Yes, unfortunately that is one of the many "perks" of FMS. It comes and goes with no rhyme or reason. Case in point, I was a train
wreck yesterday. Today I am not much better because of exhaustion and barometric pressure changes. Best defense is to find something distracting like a movie, get cosy, fire up a heating pad etc. This too shall pass.

Thanks. I'll keep telling myself that, "This will pass."

I am so sorry you've had such a tough day yesterday and today. :( :( That stinks.

Thanks JenS3!

Just having your body in a constant state of pain can make you anxious without realizing it. And then there are meds - I know I take a couple with anxiety-producing side effects, but couldn't get by without them. Fun, huh.

Hang in there.
Lynn

Just resurfaced after a short nap. I wanted to share a tip that a friend who has MS uses for stress and anxiety. There are adult coloring books available on Amazon. The designs are beautiful and can be quite complex. I have a couple books and a set of gel pens. I find that I get absorbed in the creative process and my angst level subsides. If movies, reading or napping isn't shutting down that endless loop of having a crazed squirrel in your brain, coloring usually does. Just remember we are all in this together! Take care.

Thanks, Lynn. I think gabapentin can cause anxiety, but I'm not sure if that's what is causing this as I've been on the same dose of that for a while and don't always feel anxious. (Though I suppose that's still a possibility.) Interesting about the pain putting one in a constant anxious state. I hadn't thought of that.

Fantod, that sounds like such a fun idea. My daughter is an artist and uses her art as her mental health aid--a way to unwind, deal with stress, etc. I've always been so terrible at it, I've never considered doing the same. But I could color in books, and I'm very much a pen addict! :) I'd love an excuse to stock up on some pretty gel pens! And that certainly does sound relaxing.

I can get triggered into a full on panic attack simply from the pounding bass of music or the deep hum of construction machines. My heart starts racing because of the tone. So it is very possible to have a physical reaction such as panic or anxiety to an outside source even if it's not a psychological reason.

Fantod, great idea about the adult coloring books. They would be perfect for when I need something distracting and yet creative. I tried knitting, but it was way too frustrating and actually made me tense.

YoukaiShi, that's very interesting. It might be strange, but loud noise can actually cause me physical pain. My husband loves going to the movies. (I'd prefer to read), and it's always so loud. I keep saying I need to bring ear plugs but forget. So i crumple up tissue paper and shove it in my ears. Helps, though not a lot.

Yes I get that too. From what I've read, the pain throws your adrenal and nervous systems into a frenzy. Pain is a signal that something's wrong in your body, so adrenaline is released and when the pain is severe and chronic, you're looking at a recipe for anxiety. I tend to have the anxiety worse during a bad flare. Deep breathing, meditation, or a hot relaxing shower can help and also laughing. I try to watch something funny on tv to distract me and calm me down when I'm feeling anxious or overwhelmed from the pain.

Physical anxiety is very much a symptom for me. I have told my Dr.s over the years before my diagnosis that it felt like I was stuck in fight or flight mode for no reason. I could be stressed about something and have absolutely no anxiety symptoms, or I could be driving down the road totally at peace and get suddenly feel very anxious, short of breath and have a general "scared" feeling. At first it would come and go, but eventually my body just wouldn't settle down, it was hard to concentrate on anything, and I would wake suddenly at night and not be able to get back to sleep. It's not that I was up worrying about life things, I would be worrying about the fact that I was losing sleep or obsessing on my physical symptoms which were so uncomfortable. Makes sense that it would be a fibro symptom since our nervous systems have gone haywire. Thankfully, medications I take for Fibro have helped with the anxiety so I feel much calmer now. I so wish that I had been diagnosed earlier because there were times I thought I was losing my mind and I feel like I wasn't being heard. I remember once telling my Psychologist that I wish someone would shoot me with a tranquilizer dart. It felt like my nerves were on fire. We were always trying to find a "reason" for the anxiety and never really found one.

I just bought the adult coloring books too! I just zone out on them and seem to calm down from all the "stuff" that has me all anxious real or not. Amazon, AC Moore and other craft store have them, if all fails, get the kiddie kind. Also getting lost on the games on my Kindle or Ipad help, just one more addition till the battery wears down then I take a nap. Wish I had a magic wand to make it go away but a least you know why it is happening.........................