Stress Center Peer Support

Hi there,
I am new here and this is my 1st post. Just wanted to ask/let others with the same problem for an opinion. I have been suffering from anxiety for years, sometimes more sometimes less. Most of the time I got over it and managed not to think about it anymore after a while and could therefor manage somehow. But from time to time, when certain things happen, my anxiety increases up to the point that I feel really, really bad. However this time seems to be the worst time ever. I have a really stressful job (stock market) and am under constant high pressure, so probably it is the reason for those attacks. About 2 weeks ago I felt a bit numbness and tingeling in 1 toe, so I started reading for causes online. Didn't take long and I came over ms, so from that point on I focused only on this desease and every day I discovered another symptom for this desease on me. Till the point that I had several ms symptoms. Now I still have this numbness feeling, tingeling feet,hands and back, muscle spasms , feeling of beeing in an unreal world, clumsiness and panik of having a bad desease. Those feelings are not constant and seem to dissapear when I am thinking about something else or if I am out with my wife and have a good time. As soon as back home after a nice evening it starts again. It starts basically imediately when I just wake up in the morning. My mind goes round and round and all I can think of is that desease and my symptoms. Don't have exactly a brilliant period with work right now, so maybe that's the trigger for those anxiety attacks. Even had to stop working for a week, because I felt so bad. I spoke to a docter I know and he said for the symptoms I have I should not even think about ms but more about anxiety, then the day after I went to see another doctor, who told me the same thing. I felt better for 1 day, but after that it started again. Looking back over the last years, this is not the first time that I think I have some serious desease. I had constant headaches for 6-7 months 2 years back and had the same thing 5 years ago. 5 years ago I thought I had a brain tumor, but was told by a neurologist that it was from anxiety/kind of depression. It eventually dissapeared after a nice holiday. Last year I was convinced that I had liver cirrhosis. Took about a month that I got over this. Another time I was convinced that I had glaucoma. Most of symptomes increased after reading extensively online about those deseases. My doc always tells me not to read online about this stuff, but sometimes it just overcomes me. Moreover 4 years ago I landed 2 times in the ER because I thought I had a heart attack. Was on Xanax for 2 years, as well a couple of years back, but just recently took it again when I thought something was gonna happen to me. Anyway, I could go on and on with other episodes, but I think others with this problem understand what I am talking about. Sorry for the long post, but wanted to describe my situtation as good as possible.
My question is what would you guys suggest me to do. Should I just wait for it to go away or go for some kind therapy or better take anti depressants or whatever would you suggest. I am really feeling bad and would like to go on with my live somehow.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Steve

Do you have the program????.... If you do, start your program right now... if you don't have it, I suggest that you get it and start as soon as it arrives.
Therapy and medication could help, however if we don't learn a different way to face the anxiety, it will come back.
I have been on medication for about 5 years, yes it helped me to feel better, but the anxiety always comes back. I am on week 2 of the program and I am hopeful that this time I will be able to stop taking meds and live without anxiety.
Don't give up, there is a way out of the anxiety an depression.

these are very common symptoms of anxiety.I just want you to know that i did the counseling for 6 months and also tried some meds that didnt work out for me but the one thing that has helped me so much is this program so i do hope you have it because it teaches you so much about why you have anxiety and how to deal with it. I am so much better now than i was a few months ago. I hope you will be too.

hello, steve and all - gosh, your situation right now, steve, seems to be similar to what lucinda went thru' before her road to recovery - i think your anxiety and stress have you in a kind of downward spiral, negative, fearful cycle ! - but it's just temporary ! ! - remember what the program teaches you here - #1, YOU are causing this anxiety ! #2, thru' diligence and hard work with this program, learning these new tools and techniques will help you to recover, and # 3, face your greates fears and work on conquering this condition - hey, you're not alone - we all have things to deal with 'cause life in general, just gets brutal at times ! - you can do this, you can get better ! - you will ! mj

Thanks guys for your answers, I appreciate it. I don't have the program yet and I was thinking more about something like psychotherapy. Don't know if that's the right way.
Thanks everyone
Steve

I'd agree that you should get the program. I've experienced worrying about serious diseases too. Some of the same as you actually. The liver b/c I drink a little and MS, the brain tumor. The internet is bad when it comes to self diagnosis. Stay away from it. Many diseases share symptoms of stress in common. Try to stop over-focusing on your symptoms. And exercise is major. Anyway, the program would really do you some good. Try to think positive and you'll be fine.

Thanks Beating Heart, for your opinion. Will get the programm and see how it goes.
Best
Steve

Good luck with it Steve.
I purchased it over a month and a half ago and am finally getting past the 2nd session.(always too busy) I have to say that I would strongly encourage anyone with your thought patterns to get a hold of it.
I have already noticed a difference in the way that my days are going. I am starting to catch myself when I dwell on the "what if" thoughts.
I am self employed, so I can understand the high pressure, low reward situation... in this economy especially! About 3 years ago I had my first panic attack...at least that is what I was told by the doctor in the ER after all the tests, even though I was convinced that I had a heart attack. Then after another trip to the ER and numerous trips to the countless other doctors, cardiologists, acupuncturists, therapists, etc, I finally came to accept it as anxiety.
In the past few years, I was sure I had a brain tumor, heart attack symptoms, stomach cancer, MS, and anything else I could punch up on WebMD. I have taken the anti-depressants, which made me feel way too spacey and Xanax and Klonopin which help for the moment. But what I am realizing after listening to only the 2 sessions of the program is that only you can help yourself . The meds only do so much, you have to do the real work yourself.
It is easier said than done, I am sure. I am new to this too, but after you hear that other people have experienced what you have, it makes you feel much more sane. So good luck on your journey......

That sounds good JD, I will def. get the program. Feeling a bit better the last days, but far from beeing well.Main problem these days is still ms. Catch myself from all the time thinking about symptoms and which of those I have. Then I usually find at least 2-3 on me, like dizzyness, blurry vision and and and. Just can't let loose from those thoughts, althought it's better than last week. Don't take any meds at the moment either, just a Xanax once in a while, but don't want to take them to often since I was hooked on them for around 2 years a while back and it was not easy to stop with them. The feeling at the moment that bothers me most is that most of the time I feel like everything is unreal and strange around me. As strange as it may sound, when I drink a couple of beers or wine I feel much better, but obviously that's not a solution.
Anyway hope I 'll get this somehow under control.
Thanks everyone for sharing your opinions.
Steve

I hear you Steve...we are definitely in the same boat. I can tell you that I walk around in this weird daze all day, every day and look at other people in their cars and in stores, etc. And I find myself wondering, why am I the only one who feels like this....why do they go about living a happy life and I am stuck in this rut...or whatever you want to call it. Sometimes I am working and my mind will completely go blank. Seriously, in that moment I feel like I struggle to remember my kids names. Have you ever experienced that?
But I am starting to think that reaching out to others who can understand where I am coming from is where the healing starts.....at least I hope that is true, cuz that's why I'm here. I am the type of person who never does chat type stuff online, I barely ever use e-mails. I am a hands on, go getter....or at least I used to be. Now I am stuck and looking for some answers.