Hi all, I have posted in here over the last week, but just wanted to get a clear picture regarding physical symptoms of anxiety. I am having major health anxiety, and I have had the following symptoms over the last couple of weeks:

fatigue
night sweats
trembling
shaking
trouble swallowing
loss of appetite
swollen lymph nodes (i think)--pain under my armpits
nausea
lightheadedness
muscle aches and pains
sharp pains throughout my body at various times
my upper arms burn at times
tingling in my fingers of my right hand and wrist
strange headaches--in one specific spot at a time, for only a few minutes, i.e. behind my ear, on my temple, back of head, etc, for 3 minutes or so.

Has anyone else ever had this at all??? It is really freaking me out, and the more I have it, the more I think I am really sick. I even have a sore throat now. I would appreciate any and all responses. Thank you.

Michael

MichaelDallas, these all are symptoms of anxiety, as time goes on they will get easier and easier, I know that is hard to swallow now, but it does. Also you will notice that your symptoms will change, and whatever it was that bothered you before you will forget all about and be on to the next thing that feels funny. I have found that Xanax helps me out alot for the symptoms, if I am having a really bad day!

I get...

night sweats
lightheadedness
heart palps
rapid heart rate
heart flutters
shortness of breath
difficulty swallowing
lump in throat
tingling hands/arms
tightness in chest
pupils dilate
excess sweating

I also get recurring shingles - maybe from an autoimmune disorder - or because my immunity dips because I get so freaked out....

Anyway - I'm sure there's more, but that's all I can think of now.

I really hope they are symptoms of anxiety, because the alternative scares me. I know that many of them are--for instance, if I think of something specific, like a health related issue, I will get a hot flash and might tremble. I think the ones that scare me are the painful lymph nodes and sore throat. Also the sharp pains--what the hell are those anyway!!!???

Also, the difficulty swallowing made me lose about 8 pounds in a week--I literally could not swallow food, I would gag. Finally this went away as I became less anxious. The night sweats come and go. The fatigue was around for about 4-5 days, then went away, but will come back now and then. Just very freaked out!!!!!

trouble swallowing could be a sign of acid reflux which of course is all related too.
the way you sleep could have a bearing on the tingling and numbness also.

michaeldallas,

Would you describe your shaking feeling as a "Physical" shaking or a "Mental shaking", like I mean do you actually shake, or does it just feel like it on the inside of your body? I know when I get an anxiety attack I usually get a slight mental shaking. All of your other symptoms sound pretty typical of health anxiety. Your trouble swallowing can be pretty typical in the fight/flight response which comes with anxiety.

My symptoms currently are lightheadedness/dizziness, ringing in my ears, tingling and sometimes weird vision disturbances. Needless to say I'm not doing very well at this time

You sound just like me, I also have health anxiety. I have been having almost all of your symptoms and a couple others on top of those. Even though I know I have anxiety issues, especially this time of year, I too was nervous these were something else, some dreaded disease. It started around my usual time,about 7 weeks ago, then about 3 weeks ago I started really thinking about them and being scared of them, and that's when they became much worse.
The only advice I can give you right now is some I got from my 12 year old son tonight, who has also had anxiety. He said "Mom, you know it's just anxiety, get your mind to think about something else, read a book, do something fun" It was then that i realized that he was right, when I'm doing something and not thinking about them, they seem to go away. I had to help him a couple years ago, now he's helping me.
Just know that you are not alone and I hope you feel better soon.

Thank you Sberton, I appreciate it, and everyone else's response. I have been scared to death that I have HIV from one lousy low-risk encounter, and once I really started thinking about it, I started to self diagnose. I started to get every symptom in the book. On top of that, I got a sore throat, and it felt like my glands were swollen. I am the same way--if i dont think about it, it goes away. I do still get these weird headaches--not a constant, but a random, 30 second ache in a particular localized place--behind my eye, behind my ear, in my temple, etc. Does anyone get that? My trembling is mainly inside, uncontrollable. It really freaks me out. I just hope im OK, and I sincerely appreciate everyone's support. We are all in a similar boat. Thanks.

Michael

I think you should go see a doctor anyways. It very well could be anxiety alone or with a health problem. Please go see the doctor. I wish you luck.

I myself have anxiety disorder and panic attacks, but with symptoms like that you can't just ignore them and play it off as anxiety alone, or your mind building things up. These physical symptoms need to be looked at and checked out regardless of the anxiety problems.

