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...
I have been told by one or two professionals that this is a panic attack, though both seemed to acknowledge the symptoms are a bit strange.
This happens whenever someone says something upsetting to me, in person through email or text message (where I am not actively doing anything) OR when I have to tell someone something that I am nervous about saying to them - again, email text or in person. So I KNOW it would seem like social anxiety, and yes I feel nervous, but this goes so far beyond that.
It's now been about an hour since my muscles began convulsing, and it's a lot less now. I'm not sure if convulsing is the right word, but I twitch violently everywhere. I can't talk b/c my tongue feels so tight/i can't control it. As well, I am gagging (sometimes I throw up, even when I've had nothing to eat). I am also shivering everywhere, and no amount of warm clothes or blankets is helping.
I am still twitching an hour later, but it doesn't feel like a freaking seizure now.
All I had to do for this was email a prof... something I avoid doing, but I had to.
The only drug that has worked for this is taking an antipsychotic. It takes forever for it to go away without, and I usually sleep when it stops b/c I feel exhausted and spent. If I take 50-75 mg of the antipsychotic, it stops ... less doesn't do anything in times like these.
How do you handle this?? I literally feel like anytime I have ever told someone I have anxiety (and it's been rare, I am very private- my own dentist didn't know I took meds for it a while back) they answer me by saying they are much worse than me, or someone they know is much worse than me or putting me down for saying it's a problem for me.
I am tired of people making assumptions.... I have literally not met anyone like this, or heard of anyone like this.
This happens whenever someone says something upsetting to me, in person through email or text message (where I am not actively doing anything) OR when I have to tell someone something that I am nervous about saying to them - again, email text or in person. So I KNOW it would seem like social anxiety, and yes I feel nervous, but this goes so far beyond that.
It's now been about an hour since my muscles began convulsing, and it's a lot less now. I'm not sure if convulsing is the right word, but I twitch violently everywhere. I can't talk b/c my tongue feels so tight/i can't control it. As well, I am gagging (sometimes I throw up, even when I've had nothing to eat). I am also shivering everywhere, and no amount of warm clothes or blankets is helping.
I am still twitching an hour later, but it doesn't feel like a freaking seizure now.
All I had to do for this was email a prof... something I avoid doing, but I had to.
The only drug that has worked for this is taking an antipsychotic. It takes forever for it to go away without, and I usually sleep when it stops b/c I feel exhausted and spent. If I take 50-75 mg of the antipsychotic, it stops ... less doesn't do anything in times like these.
How do you handle this?? I literally feel like anytime I have ever told someone I have anxiety (and it's been rare, I am very private- my own dentist didn't know I took meds for it a while back) they answer me by saying they are much worse than me, or someone they know is much worse than me or putting me down for saying it's a problem for me.
I am tired of people making assumptions.... I have literally not met anyone like this, or heard of anyone like this.
While it sounds like an "extreme" fight / flight response, I'd look into it further if it was me. Have you discussed this issue with a neurologist?
Anger can really push flight /flight too. Do you see yourself as an angry person?
I don't know if this is related, but I've also experienced three clearly psychotic episodes since the summer, and some others that could be interpreted as mildly psychotic (such as going to the ER because I think I am dying, or calling the cops to report suspicious things that are not very suspicious).
Suggestion, there's an anger management support group here on D.S. Why not read some of their posts and see if something over there looks helpful. It may help to post your question on their group too. And, I'd consider seeing a neurologist.
Stay in touch with us, OK? I'd like to know what the doctors say.
Take care,
AnxiousInLA
Thanks for taking the time to answer me. I will check out the group maybe.
I don't have a psychiatrist anymore. My GP was supposed to get me a referral four months ago b/c things got really bad with me again, but she didn't. I guess I have to ask her again. It takes many, many months to see one.
I am still twitching and it's so annoying; I just can't relax.
I really don't think I have bipolar. It just doesn't resonate with me; I've read about it before as my previous psychiatrist asked me if I thought I might have it. I can honestly say that I do not feel the symptoms describe me... like unless it is possible to live in a perpetual "mixed" state of depression/mania (which I actually am not familiar w/... i thought it was one or other?)
I do have a fear I may "be" borderline. My mood does swing A LOT, like 180 within a matter of hours - all the time. I definitely change my mind about who I am, how confident I am, how good my life is, what I am going to do with my life, etc. all the time. I also definitely have idealized people in the past.. not everyone though, but some people. And I do seek out guys that aren't into me. The only thing is that I don't think I have a fear of abandonment, which seems like the defining element of this disorder... though I do fear intimate/sexual context rejection I guess because I'm not confident w/ my body. I don't know if that's the same thing though.
Sometimes I think I just need to get away from my home and school situation. Maybe take a year off of school... I am treated w/ such a condescending shit attitude by my profs because I make bad judgement calls that I regret ALL the time. I've come off meds twice this term and that has caused me a lot of problems (case in point...now). I also make rash decisions like overestimate my abilities all the time.
thanks for caring, though. It's always a surprise when someone cares. ESPECIALLY a stranger! Kudos to you
I am adding this to note that perhaps there's something I am missing out on... like I must be doing something. Maybe my facial expression or the fact that I am such a shit show.
I am visiting my doctor to ask for the antipsychotics again. I had a multi month supply but one day I took everything I had left b/c I wanted to kill myself or something. Luckily, they only pinned me to my bed for just over a day, and then I actually felt pretty fine - great mood for a few days. I need them for the shaking/twitching I think (which is gone from yesterday btw, so it's not constant or anything), for when I'm in an upsetting situation.
I will consider asking for a referral. It's just a bit of a hassle ... like how will they even know what I have? and I am so "against" drugs that I really HATE trying new drugs. That's been the reason for coming off of things in the past. I just don't want to be on anything.