Jus my 2 cents:
I do not know if PKD causes anxiety because I'm not a doctor or a professional however; this is my take on the issue.
They claim anxiety is due to a chemical imbalance. Serotonin is the chemical that is resposible for your flight or fight reaction.
In having a disease where you fatigued, not getting enough nutrition , your normal levels of potassium, electrolyes and all the other levels that are not in their "normal" state throws of your chemical balance. Added to the physical chemical imbalance comes the pyschological imbalance, the fear of what may happen to you, the anger for having the disease, the worry of things unknown work together to wreak havoc in your mind and body. Anxiety is caused by repressed anger leading to depression. Panic is caused by fear.
In not knowing what medications you take I really can't say however; certain medications can cause an anxious feeling. As well as high blood pressure.
If in fact your anxiety is stemming from the psychological aspect , then it merely becomes mind over matter. What you don't mind doesn't matter. By talking to yourself and assuring yourself that it is only anxiety and nothing more serious you will help to lessen it's affect on you.Finding a comforting thought or doing something you enjoy will take your mind off of it dissipating the anxiety.
I notice when I have not eaten well my anxiety becomes worse. I notice when I have not slept well my anxiety becomes worse. I notice when I allow stress to rule my life my anxiety becomes worse. I notice when I think of the future and what might happen to me my anxiety becomes worse.
When I have overwhelming anxiety (which doesn't happen to often) I go for a walk, or I fold clothes for some reason that helps me and I feel peaceful. I don't think to much about what could happen to me with this disease and I realize so many others have already been through the worse and have come out champions.
When you are feel anxious try and write down what was happening when you became anxious and what you were feeling before you got anxious. That will help you to pinpoint what the cause is.
Peace

I don't know either Polykid, but I suffer from anxiety and pretty much have ever since the PKD began showing symptoms and in my case, that was late in life. Peace could be right about all that she has written as I too didn't have it as a young person. It does make me wonder about it though and it feels so awful, I really hate it. I've taken every seriton uptake drug there is and none of them have any affect on me. Do you take anything for it Polykid. I think as time goes by, you will get lots of replys to your question as I know personally a lot of people that suffer from anxiety. I've been to counseling for it, talked until I was blue in the face and none of it has helped. the only t hing that has helped me at all, and it is only short term, is exercise, and I'am getting to the point in my life where it's becoming more difficult. I can't imagine dieing feeling this way, can you? Helping others helps me. when my mind is on something else other than myself, I tend to feel better. I belong to several organizations that help the poor and that makes me feel so much better, but again, it's only short term and I wonder whats wrong with my brain for this to be happening to begin with. something obviously is wrong. Good luck honey and I hope you find an answer soon. Try walking, running, anything you can to be physical as that for sure will help some. Find a definitive reason for life, help someone less fortunate than you, and they are many. I hope I have helped you in understanding just a little bit.

lots of love,
Norma...

Hi, I have suffered with PKD since i was a teenager & have had problems with anxiety the entire time. I am on several meds for the anxiety because I have severe panic attacks & difficulty sleeping. I have migraines that are so devastating I can't even function. I went to a neurologist & he put me on nortryptilin for the migraines. You really need to talk to your dr about this. There are several medicines that they can try to help you. Please know that you are not alone, dealing with PKD is stressfull enough & it causes your body to respond in different ways as the disease progresses. I wish you the best of luck & feel free to contact me, am always glad to help in anyway I can.

Oh yes anxiety. It has just about ruined my life lately. The doctor's do have me on medications for it and for sleep which I think has made the anxiety part worse. I don't have a lot of options with exercise which used to be the main way that I controlled my anxiety because I am in pain. But ever since this began about 2 years ago, my anxiety has been off the charts. So I would venture to guess what peacenixon said is absolutely true. I am beginning to listen to meditation tapes and saying affirmations and doing a lot of other stuff. I wish I could say it's a cure, but it is a daily battle. Norma knows too.

I think its safe to say all the unknowns with PKD cause's anxiety. If I only knew what was causing all the pain I would have anxiety

Pkdkid as i am 17 and have had pkd since i was 6mos i havent reall have had any anxiety. But sometiomes i do. All i think of is its hard living withpkd but its not the end of hte world i thry my best. Jbust remember and tell yourself im beatiful and i am loved. Remember that next time and see if it works be proud of who you are if you need any more advice i would be happy to give you more

Hey man I'm not a dr. either and don't want to be a drug pusher but they tried me on all kinds of antidepressents for my anxiety and the side effects were awfull but there is one anxiety medice called Xanex. It is habbit forming and not to easy to come off of but it calms me down well when I am haveing anxiety attacks or just can't sleep because my mind is just going on and on and on instead of letting me just sleep. It clears my head and lets me both focus and sleep with no problems. It does'nt make me drowsy or anything but it does let my mind at ease. Kinda allows me to not care a little I guess kinda like alcohol. If I have a few beers I lighten up a little and stay calm. But A: thats not legal to do and drive either. B: alcolhal is also addicting. I don't really know why it works so well but it does. And it's very hard to ask your dr. for. they don't like to prescribe it at all because of it easily being addictive. I personally am not very prone to addiction. I always make myself stop takeing pills for awhile just to see if I have withdraws from certain one's and for other reasons like not being able to take this with that or that with this and usually don't have any troubles. Thats just my 2 cents most dr.'s are going to say no not at all but I kinda wish more would just say yes because its very effective and actually works with no side effects for me. It works well for me and was hard to find a doc that would let me have it but everyone is different no telling how you will feel with it. But at least with it instead of other sleep meds and stuff if i have to get up at night for my kids or to go to the bathroom or anything I don't feel groggy and can still function normally and get right back to sleep. Others I've tried are not so friendly. I've been so commatosed I've slept through my kids crying, I've been combative when people try to wake me up for important things like tornadoes and stuff you really need to wake up for. I've even been so groggy that I've fallen down the stairs trying to get up and get around for work the next morning. Luckily no real injuries. I'm just saying that it's been a wonderfull way for me to ease my mind of anxiety and lets me sleep with no fowl effects when my mind wont stop rambleing on at night. For me it was the perfect fit.