{REMOVED}

Michael i too get the pains in my head, have had them a long time on and off. I always attributed them to my sinuses/allergies, but I don't know, It wouldn't surprise me if it turned out to be another anxiety symptom. I get the trembling inside as well, notice it a lot in my legs when i walk down stairs, and it freaks me out. I sit here now and notice how tense my shoulders are, they are hunched up to my ears. UGH!

Hang in there, let us know if you are feeling better

Sue

Hey guys, thanks so much for the support. This health anxiety, specifically HIV anxiety, is killing me! I now have started to get more headaches, which obviously freaks me out to no end. One second I think I am fine and feel great, the next, I am freaking out, going into a panic/anxiety attack, get all hot, weak, shaky because i am convinced I have HIV.

Hi Michael & all - I hope you don't mind me jumping in here, but I just read through your posts and it sounds like I could have written all of them. My health anxiety started 12 years ago, over HIV - I had no real reason to think I had it, but I finally tested when I found out I was pregnant - of course the test was negative, but I scared myself to death waiting for those results, esp. since I had been so anxious imagining that I had HIV. I had been an anxious person before that, but that was how my health anxiety got started...it comes & goes in cycles, believe me, the things I have convinced myself I have are crazy....I am doing better now with klonopin, therapy & trying to stay off the internet "symptom" sites, etc. I wish you all luck, and just wanted to say, that I wish I would have gotten help for the anxiety the moment it started instead of suffering for so long & getting myself into such a nervous state, so if you are new to these symptoms, why not get a doc. to check you out, just for peace of mind (scary as those days of waiting for blood tests can be!), get meds or a therapist or a self-help book & get back to relaxation & happiness! I am on my way, only wish that I hadn't wasted so much time....Hope it helps to know you are not alone, it sure helps me! Best wishes to everyone, Marirose

Here are my symptoms. At any given time I usually have 3 or more. They change all the time, get worse, get better, morph into something else...

* Foggy/Fuzzy headed feeling
* Tingling sensations
* Muscle twitches/jerks
* Creepy/scrawling sensations on top of head and arms
* Vibrating/trembling sensation in various parts of body
* Visual disturbances
* Anxiety, panic, health worries
* Sharp aches/pain in left side of neck, legs, etc
* Weak, wobbly arms or legs
* Buggy-eyed feeling
* Back of neck (especialy left side) feels "kinked"
* Prickly sensation on scalp and elsewhere

Well, there's a zillion other ones but I'll leave it at these for now. anxiety is horrible to have to live with. I pity all of you just as much as I pity myself. I hope they come up with a cure someday but it's probably more "profitable" to treat the symptoms. Xanax XR just came out on the market recently and I've hear all kinds of good things about it. Vistaril works good and there are a few other ways to cope. Alcohol knocks anxiety out cold but that's a bad habit to get started.

LonelyTraveler, all of your symptoms are normal for anxiety alone, what concerns me is the original posters symptoms,

fatigue
night sweats
trembling
shaking
trouble swallowing
loss of appetite
swollen lymph nodes (i think)--pain under my armpits
nausea
lightheadedness
muscle aches and pains
sharp pains throughout my body at various times
my upper arms burn at times
tingling in my fingers of my right hand and wrist
strange headaches--in one specific spot

Go to the doctor!

I just went to the doctor, and your post just made me more anxious. Thanks.

I used to have panic attacks. I was taking Xanax, it calmed me down, but I got extremely depressed because I was still having attacks. I'm on Zoloft now. I've been taking it for about 18 months now. Antidepressant worked for me greatly and I'm so glad I got help. Good luck, it will get better!!! Believe me!

What did the doctor have to say? Did you tell him about these symptoms? I don't mean to make you more anxious than you already clearly are, but they really need to be looked at as most are not typical with anxiety disorder alone. Just because you have anxiety disorder does not make you invincible and/or everything can be pinned down to just anxiety. Let us know.

I think we should all get our strange symptoms checked out, but I can assure you that I have had all of the symptoms that you have had except for the trouble swallowing. I have made three trips to the ER since October, and I have had numerous tests conducted - all with negative results. My symptoms have definitely decreased since October, so hopefully yours will subside also.

