stess and hives

grace, in NY · Post by **grace, in NY** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:34 am

I have had anxiety most of my life and it is like a roller coaster. Sometimes it is really bad and others it is okay and I hardly have any systoms. But lately I get hives when I have anxiety. Does any one have this? It might be something else but I have noticed it usually comes when I am trying to hold it together and not get upset. Today, I began the breathing exercises and it did help and the hives did not get as bad as they have been.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:00 pm

Hives can be very common with stress.

Are you sure that you have hives? The reason I ask is because I am going through a similar situation and I just wondered if you could describe where you get yours. Mine are on my arms and my doctor pointed out they are on my legs too.

BTTRFLY · Post by **BTTRFLY** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:22 am

It starts by my hands getting itchy and it moves to my wrist. There are only reddness. Then it moves to my feet. The bottom of them. I will itch begin to have red spots on my neck, back and a few other spots. I itch so bad I feel like I am going out of my mind. I have noticed it usually starts when I am fighting the anxiety.

Joesol · Post by **Joesol** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:09 am

I had hives the beginning of September and they lasted almost four days. It had to have been caused by anxiety. I thought it was soap I was using in a hotel because I can get reactions to some soaps. However, it wasn't that at all. I picked up some Gold Bond anti-itch cream and it helped some. What really helped is taking a little of a over the counter allergy medicine for those four days. Take Care. Tina

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:34 am

I went to the mall with my kids the other day and I started itching in my hands. I instantly realized what was happening. I was feeling overwhelmed keeping track of both kids as they both had different things they wanted to look at. I realized that this stimulates me way to much. I started doing the breathing execises and we left the mall. My 20 min drive home, I did the breathing exercise and did positive self talk. I was able to control the itching taking over my body. I was very pleased to know I really had control over it. I know it is only adreline in my body creating the itching sensation. Anxiety is a horrible thing and can do horrible things to my body. It is time to get this under control.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:07 pm

I've been anxious all my life, even as a child, and started having panic attacks as a teenager. I've faced extreme anxiety, both real and imagined, in my life, on and off. I've had probably every anxiety symptom there is, but never had hives until this past spring, at age 39! Ironically, I had already done the program and managed to keep my anxiety to a minimum and hadn't had a panic attack in months!

I had a doctor appointment that Monday, and the Saturday before I broke out in hives. They were on my arms, legs, and torso; red and itchy, particularily in the shower. They were itchy for a few weeks, and the redness finally subsided after about 2 months. It's been 5 months, and they haven't recurred.

In talking to others I learned: they can occur anywhere; last from minutes to months; come on for various reasons from anxiety to allergy; occur often or never again.

Also, they are very common and there's not much you can do but try to avoid the trigger and use Benedryl. Good luck.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:53 pm

man i have had anxiety also since i was little now im 30 and i got shingles about two months ago, i was under alot of stress from youngest child getting hurt to missing alot of work, the Dr said that shingles is caused by stress but mostly old people get them, im 30 getting them i was surpised becasue although i was going through alot i thought i handled it pretty good.The shingles were under my arm and on one side of my chest. Now im getting the same type of bumps under my arm again really bad but on the other side too which is wired becasue shingles only gos on one side of the body. So was the Dr wrong about shingles and it was something else or what ?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:06 am

I don't get hives, per se, but I notice that when I'm getting ready to go out somewhere, by the time I'm finished, my ears and face are flushed and so is my neck and chest. Kinda splotchy there too. Could that be my subconscious getting weirded out about going out somewhere?

And, boo, my sister just had shingles a little while ago and she's 34. At the time, she was juggling a job, an almost two hour a day, round trip commute, a toddler and day care, a dog, a household, bills and her husband being in Texas for months on a job he was working on. So, yes, I can believe the shingles can be anxiety induced.

If what you have continues, you might want to check with a Doctor for peace of mind. Take care!