I have distended veins too. It doesn't have anything to do with anxiety. It only has to do with the breakdown of collagen in our hands as we age. Nothing has changed. Our veins are in the exact same place they were before.....we just don't have the collagen to fill in the places around them anymore. :)

For me it is worse when I am cold or dehydrated. I definitely don't like them. I know when I am 80, I am going to have my Grandpa's hands.....shudder..

I have heard the collagen hypothesis before and have a couple questions. Wouldn't that mean my veins were always distended? It seems to happen randomly throughout the day and week. Also what age could that start occurring, I am in my mid 30's and it just seems convenient that it is occurring now while I am dealing with anxiety. But, of course, my anxiety is quite possibly causing an overreaction to a very minor/inconsequential aspect of the aging process.

I don't drink alot of water maybe I should try drinking more?

Now that I think of it, I have distended veins in my hands and feet and have since my late teens which coincidentally is when I started having anxiety attacks and was diagnosed........ Thats something to look in to..

Lilygirl - I am 35 and already have my 87 yr old grandma's hands...ugh!! lol!!

Anxiety from late teens and your in you mid thirties? You are made of tougher stuff than me! I guess I have always been high strung but only in my thirties started with true anxiety attacks. Last year was when I went into full on anxiety so It's still new to me. There are days I just want to quit, just give up. I am very impressed with those who are able to fight with many years under their belt. So...thanks for showing it can be done.

Oh yeah, it can be done!! It's not always pleasant, but it can be done :) Part of it being as tolerable as it is to me I think is that I have been like this for so long that this is my "normal". I do see a therapist regularly and I have my good days/weeks/months/years and I have my bad ones too. I'm at hopefully the end of a year long relapse. We are taking my CBT slow this time around at least my last appt and the next couple as I am moving and she doesn't want me to do anything until I get settled into my new home. I've always said that my anxiety/panic has made me realize how strong of a person I really am :)

Mine are in and out too. Mostly out though, unfortunately. There is no doubt that mine are genetic and have nothing to do with anxiety. I have always had very thin hands and it is obvious that the collagen ain't what it used to be. :) Plus, they look just like my mom's and just like my Grandpa's. I guess giant age spots are probably in my future too. I am going to be SO sexy when i am old...lol.

Do others in your family have prominent veins? That is a big clue right there.

Also, when your blood pressure goes up, your veins tend to stick out more, so maybe that is it? I don't know...its an interesting question!

Both of my grandma's do, but my mom and sisters do not. I've had the "big Vein" conversation with my G-ma's and both said they appeared after they got older, not my age....I do have dainty hands myself. My blood pressure is always normal oddly enough!!

Oh and those aren't age spots silly!! Those are "beauty marks" :) (according to G-ma K..lol)

I am adopted so don't really know. But I have blood pressure that fluctuates with my anxiety. I was athletic befoe with b/p 115/75 and now with anxiety 138/88 that has rocketed up into the 160's during high anxiety. So I hope it's not b/pas that can be a new thing for my brain to get all worried about for me.

One weird thing I didn't mention is if I raise my hand they seem to "drain out" and they look almost normal.

I have some friends who still lift who say they wish their veins popped like mine so sexy truly is in the beholder!

lol panickygirl, your Grandma had the right attitude. My family calls them "liver spots"......ewwwww! I like beauty marks so much better!

Scullin, I just lifted my hands up and mine went flat too! I never noticed that. I mean, it makes sense because the blood is draining down, I guess. Then as soon as I put my hand back down, I could see it filling back up again. Damn.

The veins in my left hand spell the word HI, by the way. lol

My veins were distended when I was taking the Lexapro.
I think it messes with my blood levels.
Lexapro has been out of my body for 3 days now and the veins are back to normal. I so wish I could continue taking the Lexapro
as I was feeling so much better !

Thats funny lilygirl, mine will move side to side which is what originally freaked me out.

Becky how come you are off the lexapro? It's one of the least addictive, best tolerated and safest anxiety medicines on the market? Though it caused me panic attacks...

I also have distended veins. The first time I noticed it I was very scared and called my doctor. He, of course, said it was nothing to worry about but I never really connected it to anxiety until I read this post.