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...
Why is it so hard to trust doctors and the people around me when they tell me I'm okay? I'll skip my long story (we all have one lol) and right now I'm struggling really bad with all the physical sensations/symptoms I'm having. They (doctors, family, friends) all tell me that I'm fine. This year alone I've had 3 EKGs (I had 2 two weeks ago), I've had my yearly physical and had all different kinds of bloodwork done. I find myself reverting back to old habits like running off to urgent cares and ER's in the middle of the night because it gets so bad for me.
I go to therapy once a week, I recently joined a gym too. Just this week, it's like my anxiety will not stop. I just saw my doctor again yesterday morning because my sensations are so strong and seem so real to me. I'm terrified I'm going to have a heart attack. But blood pressure was totally normal (always is), pulse was normal (always is), oxygen level was 100 (always is). I started sobbing in her office yesterday because I am so tired from this. She was very confident that my anxiety is causing all of this AND I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND THAT.
Within the past ten years I've had multiple multiple EKGs, EEGs, a stress test, MRIs, CT scans, and so much friggin bloodwork done. I have to lose weight and I have a thyroid problem (Hashimotos). That's it.
I am so desperate for a break from this. I have a husband who has been battling cancer for the last 2 years. I just got this great job after being a stay at home mom for over a decade. I have good things going on and stressful things too, like everyone.
Yet, here I'm sitting wondering what urgent care I should go to because I am convinced that something is wrong. My thoughts and emotions just can't do this to me. I'd love and appreciate any support or advice or insight. Anything. I feel like when I try to reach out to my family and friends - they aren't getting it and they are getting obviously frustrated with me. Thanks for reading this and I hope everyone of us conquers this soon.
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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.
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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.
Glad you decided to reach out here instead of making another pointless ER run. Did it help any? Allot of times, reaching out in a peer support group, live or on-line, helps me.
Gentle validation of your struggle and gentle support while you find what works for you. Welcome aboard.
What "IS" wrong then - is it mental that's causing physical things? I'm a relatively smart person, but I just grasp this concept no matter how hard I try. I don't WANT something to be wrong and I'm not trying to look for a problem. And I also don't like going to the ER and doctors and talking to friends and family because this is not the kind of attention I want.
Reaching out to like minded people does help, for sure. I appreciate you validating my struggle - in my life right now I don't have anyone that really does. Except my therapist and even I feel like she's aggravated with me.
Thank you again.
Physically, in medical terms, you are in positive health. What this actually means is that your physical sensations are natural, normal, and positive reaction.
When you experience anxiety...you have to figure out what is happening in what order. You've taken the first step in writing it out.
Unresolved stress will show up...in unexpected ways, times, and places.
So, keep hydrated (this minimizes those overwhelming sensations), practice even breathing (this puts your mind and body back in rhythm), and keep a journal.
The help you seek comes with your ability to understand you are stronger than the anxiety, and you can put it to work for you, to remind you to take care of your brain and body together.
When your brain is holding in pattern (think of it like an airplane with passengers, cargo, crew), it pulls out the usual pattern to do whatever task it has to complete in that moment. All it takes to create chaos, distraction, destruction is a simple word for some people.
The first task already in motion is now adding another single task ... which can put it into overload because this is not the only thing happening.
When the plane finally clears (your brain), you're left with the sensations from managing those tasks which are finished, but your body has not caught up to your brain.
You are a caregiver and new job, so you have stress that can be released by walking and motion is the fastest natural way to help anxiety sensations disappear.
Your medical conditions do not define you.
Using a journal will help you sort out the things that are affecting your ability to be natural with your anxiety.
Best wishes.