Hi, I was hoping someone might be able to have some thoughts on my situation.
I have a past history of anxiety/PTSD after suffering an extrememtly traumatic event 15 years ago. Ive been doing really well with the exception of anticipatory anxiety when I know that I will be alone, and I understand that relates to what happened to me. My question is the past couple of mornings, after eating breakfast, my heart has just started racing and pounding (120 beats per minute), and then I start sweating, and today during the episode I had to use the bathroom several times. This all lasts about 40 minutes and then it goes away as fast as it came. I started to get a little nervous something was wrong and then I remembered going through this years ago and saw a cardiologist and he did a 72 hr holter monitor and everything was fine, he said sometimes I had tachycardia, but a normal heart rythym and attributed it to anxiety and stress.
So here I am 15 years later having what appears to be panic symptoms again, but in a much milder form, and I have no idea why. I dont feel stressed out, I actually am quite relaxed:confused: :confused: !!! But I think that people like me, predisposed to anxiety dont really admit to feeling stressed, we just overlook it and then it comes out in physical symptoms to escape!
Anyone out there who has had this creep back up years later? How did you deal with this. Does what I am describing seem to be anxiety.......I ask this because I had MANY more symptoms when I had anxiety 15 years ago...very bad feelings of detachment, etc......These are much easier to deal with. Anyone have anxiety symptoms that include just the racing heart, sweating, diahrehha, etc? Thanks for any advice!!
K

Oh yea! I don't have PTSD, but all anxiety dissorders are similar in the fact that you have to deal with extreme amounts of anxiety. Sound like a little relapse. It also sounds like you never really got rid of the anxiety, so it doesn't surprise me that your level of anxiety would increase or decrease over time. Stress is usually the cause. Has anything major happened in your life recently? You may not realize it, but usually there is something that causes your already sensitive nervous system to go haywire. Anyway, identifying the cause of the anxiety helps a lot, but sometimes therapy, CBT, or medication may be needed. I would go see a doctor about it.