DURATION OF ANXIETY SYMPTOMS

[KWAHOME]

Hi Everyone,

I believe i have suffered anxiety and depression for about a month now. This is due the fact that i feared terribly that i have acquired HIV. Eventhough, i have the symptoms, My lab test says otherwise so i was wondering how long it will take for my anxiety symptoms to go away?

[KWAHOME]

Thank you both so much. I rearly appreciate your advice. I hope i do not have HIV. I'm a religious person who got tempted and commited adultery with some lady on the street. I have a lovely wife whom i have never cheated on untill this event. And it was one week to our second anniversary. It was after the encounter that i realise the stupid thing i have done. We also have a new son together so when i think about the whole event, it makes me feel like i do not deserve to live. My wife and new son will never forgive me if i turn out to have HIV. i have learnt my lessons but i just have to go through this tryings times and come out successfully to restart the good life once again.

God bless

[theotterone]

Disclaimer - I AM NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.  MY ANSWERS ARE BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCES...

Anxiety can cause all of those things.  Weakness, nausea, burning in legs and the pinching can be caused by hyperventilating.  Nausea, diarrhea and lack of appetite are caused by your stress level being sky high.  The headaches can be tension headaches or caused by your blood pressure going up during an attack then dropping.  You can feel like you are dying, or that you are going to die.  My attacks were always "I'm going insane" fears.  Like I said, there are things you can do to manage these things, with or without medication.  A mental health professional can help.  I found meditation on a regular basis (the "free flowing/don't attach to any one thought" method, not the clear your mind meditation) helped me to learn how to slow my breathing and get me to "concentrate" on relaxing when an attack was starting.  It was something I had to learn when I wasn't in crisis to apply when I was.  I do this in tandem with medication and learned to accept that I will be on antidepressants for the rest of my life.  This doesn't mean you will be, it was something I had to figure out on my own.  I also had to get to the part where I found acceptance of myself and that by taking care of my issues, I can better take care of the people in my life.  I also can accept help from the people in my life easier now.  I used to treat my husband's "understanding" with suspicion, now I can accept it for what it is.  It has taken a great deal of pressure off of me.

When I am extremely stressed or worried at work, my boss "plays" the "what is the worst that could happen" game with me.  When I get to worse case scenario, he points out I have already figured out how I would handle it or where I have support and people who won't let "the worst thing" happen.  

So what is the worst case scenario if you did have HIV (I know they said you do not and you have every reason to BELIEVE THEM, but follow this tangent for a minute...)  There have been great strides in treating HIV, better support for those who suffer from it.  Would there be people in your life who would "disappear"?  Sure, but the ones who you can count on and truly love you will still be there.  I have lost friends because of my anxiety or my intensiveness that is a result of my ADD.  But I have great friends who I love dearly who have seen me at my worst and are still there beside me.

Not to sound cliche, but there is ALWAYS hope.  I know what it feels like to have none.  I know how it feels to have the mindset "if I didn't wake up tomorrow, it would be better".  But I also know how it feels to come out the other side of my issues stronger and more confident.

[MrGreen]

All just anxiety. It won't just vanish till you accept you haven't got HIV. That thought has dug itself deeper into your mind. Starts off small. What if. Then grows and grows to ' I have '. Really, you haven't. But accepting that is hard for you because of all the strange symptoms you are going through. HIV anxiety. Maybe a shrink to talk it over would be a good idea. Someone who can teach you how to deal with such things. As that is something you are not doing. You have let it take control of you. That has to be undone. The longer you leave it be and continue with the anxiety the worse it will get. Doesn't get any easier on you. Until you begin to fight back. Take steps to make yourself better again. That may involve theraphy.

[KWAHOME]

Thank you so much. I was traumatised severly eventhough the doctors on the HIV forum assured me that my risk was relatively low, I have never been able to get my mind of it. Maybe it's because i still have the symptoms. and also i fear the shame and guilt that will be brought on me and my family. I'm just wondering if this is actually anxiety symptoms I'm feeling then how long will it continue to persist.
ALSO, can anxiety rearly cause episodes of Nausea, weakness, burning in the legs, diarrhea, headaches, and pins pinching? What about loss of appetite and significant weight loss?

[theotterone]

What a scary thing to go through!  When your anxiety/depression is interfering with your life, it is a good time to see a mental health professional for help.  You may or may not need medication, and you may or may not need to stay on them forever.  When it is beyond your ability to cope, there are things these professionals can help with.  They can help teach better coping skills, tips and tricks to help when you are in a panic attack.  For many of us the issue is more finding ourselves worthy of the help.  You are, see someone, be involved in getting better.  You had a big scare, but you can get help to manage your reaction.  And you have support here!