Catching Myself before I allow myself to have an ANXIETY SPELL!!!

[cnote]

26 Male. Anxiety "SPELL" Sufferer. Which means I have all the symptoms of a panic attack pretty much, but they symptoms/spell lasts anywhere between 2-4 weeks at a time.

So I've been anxiety free for 2 months now! No medications.
Usually what starts an anxiety spell is health anxiety.

My last spell was caused my health anxiety... I thought I had blood in my stool... this caused major panic/worry... i tried to blow it off, b/c my BM's looked normal after that.

I worried so much I started to get IBS symptoms... food would literally go right through me... and I lost my appetite almost completely.

I also developed a hypersensitive gag reflex... and developed a pain on my left side of my stomach.

These were ALL new symptoms to me with anxiety... so I was REALLY freakin out b/c I thought something was seriously wrong with me...

The Dr. ran a stool test on me b/c of my diarhea issue... looked in my throat... TESTS CAME BACK FINE ETC.

After he called me and told me I was fine... My symptoms slowly disappeared... even the IBS.


Well, yesterday, on my way to work, I was looking in my rear view mirror and noticed my nose had a little discoloration... 2 circles... and they just seemed to be a little more red than the tint of my nose. My nose is usually kinda red anyways... but it just looked wierd. So of course, my mind lastnight started thinking... "could it be cancer?" And I started to freak myself out...

I havnt had an appetite today... and havnt really thought about my nose too much... but anywhere theres a mirror, I'm looking at my nose. lol.

The thing I'm trying to tell myself is that "Quit jumping to conclusions! Skin changes as we get older! It may go away!"

Nobody else can even recognize it or see it... thats how light the discoloration is..

So, what I'm needing help with is controling myself... So far I'm not having any major anxiety over it... just a little concern... I'd even go as far as calling it irrational concern. Because its NOTHING!

Any advice!?

I don't want to GIVE IN, and drop $40 at the Drs so he can look at it and tell me its just broken capillaries...

That's what happend last year... I developed a red little speckle on my face near my nose... and it wouldnt go away... and my Dr looked at it and said its broken capillaries... which are just little bitty busted miniature veins in our skin.


So any advice!? I know I'll feel better if I go to the Dr. and get it cleared... but I CANNOT LIVE MY LIFE like that.

I can't go to the Dr. everytime I examine my body and find something I didnt notice. Ya know!? lol.


Thanks guys.

[Crysda]

I have terrible health anxiety over my symptoms but they are not minor symptoms.  This balance dizzy thing and head shakes and numb feet and nauseau etc etc seem like major problems.  I was talking to someone who said she was scared of a brain tumour.  I asked her what symptoms she had and she said none, she was just scared of it!  So that is totally different in my book, what do you think please.

[Burrupter]

I went through the same thing. It started at about 18 years old. It lasted years. I got so bad I was at the Dr or the hospital daily. I couldn't leave my house because i developed so many fears. I lost jobs because of it. I was my own prison.

I got to a point where I realized all the days of my life I lost worrying and panicing. There was so much I missed out on. I remembered a verse from the Bible that said, Don't worry about today for tomorrow holds its own problems. I think I just got sick of dealing with it and losing my life to it. What is the point of living if It's always lived in fear?

I didnt take any meds or seek any therepy. I did study it and what it was. I started positive self-thinking, breathing and muscle relaxation techniqies multiple times a day. After a year or so I was cured of it. At that time it was like a 5 year battle. Im 34 now and have been anxiety and panic free till now. It's back and haunting me worse than before.

I know how to deal with it now though. I went to the Dr and got a full physical and blood work done with all great results. I know I'm healthy now. I'll take that knowledge and begin my positive self talk and my daily excercises. I do however have just started taking Seredyn but only when it is needed. It's all natural and it works. But i can't and wont ignore the underlying causes of my anxiety.

I think that anxiety is brought on by everyday stress that builds up in your body. We go about our daily lives and forget to undwind and release the stresses from our day. After time.... Boom! Anxiety strikes! My body is telling me I'm stressed out and cannot hold anymore and if you dont release it your body will. When the body decides to release it it comes out in anxiety leaving us with no control of it.

Yes, I do believe some people have actual brain imbalances and need the meds and that is ok too. I guess what i am saying is anxiety ***** and it ruins your life. Dont let your body accumulate stress over time. Practice stress techniques even when you feel your best. Don't let it build up because it will come back like it did me.

[Burrupter]

I went through the same thing. It started at about 18 years old. It lasted years. I got so bad I was at the Dr or the hospital daily. I couldn't leave my house because i developed so many fears. I lost jobs because of it. I was my own prison.

