Has my anxiety manifested itself differently?

[cnote]

28 Male. Not a stranger to anxiety. But havent had it in a long time!

About a week ago, I felt my lower lip tingle, and my thumb. Just that small sensation sent me into a panic attack, then down a downward spiral of anxiety... even after those sensations left.

Ever since then, I have had heart palpitations like crazy, nervous stomach, and my biggest fear symptom is this feeling of off balance/light headedness. It's pretty much constant when I'm walking around, or if I look down then up.

It doesnt seem to effect me too much while sitting on the computer, or laying in bed.

I can manage my anxiety during the day pretty well, but at night for the past week I've been taking a .5mg to a 1mg pill of ativan just to help knock the edge off.

My question is...

Q: Is this lightheadedness a common symptom of anxiety? I called my Dr. today, which I even saw last week, he said it was more than likely anxiety related. he said it could be something not serious, and my anxiety is making it worse. he said to see him in a month... he must not be that concerned. hes an awesome dr. he said if i had a brain tumor id be having WAY more symptoms than that

Your thoughts? just need some encouragement and some extra reassurance. thanks guys.

[cnote]

Glad I'm not the only one. Not that I'm glad you have/had it too. lol.

I do have times where I'm not thinking about it, like when I took my wife and 2 kiddos swimming yesterday. Had a blast! And even had a good evening! But when I had not much to do, and was standing or walking a bit I felt it again... then I started to get anxious again! It's a cycle! Just happened to me NOW!

I've been on the computer editing some video.. was actually calm cool and collective. Then I got up, went to the restroom, stepped outside into the garage for a sec, then when i turned around to start walking back inside, i felt off balance for a sec and walked kind of to the left! Of course, I was feeling calm until then! Then my heart started racing... and I'm nervous again. This STINKS!

I have tried lexapro in the past. I'm not into antidepressants... but I never say never. Who knows, If I have to end up trying it again I will.

But my patterns seem to be just "rough patches" that last for about anywhere from 1 week to 1 month on average... then I'll be peachy keen for like 4-6 months at a time, then BAM. I'll hit a rough patch again. It's a strange cycle.

I think that's a HUGE issue with me. I am CONSTANTLY THINKING ABOUT IT! Right when I get up in the morning the 1st thing I think is "okay, am I gonna feel off balance this morning getting dressed? or walking down the hallway?" Then I'm thinking about it at work all day.

I'm trying to stay strong, and I'm doing fair. =)

I will get through this!

I think what it's going to take to get me out of this funk is LOTS of reassurance from my Doctor, who is amazing.

I doubt he will do an MRI or anything, b/c he KNOWS me and KNOWS what to look for in my anxiety.

Ive dealt with my anxiety and stress over the past 3 years, it's taken work, but I think now my anxiety is trying to  manifest itself in a new way to GET TO ME again!

Just a new symptom I hope. Once I find out it's JUST ANXIETY. I will be able to COPE BETTER. Then I'm sure that's when it will slowly dissipate.

Thanks again for writing!

[turkee23]

im lightheaded CONSTANTLY, im new to this whole anxiety thing and this feeling is the WORST!!!!....it happened just one day outta the blue

i have been tested for everything and it was all normal, thank god!....but the lightheaedness has been a NON stop thing. its been 6  months now, all day everyday but there are times when it is worse, like when i think about it. i find that when im busy i dont think about it and amazingly its not there.

have you ever tried a longer lasting med like zoloft or lexapro? it sounds like you can usually get it under control. and thats amazing. its only been 6 months for me and it seemed like it took over my life.i had to quit school for a while and seemed so house bound. i hope your just having a rough patch and will get through it like you always do!

stay strong!

[cnote]

The point is... ive head this light headed feeling before when having anxiety in the past. just VERY short lived though.

But this time, this lightheadedness is like a constant thing!

I DON'T feel like passing out or anything, or falling over. It's not that intense. But at times when going around a corner or something I might bump into the wall lol.

[cnote]

Thanks for the fast response Kalie.

I'm sure I'm not breathing like I should. lol. I don't know if that's why I'm feeling lightheaded or not. The feeling I feel, most of the day... is like shaking your head from left to right a few times then stopping... a feeling similar to that, but not as strong.

I've done therapy in the past. It helped some. But what my Primary Dr. and I have found is that when I hit a funk, I just take Ativan as needed til I get through it, then ween off the ativan. I don't think I've ever had an anxiety spell last any longer than a month or more. And this has only been about 8 days of this.

The ativan DOES help calm my racing heart, and it does help calm my nervousness... but of course it makes me feel a little more off balancy lol.

That's also part of my problem... I'm ALWAYS getting EXTRA checked out. lol. And everythings fine.

I hate going to the Dr. but at the same time I love my Dr. so much, he actually called me tonight just to see how I was doing/feeling. He rocks!

He keeps assuring me nothing is seriously wrong, or urgent. He said to just relax and take my ativan... and he'll see me in a month for a check up.

He said I can feel free to call him anytime.

What's so dissapointing is that 2011 has been a REALLY GOOD YEAR FOR ME ANXIETY WISE. And I feel like I've hit a doozy again. =/

I WILL GET OUT OF THIS FUNK!

This HAS to be just ANXIETY. I know I'm anxious right now! That's a given. But I'm worrying about the lightheartedness.

Just a week and a half ago, I WAS PERFECT! FINE! GREAT! Then ONE day, BAM! The downward spiral hit.. all over a little bit of a tingly thumb and lip.. that lasted for like 4 minutes. That was a trigger!

So I HAVE TO KNOW... If I was feeling PERFECT, GREAT, AND FINE just a few days before THIS happened... THERE IS NOTHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH ME!

I've been under a lot of stress lately. I moved into a new office about 3 weeks ago...  I do video production monday thru friday for a company here in town.

Then recently I started my own side business on top of that doing wedding videography on the weekends.

Maybe it's catching up to me?

[kalie1979]

In my opinon, it is surely anxiety. When you know you have it, for some reason our bodies and mind seem to concentrate on it. Normally when we are fighting anxiety and panic attacts you don't realize your not breathing well. In turn you will get dizzy or light-headed. I sometimes catch myself holding my breath...werid i know...lol. And when your body is not getting enough oxygen you can get tingling in lips, skin, limbs anything... Try to breath.. Have you ever tried anything that would help control your anxiety? If not meds, then therapy. I'm not a doctor but when mine first set in, everyday I thought I had a brain tumor, cancer, etc. Everything will be fine, it does not hurt to get extra checked out to give you some comfort. I had too.  Good luck!!