Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi everyone,
I'm sure many of you can relate to my story. I have been diagnosed with Health anxiety, all triggered by an operation that had complications almost 4 months ago now.
I was extremely sick afterwards with heart pulpitations, no appetite, nausea and vomitting, tightness in throat, sweaty palms, tingling in arms. I had every test under the sun but all came back clear.
I was told I had anxiety. I thought... no way, it must be something else and couldn't accept it. So I continued asking for more tests just to find that they were all good! I was actually extremely healthy even though I lost 10kg and being under weight?
The biggest thing for me was accepting this illness. Once I did this, I had a small instant relief and realised I needed help. Yep... accepted I needed medication, a psychologist etc.
How I came to this realisation was a funny thing. I was sick and it was mothers day. Was heading to my mums just to see her for a little bit, needed to get out of the house. Of course, the bucket was close by as always and was feeling really crap.
I got through it and we started our travels home. My partner started to talk to me about anxiety, reassuring me that it will get better and that the feeling of being sick is all the anxiety. Then... it was like an off switch! I started to feel hungry, stopped feeling sick, tightness in throat disappeared and got energised all within seconds. The rest of the arvo I was bouncing around, eating everything in sight and I was back to my old self.
That was the day I realised I had anxiety. Of course I felt sick again when I woke the next morning because my brain was trained that the day was going to be bad, but I had hope now and acceptance.
So, the next step for me was to seek medication and a good phychologist. Of course, as many of us experience, was bad side effects from the meds. Higher anxiety, waking up at 4am with panic attacks, every symptom I had was alot higher. (Just to add, I tried 2 different types of medication prior but with severe side affects so I stopped them after 2 days).
The side affects lasted about 2 weeks before I found some relief. I no longer have nausea, eating well, heart pulpitations have decreased and the tight throat have subsided. Im still working on the morning heart pulpitations but they are no way near as bad as they were. This is the thing I'm focusing on now with the phychologist and CBT.
This is a work in progress and not an easy fix. I have to learn how to control the anxiety attacks when I fall ill with the simple cold or a virus. I immediately go into fight mode, thinking the worst which develops into an anxiety attack. This happened only a few days ago where I felt lightheaded and then POW, head in bucket, sweating etc. It was only a virus that subsided after a week but I reacted badly to it. I have to realise that I will from time to time fall sick with these nasty bugs especially going into winter.
I am very blessed to have such a supportive GP and partner. I regularly see the GP and see the phychologist every couple of weeks.
I have good days and bad days but as long as the good days outweigh the bad, then I'm happy with that and hope the bad days will become less and less over time.
Just to sum up what my treatment involves: medication, NO googling, healthy eating, no alcohol, phychologist, CBT, yoga, meditation, keeping busy, breathing techniques, excercise and positive self talk.
I hope this helps others in some way and would love to hear your success stories or work in progress stories as well so others can have hope that it will get better 😊.
1 like, 6 replies
sue58256 lind45511
Posted
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lind45511 sue58256
Posted
Its been a great week until now where I have developed a tight jaw making it hard to open my mouth. I laughed about it when I woke up this morning with it. I was like, oh, just another anxiety symptom... GREAT!
Its ok, normally I would have had an anxiety attack over it but this time I didn't so that's a win.
Just need to get passed this symptom now. X x
sue58256 lind45511
Posted
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lind45511 sue58256
Posted
Its good to talk to people like yourself to reassure ourselves that we are not alone.
Keep me update on your travels xx
lynne82155 lind45511
Posted
Thank you for such a positive post.
I totally agree with you about accepting that you have anxiety too many prople bury there head in the sand
Stay Strong
lind45511 lynne82155
Posted
Just need to overcome this one now. 😊
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