I have been diagnosed with anxiety but I am convinced that the symptoms I feel cause the anxiety, not the other way around. I have numbness and tingling in my hands and feet, my muscles are achy, I am dizzy occasionally, I feel like I am going numb and I am convinced there is something seriously wrong with me all the time! It is exhausting!! The most recent thing I am struggling with is the muscle thing - it is almost like they are itchy. And my joints too. I just want to stretch them and move them around. And I just need to breathe deep all the time. I think it is lupus or lymes disease or something terrible. Is is possible that anxiety can be this way where I live in a constant state of being concious of my body and how it feels ALL THE TIME? Has anyone ever felt this way with achy muscles and a tight neck and just feeling "off'? Maybe it is time to commit to medicine. I've had an MRI for MS and blood tests that come back fine. Thanks

I know how you feel, they say i have anxiety and the symptoms i feel during a panic attack wont kill me. I worry about the symptoms im having that lead to the anxiety attack. I have SOB, chest pains, dizziness, left arm and back pain, jaw pain. They say its anxiety and that im making myself feel these things cause im obsessed that i have a heart problem. The breathing has been the worst lately, it seems i cant get a full breath and i am always yawing to try to help myself breath better. It does make me feel better to come here and see im not the only one suffering from all these symptoms. I do take ativan as needed, if i start feeling alot of stuff goin on i will take one to calm myself down before i get to panicky and worry about it and send myself into a panic attack and end up at the ER like i have done several times. They say my heart is fine, i wish i could believe them.

I was the same exact way. I would go weeks/months with achiness in my muscles, chest pain, heart palps, etc. I really thought I lost it....I went for every test out there, (2MRIS, CAT scan, blood work, x-rays, EKGs, Echo, stress test, etc.) and everything would come back negative each time. I would cry everytime the results would come back b/c I just wanted an answer. I WISHED I had lyme disease! The doctors kept telling me that my problem was GAD/depression but I wouldn't believe them. I was recently married, it was supposed to ther best time of my life and I had no problem with work or home. I had all of these physical symptoms but no answers. I would stay up at night and search the internet for anything. Needless to say, my doctor finally convinced me to go on medicine in January. It hasn;t been easy and I have gone through many changes with dosages, etc but I am finally feeling like myself again. I just want to tell you that you will get through this and you have to keep telling yourself that. As hard as it is to believe, these symptoms can all be related to anxiety. Hang in there.

Hello,
I have had anxiety all my life and I believe that ppl with anxiety are more sensitive to different sensations with our body. My hubby has it too and we both have had every symptom you listed and many many more. I also have fibromyalgia and believe it coinsides with anxiety and panic. You could try some meds and see if you get relief from any of your listed symptoms and that will tell you if you are experiencing anxiety from your symptoms or the other. Most ppl with anxiety are med phobic too, just to complicate things even more. Me and hubby are both afraid of meds but he is on zoloft and I just started lexapro. Sometimes you just have to give in.
Sheri

I have had the exact symptoms. So bad, in fact, that I missed a week of work b/c I thought it was the flu. When I went to the doctor, she tested my throid, did and MRI, and did all the blood tests for lupus, etc. All negative. Have finally committed to meds, which are helping. I am still very conscious of what I am thinking and what I am doing. My therapist has been helping me with that. I found the best thing for the physical symptoms was to get off the couch and go outside. Go for a walk. It really lossened my aches and pains and helped me not be so aware of the tingling in my extremities. Hope this helps. Hang in there. It will get better!!

Tiff

You are all so nice to respond. It always makes me feel better to know that I am not alone and that other people have felt as I do. I am med phobic as Sheri pointed out. I am totally afraid that the med will make me sick or harm me. I think however it is time for me to get control of this. Would you all say that you are living in a state of anxiety at all times basically? The way I feel is not brought on by an event, it is just there. Sometimes worse than other times. The support an kindness from people like you make this easier. I think I have worn out my family. Any suggestions on medications besides lexapro and effexor? I tried them both and did not feel great on them. Thanks again

I am medicine phobic also. I take tylenol and ativan that is it. I am this way all day while awake the only peace i get is while sleeping.

