Stress Center Peer Support

Hello! I am new to this form, but not new to the Combatting Stress and Depression Program kit!

I have been reading many posts on this form for a while now, it's been very helpfull because I can relate to so much of it!

I have some questions about anxiety/panic attacks and depression.

Here is some of my background (in a nutshell)- I am 20 years old, and I was in the hospital 4 years ago for a total of one week for something called pericarditis combined with mono. The treatment was successful and I've been healthy since then. While I was in the hospital I complained of nausia (perhaps due to the medication I was taking), so they gave me something called stemetil. After that one dose, I had my first panic attack. For approx 2-3 hours I had such intense feelings, the worse feeling i could describe (all the common symtomes of panic attacks). Since that point I had such underlying anxiety, which slowly went away over the course of a year, and then I was fine.

I was fine up untill just a few months ago. I moved out from my parents house on my own - to my own place. It seems the day I moved out I started getting weird heart/chest pains. I thought I was getting pericarditis (what I had in the hopital 4 years ago). In a nutshell I went to the hospital 3 times each time they did a set of tests and everything was "text book". I was healthy/normal.

After that I started getting more of the panic attacks/generialized anxiety. I had bought the program along time ago but stopped it because I didn't need it any more. So I decided to restart it. The program has been helping me a lot and really stay grounded.

But it seems I can't stop my self from constantly doing reserch online. I keep trying to find a reason for why I am expierencing all these physical symptomes... Is my anxiety being caused by something else?

Since as long as I can remember i've always been tired, I seem to have isseues getting up in the morning. I have ibs (gas/bloating/diareah). Phoriasis, joint pains sometimes. I always seem to be drained/week with a runny nose. Lately (in the past 3-4 months) I've had lots of shortness of breath- which is very scary. I could list many more symptomes.

I have a doctor appointment in a week (he knows about my anxiety), and i'm going to ask him if my anxiety is being caused/made worse by things such as :

- GERD/Acid reflux.. Do I have this, does it need to be treated?
- Blood sugar levels.. to high maybe?
- I found on this form a bunch of topics about "CANDIDA".. it seems I have a lot of the sympomes of this, plus I did the test with a glass of water and it came back positive.
- Nutritional levels, am I getting enough nutrition, am I allergic to certain foods?

I find sometimes I become obsessed with my health and I go in circils. I am always trying to reconcile/come up with reasons why I am feelings anxiety and why and have a host of relating physical symptomes.

Do many people with anxiety/panic attacks/depression here just accept it and attempt to fix it using the program/congnative behaivorial approaches? Or do they also try to find physical reasons as to why their anxiety/physical symptomes are being caused/triggered?

Any ones thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much!!!

i wonder that myself. my husband has headaches everyday, sinus problems that wont go away, shortness of breath, tired alot, has dizziness, feels like hes trembling inside his body. he does have very high cholestrol and is overweight by about 30 pounds. but he has anxiety, panic attacks and depression severly. whats weird is he'll get a headache and then during or shortly after hell have a panic attack. they always seem to coinside. but the drs. say there is no coralation between them. but im not convienced. i think the drs. just want to push drugs for one and i honestly believe unless u have been threw the depression and all that no one understands what it is like and how much it really effects u. i believe science is missing a huge piece of the puzzle when it comes to anxiety and depression. but drs r not willing to hunt for physical causes that may be contributing to the anxiety and depression.

Hi BC Guy!
You were a very sick young man 4 years ago with both pericarditis and mono. No wonder you are so worried about your health. I'm glad your recent tests came back normal but I understand how you would continue toworry and obsess about your health. You say you've done the program in the past-why don't you go back to the sessions,particularly negative thinking? I don't know if you listen to the relaxation CD now but I encourage you to listen 2-3 times daily if at all possible.
As for acid reflux/gerd,Have you been diagnosed with it? You can have a test done by a gastroenterologist but your symptoms are usually pretty definitive in and of themselves. There are a number of good medications(prescription) out there that your Dr. can prescribe and they work well,if you watch your diet as well. and yes,the symptoms can cause anxiety especially if you are prone to anxiety and anxiety can cause reflux.
Bloodwork can determine whether you have abnormal blood sugar levels and whether your nutritional levels are normal. Do you try to eat a balanced diet and take a daily multi-vitamin?Doing these things will help to ensure your good health but you shouldn't have to spend every waking moment wondering and worrying about your health.
I suggest you talk to your Dr about your concerns, and definitely andgo back to the sessions and relaxation CD. Life isn't meant to be spent in constant worry-about anything. Take care and I wish you blessings and good health!