Anxiety?

[DizFan101]

Hello,
I got a question on anxiety.
What does anxiety feel like? I'm not 100% if i am suffering from anxiety. I feel like my mind is blank most ofthe time, it feels like i'm holding my breath at times and feels like there's a tornado inside of me. .

I have felt like this since the beginning of summer and worry about things like people dying and me being on my own. I'm 24 years old for petes sake. I just want to feel like my old self with nothing to worry about..as much.

Do I have anxiety?
I think I do, what can i do for anixety?
I feel like at times my head is blank and then other times it's spinning even though i'm trying focus on something. Perhaps I just need a vacation, even though i don't currently work. I need a vacation from myself. I need an out of body experiance really bad.

HELP!

 

[136368]

Anxiety can manifest in different people in completely different ways and there are a multitude of different diagnoses. Talk to your general practitioner. They may recommend you to counselling, therapy or perhaps medications such as benzos, beta blockers or low doses of anti depressants.

Good luck!

 

[CathrynRose]

Everyone's anxiety disorders manifest themselves differently.

I have GAD and Panic Disorder. I thought I was constantly having a Panic Attck - until I actually HAD a panic attack. I have Anxiety Attacks. I worry, about everything. I get most worked up about death, and that's what will set off a panic attack.

I'm currently packing for Las Vegas. I'm a nervous wreck I'm going to forget something. I'm worried the altitude in Las Vegas is too high, and I'll have an asthma attack - so I Googled it. I'm worried I'll be overwhelmed there, which is just overwhelming me more, now.

I think everyone is different. Talk to your Doctor. Mine really took off after my mom died. Has anything big or different or traumatic happened to you, lately?

 

[DizFan101]

Everyone's anxiety disorders manifest themselves differently.

I have GAD and Panic Disorder. I thought I was constantly having a Panic Attck - until I actually HAD a panic attack. I have Anxiety Attacks. I worry, about everything. I get most worked up about death, and that's what will set off a panic attack.

I'm currently packing for Las Vegas. I'm a nervous wreck I'm going to forget something. I'm worried the altitude in Las Vegas is too high, and I'll have an asthma attack - so I Googled it. I'm worried I'll be overwhelmed there, which is just overwhelming me more, now.

I think everyone is different. Talk to your Doctor. Mine really took off after my mom died. Has anything big or different or traumatic happened to you, lately?

I worry bout death ALOT too!
I am in a middle of a lawsuit...(I'm the plantiff not the defendant). It's due to an incident I had in college on 9/11/2007. But I didn't feel anxious until now for some reason and this lawsuit has been going on for 3-4 years... We're up to depositions and discovery.. But I don't realy worry about it too much because my parents handle most of it.

I guess it's because I depend on my parents alot because of what had happened back in 07. My college experiance wasn't anything I had in mind...and highly wasn't your normal experiance. I don't like to go into details on forums about it but if you want more info message me...

I can't concentrate on anything and worry about death mostly when I go to sleep. BLAH!

Las Vegas is great-by the way.

 

[CathrynRose]

I worry bout death ALOT too!
I am in a middle of a lawsuit...(I'm the plantiff not the defendant). It's due to an incident I had in college on 9/11/2007. But I didn't feel anxious until now for some reason and this lawsuit has been going on for 3-4 years... We're up to depositions and discovery.. But I don't realy worry about it too much because my parents handle most of it.

I guess it's because I depend on my parents alot because of what had happened back in 07. My college experiance wasn't anything I had in mind...and highly wasn't your normal experiance. I don't like to go into details on forums about it but if you want more info message me...

I can't concentrate on anything and worry about death mostly when I go to sleep. BLAH!

Las Vegas is great-by the way.

I bet you a zillion dollars, this is why. Especially since you mentioned "You don't worry about it...." If you're not thinking about it consciously, you're probably thinking about it subconsciously.

I wish I had a miracle cure I could tell you about, but I don't. I finally, after a good 2 years of really struggling with it (Part of my job back then, was to go to client's and set up their IT stuff - I couldn't go to clients. I was worried I'd have a heart attack and just die, in this unfamiliar place) I finally went to see a DR. And I;m so happy I did.

I take Xanax. I don't feel loopy, or even tired - I feel *normal*. My mind isn't racing with "What if...." thoughts.