Confused32, If I could I would give you a big hug. It sounds like you are struggling so much. I believe that this can get better. Have you ever tried yoga or any breathing or calming exercises? Good luck

Thank you!!!! I am going to anxiety therapy classes, i go once a week and they are teaching us breathing exercises. I am actually doing better now than in the last 3 months, i have just told myself that its my mind making me feel this way and im trying my best to not think about it being my heart. My reg doctor told me to keep taking the ativan once a day and if im still having problems in 4 weeks he will set me up with having a cardiac cath to if anything give me some peace of mind. I am worried though to have the test done cause it has alot of risk and what if there is really nothing wrong with my heart and i have it done and something bad happens and i really didnt even need to have it done. So im in a no win situation, so i am trying my best to not worry and try to go on with life day by day and not let my heart issue rule my life so i dont need to have the test done. I think i can get better and i am sure trying!!!! Good luck to you also.

Same here, I really believe my anxiety is caused by the simptoms I have, I just cant believe it's the other way round. I am trying to talk myself into thinking if I had these feelings all the time I would know for sure, but as I only seem to have the symptoms on and off, maybe and I mean only maybe, I am ok.

I also have numbness in different parts of my body, for years I had a numb finger then toe, now it's my knee. In Oz getting an mri is expencive and a long waiting list (months) I dont live in a city, is there anyother way of testing?

Anyway I do hope you are feeling better soon

Cheers :)

Yep going to the Dr is a real treat, I just love hearing that every thing I have wrong with me is anxiety. Hell it could be a sore toe or a chest cold, but still its my "ANXIETY" that has bought it on.***sigh***

The doctor situation is a tough one! I live in a small town and I see my doctor from time to time and feel embarassed! I hate that. I think doctors should have to take a class in med school about empathy. I realize they are busy and probably come from the mindset that they actually have to deal with "real sick people" but in a way we are "sick" I feel broken that I can't deal with myself sometimes and that I need to see my doctor to be reasssured. WHat do they care anyways, if there is nothing wrong with us and they get paid anyways for our visits they should welcome us as an easy appointment! There is something to be said for getting tests done also. I think that if you have insurance you should request the tests you think you need becuase it will make you feel better, for instance I had an MRI for MS. It was negative and my doctor told me that if I had a brain tumor it would have also shown. That was back during my "brain tumor/ms" stage and I can honestly say I don't worry about those things any more. I also had a complete work up of my heart, so now when I exersize and feel my heart racing, I know it is just becuase I am out of shape. Now, however I am convinced the body numbness and tingling and heavy limbs are something bad like lupus or something. I want to get a blood test for that although I am not sure how accurate they are. It is a viscuous cycle! My husband asks me if once I get every single test done and they come back neg will I be done with this? It takes a toll on relationships.

Aussie girl, I wish I knew of other tests besides an MRI for MS. I don't know much about tests. I always just obsess about the symptoms. It could be a pinched nerve. Can you go to physical therapy? Also, when you say numbness do you mean you actually cannot feel the knee, finger/toe? or that they feel asleep but if you touch it you can feel your touch? There is a big difference between the two.

Does everyone drink enough water? I know that when I am low on fluids I am feeling the symptoms a lot more. Just a suggestion.

Also, breathing is important. I am trying to learn how to breathe from my stomach instead of chest. I catch myseelf actually holding my breath sometimes. I often wonder if my breathing is making me feel tingly and heavy in my limbs.

I can so relate to this. I had a total hyst. 2 or 3 years ago about a year after i had my first panic attack. I thought i was dying. I had ekg's they told me my heart was perfect i did not believe them cause I knew that something was wrong. They changed hormones left and right, I told them that was not the problem, I checked my blood pressure everyday and pulse cause i just knew the dr. did not have a clue. I have the chest pains, tingle in every part of my body, the hurting in the joints, headaches you name it I had it. I even went to a counseler at my church thinking something bad so wrong. The dr. put me on pills, it made them worse except one and it is a safe drug. Started having heartburn never had it before so i would work myself up to a panic. Got off of everything (except hormones) and I can say as of today it has been 11 weeks since i have had a panic attack. I can honestly say I still think when is the next one going to come. I have a close friend that is a christian also, that told me something and I started of doing it everyday and I know it works cause i am panic free. I will try to help anyone that needs it cause I know it is the worst thing to go through.

