The changing physical symptoms
Posted , 34 users are following.
Hey there
I'm just looking for some support and to see if others notice a similar pattern in their anxiety battles. I suppose my anxiety is mainly centred around health, although other things in my life can set me off which in turn results in the physical symptoms that turn into health anxiety.
I find that as soon as I have come to terms with one symptoms and almost accepted it as anxiety, and not life threatening, that another, unrelated one pops up from no where just to continue the process. It's as if my anxiety can disguise itself as so many different things and it makes it even harder to over come.
I am getting there, slowly. I'm back on my anti depressants and just trying to push through but it seems I'll have a good day or two and then it just hits me again. Usually during the night, I always find the night time hardest to deal with. Less distractions I suppose.
Do any of you feel the same about your anxiety, how do you cope with the changing physical symptoms and do you have any useful tips for when it strikes, especially during the night.
Thanks for the support.
6 likes, 35 replies
jackg92 gillian0102
Edited
Hi Gillian,
i am currently going through an all to regular battle with my mind regarding health anxiety. i've learnt over the past number of years that the anxious mind is extremely powerful and can make us think and feel a mass of things on a daily basis.
During this bout i decided to list the different complaints i have had over the past few years and when having tests they turned out to be nothing. this has helped alot and might be a good tip for those out there suffering.
Flu - thought I was dying - didn’t die ✅
Lump in chest - thought I had breast cancer - didn’t have breast cancer ✅
Rash on neck - thought it was skin cancer - it wasn’t ✅
Lump on neck - thought it was cancer - it wasn’t ✅
Pain in groin - thought it was prostate cancer - it wasn’t ✅
Another pain in groin - thought it was bladder cancer - it wasn’t ✅
Pain on side - thought it was spleen cancer - spleen was fine ✅
Pain continued - thought it was pancreatic cancer - it wasn’t ✅
Pins and needles all over - thought I had serious issue - it wasn’t ✅
Acid reflux - thought I had stomach cancer - it wasn’t ✅
Got pins and needles - think I’ve got ms - it isn’t ✅
to go with the above, the tests i have had include; blood tests, endoscopy, urine tests, xrays, MRI of pelvic regions, cystoscopy, flow rate tests, ultrasounds to name but a few and all come back clear.
as you can see from above my most recent concern is MS ( as i've just about managed to rule everything else out!) my current symptoms are
over the years i have also experienced the following symptoms
as i am writing this the rational me knows that this is probably my body playing games as always but when you are going through it the whole situation consumes you!
has anyone else experienced the new symptoms i am going through?
above all else its nice to know i'm not the only one going through this and as you can see one symptom just replaces the other. CBT really helps give it a try if you haven't already!
would love to hear some more experiences
Jack
tanya11486 jackg92
Posted
Hi Jack!
I know this post was from 2 years ago but I am currently going through some of the above....i think my husband thinks i am going mad. He has been so good though.
It started 5 months ago with a pain under my right rib radiating to my back. I thought it was gallbladder cancer, i got an ultrasound and blood tests. Everything clear. Once i got cleared for that the exact pain moved to the left side and I now have myself convinced i have pancreatic cancer. I also get pains all over my chest and tightness in my ribs! Heartburn and indigestion. I wouldn't mind but the ultrasound showed my pancreas too and they said it looked perfect! I am currently waiting results for Helicobacter P. This consuming me and ruining my life! I have never had any anxiety or depression before so this really popped out of nowhere!! It was nice to see i am not alone, i just wish I could get past it. Anyway thanks again!
Shanny1997 gillian0102
Edited
Hi Gillian, I'm going through this situation as well and it's so hard to believe sometimes on the amount of symptoms are out there that anxiety can cause. Everyday is like a battle for me and it's so tiring. My family and friends keep telling me to relax and that it all in the mind. But, if they were in my body, they would probably understand how much I'm mentally suffering. Anxiety is so scary sometimes since every symptom I get, I feel like my life is in danger and then I would beg one of my family members to drive me to the hospital, just to find out there is nothing wrong with me when the doctors did a quick check up, including my doctor who knows about my lifestyle and knows for sure I suffer from severe anxiety. Good thing I never thought about suicidal thoughts since i had anxiety for about 7 years and still never got the right help for it. The symptoms I get are mostly, tight throat where it feels like something is stuck in my throat and slowly suffocating me, racing heart or heart palpitations, sweaty hands and feet, feeling dizzy or nauseous, difficulty swallowing, muscle aches, brain fog, derealization, dry mouth, constantly worried about my health and migraines. I cope with it now by work keeping me busy, spending time with friends or family or doing things I love which is drawing, shopping or watching one of my favorite shows. It works for a bit, but as soon as I'm back home. It's like anxiety kicks in right away. I really want to overcome this one day and have a normal life again.
amanda57019 gillian0102
Posted
Dear god... for the past 5 years I've had on and off again symptoms . legit like MS flares
sometimes they last week’s sometimes the last months.. can this really be anxiety?
I've had a bunch of MRI nothing is there
I’m about to schedule spinal tap
Saw my doctor he said everything is in my head. this took me for a WHIRL i almost hurt this man.
I’m a 35-year-old female martial artist and I feel like my body is doing whatever it wants whenever it wants...
my dr just put me on xanax and some other anti depressant anxiety medication and nerve pain med...
just some of my symptoms are
Blurry vision
Tightness in my jaw
Pressure in my head, nose, mouth area
Weak muscles, especially my legs and arms
Tingling and numbness
Burning sensations in my hands and feet
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
my eyes hurt
weak grip (dropping things)
Internal shaking
its like it comes on slow then PEAKS then gradually goes away when its done.... this latest episode has been since december 22nd and im just now able to get walking around and my strength back.
I’ve convinced myself I have multiple sclerosis
I have some type of brain tumor maybe cancer maybe anything I have no clue what is going on my fiancé said extreme anxiety disorders can do this I know the difference between a panic attack which I have had but I didn’t think it could cause all the symptoms....
are we hypochondriacs? My brain can’t wrap itself around this.
james71711 gillian0102
Edited
I have no real contribution but I relate completely to this and am so glad I found this forum.
The doctors don't seem to have any answers for me and just can't explain my symptoms, leaving me feeling worried and hopeless. Then I read here about people having EXACTLY the same set of unusual, unexplained symptoms and I feel so much better knowing that I'm not alone, suffering from some rare disease and even if the symptoms don't go away, I know I'm not going to die.