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've recently come across some other symptoms of my anxiety that are somwhat not textbook, or not talked about. My first one being that I withdraw from conversations/will go a long portion of the day without talking. I am normally a very talkative person, especially with my best friend whom I live with, but recently, I've noticed that when my anxiety gets bad, I can go hours with barely talking. It's like I have no desire to talk or to engage with other people. Not even that I want to be alone, but specifically that I don't want to talk. I feel like I can't come up with any topic to start a conversation or if she starts a conversation, I don't know what to say to engage. Do you guys find yourself experiencing this too? It's not really a symptom in the DSM that is talked about.
Also, I know that physical manifestations of anxiety are very common. In fact unexplained muscle pain is even a diagnosable symtom of GAD. But, what are some physical symptoms you guys feel that aren't as talked about? For me, I have pain in my left thumb. For the past week, it's uncomfortable pain that feels like a strain. I also have stomach problems and get very tense in my shoulders. Do you guys feel this too?
I have recently been diagnosed with gen anxiety, and I can say I have experienced both of these symptoms.
Sometimes when I am in a conversation or hanging out with someone I will suddenly want to leave as soon as possible whenever I feel panic waves. When this happens I usually start shaking or I get light headed and dizzy, and I'll want to leave because I know that meditating in a quiet room will usually calm me down.
When in a conversation with someone, I think we can't come up with new topics because our minds are so absorbed in our own anxieties. I think that is the case for me, that is. I don't feel like this happens 100% of the time for me, but only when I am trapped in a social situation and cannot leave to meditate. In these cases I will try and find a bathroom, lock the door, and focus on breathing to a count of 4 seconds in and 4 out until i feel calm again.
My physical manifestation of anxiety, like Victor, is chest pains. They come and go, but they have plagued me for maybe 6 months total. At first I thought I was having a heart attack, or would have one eventually. I actually went to the ER the first time I felt the chest pains. It sometimes feels like a muscle strain, and other times feels like an electric zap. I was going to see a cardiologist but I don't have the funds. Since then I have rationalized to myself that a) I'm 20 years old, b) I work out and eat healthy, and c) if it was a heart attack I would have died already.
As of today I have managed my symptoms enough that it has been two weeks since my chest stopped hurting and I am regaining the hope I had lost a few months back.
We can all get better with time :)