Here goes!

[Jo Smith]

Hi,
I havnt been officially diagnosed with anxiety, and part of me still thinks there underlying issues. I am 24 years old, and have been suffering from a variety of symptoms for nearly 3 years now. It started of with me starting a new rather intense job. It required moving town and boyfriend behind for a year and I started off the year badly, feeling very nervous, sad, depressed and wholly unmotivated. It took a whole month before i broke down with a full on panic attack, the first ive ever had. I started to get severe diarhoea which has happened since that day. I get major stomach cramps all the time. Of course ive been through everything....colonoscopies, mri...and guess what ...they found nothing. Ever since I have had dizziness, light headedness, feeling of unease at all time, constantly having to control the urge to panic. I literally dread social situations. Even when i finally move back in with my boyfriedn, things did not improve. It was like everything...all the bad thought and habits had been ingrained in my head. I feel really weak, and when i try to exercise, again it makes me feel panicy. I also have this obsession that my glassess are making my eyes funny, yet deep down i no its not my glasess. I feel so tired and i cant concentrate. I sit at work everyday, just staring into space. Its just amazing how i can even deal with going to work, as i dread it every morning, even though I infact love what i do. I cant go to the suprmarket. And more recently i have developed this constant fear of passing out, because of the light headedness. Its completly ruining my life as I avoid doing anything that involves leaving the house. I really dont no what to do. I want to go to the GP and talk, but I find it very hard to talk to people, especially about things like this. I always end up going and telling half the story. I no i need to but again its over whelming, the thought of sitting in a waiting room. I honestly feel like im dragging myself through everyday. It saddens me so much that im wasting my life on this. But I dont no what to do to shake the feelings. My friends at work always want to go for meal, and i agree, but i dread them for like a week before and end up a wreck by the time im there, if i dont cancal before hand. Any sitation that actually does require nerves (ie presentation) I am literally unable to stand. I shake so much, and cant talk. Sorry for the massive post, but I feel that only someone suffering from the same things can truly get what I mean by all of this. And congratulations if you managed to read this all.

Joanne

[Sedigive]

Definitely talk to the DR. I know it is tough and kind of embarrassing – it was for me. My desire for an answer overrode that though. You may find it helpful to write everything down first. By all means do it. The DR is there to help and ruling out anything physical is key. I am not trying to cause anymore fear but your guessing and googling things is not a good choice. I did that and it only freaked me out more! Take care. Finding this forum is a very good move. It helped me greatly to find others that understand.

[alankay]

You do sound anxious and a bit depressed. You need to go a tell all. Print out you post and force yourself to go in an talk it all over. I found it hard too but still managed to do it. Alankay

[robp]

Hi, I just joined this board but as someone who has experienced much with anxiety. I have found that talking usually helps a lot in situations like these and can alleviate much of what you are feeling. My first experience with anxiety started about two years after my mom passed away. It came completely out of nowhere and I didn't know what to think at the time...but unfortunately...the internet is paradise for anyone that may have any type of condition. And this information just fed my anxiety over and over again...for a time was obsessed with having a stroke, or heart attack...and my anxiety symptoms reflected those "warning signs" of both. This went on for months, repeated trips to the dr, emergency clinic and etc etc etc. And all found nothing, eventually it got to the point where I wanted it to end and decided I would try to see a therapist which I did for 6 months. Although it didn't appear that anything was being resolved, it actually was through all my conversations with her and over that 6 month period...the anxiety attacks ended. And through some helpful people on a message forum such as this one and my therapist I did overcome that...I do have my moments here and there but I have it under control until recently.

We are all here to help each other

Rob

[Jo Smith]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Even just reading them makes me cry. I really need to get this under control before it ruins my work. I know I need to talk to someone, and I will make a doctor’s appointment tomorrow morning. I have complained about so many different things over the last few years, and now I’m going in to say maybe it’s all in my head. I’ve never told them about my feelings, and now I feel like I’ve deceived them, if you get what I mean. The only other person who knows about all this is my boyfriend, and he’s been amazing. Not once has he got impatient with my constant avoidance of the outside world. I just find it unbelievable how something can affect your mind so much, that it begins to manifest itself as pain and light-headedness. I will be using this forum and picking up any tips to control these feelings.
Thanks again.

[Calii]

I feel exactly the same way everyday.. I dread waking up even now.. I'll be seeing a counsellor soon .. Feels like its taking forever. I'm dizzy right now just laying in bed.. I feel like breaking down.. Ugh let me know how it goes with your doctors appointment .. I'd like to know if there's any hope ..