The alternatives scare me too Michael. I have constant, all the time pain in my shoulders, neck, lumbar, muscle tremors, shaking, burning legs and or feet, pressure palsies, things that go numb easily, heart pounding in my ear on one side, as well as g.i. symptoms. I went through a lot of testing, and so far nothing. I didnt do an mri or emg yet as i just cant handle some of these things.
Its almost impossible to know for sure whats causing what. Ive tested negative for Lyme, but the test is not that accurate.
Ive been ill for a year, with anxiety and depression, and i miss being myself and with my family. Its horrible. Heres to a speedy recovery for you.

Thank you again for all of you replies. The doc said that I was overreacting, that I was anxious, and to not worry. I tested for HIV and everything else on Friday, so I should know on Tuesday or Wed. He started me on avitan and lexapro, and i have to say, i feel better already. Once I get a negative test result, I will feel much better. I do have to say, after reading so much on the internet, that as you all know, anxiety and stress can wreak havoc on your body and mind. If everything really is ok with me, I encourage all of you to go to the doctor, get checked out, and get on anti anxiety meds. We spend so much time worrying about things that we shouldnt. I hope that this will make me stop--as you know, it can be hard. But, we are all in the same boat, and I hope I can provide the support that you all have provided me. I will let you know when i hear something. Think positive, and stay healthy.

Best,

Michael

Hang in there Michael.

Hang in there Michael and let us know your results becasue i'm going through the same thing you are with almost all of the same symptoms. If you get negative test results, it will help ease my mind that what i've been experiencing is anxiety/stress.

Hi

This thread has intrigued me because I had a lot of anxiety symptoms since 2000 which went away. Since early last year my bowel habits changed drsatically and I have had a lot of the symptoms listed in this thread with also weakness and nausea which I did not have before.

I am very concerned now and recently had a colonoscopy - the doctor who did it said it was OK but I have to await results on a couple of polyps. All through this past year - which has been hell for my family- my doctor has said again panic/anxiety/depression. Can this also cause a change in bowel habits, narrow stools, night sweats though? No doubt that the mind is a powerful thing. I am staggered that it can have such physical effects?

This is a real hassle for me but this thread has at least shown the possibility of something pyschosomatic.

Thanks

hello to all,im new to this site...ive suffered allsorts of these stress reactions over the years...they dissapeared for years then suddenly come back..at the moment i find myself dizzy virtually all day.. its totally taken over my life..dont do shops or busy places anymore and feel threatned all the time that im going to pass out...i can usually relax at home...can any one help with any kind of cures .?..thanx ..trev. newbie

I get all those symptoms and the out of reality feeling and once in a while id faint out cold with seizure activity and sick as ever afterwards.

Drjs - I think that anxiety can have an affect on the bowels. Although my biggest belief is that the anxiety makes me pay too much attention. Perhaps people everywhere have different stools, mild diarrhea etc. at times and they just don't pay attention to it the way we do. I tend to dwell on every little "different" situation. So - in this respect I think anxiety definately has something to do with it.

I'm going out on a limb here, but people you were all happy, fun-loving before health anxiety kicked-in. Thats what happened to me. I was distracted by the debauchery of college that I didn't have a milisecond to stop and think about what I was doing. That mindset ended when I started thinking about an unprotected sexual experience with a girl. I thought the worse. The anxiety built up before going in to the Doc for testing. I knew I was blowing the situation out of proportion but took the necessary steps to quell fear, at least thats what I thought.

I conditioned myself to fear and obsess that once I got my test results back saying I'm fine, I can't accept it. I just want to jump out of my body and shake myself until I vomit. Yelling in my ear "YOU'RE OK, MOVE ON." I watch the Lance Armstrong Nike Commerical announcing his cancer diagnosis. Not once was that man crying; not once. Not even terminal cancer got in this guy's way, his resolve is a million times better than mine. He had something to obsess and fear, but he didn't. He concentrated on training his mind to think healthy and of course riding again. WE should all emulate a man of such stature. Anyway..a good way to assauge your anxiety is besides meds and going to shrink..is to start a daily journal of what y'all thinking. Trust me it works...I read previous entries, before writing a current entry...its very reflective and will make you realize that what your thinking is untrue.

{REMOVED}

I get headaches, loss of appetitie, light headed, tightness, loss of sleep, obsessive thoughts, crying, pains, indigestion, you name it I have had it! Most recently due to health concerns. I am deathly afraid of medical procedures. Not sure how to handle it except to face it head on and hope I don't pass out and embarrass myself!

