Anxiety.

hellow hayley, you are definitely not alone.

i am also going through this. i am 21 years old i have two little boys a 3 year old and a 7 month old baby and its not easy but i do have a lot of help from my husband and my family thank god. i think my anxiety started about 2 years ago it wasnt that bad before since i didnt pay attention to my heart palpitations and short of beath til one day i had my first panic attack i had no idea i was having a panic attack i thought it was something else worse so i went to the e.r they did an x ray everything was fine just that i was having an anxiety attack ever since that day i would google everything, horrible decision i ended up going to the e.r a couple times and i turned out to be fine but now i have a fear of going to the hospital my blood pressure goes up my heat starts to race. some new symptoms i just started having after i started school was problems with my vision and i refuse to google anything about my health!

I'm so glad I found this by googling my symptoms - I suffer from sever anxiety- I had a turbulent childhood but thought this was behind me but ever since I graduated and I've been interviewing for jobs and panicking about the future/ comparing myself to other graduates ithas been a nightmare. I have days where I'm consistently short of breath, heart palpitations, sickness- I have been so anxious that I've actually fainted on several occasions. Constantly tired but unable to sleep. 

My rational mind says I'm being silly (I've always been employed and I'm currently doing a fab internship, I have great friends and the best mum and sister) but there's a part of me that's persistently anxious. It's always hanging over me. 

I've started doing a lot more jogging and entering fun runs -as I've found running helps with my sickness and I do feel less stressed after my run. Although sometimes running can make me emotional. But I've started a course of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) and I've been finding it really useful. I'd recommend it to anyone (although obviously different things work for different people) - since I've started CBT I've been able to eat more and socialise a bit more. I hope that's helpful for someone- you can get CBT privately and free on he nhs of you go to your gp. 

Best of luck to everyone. It's a real relief to know I'm not alone -especially as there's lots of posts from people my age (22- the age "your supposed to be enjoying life") - suffering anxiety is genuinely exhausting - mentally and physically! 

hi hayley im 20 and have heart palpations since i can remember i have had every test under the sun, and have had a by pass to see if they could fix the problem it didnt work. They said to me just get on with your life you are compltly normall i have said to my self everyday of my life there is somthink wrong but for the mean time, you can controll your heart palpatations and stop them for a while i have found out the main problem is sleep and what you eat it really does make a differnce in how much your heart goes....

the doctors said to me its somthink to do with my top 2 eletrical velvs that they dont work properly or somthink haha, but everythink you said like dissyness gettin light headed feeling like your going to faint and feeling like your heart is going to give up, belive me you are most likely fine its just all in your head and how much you think about it. I have never wrote on any forum in my life but ive always wanted to meet somone who has the same problem as me at a young age its s**t isnt it haha xx

Hi Hayley and All

When I have read all the messages it is sooo nice to know that I am not alone and can relate to near enuff every message that you all have replied.

I suffer with health anxcity and I have it for over 12 months now and tbh it's just takes over your life on a day to day basis, you have your good days and your bad but it has effected every thing that I do in life, I am that conscious about my heart it's untrue even when you get told it's fine ur making ur self self worse and get worked up on things but in your head there is sumit up and something is serious wrong......Nooooo one understands you and some people may think ur going mad, But clearly we are not.

I have been on beta blockers for 12 months now and I don't really have any side effects apart from putting on a little weight, they help slow your heart rate right down. diazepam are a big helper for me but I noo how addictive they are as they are the only thing that calms me down and you do start to depend on them.

I know it's all mind over mater but at the time it's not, you do feel still and stupid but you have to find your own wats of coping with things, don't let it take over your life like it's done to mine, just don't let it.

Hope you find your own ways of dealing with things 

Hi hayley

My first panic was in Tesco and I had no idea what the hell was going on. I freaked out so bad that the staff there called me an ambulance. By the time it came things settled down but was taken to hospital for a check over and was totally fine.

The same as you, I panic about my heart and every little niggle I feel in my chest. Over time you get used to these feelings and just accept that it's part of the anxiety.

I'm glad I joined this forum because there are so many people going through the same thing that it brings a little comfort just knowing the anxiety does this to you and that it's nothing drastic. Ok anxiety isn't fun but it will not kill you. 

I hope you get well

Hi guys,

I am a 31 year old male and have suffered with anxiety for most of my life.  I just wanto to share with you a few tricks I have learned to help me greatly improve my condition.    

