How do you feel when Anxiety starts? - Anxiety Message Board

Live-Life-to-Love · 10-30-2005, 09:35 PM

Just wondering what symptoms & feelings you experience when your Anxiety kicks in. And what do you do to make it better?

camtorres15 · 10-31-2005, 07:58 AM

Hi Elda~

For me, I first notice a feeling like butterflies in my stomach, except I kinda feel it all over. It's hard to explain. And I just feel nervous, like I can't sit still. My heart usually speeds up and that scares me and I have to walk around the house and do some deep breathing to calm myself down. I also try to tell myself that I'm OK, it will pass, I'm not dying...but sometimes even that is hard. I have my Xanax ready just in case, but thankfully I haven't had to take one in weeks. I'm curious to see how others feel as well.

mjewell · 10-31-2005, 09:45 AM

Elda...I also feel very nervous and this weird "shot" of panic goes through me...that's the only way i can describe it, it seems to start in my stomach and goes up through my head, then my heart starts beating, rapid breathing and nausea.

The above description is when I get an attack...when I start going through an "episode" I have a general sense of dread all the time, I feel fluish, achy, headachy and fatigued...I usually lose my appetite.

Unfortunately I rely on Xanax a lot to make me feel better. I can't seem to make it go away on my own.

sarah5432 · 10-31-2005, 09:59 AM

I get that nervous butterfly feeling all over too. It'll start in my stomach but then its like it spreads to my entire body. Hard to explain, but I think you get the idea. My heart races and I get palpitations.
I also get a feeling of passing out. I never have and have pretty much accepted that I most likely won't, but thats what scares me the most. I just feel lightheaded and/or dizzy and I have to keep myself occupied so I don't think about it as much.
I do take Xanax daily and Lexapro but am hoping to get back on an as-needed basis with the Xanax. I also get daily chest pains, headaches, ect even if I'm not feeling high anxiety.

Most of these are when I have an actual attack, but the feeling passing out is almost always there or as if things aren't real. And I almost always feel sick to my stomach.

Thats how it feels for me....

twanger · 10-31-2005, 12:48 PM

MIne is always there so it is hard to describe how it starts. When I awaken in the morning, I feel a little nauseated and tired. From there it goes onto whatever disease I think I have at the time. I check symptoms and feel jumpy. The remainder of the day improves if I exercise and by evening I am okay until I eat dinner. Then the nausea starts again and I start feeling anxious. By bedtime I am a mess but can usually get to sleep.