Hi Trish. My main symptom is the usual chest pain and racing heart... Although my biggest frustration with that is that it happens 24/7 even when I have absolutely nothing to be anxious about. It never ends but has been better in the past. I also tend to get very dizzy and start thinking of things that DO make me anxious, just to justify that I am actually having a constant anxiety attack... Which obviously is not the way to make things better.

Do you have anything similar? What kind of symptoms have you noticed with yours?

When I'm severely anxious about something (mostly health anxiety) I lose a little weight, get night sweats, feel super tired. And it just makes me worry even more because of illnesses that have the same symptoms. So sometimes it's hard to differentiate the two.

My friend has gone through something very similar. Have you had tests for hormone imbalances? (All she had to do were at home saliva tests and bring them back in.) She got some answers through similar test. I have been thinking on getting something like that done as well, as I also get the exhaustion (ALL the time) and the worries about illness and similar factors. Have you found anything that assists you with these symptoms?

I start feeling like I can't breathe, my chest starts to hurt, I can't eat, I feel constantly sick, like I'm going to throw up, sometimes I do, I get restless and I can't sleep due to chest pains, feeling sick and muscles cramping. If I do fall asleep I have nightmares and I wake up. I haven't slept more than 1-2 hours every possibly 5 times a week. Only thing that helps me calm down is hearing another person talk to me. Then sometimes I can get a little bit more sleep but panic if I wake up and the person isn't there anymore. These days people don't have time for that though.

Wow...do i feel at home on this site!
Every post had something that i experience too!
One thing is true...we are definately not alone in this anxiety!

Here too with the chest pain. It's mostly pressure, but it's uncomfortable. I also don't eat, & if I force myself to eat something I get physically sick. My hands shake uncontrollably & it seems I go into sensory overload too. Anyone else have any of the others that I mentioned? Just curious.

I can get shaky legs, but generally I have a general unease and lack of relaxation that then manifests into shaky legs or at least restless legs, with a combination of electrical like feelings on my arms and leg, and a lack of concentration . I do not get a racing heart or chest pains.

lack of concentration
racing thoughts
sweaty palms
headachy
uncomfortable heart beat/tight chest (depends on level of panic)
butterflies/churning stomach
switching between high energy and exhaustion

If I am not at home, I tend to have the 'bolt' urge to get home in my comfort zone.

Now that I have done my healing work I know all my symptoms are directly related to childhood sexual abuse as well as emotional and physical abuse. I had PTSD from the abuse and anxiety is a symptom of PTSD. All other symptoms listed here are also from PTSD and not anxiety as I once believed. Some of the symptoms are from body memories and some are from metaphysical reasons (our body responds in certain ways to our thoughts). Here is my list - most of them are now gone..

Dizzy
Nausea
Heart palpitations
Feel like I can't breath (like asthma)
Feel like I can't breath (like an elephant is sitting on my chest)
Feel like throat is swollen
Feel like tongue is swollen
Lump in throat
Teeth pain
Sweating
Hot Flashes
Thighs on fire
Heart pounding
Shaking (all over or sometimes just in the legs)
Fatigue in arms and legs
Numb or tingling in arms and hands
Pressure in upper arms
Racing thoughts
Intrusive thoughts

I can explain the reason for each of these symptoms if anyone is interested in hearing them.

I have felt most of what has been stated above. Most of the time it sneaks up on me but, when I realize it coming I repeat self therapies that have helped in the past until they work. We all know how to do something till it hurts, just learn how to do something till it helps.

Anxiety is a natural part of us. Learning how to use it to help us feel good takes a lot of work, determination, and courage. It gets out of whack, and we know all the physical sensations mean something. I know I feel better now when I sense anxiety symptoms, because I can do something physical to make it lessen. Best wishes to everyone!

Mine are like Inner-Chaos

Sympathies to what everyone is going through

Mideyebrow - I am hoping you can clarify a few things for me so I understand what you have written here.

I read the sentence "Anxiety is a natural part of us." and it made me think many thoughts. My first thought was that not all anxiety is created equal. Although I do agree that anxiety is a natural part of us I feel this is only true of anxiety we feel when nervous like when we have to drive someplace we have never been before or we have to talk in front of a crowd. This is 'normal' anxiety which is often called 'being nervous'. For the level of anxiety I felt, and it appears many here feel, it is not nervous anxiety. When someone speaks of being terrified that they will die that is not born from simple nervousness. That is born from something that happened that made them feel their life could and would be taken (this is what I learned from my therapist who has helped numerous trauma survivors). So to say "Anxiety is a natural part of us" makes me feel my trauma and resulting anxiety is being minimized. To me I hear "I am sorry the abuser tried to kill you but your anxiety is no different from a person who is nervous about giving a speech." I am sure this is not your intention but if you could further explain this statement I feel I could learn from it.

The other sentence is "Learning how to use it to help us feel good takes a lot of work, determination, and courage." I know for a fact that I have not used my anxiety to help me feel good. I have worked hard, been determined and had the courage to relive the trauma's that created my anxiety but I could never say that my anxiety helped me to feel good. If you could also explain this statement further I would appreciate it.

Thank you mideyebrow! :-)

My chest hurts, my hands sweat, I can't breathe, I get weak, my stomach aches, I feel like I have ants all over my body. I shut people out, I feel like I need to crawl into a hole, my body gets small.

Tension headaches
Light headedness and spaced out feeling
Zoning out
Talking really fast
Intrusive thoughts
Tight head muscles
Racing heart beat -
Depersonalisation
Disassociation