As a quick background, while I have always been an anxious person, my anxiety became almost debilitating starting at the age of 26.  At first, I experienced panic attacks.  Those were pretty bad, but mild in comparison to the full blown anxiety I developed over the next few years.  For about 18-20 hours every day I felt like my nerves were on fire, like my chest was imploding, and like I was running a marathon and could never catch my breath.  I constantly felt like my chest was going to either burst or implode.  There were several occasions where it took me two hours to do my 10 minute drive home from work because I couldn't stay in one spot for more than 30 seconds without feeling like I would die.  I literally had to pull the car over every 30 seconds and get out hunched over (side of the freeway, residential neighborhoods) trying to "shake off" all of the excess energy through my sweaty cold hands and feet.  I'd rip off all my clothes and drive with my shirt off, barefoot, speeding on every 30 second sprint to get as far as I could possibly go in 30 seconds.  I'm seriously lucky I didn't get in a car accident or injur anyone.  I should have been driving!  But I didn't want to lose my job and "ruin" my life.      

At work, I would just get up and leave in the middle of a meeting because I felt like I was going to explode. I had to work extra hours at home on the weekends to compensate for my awkward situation at work.  both at work and public I would have to hide in a bathroom stall where I would have to get out all of my "ticks" -- it's like all my nerves were burning with excess, painful energy and I had to shake it off.  There was never a cure.  

And the pain was ALWAYS there!!  Not just a panic attack that came and went.  It wasn't a question of did I feel bad, it was always a question of how bad, ranging from 8-10 throughout the day.  Only when I slept 4-5 hours at night did it get down to a 2 or 3.   There were times when it was so bad that I would start righting my farewell letter to my wife and baby thinking I was going to die, and I'd have my phone ready to dial 911.

What made everything even harder was that despite all my research and all of my doctors visits I could not pinpoint what the problem was.  Was I just crazy??  I finally decided that it was a combination of chronic fatigue syndrome and MAYBE some kind of toxicity either from pesticides and other chemicals, or lymes disease.  

The funny thing is that looking at me, you would have had no idea I was in such turmoil.  Doctor said my heart was great and I looked young and fit.  I tell you how bad my condition was only to highlight that as awful as you feel, it could be worse (I highly doubt anybody's anxiety was worse than mine, maybe as bad though). you will never die from anxiety.   

Over the last two years (yes, it took that long), I have gotten about 60% better.  I am not a doctor, but just wanted to share some of the changes I made:

First, I accepted and loved myself. I come from sucessful parents (business owners) and have sisters with medical degrees from Stanford.  For the longest time, I felt like I was churning my wheels in two failed careers (acting and then finance working for a co. that was losing investors' money).  I have accepted that I do not to live up to other people's standards and have embraced my path.  A peaceful psychology sets the necessary framework for physiological healing to occur.   The mind body connection is extremely powerful, and the body has a natural talent for healing itself.  Love your body.  Trust your body.  You also need to ask yourself if you feel free and if you feel loved. 

Secondly, be careful with the Meds!!  I tried way too much Xanax and Ambien, and while they provided temporary respite, they only delayed my healing, became addictive, and even on some level made the problem worse.  I am not opposed to meds 100%, but they must be used in extreme moderation. I made rules that I would only have half a Xanax at night before bed to fall asleep.  I have finally been able to eliminate all meds.  

I know use only natural tools for stress managemnet.  Here are the best I've found:

Deep breathing.  Very simply, extremely underapprecciated.  Deep breath SEVERAL times throughout the day.  Here is how I define deep breathing.  Take a deep breath, then fil it just a LITTLE BIT MORE. Feel that slight sense of relaxation that you get on the last bit of the inhale?  Do the same thing on the exhale.  

Natural supplementation.  Do some research to make sure are getting enough VIt. D, C, B's, etc.  Also, I found D-ribose to help me recover from chronic fatigue.  I also use Kava as a nautral way to relax (vs. Xanax).  Don't use Kava in tincture form as it could be hard on the liver (by powder).  Hoewver, I AM NOT A DOCTOR, so please consult (although doctors do not study this area).

Deep Sleep is a natural supplementation that was instrumental in improving my sleep.  Improved sleep was of course necessary to help my body recover. 

