Feeling hopeless and overwhelmed

Hi Holly

I really needed to reply as I hve experienced all the exact same as you.  I was 19 when I first experienced anxiety and all the symptoms listed above are typical.  You haven't got an illness hun, you are severely stressed out and anxious.  Anxiety itself causes MANY symptoms, all of which you have listed.  I was once convinced I had lymphoma which is lymph node cancer, I even found lumps (which were supposed to be there) and no matter what the docs told me I wouldn't listen.  It wasn't until I started anti depressants that I felt better.  You have what my old therapist used to call a biochemical reaction.  That's when your anxiety has got so far that you are physically feeling the effects.  I found that when I'm this bad no amount of calming techniques work, I had to go on the meds to help. PM me here if you want and I can chat further xx

I'm going thru the same issue with my health. You need meds. I take 2 different ones and they are helping.. Xxx

hey, im exactli the same, i never used to be like this, im now getting 1 to 1 help with a pshychiatrist. im getting really bad with it , always ill, and keep going to the doctors, cant help my self

i feel the exact same and have done for months i can just zone out and not realy be with anyone thats how bad its gotten and also i can burst into tears with the fear and the way it makes me feel i just dont feel myself im 22 and i should be enjoying life but this fear and panic is always getting in the way my family has tryed helping ive been to doctors and A&E and they said there is nothing to worry about but i think they have got it wrong its gettin me so down and its getting worse day by day i go see a counciler on the 7th nov and im realy hoping this helps me because i do to think im going insane 

Hi Holly

Sorry to hear about all the anxiety that you are going through. I can remember going through something similar when I was convinced that I had contracted HIV. I scoured the net looking for symptoms that cross referenced the symptoms I had found. The problem was that I hadn't actually had sex, merely just kissed someone! I wasn't satified until I had the test which was of course negative and then I wanted it tested again. 

The only advice I had give about health issues is to try not to self diagnose over the internet as it's likely to make you fret more and more. Doctors rarely understand anxiety and although they might be sympathetic there's not much they can do to help you. It's possible that medicine might help but there's the worry that you might get addicted to anything you keep taking.

In my case I made a real effort to stop looking for symptoms on the net as it made my situation so much worse. Ironically I did find out many years later that I did have something wrong with me (an auto immune condition that affects my thyroid) I was straight back to the net which made the situation far worse. I became convinced that I would suffer every symptom possible and made everyone's life including my own intolerable for a few months. When I stopped sysmptom checking and accepted (to a degree) the situation things became much better.

After that episode I started to read lots on the subject to develop my understanding of condition and hopefully help other people with it. There still are dark days and panic about health issues (as well as general anxiety) but I find Yoga to be more effective relief from anxiety. Have you tried it?

I hope you are not studying medicine Holly because it will be your worst nightmare having to read medical information all the time.  I would avoid googling health issues if you can.

Richard