I just couldn't do it anymore. My whole life was being affected by these absurd thoughts. I went to WDW, waited in line for Everest with my son, got up there and thought I would have a brain hemorrhage and die on the ride. THAT wasn't like me. I love thrill rides. I had to get out of line, and my son rode alone.

 

[CathrynRose]

Here - read this. It's the incident that FINALLY made me go see a DR.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29612747&postcount=24

 

[MushyMushy]

If it's something that's affecting your day to day life, you really should go see a doctor about it and get some counseling and/or meds. I recently came down with some really bad anxiety. It wasn't quite like yours -- I obsessed and worried 24/7 and wasn't comfortable in my own skin. I had a non-stop feeling of dread and fear, and all I wanted to do was hide. The only relief I got was when I'd bury myself under the covers and worry myself to sleep. It's horrible. Wellbutrin has been helpful, but I still feel way more fearful than is normal for me.

Please find someone for you to talk to. There really is no need to suffer if you don't have to.

Cathryn, OMG! That same thing happened to me with eyedrops, but I just laid in bed and waited for a stroke or brain tumor to overtake me. It wasn't until a day or two later that I finally read about eyedrops being able to do that.

 

[DizFan101]

So yesterday I went to bed w/o taking my 5-htp pill i have been taking for i guess anxiety because it wasn't really helping all that much, so today i decided to stay off it to see how i reacted....not well.

I can't seem to concentrate. my mind is spinning with thoughts and i can't seem to concentrate on anything. On 5-Htp my mind was mostly blank w/o any thought what-so-ever.

I talked to my mom about xanox but as always she was against it. "I'm not a pill pusher" she knows i have anxiety but wants to try "organic" **** like green tea. Blah. Then she says i can't concentrate because I'm not doing anything to keep my mind busy. Well she doesn't keep her mind busy 24/7 and her mind isn't spinning..

I'm just going to go back on the 5-htp pill for now until something comes up. i'm still waiting to hear back about the job applications i put in.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

So yesterday I went to bed w/o taking my 5-htp pill i have been taking for i guess anxiety because it wasn't really helping all that much, so today i decided to stay off it to see how i reacted....not well.

I can't seem to concentrate. my mind is spinning with thoughts and i can't seem to concentrate on anything. On 5-Htp my mind was mostly blank w/o any thought what-so-ever.

I talked to my mom about xanox but as always she was against it. "I'm not a pill pusher" she knows i have anxiety but wants to try "organic" **** like green tea. Blah. Then she says i can't concentrate because I'm not doing anything to keep my mind busy. Well she doesn't keep her mind busy 24/7 and her mind isn't spinning..

I'm just going to go back on the 5-htp pill for now until something comes up. i'm still waiting to hear back about the job applications i put in.

Xanax has a very short 1/2 life which can cause rebound anxiety which can be worse that the original panic attack.
From what you described sounds like so much of your think is catastrophic thinking which can be anxiety disorder and/or depression.

The inability to focus is usually depression.

I wish you well & if you need a ref. in NNJ just PM me. Be well~

 

[DizFan101]

Well, it has gotten to the point where I worry about stuff and think something is going to happen but the other half of me knows it probably wont happen.
such as 2012 end of the world.. Part of me knows the world isn't going to end in 2012 but the other half believes it will and i worry about it.
another thing is that i can't watch commericals for movies such as Hereafter or anything that deals with death.
I have no friends/no work just rely on my parents for mostly everything. I don't want to be dependant on my parents i want to feel normal like everybody else and have a life.
I am scared....no petrified of death and worry about it 24/7. It's scary because I had two incidences about death...knowing that they are gone before I was told. Like for my grandpa (mom's dad) i visited him the night before he died and the next day at school I just knew he was gone..
Then in February of 2009 my grandpa went into surgery to remove his leg because he had gang-green but ended up passing away from blood in the lungs or something like that. the day after he died i knew somebody died but i didn't know it would be him. I took it hard because I was supposed to call him the day before to see how he was doing after surgery. But i wasn't feeling to well. . Now i just worry about death.... .

I want to be the old me. Where I don't worry about anything. I wish upon a star every night (probably a planet here and there as well) but so far, nothing.

HELP...

