hi im jem and ive been suffering from wot was thought of as panic attacks for nearly 10 yrs but ive just seen a cbt nurse who thinks its actuallyanxiety. i must admit anxiety is the WORSE thing ive ever gone through in my life i have fears phobias etc and now ive been told it might be six moths before i can get onto the cbt therapy course i dont take medication as i have a fear of it so basically im just existing every day. i never knew that differant aches pains etc can all be anxiety related.and im learning more and more about anxiety. i always feel worse before going to bed and during the night but the nurse has asked me to try and not come downstairs during the night as my sleep pattern is all mixed up due to my anxiety.also i always have strange feelings in my throat but keep trying to convince myself its part of the anxiety and not health related as i always worry about my health.
we are all on this messageboard for the same reason so if i can do anything to her anyone or vice versa please just ask .jem xx

Hi Jem and welcome on board I have been suffering from anxiety about health for many years so I know how you feel, I have got worse just lately. Aug of last year I got diognosed with a underactive thyroid I have hypo/ Hashsi's it's where my immune system has turned against me. I had been going to the doctors seven months previous to this, complaining that I had pains and felt really fatigue; i put weight on all of the time, my doctor kept telling me that it was anxiety. But i kept going back and eventually he did a blood test, and about four days later I recieved a phone call from my Doc saying that I had this underactive and that is probably why I had been feeling like I had for so long. So you can see why I have got worse beacuse I really do have a disease that effects me from my head to toe, and there is no cure except the medication, like yourself, I do not like to take medication; but in this case and now I have no choice.

What I have tried to do, is use this site as often as I can, I like contributing to it, as do I really love reading up about other people helping, I do try to do my bit on here as I know everyone else does. I do use the thyroid board alot though, they are so helpful over there, but I am sure they are here also.

Lets keep each other posted, have liked hearing from you. I really do hope you start feeling better soon, I know it feels like a long hard climb but in the end I am sure we will eventually climb the mountain with flying colours.

Take care keep in touch Mandy... xxx