control how I react to it. That thought although it could happen is not likely to. This will make them go away.