Scared help!! Severe anxiety and arms and legs feel tired/weak

Hi! I have been having severe anxiety attacts on and off for 2 years. I had a painful breakup and found out my guy was cheating and lying for years. I thought I was having heart attack.. chest pressure, extreme air in stomach and burping , weak, then starting getting neck tightness, along with shoulders. Did the whole google and got more anxious. Have had 2 EKGs and normal . No heart attack . I also had dye shot in arteries 4 years ago and no blockage. I have good BP and normal cholesterol levels. I’m 57 and have always worked out and been thin. My dad had a heart attack at 60.. but lived to 84. The anxiety messes with you bad. My friend who’s only 45 had bad back pains .. excruciating for a few days, finally went in and it was heart attack. Now I’m having back pains .. I know it’s from the tight neck and shoulders with anxiety. But I get all in my head thinking it could be a heart attack. Which fuels the anxiety .. sometimes my jaw feels tingly.. anyone get that? I’ve taken Ativan and it’s great, calms me down , and I feel normal .. which tells me it’s anxiety . But I don’t want to have to rely on it.. I want to be normal again 

Hi Sheila, I've had a tingling jaw and just about tingling everywhere. In the main these sensations I get are linked to tightness in my neck and upper back. I get terrible tension but it's a bit of a cycle with the anxiety as the sensations make me anxious which leads to more tension and then more symptoms and so on. If you are concerned it may be something else always get it checked out. I've seen a neurologist, spinal surgeon and physio due to my neck (I have a slipped disc) and all have said very similar things about managing it and the anxiety related to it. Good posture, gentle exercise and try and relax the shoulders. It's not always easy but when I do it's makes a difference. Part of my routine is to use heat packs on my neck and shoulders a few times a week. It's helps the muscles to relax and stops the build up of tension. I hope you find something that works for you x

Hi

I think I get so in my head, I hate this feeling! My right shoulder is sore and burning feeling .. not sure if I pulled a muscle working out, our it’s just from the anxiety attack and the muscles got so tight. It’s a visicious cycle , I can’t stop thinking I’m

Having a heart attack! Even tho tests are all good. Thanks for your reply 😊

So typical-we all do that. And after you go get seen for one symptom, another starts. The Cognitive therapy workbook is helping me a lot with that but sometimes yes, the crazy switch turns on and I have to take one of the clonazepams to reset myself. BTW, I'n sure no Dr. but one told me once that 'burning" is usually nerve-relate. Maybe you pinched a nerve?

Hi

I just saw a Dr and she said it’s bursitious . Muscle strained. My anxiety has kicked in today and I took s half an Ativan.. which always works .. but not so much today. Massages really help relax me and are such a help! What is Cognitive Therapy workbook? 

I.m 37... same same feelings like you . But what i do. Cardiologist said its anxiety. Do u smoke. We can only pray. Every time i feel its going to heart attack . Today is also my chest is tight and heavy. Dont know what i do

Hi.. I don’t smoke. Your young . You just need to keep telling yourself it’s not a heart attack ! Your heart is healthy.  Have you tried Ativan? It takes away my symptoms and I don’t feel

Like I’ve taken anything ! 

Hi Gloria, I'm the same age as you and get the same symptoms. I saw a neurologist and he said its anxiety. My Dr prescribed a low dose of beater blockers which help massively. Day to day when I feel it building I carry out controlled breathing and it really helps me. I've been that anxious once I started to see stars and nearly passed out. Our symptoms can be all slightly different and really scary at times. Two minutes time out to control your breathing can massively help. Good luck x

Hi,  The very first time I had an anxiety  I was at my daughter's house just getting out of the car and all of a sudden when I looked at the trees and the surroundings  it didn't seem real  I felt lie I was in wizard of oz,   It didn't look like the wiard of oz  it just felt like i wasn't in the same realm.  Has anyone else that that??? It started to happen again one day with my boyfriend we were driving   but I told myself no go away that it wasn't going to happen again.  and it did but  still scared me,  My doctor told me  no one ever has died from an anxiety attack so just ride it through.  well that was 2007 and I am still taking meds and now  I feel lie this.  I just got back from grocery store and couldn't hardly walk in there so weak

Hi, 

I sometimes do feel really weird. It’s hard to explain, but like something isn’t right , your just feeling off! I def feel weak, sometimes a little dizzy.. and I do what you do.. tell myself it’ll go away.. I find getting distracted and nit focusing on it helps. If I focus on it, it just gets worse. It’s aweful 

Hi Sheila , I try to tell myself it’s nothing and distract myself, but I still feel like I have all these physical conditions which can’t just be anxiety although nothing was ever found...I feel like I’m anxious about tons of little things all day and have way too much stuff going on in my head, but how can I actually tell that it’s anxiety? I feel fine and then I have a physical “thing” and I start to overthink and from there on it gets worse and worse. I’m currently so weak that i feel like it’s hard to even get out of the bed. My legs feel shaky most of the day and dizziness is always there. But how can I determine its anxiety?? Thanks 

Hi

It’s crazy what physical aches, pains and fatigue come from

Anxiety. I have neck pain, shoulders, back tightness. All from the anxiety. And it’s just like you, as soon as I get any pains, or the acid reflux, I overthink it, feel the anxiety, and it just makes it worse. It’s a vicious cycle. If the Dr checked you out and your healthy, you just keep reminding yourself that, and let it pass. It’s aweful and uncomfortable. We all just wish it would go away. When I can’t get it to stop and I feel it’s getting the best if he I take .5 Ativan. Within 20 minutes I feel better, calm and all

Physical symptoms go away . That’s more proof that it’s anxiety for me. 