I got to a point where I realized all the days of my life I lost worrying and panicing. There was so much I missed out on. I remembered a verse from the Bible that said, Don't worry about today for tomorrow holds its own problems. I think I just got sick of dealing with it and losing my life to it. What is the point of living if It's always lived in fear?

I didnt take any meds or seek any therepy. I did study it and what it was. I started positive self-thinking, breathing and muscle relaxation techniqies multiple times a day. After a year or so I was cured of it. At that time it was like a 5 year battle. Im 34 now and have been anxiety and panic free till now. It's back and haunting me worse than before.

I know how to deal with it now though. I went to the Dr and got a full physical and blood work done with all great results. I know I'm healthy now. I'll take that knowledge and begin my positive self talk and my daily excercises. I do however have just started taking Seredyn but only when it is needed. It's all natural and it works. But i can't and wont ignore the underlying causes of my anxiety.

I think that anxiety is brought on by everyday stress that builds up in your body. We go about our daily lives and forget to undwind and release the stresses from our day. After time.... Boom! Anxiety strikes! My body is telling me I'm stressed out and cannot hold anymore and if you dont release it your body will. When the body decides to release it it comes out in anxiety leaving us with no control of it.

Yes, I do believe some people have actual brain imbalances and need the meds and that is ok too. I guess what i am saying is anxiety ***** and it ruins your life. Dont let your body accumulate stress over time. Practice stress techniques even when you feel your best. Don't let it build up because it will come back like it did me.

[cnote]

My anxiety had lifted today. =)

[cnote]

You're right. If I'm still having anxiety over it in a few days, I'll go to the Dr. Will I need antidepressants again?... No. Will he's assurance that my nose is fine work? Yes. Is it worth $40 to stop worrying? To me... YES. But, like I said, I'm doing good. And I'm testing myself. So far I'm doing okay. I'm just trying to focus on other things and keep my mind occupied. :) Thanks so much for tuning in.

[nursegirl6572]

"But I'm NOT GOING TO THE DR.!!! Because if I do, it will be me GIVING in to my anxiety!

No normal person would make themselves sick over a skin irritation or blemish on their nose... "

LOL...well, we're not the average "run of the mill" people c!  We have anxiety, which means the rules change for us!  I think that your plan is a good one...to wait it out and see.  If things dont impeove, then it is time to see your doc...b/c the reality of it is...as much as you don't WANT to worry about it, you will!!!

Let us know how things are going.  I'm REALLY glad to hear that you've been doing so well.  It does my heart good!  :0)

[cnote]

NURSEGIRL6572, Thanks for writing! I am doing FINE. =) I have been AWESOME AWESOME for the past couple of months with no meds!

The last med I was on was Paxil. Before that was Lexapro. Small dosage of course.
Too many side effects with Paxil.

Therapy was good. But, I only saw the therapist twice. I know I should probably see him again soon. lol. But I think I do have control over this.

I have been REALLY trying to keep myself BUSY, and ignoring the thoughts... which is helping...

But I'm NOT GOING TO THE DR.!!! Because if I do, it will be me GIVING in to my anxiety!

No normal person would make themselves sick over a skin irritation or blemish on their nose...

I'll wait a week or more... and if it looks worse or doesnt get better, then maybe it wouldnt hurt to have the Dr. look at it for peace of mind... But the main thing is that I'm NOT GOING to let THIS LITTLE thing SCARE ME... or let me think THE WORSE! I AM NOT A DR.

I could look up pictures of skin cancer all day, and find one that looks like my red blemish. haha... and then convince myself its cancer.

Why do we do this to ourselves? Are we WANTING to find something wrong with us?


Anyways, thanks for thinking about me. I'm still doing GREAT! Just a little bit of a nervous stomach the past couple of days... but I'm sleeping fine... and I tend to forget about it at night. and while at work... but if I pass infront of a mirror I have to look. lol.

Anyways.. talk to ya later. I'm gonna be okay... and I will not let this get out of control.



Silverberg,

     Thanks so much for writing too. I will quit playing Doctor! lol. =)

[nursegirl6572]

Hey c-note!!!  Long time, no see!  I have been thinking about you.

Sorry to hear that you're still suffering a bit.  Now, refresh my memory....you are completely OFF the meds right?  Last one was Lexparo as a very low dosage.

How about therapy, how is that going?

That really is the key to treating this anxiety, cnote...and getting past these  intrusive thougts is to learn how to ignore them, or dismiss them.  

Best of luck.  Well, I'm sorry you are still fighting the anxiety,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

[silverberg]

Well you know me and understand I am not scolding you, so for anyone else reading this, back off, I am just being honest and CARING (P.S. I CAP to make a point, not to yell) LOL~!!

