I don't know if it qualifies me for hypochondria, but anxiety does this to me, as well. My personal theory is that thinking about heart attacks and aneurysms is *just* allot more pleasant than thinking about the psycho bullshit that is the real culprit behind my anxiety attacks. I have since swung to the opposite extreme where not even flowing blood and spilling guts are enough to get me into a medical establishment. I already *know* it is all in my head. Don't hand me that age-related test bullcrap.

Gentle empathy, JP. I hold it as one of my gnarlier psych symptoms. What's a certified nut job to do?

I never thought of it like that. It certainly makes me feel a lot better now that i think about it.

Arfie....that is an excellent analogy.

Even though I consider myself cured, anxiety tries to raise it's ugly head from time to time.
Especially since I'm getting older (57 here) every ache and pain causes me pause.

For the past month I was feeling crappy and yet I eat VERY healthy, exercise, get plenty of rest....and yet my blood pressure jumped up high and I was feeling on edge,,,anxiety running in the background.
I had a hunch that I was vitamin deficient. Since I only have a discount program and not insurance, I don't have the luxury....nor do I care to keep going to the ER.

However I did go to my doctor and asked her to run a blood test.........and to check my B12 (you have to ask for this one for some odd reason). Sure enough I was deficient in that one and also D3 (I already take this vitamin, so I just upped the dose).
These 2 vitamin deficiencies alone will cause anxiety along with other issues. It takes time to replenish vitamin deficiencies......anywhere from 1 to 3 months. This is why some peeps give up and say vitamins don't work. The Walmart and Walgreen ones are not the best, so I suggest a health food store or a vitamin shop other than GNC.

However, I DID find a vitamin that helps one relax and calm down within an hour (it took me 1 and a half hours to work) and I was off to lala land....Lol.

In case you are interested, the vitamin is L-Theanine 200 mg.
You need a good quality one like from a health food store (mine is vegetarian) to get good results.
Even at a health food store, it is still reasonably priced. I paid about $8 for 60 capsules. It is non habit forming. It doesn't lose it's potency and the need to keep increasing the dosage. It's compatible with pharmacy drugs....but still check it out with the pharmacist....they know more than the doctors.
You can safely take 2 at a time, but I recommend 1 for starters.
The effect is only good for 8 hours, so take it twice a day.

Hope this helps you and others. IF you are vitamin deficient...and most ppl are, it will take a few months to replenish, but you want relief from anxiety right away, this is the perfect band aide with no side effects.

Sending love and light :)

Thank you so much ! I will look into getting that particular tablet at my local health food store

I made a mistake on price for the L-Theanine vitamin. It cost me $25 for 60 capsules. It is a life saver when I needed it.