just anxiety?

[lynnsee]

hello there, im a 19 yr old college student and I have been suffering from what I think is some sort of anxiety disorder, however I haven't seen a doctor other than my family doctor who believes that its nothing more than anxiety. ive had I guess the common symptoms. constant worry, tense, not wanting to be alone, fast pounding heart, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of appetite (sometimes, not always), trouble sleeping (mostly waking up in the middle of the night or waking up too early), fear of losing control and so on. but there is one thing that is kind of worrying me. about two weeks ago I noticed that I started hearing what sounds to me like an ambulance siren. it started after I woke up in the middle of the night from a disturbing dream that would have had sirens. its not like a full on siren that doesn't stop. it starts and then cuts off. it sounds very faint, almost like its in the distance and doesn't get any louder than that. its not constant and I feel like I hear it more when there is a lot of noise (like the radio on in the car or my room, tv, lots of talking, the shower, etc.) the only times I've noticed it when it was quiet was when I wake up but not always. I notice it more when I feel like my "anxiety" is worse, but when I feel like my "anxiety" isn't bad, I don't hear it at all. I also feel like I notice background noises like in songs and commercials and high pitch noises a lot more than before but those don't make me panic as much as the siren. because I haven't seen a doctor yet and I don't know exactly what is going on, I fear that its something worse and its scaring me so much more. mind you, I don't hear voices or anything like that. except once, I thought I heard my mom call my name in a dream but it sounded so real that it woke me up. I knew it was just a dream but it still scared the heck out of me. im really worried about all my symptoms including the one I just mentioned. I know looking to the internet for answers isn't the best idea but I just want some sort of assurance. is all this just something caused by anxiety, or something worse?    

[lynnsee]

thank you for that. when I first started noticing what felt like panic attacks, I reached out for help, but when I noticed them becoming more consistant, I was afraid to tell my mom because I didn't want her to think something bad and I didn't want to go on meds. but as soon as I started feeling this way constantly, I went to my family doc right away. he put me on zoloft right away but i was aleady so scared of taking it and the side effects that I think I made myself believe that I was experiencing the side effects and that the meds just weren't going to work. I hate feeling this way and I've tried your suggestions. they help for a moment but I cant stop thinking about feeling so tense and worried all the time. there have only been a few times when I've felt completely myself and when I thought about being scared, id kind of laugh like, why was I even so tense and worried in the first place. but then it all comes back. that's  when I fear that I'll never feel like myself again. have you ever experienced anything I've mentioned or some sort of anxiety?

[Lovebetter]

I am glad that you have an appointment with a psychiatrist. Sometimes it can be hard to reach out for help, especially in your situation when you are so worried about what the outcome will be. I think that worry about the outcome, is also part of the anxiety itself. I have a feeling that when you meet with your psychiatrist, you will feel relieved to have answers and a feeling that you are getting some help for such a hard thing to deal with. As hard as the wait can be, make attempts to live in the moment. Focus on the here and now and deal with the 'what-ifs' when and IF they actually come. In the mean time, it also might be helpful to look up some relaxation techniques online and give them a try to help you get through the week. Also, if you feel that you are in a crisis, you can always go to the emergency room. So you do have options if you are worried it will get out of control before you see your pdoc.

[lynnsee]

oh and after I stopped, just the sight or smell of weed would make me panic. sometimes even to the point where i'd begin to cry a little. just thought i'd mention that...

[lynnsee]

I already made an appointment for a psychiatrist, but I've had to wait a whole month before I could actually see him. he was completely booked so I go next week but the wait to actually see him and find out what's going on with me scares me as well. some days I feel better and think it's all gone away, but then little things might set me back and i'll feel bad again and to answer your question about using drugs, the only thing I've ever tried was weed about 7 times and a couple of those times it just gave me what I think were anxiety attacks so I stopped.

[lynnsee]

thank you, I appreciate your advice. that makes me feel somewhat better that someone I don't know thinks its just anxiety. thanks again (:

[Lovebetter]

Some of your symptoms could be caused by intense anxiety. If I were you, I wouldn't jump to the worst possible conclusion. I would however, go see a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist is a specialist who can explain to you exactly what is going on. If it is something that needs to be treated with medications, that will only make the problem (your anxiety, and your concern with hearing the ambulance) better, not worse. I can understand how you are feeling afraid of learning that it could be something worse than just "plain anxiety," but it doesn't sound like your anxiety is improving, so I would definitely talk to a psychiatrist. I have to ask, have you used any drugs at all. Sometimes that can make anxiety worse..

[Sleepy_Children]

Seems like anxiety to me. When your body is anxious it looks for a reason to be anxious. Since yours cannot find one physically, it will make one. You're just straining to hear things, even if it doesn't seem like it. Ever noticed that when you get scared you seem to hear and feel things a lot more? That's because you're looking for them. Doesn't seem like a big deal, although you know your body best so talk to a doctor if you feel the need