1) As with your previous post (s) lets not even go there, that is the past and hope you have learned from all that!! all your writings and visits to the Dr. and ZIP, ZERO, NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU.

2) I really hope you don't try anything (herbal or medicine) as mentioned above!!!  and furthermore DO NOT GO TO A DOCTOR!

the above  things I pointed out are not to SAVE YOU MONEY, but like I have told you in previous POST, when you go to Doctors, you are only telling your brain , THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG! which only makes things worse and harder to come back to "normal living"!

Stop playing doctor, you are NOT! ~~~ you are too focused on your body again! (right now in this moment, do not , I repeat do not visualize a pink elephant).... what happened, you did visualize that pink elephant, did you not!!! MY POINT if you focus on your body, you are sure to find something!  

you have been through this before, glad your posting and getting the extra support you need!!

take care Cnote!

[Naruto55]

dude i know exactly what ya going through man..im the same exact way, and it drives me crazy..i went from being a person who would never even think twice about a random pain or blotch on my skin..to now if i get the slightest tingle or sensation i start thinkin im gettin cancer or some grave illness. and it seems like every few days i have something new lol..i know it ***** when you feel like you have to go to the doc everytime u get find something new..anxiety is some crazy stuff..and i agree wit the post above me..healthy diet and exercise are a great way to start, hope ya feel better bro  

[M4Y0U]

Correction

''I did went a full month on Cymbalta but as i was seeing result from physical activity and super healthy diet and supplements ( since its impossible to eat well unless you grow your own food and do your own hunting because of all the food we eat is processed and pesticides etc are used to maximize profits to the detriment of health ) so there you have it all. Do what you think is best for you but i gave you all my advices. ''

I meant to say i stopped taking Cymbalta after being a month on it as i was getting results from physical activity and healthy diet. So far so good I'm anxiety free.

What works for one might not work for everyone but it is my opinion and i think you should try every natural possible options before taking any pharmaceutical drugs.

[M4Y0U]

Hello there,

Health anxiety is terrible and i have been thru this. I will tell you the options you have and also what i did.

Concerning your blood in your stool well it might be caused by an anal fissure or even something you ate may appear like blood in stool like someone drinking a lot of tomato juice would get redish stool.

When had bad health anxiety me too i was concerned about every little change i was observing on my body. A brown spot on my skin would mean skin cancer, a weird sensation in head would mean brain tumor. What you must know is that it's totally curable.

The first line treatment is a therapy. I didn't use any therapy but it might be helpful for you.

Physical activity and healthy diet and food supplements in my humble opinion are my first line treatments.

Today's processed foods are lacking the nutriments the body needs to function properly therefore we are sicker physical and mentally. Hopefully we can get help from food supplements and eating more ''superfoods'' like beans, broccoli, soy, green tea etc ( if you need more info on what is a proper nutrition you can PM me ). Vitamins are crucial to well being this is why i recommend a multi-vitamins complex were you can get all the vitamins and minerals you need in a single pill. Also consider adding more vitamins B like B12 and B6 since they are proven to be helpful to reduce stress and increase energy.

Natural anti-anxiety remedies are also available. You are Serelax and Seredyn you can try or choosing what supplement fit you best. Here's a list of anti-anxiety supplements.

-Gamma-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) ( included in Serelax )
-Passionflower ( included in both Seredyn and Serelax )
-Kava ( included in Serelax )
-Valerian ( included in both Seredyn and Serelax )
-5-HPT ( included in Serelax )
-L-Theanine ( included in both Seredyn and Serelax )
-Niacinamide ( included in Seredyn )
-Magnesium Taurinate ( included in Seredyn )

Physical activity is also well known to be a stress and anxiety remedy by itself and will also increase your self-confidence and help you trust your body so you don't think it is sick all the time.

Giving the body all the nutriments it needs on a daily basis is the most important thing to do and people these day forget to do that. Try eating more bio and organic food, try looking into sprouting if you are really interested in bio food, try looking for natural supplements such as Green+ or SuperfoodRX if sprouting isn't your cup of tea. People must know that we are what we eat.

You can also look into pharmaceutical treatment such as benzodiapines for short-term anxiety or when you have a panic attack or try a long term treatment with an antidepressant like those in the class SSRI ( Lexapro ) and SNRI ( Cymbalta, Effexor )

I did went a full month on Cymbalta but as i was seeing result from physical activity and super healthy diet and supplements ( since its impossible to eat well unless you grow your own food and do your own hunting because of all the food we eat is processed and pesticides etc are used to maximize profits to the detriment of health ) so there you have it all. Do what you think is best for you but i gave you all my advices.

Please consider that I'm not a doctor and if you are under any medication you should talk to your doctor prior taking any natural medications.

Best regards,
M4