 

[bluesaturn]

Well, it has gotten to the point where I worry about stuff and think something is going to happen but the other half of me knows it probably wont happen.
such as 2012 end of the world.. Part of me knows the world isn't going to end in 2012 but the other half believes it will and i worry about it.
another thing is that i can't watch commericals for movies such as Hereafter or anything that deals with death.
I have no friends/no work just rely on my parents for mostly everything. I don't want to be dependant on my parents i want to feel normal like everybody else and have a life.
I am scared....no petrified of death and worry about it 24/7. It's scary because I had two incidences about death...knowing that they are gone before I was told. Like for my grandpa (mom's dad) i visited him the night before he died and the next day at school I just knew he was gone..
Then in February of 2009 my grandpa went into surgery to remove his leg because he had gang-green but ended up passing away from blood in the lungs or something like that. the day after he died i knew somebody died but i didn't know it would be him. I took it hard because I was supposed to call him the day before to see how he was doing after surgery. But i wasn't feeling to well. . Now i just worry about death.... .

I want to be the old me. Where I don't worry about anything. I wish upon a star every night (probably a planet here and there as well) but so far, nothing.

HELP...

You need to go to a doctor. Anxiety is very common and very treatable. But you have to take the first step toward treatment before anything will get better. If you don't want to take pills, anxiety can be treated successfully with therapy. Look for a therapist that will utilize behavior therapy, most likely CBT.
Green tea isn't going to do anything. You're 24, you can go to whatever doctor you want, just go.

ETA:
I just realized you're the same one that posted about feeling depressed a few weeks ago, and your mother standing in the way of treatment. You need to go to a real doctor to get help. Anxiety and depression often occur together. You really just need to ignore your parents and go to the doctor.

 

[DizFan101]

That's what I'm going to be doing on Monday. my parents want to "talk" first. Like that ever helped. My mom says "she's not a pill pusher" "pills can make things worse" "you hear it on tv in the articles about how it cures this and that but you could have a heart attack/stroke etc."

So i'm going to call the dr on monday morning.... First thing.

 

[bluesaturn]

That's what I'm going to be doing on Monday. my parents want to "talk" first. Like that ever helped. My mom says "she's not a pill pusher" "pills can make things worse" "you hear it on tv in the articles about how it cures this and that but you could have a heart attack/stroke etc."

So i'm going to call the dr on monday morning.... First thing.

Honestly I wouldn't talk to them. She's just going to talk you out of it. Avoid her until Monday, then make the appointment.

 

[Shutterbug]

I would avoid a general practitioner for anxiety and such. All that doctor is going to do is put you on a pill. Thats what my doc did. First he wanted me to try Celexa...OMG worst 6 hours of my life. Then I tried paxil seemed okay at first but around day 5 or 6 that became the worst day of my life..even worse than what I experienced with the Celexa and from what I read about Paxil I am glad I got off it when I did.
Finally talking with a pyschiatrist started using natural St Johns Wort. It has helped plus non of those side effects. I have Clonopin for the times that are really bad but I have not really had to take any at all.

I would suggest a pyschiatrist..not only can the prescribe something if needed but you also need coping skills.

Best of luck to you!

 

[bluesaturn]

I would avoid a general practitioner for anxiety and such. All that doctor is going to do is put you on a pill. Thats what my doc did. First he wanted me to try Celexa...OMG worst 6 hours of my life. Then I tried paxil seemed okay at first but around day 5 or 6 that became the worst day of my life..even worse than what I experienced with the Celexa and from what I read about Paxil I am glad I got off it when I did.
Finally talking with a pyschiatrist started using natural St Johns Wort. It has helped plus non of those side effects. I have Clonopin for the times that are really bad but I have not really had to take any at all.

I would suggest a pyschiatrist..not only can the prescribe something if needed but you also need coping skills.

Best of luck to you!

I agree about going to a psychiatrist for any meds rather than a GP. But I would go to a psychologist for any sort of therapy, not a psychiatrist.