Alicia

Ali1231 Tell me what it is. Are you saying that you have no symptoms of anything, such as tingling, joint pains etc now that you are doing this technique? I would welcome any help. thanks

I have a close friend that is a christian also, that told me something and I started of doing it everyday and I know it works cause i am panic free. I will try to help anyone that needs it cause I know it is the worst thing to go through.
ALICIA:
PLEASE SHARE WITH US WHAT YOUR FRIEND HAS YOU DOING THAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING FOR YOU, MAYBE IT WILL WORK FOR US AS WELL. I WOULD LOVE TO GO THROUGH MY DAYS PANIC AND ANXIETY FREE :D
THANKS A BUNCH, HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
GOD BLESS,
BAMBILYNN

Emmanick

I cant feel the knee at all, when it was my finger I use to wake up every morning and touch it to see if it was better. My knee has been like this for about 6 months, I try not to worry about it but it's hard not to.

Hi Hope this works for yall also, like I said I was on amitriplian( I don't know if I spelled that right) but I have not taken that in 11 weeks. My friend that is a christian told me to go home and remember the scripture by my strips you are healed. She said alicia that is not saying he will heal you I said oh that nice. She said what it is saying you are healed. She said if have got to believe it not in your head but in your heart. She said it is like taking baby steps but everytime you feel it coming say nope it is not going to happen cause by his strips you are healed and believe. I will tell you it took a few weeks and after that it worked. Like I said earlier it does still come in my mind when is the next one or when I have a joint pain I just do what i told yall and it does not lead me into a panic attack I do believe I am healed of this and I thank God everyday for it. Cause when I was having them it was miserable and my kids thought I was dying and it scared them to death. One other thing that I had to get rid of was caffenine I did try a moolatte the other day to see if it was going to cause a panic attack and it did not. If yall have any question let me know. I wished there was a way I could give yall my phone number for support cause i know exactly what yall are going through. Because no one knows unless they have been in your shoes.

God Bless

Alicia

ALICIA,
HI THERE SWEETIE... I AM A CHRISTIAN AND IT IS THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD THAT I HAVE COME AS FAR AS I HAVE. WHEN EVER I START TO FEEL MYSELF GOING THE WRONG WAY (TO A PANIC ATTACK OR ANXIETY) I RESITE (IN MY HEAD) THE LORDS PRAYER, AND IT HAS HELPED ME A LOT. IT WAS ONCE I FOUND CHRIST THAT I STARTED THE HEALING PROCESS, AND WHEN I SAY "THANK GOD" I MEAN IT.... THANK GOD!!!! WELL.... I HOPE TO KEEP IN TOUCH...
MUCH LOVE AND GOD BLESS
:angel:

{REMOVED} I am so glad to find someone else that has faith like I do. Talk to ya soon


Alicia

{REMOVED}
So keep the faith and keep in touch..... Oh by the way... "By his stripes I am healed" worked for me today... 2x's.... THANK YOU SO MUCH...
God Bless
Bambilynn

From the posting policy......

"Posting off-board contact information of any kind for any reason, is NOT allowed. No exceptions. This website is for ON board use only. Private messaging is OFF. "

Please read and follow all of the posting rules.

The "Buddy and Ignore Lists" don't function on this board either.

Ms_Mod

I've had those symptoms too and the worse is you feel tired all the time because you're body is so tight and doesn't relax that when it does have that second to relax you're exhausted. I worry about anxiety all the time and I get so tired of those symptoms that I feel like I'm such a weirdo next to my friends and family, as much as they say you have to accept you have anxiety, when you feel anxious the feeling is horrible and you want nothing more than for it to go away. My problem is that I worry about my weight and I get very anxious about it, that's just one of my issues. You're not alone, but we have to find a way to live with it. My brother told me yesterday that all the books I read on anxiety don't say how to cure it,,,they talk about how to deal with it...i wish it was that easy, but I know how you feel and those symptoms aren't the best I know, but like I said, you're not alone, you just have to find what works for you to relax,,,I have to do the same for me.