I thought I would take a moment to explain my situation and hope I can feel assured and comforted by others. For some reason that is really what I need. I have been having anxiety and panic attacks since June 2008 which seems like a life time to me. I am so tired of feeling this way. I have read from Panic to Power and I even started the program but stopped due to a move because it took us about 1 month to get settled so that threw me of track. I was on track 6 but I have started over because my anxiety is really bad again. I believe my source of the start of my panic and anxiety was my birth control. I am an extreme worrier anyway but I believe these pills pushed me to my limit. My first panic attack occurred while I was at work. All of the sudden I started getting a tingly sensation in my back and then I started to tremble, get dizzy, sweat and I just felt out of touch with reality. My heart was pounding so fast I just knew I was going to die at my desk that day. My coworker called the ambulance and I was taken to the ER. All tests were normal. That was the first of many for the last 9 months. I have had a total of 3 or 4 er visits within the fist 4 mos but they always send me home and I just get frustrated. They have gradually gotten better and more manageable since I came off of the pill. I have been to the Cardiologist, Hematologist, General Doctor and all tests are normal. EKG, 24 hour holter were all normal except a couple skipped beats. Nothing abnormal. My everyday symptoms are consuming my life and making it hard to live a fun and meaningful life. My symptoms range from chest pain (left side and middle...sometimes sharp, sometimes dull sometimes stabbing) heart palpitations and flutters, dizzy spells, leg aches, left arm aches, shoulder aches and pains, and the list goes on. I check my pulse all the time and I do it on my neck so much that I think my neck is sore all the time as well which makes me believe I am having cardiac symptoms. I am only a 27yr old female. I have lost 25 lbs in the last 9 months simply because I am afraid to eat sometimes and also I believe it is the birth control pills as well that I have stopped taking. I have terrible indigestion and I mean terrible. Always bloated and I burp up gas constantly non-stop everyday. And I have a terrible fear of death. I am so afraid of death and this has only been since I started having my panic and anxiety attacks. I know there are many out there that have these same symptoms. I see it on here all the time.
I am in the process of seeing a natural heatlh doctor. She believes my anxiety may be due to a hormonal imbalance which makes so much sense to me.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for listening.
Meagan
Overwhelming days
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Guest
mrollins0931
You have described the physical symptoms many of us have experienced at one time or the other. It seem you have pretty much run the gamut of professional medical expertise. Our minds,driven by our thoughts and fears, can induce these symptoms. Worry causes the symptoms, and the symptoms cause more worry.
The real scary thought here is that some of us are afraid of being afraid!! (I was)
Thoughts, only thoughts. Control them and your quality of life improves. Most are irrational fears with little likelihood of occurrence.
List the top five things you have worried about for the last month. Did any of them happen?
The program is a box of tools we will use for the rest of our lives. These tools allow us to cope with the anxiety and gradually put it in its proper place.
It is possible that there is an organic influence at the root of your symptoms. It is also possible that facing your fears and questioning their validity will prove to be the cure.
Take small steps and use positive self talk. Get out and do your thing, ignore the symptoms.
If you find the physical symptoms seem to be reduced when you are physically and mentally engaged, you have the answer, it is psychological and not physical.
Best Wishes
You have described the physical symptoms many of us have experienced at one time or the other. It seem you have pretty much run the gamut of professional medical expertise. Our minds,driven by our thoughts and fears, can induce these symptoms. Worry causes the symptoms, and the symptoms cause more worry.
The real scary thought here is that some of us are afraid of being afraid!! (I was)
Thoughts, only thoughts. Control them and your quality of life improves. Most are irrational fears with little likelihood of occurrence.
List the top five things you have worried about for the last month. Did any of them happen?
The program is a box of tools we will use for the rest of our lives. These tools allow us to cope with the anxiety and gradually put it in its proper place.
It is possible that there is an organic influence at the root of your symptoms. It is also possible that facing your fears and questioning their validity will prove to be the cure.
Take small steps and use positive self talk. Get out and do your thing, ignore the symptoms.
If you find the physical symptoms seem to be reduced when you are physically and mentally engaged, you have the answer, it is psychological and not physical.