 

[Mama-san]

DisFan101, I feel for you. It really sucks to feel that way. I would definitely seek advice from a doctor. I've been on antidepressants since I was in my mid 20's (unfortunately, mental illness runs in my family). Tried St. Johns Wort, but didn't work long term for me. The older I've gotten, it seems I've been more anxious than depressed. In the past couple of years , my dad died at age 60 from cancer, I quit my high stress job to be a SAHM, my husband has been through 2 layoffs, took my highly active 85 y.o. GM in after suffering a stroke, etc.. I had been on Prozac but it wasn't cutting it any more. I literally felt like I was losing my mind. Switched to Celexa which didn't do much. I then switched to Lexapro, which is wonderful for me. Only took a couple of days to work. It has shut off that nagging worry switch in my head. I guess what I'm trying to say is that medicine can work for you and if the first thing you try doesn't, there are other ones to try to find one that does work for you. I think talking with a counselor or therapist would be beneficial too. Good luck!

 

[snowy76]

That's what I'm going to be doing on Monday. my parents want to "talk" first. Like that ever helped. My mom says "she's not a pill pusher" "pills can make things worse" "you hear it on tv in the articles about how it cures this and that but you could have a heart attack/stroke etc."

So i'm going to call the dr on monday morning.... First thing.

My mom was very similar. Parents (especially older generations, I think) often view these disorders as something you can just "get over."

So when you see the doc, ask about the physical characteristics of anxiety/depression. For example, depression is linked to an imbalance of seratonin in your system. When I explained this to my mother, it changed her perception of anxiety/depression. My dad needs blood pressure meds. My grandmother needs insulin. You can't just wait for your body to fix itself - and the brain is just another organ.

I've been on Zoloft for over a year and have never felt better, been more productive at work, my life at home is more relaxed, I get along better with DH, etc. I feel like the real me.

 

[DizFan101]

My mom was very similar. Parents (especially older generations, I think) often view these disorders as something you can just "get over."

So when you see the doc, ask about the physical characteristics of anxiety/depression. For example, depression is linked to an imbalance of seratonin in your system. When I explained this to my mother, it changed her perception of anxiety/depression. My dad needs blood pressure meds. My grandmother needs insulin. You can't just wait for your body to fix itself - and the brain is just another organ.

I've been on Zoloft for over a year and have never felt better, been more productive at work, my life at home is more relaxed, I get along better with DH, etc. I feel like the real me.

I agree with you. I was on the phone with my mom just a few minutes ago and told her that I want to go to the drs and she said "he won't be able to help you" That is sooo BS. I told her about xanox and she likes what are the side effects. O.m.G its not like WANT to be on medication to feel better if there was any other way to fix this i would but i tried 5htp, i felt a little better this morning but it didn't last long. I can't read a book w/o having my thughts go all over the place.

the only time i feel 100% is when i'm sleeping. my back hurts like **** for the past 3 weeks and i thoiught it was my . but i haven't gotten it yet (Surprisingly). I cry alot and worry alot my mind doesn't stop from going all the over the place. I am tense alot even though i'm home in my house where it's "safe".

I'm @ the point where i just want to sleep 24/7..... just because i feel soooo much better sleeping... my mom is telling me to go to the gym to loose the weight i promised to be able to go to disney but i don't feel like it because i don't feel right. my thoughts are just zig zagging and she comes up with these lame exercuses to put off going to the dr. i don't want her to come to the dr's office. She's sooo sarcastic and she's goin to tell the dr not to give me anything. ***...

I just want to feel like my old self.
I don't even know if i'm going to enjoy the upcoming disneytrip. .

I'm scared of a lot
- what would happen if my parents die...
- the world ending.... i partly know that the world won't end in 2012 but part of me does think it's going to end. i try to avoid movies that deal with death and end of the world like "HereAfter" and 2012 and such.
i don't work. I just want to feel like the old me where I would get excited for disney and my mind to be in one place not worring about anything....

I went onto WEBMD.com and looked at all the anxiety disorders. I was diagnosed with PTSD back in June.
I believe its to be Generalized Anxiety Disorder

 

[MushyMushy]

Is there a reason that you're relying so much on your mother to care for your health at your age? For the most part, kids have medical autonomy at the age of 14! If my 15 year old daughter wanted to see a psychiatrist and be put on meds right now, she could go without me and do it.

I realize that if you're suffering from anxiety, depression or any other type of disorder, it's making it very difficult for you to step out and take care of yourself. I was just wondering if there were any other reason you were relying so much on your mother's opinion.

 

[sms]

I also take Zoloft. It is the best thing I have ever done! It helps me with my phobias, PMS and with anxiety.