Can the severity of anxiety disorder go up and down?

[T]

Hi,
About 2 1/2 years ago I woke up from my sleep gasping for air. I tried to get out of bed and couldn't feel my feet on the floor. My face was tingling and I felt as though I was going to die. That night it happened again and I ended up in the emergency room. I had EKG's done, they checked me for a lung embulism. SO many tests and all they could see was that my blood oxygen was low. In the end I was put on asthma meds which didn't help me at all. It was at the point where I couldn't drive or go to the supermarket or anything as I would become dizzy, unable to breath and start choking as I felt I couldn't swallow. I finally went home to visit my family and had to go to my old GP for a new prescription for my asthma meds. He refused to give me one saying that he felt I had anxiety. I researched this online and everything I read sounded exactly like me. I was embarassed by the hassle I'd caused at the clinic and by all those tests I made them do on me. I just kept thinking they had overlooked something. I never went back to the Dr and just dealt with my symptoms. I'd just say my prayers during an attack and wait to die which never happened obviously but it sure felt like I was going to die. Over the months my symptoms became less severe. Only a few bouts of chest pain and breathlessness a day. A little of the jumping in my throat and slight dizziness but I felt I could deal with it. I gave birth to my son 8 months ago and have been feeling pretty good. Yesterday afternoon after putting him down for a nap, I went for a nap myself. As soon as I dozed off I shot bolt upright gasping for air. My face was all tingling. I tried to get up and my legs were like jelly. My vision was blurry and I was light headed. I had to call my husband to come home from work as wasn't sure I'd be able to get our son out of his crib. Last night I did my old thing of making my husband watch me until I fell asleep to make sure I didn't stop breathing. I guess my question is do I have an anxiety disorder or does the fact the severity of my symptoms dissappeared for a while mean it's something else? I don't want to go to my Doctor (a different one from the person who treated me before) as I don't know where to start. All I know is I can't deal with this all over again. I'd be so gratefull for any advice.
Thanks,

T

[RabidBadger]

Hi T

Even though people have disorders and are more prone to anxiety, you have to remember that anxiety is an emotion - another word for fear - and it is bound to go up and down depending on loads of factors - your stress levels, your physical fitness, your tiredness, etc.

It does sound to me like your problems are anxiety based as they don't progress into anything more serious. And by the way, don't feel that you've wasted people's time by getting medical tests done. If you have reached the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with you apart from anxiety, then the tests have done their job.

Good luck

Chris

[Robbed]

Anxiety disorders can increase and decrease in severity with time. Also, they can go away for some time, only to relapse later. Quite often, this happens because your body DOES heal itself from the anxiety. But the issues that caused your anxiety in the first place did not go away, and caused the anxiety disorder to return. Remember also that, while feeling anxious, these issues are probably not going to be foremost on your mind. In fact, the very definition of an anxiety disorder is often fear of anxiety itself (rather than any underlying issues that caused it). But there is a somewhat decent chance that you DO know what has been bothering you over the years.

[BobaFett49]

Hello T

I can tell you that your situation is actually not too unlike mine. I've had anxiety issues since before I can remember, and have been on meds for quite some time and for me they seem to be helping. Over the course of the past few years I have watched my anxiety levels go through periods of ups and downs; sadly at the present time it's running at an unprecedented high :( . I have found that I personally am extremely sensitive to my nearby environment...including what is physically around me, who is around me, and what is going on in my life at the moment. Additionally what I eat and drink can affect my anxiety levels as well, none more than caffeine. I have battled with this for years and have come to develop a love/hate relationship. It'll jolt me through the roof and for about 15 minutes or so I'll be talking a mile a minute, but the fallout comes later when I am physically exhausted as well as more sensitive to some elements than normal. I've gone through phases during which I gave up caffeine completely for days at a time and have noticed a HUGE change and calm in myself, but caffeine unfortunately can be very addictive.

As for your situation, well I've learned that everyone's anxiety is different and what affects one person is useless to the next. There are natural ways to deal with this...when you feel those feelings begin to surface try this: start paying VERY close attention to your breathing. I've learned that part of an anxiety attack is completely biochemical in nature, and that the way you breathe can actually have a tremendous effect on the outcome. So when you start feeling these symptoms take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for a few seconds, then breathe out slowly through your mouth over the course of about 10 seconds. Then repeat the entire thing, for as long as needed. This WILL work and I've noticed it's the quickest thing short of a miracle...I mean you do just a minute or 2 of conscious breathing techniques and within the next few minutes you'll feel a noticeable difference.

Hope that helps.