Ok, Here Are My Symtoms
The Main One Is Lightheaded
Weak And Shaky Legs
Tense Muscles In Neck And Shoulders
Digestive Problems
Fear Of Doctors And Tests
Brain Fog
Rapid Heart Beat
Many More
Reenie

Hi all, wow we all sound so similar!! For years i have convinced myself that i have HIV with an encounter 7 years ago..yes it is the worst fear, everyday, unsure of the future, unable to smile with joy? i get the symptoms you suffer with;

Pain under my arm pits??
IBS problems
pins and needles
cold hands and feet
shakey/trembling within
rapid hearbeat
Brain fog
Heavy lead legs
Obsessive thoughts?
Fear of doctors in a big way!!!

Let us know on the results??

My sypmptoms since my questionable sexual encounter 10 weeks ago have been...

Night sweats - waking up trembling, cold and wet. Took my temperature it read 94

Loss of appetite - Once I try to eat it's ok, just no desire to eat.

Diarreah - loose narrow stools, frequent

I also had chlamydia type sypmptoms - got checked for all the stds (a couple times) and they all came back negative including. Herpes, Chlamydia, Gonnereah, HIV, Syphillis. Took 10 days of Doxycylin for Non Specific Urethritis (per the Dr.) It was no help. More recently I went to a urologist and he said, I looked fine.

Armpits - Lately I have had the pain in the armpits, I am constantly feeling around for swollen lymph nodes which definitely doesn't help matters.

A couple more weeks then I can take my 12 week HIV test (my 6 week came back negative) and hopefully put this thing behind me for ever.

Despite, my symptoms I am running 4+ miles 4 days per week, doing hot yoga class 1 day per week , playing ice hockey 2 days per week and softball 1 day per week. Could I really be sick and still do all this stuff? I have a really quilty conscious and I've only made love two my wife 2X in the last 10 weeks. This anxiety is tearing my family apart, but if I got my wife sick I could never forgive myself.

Yes I get all those symptoms and lately I have been twitching all over. At first it started with my eye and now I twitch in my thigh, stomach, butt etc....

You sound just like me, I also have health anxiety. I have been having almost all of your symptoms and a couple others on top of those. Even though I know I have anxiety issues, especially this time of year, I too was nervous these were something else, some dreaded disease. It started around my usual time,about 7 weeks ago, then about 3 weeks ago I started really thinking about them and being scared of them, and that's when they became much worse.
The only advice I can give you right now is some I got from my 12 year old son tonight, who has also had anxiety. He said "Mom, you know it's just anxiety, get your mind to think about something else, read a book, do something fun" It was then that i realized that he was right, when I'm doing something and not thinking about them, they seem to go away. I had to help him a couple years ago, now he's helping me.
Just know that you are not alone and I hope you feel better soon.
AWWWWW that is so sweet your lil boy helped you its sweet and sad at the same time i started my worry and panic at 12 im now 21 its hard for a kid i feel so sorry for him but its good he has you to help him through it my parents just thought i was making it up so thats so sweet and touching awww it makes me wanna cry for him and you

I get the following lately

Weakness in legs and neck.
Muscle twitching.
Neck muscle pain/tense
Heavy feeling in my head
Back pain
Brain fog
Tremors
Loss of Appetite

Been checked head to toe by doctors,including a neurologist,MRI of the brain,EMG,blood tests,etc.....everything normal.

I was diagnosed with annxiety/depression/OCD seven years ago and put on Zoloft and then Zoloft and Lexapro,but I went off the Zoloft several months ago and so I had a relapse which I'm still working through. Back on both Zoloft and Lexapro and increasing the dose. Starting to feel better slowly.

I'm telling you folks,the mind suffers and the body cries out. If you think you have some physical disease well,guess what? You can start having symptoms of that disease. If you have general anxiety or depression,OCD,etc....it can cause all sorts of weird physical stuff. Just see the shrink,get on some meds and work through it.

Just reading all the postings is making me feel things that I'm sure is just anxiety related. Lump in throat, hard time swallowing, sharp pains in right side, etc. I did not have the lump in throat until I read it. I hate this!!! I just want to be normal. I always feel like I'm going to die from some terminal illness. As a matter of fact today I saw a doctor for the 3rd time this month and they are running tests for me on Monday. Not because they think anythings wrong but because I demanded it for my peace of mind. Not a good thing when you have no job or insurance. My DH works and lovingly pays my med bills even though the doc always says I'm fine. I won't take meds out of fear that I will have an allergic reaction or something bad will happen with side effects. I'm actually thinking about writing a book on my diaries as a hypochondriac.