Best Wishes
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Guest
Hello Meagan,
I have had some of the symptoms you have & also worn a heart monitor. The Dr. says my heart is fine, I have had skipped beats & flutters for around 15 years. It is normal for a lot of people so don’t feel like your alone your heart & mine are fine. The more you worry the more your heart flutters doesn’t it? The reason you burp a lot is because of your nervousness, you breathe harder & faster so you get more air in your tummy. Having indigestion will cause heartburn that could mimic the feeling of a heart problem. You have had your heart checked out & it is fine so you shouldn’t worry about your heart. I have had those same symptoms & once you realize that it is your anxiety or nerves causing the problem then they will start to go away. Nerves can do funny things. to our bodies, make us think we have a problem but actually we don’t. It’s all the negative thoughts that go through our minds & we have to change that to positive thoughts. I don’t know about the hormonal imbalance but it does make a lot of sense & a good idea to have it checked out.
Good luck,
Triple “L”
I have had some of the symptoms you have & also worn a heart monitor. The Dr. says my heart is fine, I have had skipped beats & flutters for around 15 years. It is normal for a lot of people so don’t feel like your alone your heart & mine are fine. The more you worry the more your heart flutters doesn’t it? The reason you burp a lot is because of your nervousness, you breathe harder & faster so you get more air in your tummy. Having indigestion will cause heartburn that could mimic the feeling of a heart problem. You have had your heart checked out & it is fine so you shouldn’t worry about your heart. I have had those same symptoms & once you realize that it is your anxiety or nerves causing the problem then they will start to go away. Nerves can do funny things. to our bodies, make us think we have a problem but actually we don’t. It’s all the negative thoughts that go through our minds & we have to change that to positive thoughts. I don’t know about the hormonal imbalance but it does make a lot of sense & a good idea to have it checked out.
Good luck,
Triple “L”
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rose_thorn98
- Posts: 173
- Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:26 pm
Thanks everyone for your advice and input. I needed it. I know I need to change my negative thoughts because the more I think negative, the worse my anxiety is. I am learning alot with the program. Sometimes I just relapse and have to get myself back on track. I WILL GET MYSELF THROUGH THIS!
Meagan
Meagan
~The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr~
Martin Luther King, Jr~
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Guest
mrollins0931
I have had anxiety that I am aware of for 10 years. The last three months I have been experiencing the things you are describing, exactly how you are describing them. It is really hard to get through the day when you feel so lousy and I know for me, in the back of my mind I am always, and I mean always focusing on how bad I feel and "What If' thinking. But I have also recognized that if I get involved w/ a project or do anything that consumes my thoughts, I don't notice my symptoms as much, That has to mean something right? So I am really working hard at redirecting my thoughts. I just catch myself and say "Interupt! Redirect, Rethink, Reconstruct!" (I think that may be in the book?) I am getting through my days, and some days even seem a little better, which gives me hope. But it sure is exhausting. I think Boon, from this site said just allow the feelings, welcome them, don't worry about them don't let them scare you and they will start to go away. Maybe it will help to know that you are not alone with these exact symptoms. I have also lost weight, which would be great on a normal basis, but of course I have to think that it must be something really bad if I lose weight because I am sick....lol. Hang in there. Tee
I have had anxiety that I am aware of for 10 years. The last three months I have been experiencing the things you are describing, exactly how you are describing them. It is really hard to get through the day when you feel so lousy and I know for me, in the back of my mind I am always, and I mean always focusing on how bad I feel and "What If' thinking. But I have also recognized that if I get involved w/ a project or do anything that consumes my thoughts, I don't notice my symptoms as much, That has to mean something right? So I am really working hard at redirecting my thoughts. I just catch myself and say "Interupt! Redirect, Rethink, Reconstruct!" (I think that may be in the book?) I am getting through my days, and some days even seem a little better, which gives me hope. But it sure is exhausting. I think Boon, from this site said just allow the feelings, welcome them, don't worry about them don't let them scare you and they will start to go away. Maybe it will help to know that you are not alone with these exact symptoms. I have also lost weight, which would be great on a normal basis, but of course I have to think that it must be something really bad if I lose weight because I am sick....lol. Hang in there. Tee