Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
So this is my first time ever posting in a forum before. About 5 years ago I had my first experience with extreme anxiety. I saw a therapist it went away for years and I never really had any issues with it. About 4 weeks ago I had my first panic attack in a long time while driving. I was just sitting at a red light and all of a sudden I had difficutly swallowing, my heart started racing and everything just felt like it was crashing down on me. Well the next week it happened to me at work, I actually thought I was having a really good day that day. But randomly my left arm felt numb and my chest kind of hurt on the left side, I had trouble swallowing as well. I left work that day because I couldn't function. After that I would have trouble swallowing, tachycardia, and shortness of breathe every time I drove home from work. It then extended in to every day this would happen, trouble swallowing, chest pain, tachycardia and shortness of breathe from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed. I have been to the doctor 3 times, and the ER twice. I have had blood work done 3 ECGs done, 2 chest x rays done, and also just sent back a heart monitor that I had to wear for a week. I was put on zoloft and was given hydroxyzine which really just makes me tired. It is like I constantly have shortness of breathe and wake up almost every morning with my heart racing. I constantly think there is something wrong with me, and that the doctors missed something because they didn't do certain tests that I feel in my mind should have been done. One day I could convince myself its any thing from blood clots, to heart issues. Everyone keeps telling me its anxiety but I have these symptoms even when I don't feel anxious or they come on randomly when I am happy and enjoying what I'm doing.
-
I haven't written in my diary on my computer since May because I thought that my computer was dying. I got away from writing but my computer is hanging in there. I think that I will start writing in it again. It's so therapeutic.
-
Years ago, I won a mirrored armoire from my job. It's in my bedroom but I rarely stand in front of it. Yesterday, I had to have a dexascan done so I had to change into a gown. There was a full length mirror in the changing room. I'm aware that I gained 5 to 7 pounds over the last year from cheating on Keto but I didn't know what it looked like. It was a reality check.
Repression and/or denial are also common anxiety symptoms. At the very least, growing an awareness of what is going on is an essential part of anxiety management. especially if your symptoms have been light enough to mask with social platitudes. I am fine. How are you?
Dunno if that applies to your case, or not, but for sure getting ^it^ into words and sharing those words within a supportive environment can go a long way towards solving the puzzle. I hope you'll feel safe to do your sorting here.
Welcome aboard.
You've taken the important first step in writing it out.
Anxiety is natural. Anxiety is a helper. Getting it to maintain within normal range is a balancing in the moment marathon when you are dealing with panic attacks.
Overload of anxiety brings both physical and mental sensations. "Doing Thinking" with physical activities - breathing exercises will help you reduce the physical sensations fast naturally. Once you can find the physical calm, it is easier to 'stop, pause, breath, choice' until you find the 'stop, pause, breath, calm, choice.
Best wishes as you find your better balance.
tough time. I struggle with anxiety too, but not to the point that you
have been. A couple peaces of friendly advice for you. I would first
keep going to the doctor. If you feel like there is a test that they
should do on you, then ask them to do that test. This sounds like way
more than anxiety to me. Especially if you're having trouble breathing
and stuff like that. The other thing I would say is try to get back in
with the same therapist that you had when you first started dealing
with anxiety. They might be able to help you by giving you tools to
cope.
But if it turns out, it's anxiety then it's sort of something like this.
The symptoms cause anxiety. The anxiety causes symptoms and it becomes a loop. So you don't know what is what anymore.
Once you're on that roller coaster, it's really tough. I total understand.
I think, you have to accept that right now your anxiety level is at 10 (1-10 scale). You have to then say...i understand and accept this. I will do things to help reduce it every day.
That can involve self care, Journaling, take a few days off to do absolutely nothing. Whatever makes you feel relaxed and safe.
It's not going to happen overnight but your goal is to give yourself time n lots of bandaids to heal this mental/ emotional wound.
Your anxiety is the broken foot you keep needing to walk on.
It can improve! Sending you light and love!
My best relievers are speaking with others and focusing on what other people are going through as well. Definitely builds compassion and empathy. Keep us posted.