PLEASE RESPOND! Blood Vessel Constriction???

What I think is that anxiety is similar to that "Fight or Flight" response to danger, real or imagined. There is a "stress hormone" that secretes into the bloodstream to bring about specific physiological, psychological, and emotional changes that enhance the body’s ability to deal with a threat—to either fight with or flee from this "danger" you imagine.

While the fight or flight response changes are active, they can cause a wide range of sensations and symptoms, including having cold hands and feet (or just cold hands, or just cold feet). As long as the fight or flight response is active, your cold hands and feet can persist, if you've had this for months, it's no wonder you can't get to warm up. Deep breathing is good for relaxation, and can lower stress, but I don't think it "opens up your blood flow"  This is why when people are nervous, they can have cold hands and feet. I hope you're able to see a doctor about this anxiety, it makes me have anxiety even thinking about yours! I have been taking Klonopin for anxiety now for years and years. If you have an anxiety disorder, you need treatment. It will change your life. Don't suffer in silence. Also, not being a doctor, there might be another reason for the cold feet and hands. Check in with a clinic and describe how you suffer and worry. If they are human, they'll help. 

Hi, I am part in agreement with livinex but I think you should see your doctor as soon as possible. I can understand the numbness in some areas but not in others. You say you have suffered from your problems for a very long time what would be interesting to know is what your sleep patterns are like.  In the meantime get that appointment.

 Your body must yawn when you do deep breathing excercises correctly (usually breathe in for a certain count, hold for a certain count and breathe out for a certain count) doing this 5 times will make your body automatically yawn and it's a good thing. As far a numbness. Do you find yourself keeping your arms, legs, fingers etc. in the same positions for long periods of time? I had numbness in my toes and found that I was literally crushing them with my other foot and leg. I was unaware I was doing this as I was 100% ore-occupied with my anxiety and depression. The fight or flight response by luvinlex sounds like the most plausible though imo. Always good to see your doc as advised, but I like to research the cause before I go. I have been seeing doctors on and off (mainly "on", even going in to see a new one today after I lost my p-doc of 11 years). Many have been helpful, but I have found (as I am sure many of us have) that we know our own bodies best and that sometimes if we have another major conditions such as depression or anxiety, that these are often times used as "scapegoats" for the symptom we are coming to them for. I have type 1 diabetes and have had it since I was 13 (am 49 now). It never fails that everything I ask about is due to my diabetes in their eyes... 

Good luck, I will be thinking of you!

Laurie

I get tingling in my hands sometimes when anxious, it's not always a bad thing though, it can be down from adrenalin. For instance, the other day I won £1000 on bingo, my hands sure went numb then but I wasn't anxious I was excited! It's your body's response to adrenaline and it pulls the blood from non-crucial areas in order to power more crucial ones.

ive had this before. ive had fingers so numb that my iphone didnt recognize my fingers as fingers. anxiety symptoms tend to go away once you convince yourself that they are just that, although new ones often pop up shortly after. i feel like i breathe incorrectly as well, so it probably has something to do with that. however ive gotten checked about the numbness and nothing is wrong. i rarely have that symptom anymore. if you already have bad anxiety, its probably just anxiety symptoms. doesnt hurt to get checked out though!

Hi sam20378, I have a similar problem. I don't have diabetes, but eating sugar is my coping mechanism. I also get the tingling sensation and numbness from time to time, especially after sugar consumption.

But what's the worst, this vessel constriction for me happens mostly in my penis. At this point, it always looks as it was cold outside. It's shrunk and definitely doesn't get the blood supply it needs. Also my skin there is too tight and the testicles never hang, they are as close to the body as possible. This is driving me insane. Doctors are useless, as always.

If we look at some point we all do feel anxious. The more important thing is dealing with it. And there are a number of ways one can follow like; breathing exercises, walks and some work out. Bathing with cold water also helps in lowering the heart rate and reduces anxiety.