Hi, I am new

[khanna]

Hi everybody,

I am happy to have found this site. I have been dealing with anxiety for a long time. Sometimes it is worse than others. Lately it has been really bad. I have so much panic, engage in OCD behavior, and think so many catastrophic thoughts that I am embarrassed to fully admit it all to people I love. I cry almost everyday at work. I want to get better so bad. I hope to find support here, and I hope I can and be support to you all.

BTW... my main issue is health anxiety

Khanna

[AnxiousMicky]

Hi Khanna, welcome to this forum. I am new as well and I totally understand how you feel. The psychological symptoms, especially catastrophic thoughts and sense of dread/doom are the worst and the scariest of all symptoms of anxiety. Hopefully, they are only symptoms, you are not in any real danger and you will be fine :) If you want to talk to someone I am here. Hope to hear again from you.

AnxiousMicky

[BrilliantSide]

Hi khanna,

I know it probably feels hopeless right now. This forum is full of people in the same situation, and some of us have managed to conquer anxiety and OCD symptoms. Don't be afraid to ask for help! You can get better.

[khanna]

Hi khanna,

I know it probably feels hopeless right now. This forum is full of people in the same situation, and some of us have managed to conquer anxiety and OCD symptoms. Don't be afraid to ask for help! You can get better.

I would love to conquer this once and for all. I seem to have flare ups in my symptoms. Sometimes I will be fine for months, and then I suddenly get triggered. Some of the "episodes" I have are worse than others. This one has been the worst I have had of all. I was actually in the ER a few nights ago because of my symptoms. They seem to think it is all stress.

I was feeling extremely hopeless when I wrote the post, but I am learning to be more hopeful.

[khanna]

Hi Khanna, welcome to this forum. I am new as well and I totally understand how you feel. The psychological symptoms, especially catastrophic thoughts and sense of dread/doom are the worst and the scariest of all symptoms of anxiety. Hopefully, they are only symptoms, you are not in any real danger and you will be fine :) If you want to talk to someone I am here. Hope to hear again from you.

AnxiousMicky

Thank you for your post. I hope we both improve soon.

[Kirk]

Welcome to the forum. I too have health anxiety and it can be tough to deal with sometimes. I have had to tough it
out as medication never worked for me.

[khanna]

Welcome to the forum. I too have health anxiety and it can be tough to deal with sometimes. I have had to tough it
out as medication never worked for me.

What have you found that works for you?

[khanna]

I am feeling kind of scared right now because I have pain in my legs and calves. I work in tax preparation and sit in a chair almost 10 hours a day and barely get exercise. Maybe that's why my legs hurt? I have been reading about jelly legs online too. I also have an appointment with my doctor on Friday.

My mom says she is praying for me. My husband is out of the country abd stressed badly, but he calls everyday. I feel loved. I feel supported. I feel I have hope, but these triggers upset me. I just want reassurance I am ok. I am safe. I want to stop living like this.

[gcltr777]

Hi! I hated my desk job. I would hurt all the time. Middle back, chest, tailbone, knees... everything would hurt. I have the same thing as far as 'a new pain' freaks me out and kicks up anxiety. I'm 39, so I quit my web design job and went to work with my buddy in construction. (which has been rough lately...) Anyway, I use my back and body all day long (when I'm working) and feel less sore than when I had to sit for a full day. The positions we put ourselves in when we work at our desks is really bad. Our minds are not focused on our bodies and our posture and positions.

We were always told that we could get up every 20 minutes and walk around... no one ever did for very long. It was just too hard to stop what we were doing and lose that time. Plus, I think the boss did not like the lost time... he was not supportive. But, he was only ever there for 10 minutes or so, but I still never had the time to get up and walk around.

Only thing that helps is movement. The body is not designed to sit like that all day.

[khanna]

Hi! I hated my desk job. I would hurt all the time. Middle back, chest, tailbone, knees... everything would hurt. I have the same thing as far as 'a new pain' freaks me out and kicks up anxiety. I'm 39, so I quit my web design job and went to work with my buddy in construction. (which has been rough lately...) Anyway, I use my back and body all day long (when I'm working) and feel less sore than when I had to sit for a full day. The positions we put ourselves in when we work at our desks is really bad. Our minds are not focused on our bodies and our posture and positions.