Take lavendar sea salt baths every night.  Warm water is healing and will remind your subconscoius of the womb.

Clean up your diet!  No caffeine and limit sugar and wheat (simple carbs are the silent killer!).  Increase your fats!  I sad that.  Increase your fats!!  It will help stabalize your nervous system and other organs, increase your metabolism, and is actually healthy for you!! (any associated highi cholestorol is GOOD cholestorol).  Make them good fats: particularly coconut oil (use it on your face, too, for lotion).   Add to that olive oil, organic butter, and high quality proteins: EGGS! , sardines & wild caught fish, turkey, chicken, avacado, nuts, organic whole fat milk.  Try soups with protein, too -- they are warm and healing.  And of course, eat your greens!!

Do something every day that makes you feel free and like a kid!  Be willing to sacrifice money and "achievement" for family, and for simple pleasures.  Redefine your reality.  Redefine success.  Know that you were built from the energy of the universe and that your power is limitless and timeless.  It is something that is difficult to perceive in this life (due to physiological limitations), but that will become crystal clear in the next.

Also, I don't know if this will work for everyone, but if you are into intesne exercising, give it up.  Go for relaxing walks or swims instead.  This was key for my chronic fatigue.  Every time I worked out with weights, my pain and symptoms were always worse.

Ok, sorry, some random thoughts that I hope will help build some hope for people still suffering. 

Just wanted to add to my last post that delta waves are very helpful for relaxation.  Listen to them before bed.

I am also going threw the same issues they stopped for bwt a year I didn't want do the medication so I started to do Thai boxing and doing healthy meals it took my mind off everything but it has all started again now because of migraines n now I have palpatations lighted headed sick when I try to eat. Last time I had chest pains only I panic more because I think I'm dieing n I got cancer and there something seriously wrong with me I always think docs are wrong and recently I can't relax so I am trying to find away to relax again it is horrible when ppl think ur being silly and over reacting but you can't help it hope you get things sorted and I could also do with advise from others 

Hi guys,

I'm Matt, and 32.  I've been experience similar feelings to you all for quite a while now - they seem to be progressively getting worse, but that could just be my head playing tricks on me.  I am a former smoker (smoked on/off for about 10 years but quit 4 years ago), and relatively active - I gym, run/cycle occasionally, play a lot of golf, etc.  These feelings are beginning to take over a bit though, and are driving me nuts.  I've been battling lower back and neck pain for a while - and I've had a couple of friends who, after having back/neck pain in the past, have been diagnosed with some pretty serious diseases - so I automatically think the same is wrong with me.  On top of that I feel like I've got constant heart flutters, get occasional chest pains when yawning, breathing, etc, feel "spaced" and light-headed at times, like I can't focus on anything - the list goes on.  And as you've all mentioned, look up anything on Google and you're doomed.  The word "cancer" seems to pop up everywhere these days so I feel like that's constantly playing on my mind - and last night I made the mistake of Googling "lung cancer", and of course I have basically all of the symptoms - then again I could probably Google just about anything and fit the bill - or at least make myself fit the bill.

I don't go to the doctor often - last time was for my annual physical about 10 months ago - had bloodwork done and all, and everything was a-ok.  The doctor told me that she doesn't typically give ECG's to people my age just because it's not really a concern of hers, but I think this year I might request one.  She did give me a few Anxiety pamphlets to read which I do skim through once in a while, but that's about it.  Other than that I just try to plod along with day-to-day life.

My wife and I had a baby four months ago, and I've read that part of this "new" parenting process is worrying about the future, etc.  

So, just wanted to share my experiences with everyone, and hopefully these feelings pass soon enough.

hi im 20 years old and over the last year and a half ive had the exact same systoms your describing i also thought it was a cause of a heart attack and went to the doctor who informed me my heart was perfectly fine and im just nervous because im tihnking about it too much i smoked weed for about 5 years and recently quit since than i found i havnt had any anxiety problems and ive felt much better. I have always been in good shape and couldnt understand why this was happening until i decided to quit smoking which i found was trigger for anxiety and panic attacks. You really need to think about what your doing when these attacks come on so you can see if you change anything in your life to stop them from frequently happening. Other than that when they do happen i find it best to just take slow and breathes and try to relax and put your mind on something positive otherwise it really can take a toll on you and stress you out completly wish you all the best with your anxiety