Hi Sheila,  thank you for your input.  greatly appreciated..  I can't believe how many people have anxiety.  I have had it all my life  but didn't know what it was. nervous feeling  when I had to go somewhere like school, dentist  doctor.   but  when I had that attack 11 years ago then I understood  but  I don't understand why  i have gone down hill so fast.  last 4 or 5 years I haven't been able to exercise or walk.  I go to dr on tues and I am hopeing she can explain why I am getting al these different effects. if it is my Zoloft I am going to have to try to get off is very slowly.  I don't like how i feel and and I have been on 3 deff meds for 11 years.  I know I worry too much  I do all the time.    thanks 

What meds have you been on? I take .5 Ativan once in a while when I just can’t deal with the anxiety. It works well for me. No side effects and I don’t feel like I’m on anything !! I just feel normal. Sometimes I can just get busy with something distracting and it’ll make the anxiety attack pass. It’s such a weird and awful feeling. No one knows what it’s like until they’ve been through it. It’s crazy how it takes over you physically. I think A lot of people that have it don’t talk about it .  It’s amazing when I do talk about it, skbeone then tells me how they have been through it too 

I was like you, must have had this all my life as i remember being anxious about lots of things from school days but didnt jnow what it was wrong with me.  Even left school young as i hated being there.  The nerves when asked a question, arghh.  Somehow managed through but like you it manifested a few years ago.  Dr has tried me on anti deps including soloft and thry all made me feel worse.  He says i have ‘anxiety’ but it feels like depression too.  He says take diazepam and try to get on with it.  I dont think thry really understand how this is affecting us and changing drugs doesnt work for everyone.  Any helpful info gratefully accepted as i feel im sinking.

 

Thank you Sheila . I know I do tell myself it’s all ok , but I somehow can’t get my mind off what I may be. I will have to mention the medication to my doctor, so far I have been trying natural remedies to relax my mind. ..I hope you all are feeling better and get some help somehow. This is really life altering, I have a small child and am not functioning as I should....

It really is an aweful way to feel . I’ve thought about counseling , I’ve heard it really helps. I have been listening to Anxiety Coaches podcast.. so helpful.. and it’s free. There are a lot of episodes . Has made me feel better about what I’m going through and ways to relax and get through it! Def give it a try .. hope your Dr visit goes well 

When I get that bad that I really can't get my mind off of it, it's like a crazy switch has been flipped on and then I really do need to take the medication. It helps me to take a step back and look at things realistically and calm down. Whatever symptom I'm freaking out about usually calms down or goes away completely.

That’s exactly what  happens  to me . If it’s bad and I just can’t get out of my head , then I take the Ativan . And it works every time . I’m hoping it will go away for good someday. I worry about my son too much , and that can kick it in too.  Then the physical stuff kicks in ..making the anxiety worse .. which then makes the physical stuff worse . It’s a crazy thing to have to deal with 

It is Sheila, but at least we're aware of the patterns, and at least the meds can "talk us down". We're not abusing them, and I'm just grateful we have them when we need them. I'd like to say I hope this goes away some day, but I've had it most of my life and now I'm a senior and sorry to tell you it's still happening.

Thank you Patricia , I will discuss with my doctor, I would give anything a try right now just to get my life back....

Well you have to tell yourself, that if all your symptoms go away it just has to be anxiety “and nothing else”. The pills would never take away problems with a real physical cause....I’m glad you found help and will give it a try. 

I will see a chiropractor on the weekend, who is specialized in neurology.i will discuss options . 

All the best to all of you suffering hope you’ll get better. 

Hi Sheila , this is how I exactly feel as well. Good to hear though the medication can take your mind away from worrying sick about the issues. It’s hard to get out once you’re stuck in this vicious circle. Especially when you have to care and worry about your son. It just may be simply too much sometimes ...hope you’re better and get some relief! 

Cynthia, how did your doctor appointment go? Did you get any answers and help? I feel for you as I’m in the same position. I can’t even do simple exercises , my body feels very weak, tingling etc etc. something g new every day....Hope you’ll feel better soon! 

Hi Sabrina,  Thanks for asking about my Dr apt.  well  what she said was the white mass I have on my Brain is that awhile back I had a couple small strokes,  and I have arthristis in my lower back.  figured as  much   I still have to have My ears tested as  they ring and i hear the ocean,  That could be why I get the vertigo.  and then I read that my pills may cause all this too but she said only when you first start taking the pills  I have had all my pills for 11 years.  I did cut down 50 mg of zoloft and I am down to 150 now at night . and last couple days I have felt pretty good.  'but  I didnt eat real good today and I got vertigo again.  I start physical theraphy next wed 8th  I told her will see cause If i excersize  i get worse .  So we will see.  I hope that you can get better.   Are you on meds  I forgot.  .  and what kind do you take if you are.?  thanks