We were always told that we could get up every 20 minutes and walk around... no one ever did for very long. It was just too hard to stop what we were doing and lose that time. Plus, I think the boss did not like the lost time... he was not supportive. But, he was only ever there for 10 minutes or so, but I still never had the time to get up and walk around.

Only thing that helps is movement. The body is not designed to sit like that all day.

I work at a CPA firm and it's hell right now. I hate it. I want to quit and find a new job.

I also went to one of my doctors today and they ran a bunch of blood work. I am being tested for Lupus, arthritis, and bunch of other tests. I am pretty nervous about it. My mom said she is praying for me, and she doesn't think it is anything serious. My calve muscles are killing me right now. I am pretty triggered by it, and I have been looking into jelly legs.

I could feel my legs tightening and freaking out while in the doctor's office, and waiting to get my blood taken.

I am doing what I should though. I am going to the doctor for my pain.

[Amaze0707]

Welcome to the forum, Khanna! You are not alone. I’ve heard individuals facing similar struggles who received effective treatment with medication and psychotherapy. God loves you and is able to provide the peace you're seeking. I hope and pray that you get better soon!

[Kirk]

khanna, I have been a CPA for 38 years and at this time of year it is no fum and some days I wish I
was invisible. I try to keep my mind occupied with hobbies, work, other things I enjoy, etc., which helps my health anxiety.

[Kirk]

Also try to remember that we all have to work unless we are either independently wealthy, are retired, or have some other
form of help. Try to make the best of your job, as all jobs have some issue associated with them and none are prefect.

[khanna]

Welcome to the forum, Khanna! You are not alone. I’ve heard individuals facing similar struggles who received effective treatment with medication and psychotherapy. God loves you and is able to provide the peace you're seeking. I hope and pray that you get better soon!

Thank you very much for your comment. God is very important to me. I am always asking God for help. I have been taking medicine for about two weeks now, and I am starting to feel better. My mom says I sound a lot better on the phone. I am so thankful and happy. I want to keep improving.

I went to the doctor today and she said my heart was racing, so I am still stressed and panicked.

[khanna]

Also try to remember that we all have to work unless we are either independently wealthy, are retired, or have some other
form of help. Try to make the best of your job, as all jobs have some issue associated with them and none are prefect.

Hi Kirk,

I agree with what you're saying. I had this conversation with my mom. I am actually considering getting out of public and trying industry. Since you have been an accountant for so long, do you have any advice or opinion on switching? I specialize in tax, btw.

My husband says that he would eventually like to get to the point where he can support me, and I would not have to work. I really think it will be possible one day.

[Kirk]

In my 38 years of accounting I had a brief stint in private industry in 1981 as an internal auditor and I did not like it. I personally have liked public accounting as
you work on different clients all of the time and have some flexibilty. I know women CPA's who work in the tax department of large CPA firms and they tell me their
hours are flexible outside of busy season and they just work hard for a couple of months. You could also try state or local government as it may be less stressful. The
feds may have a hiring freeeze. A friend of mine who is a couple of years younger than me, used to work in the tax department of a large company here in Baltimore.
She rose to a high position in the tax department and it was so stressful for her, that she began to get chest pains and could not sleep well. She used to get emails at 3 in
the morning. So in my opinion, private industry can be just as stressful so be careful before you make a move.

[sarsaparilla]

Khanna welcome to the forum! It's great you have support from your loved ones. You WILL be okay! This is temporary.

I have dealt with tingling and tightness in my calves as well as very painful muscle cramps. I had my first panic attack because I thought my calves were going to have one of those cramps again (as well as having negative and catastrophic thoughts). My anxiety can cause tingling and tightness in my muscles and I don't know how much is just mental. But to treat my calves I take magnesium and eat high potassium food. Magnesium relaxes the muscle. If I wake up and I'm afraid my legs are going to seize up, I quickly down my magnesium tablet and have a banana and some water and it makes me feel more confident that my body won't cramp up.