Is this anxiety? Please help me...

[scorpio_lady]

hey people..
this is my first post here, so first of all i would like to say hi to everybody hoping that you will be able to understand my problems and help me..

i don't know if what i am experiencing in the past year is anxiety or something else, so i let you be the jugde of that ..

just to sum up my situation a bit: for the past 3 years i have been through some rough time - my parents divorce (now i am 30, but i was 26 when that happened and i was pretty disturbed about it), than my aunt died, than my granny and then my close friend died... i had some trouble love life too - i was in a relationship with a married man which affected me in many negative ways..

so, last year, just before my summer vacation i was starting to get some weird symptoms:
- stomach upset and neourosis
- tremberling from the inside - no visible tremors
- was feeling very weak, didn't feel like doing anything
- i couldn't eat
- waking up in the middle of the night, feeling hot flashes and leg muscle twithces, had to go to the toilet
- chest pressure
- feeling lighteheaded

i don't experience any breathing problem, or shortness of breath, all the neurosis comes from my stomach.
i just wasn't feeling rest, i felt very scared, restless, i couldn't concentrate on anything, i was just feeling scared and not myself. i started thinking all possible worst scenarios ever, 'cos this period lasted for about two weeks.. although i did chest ex ray, gastro was ok, ekg also, blood test ok, everything seemed ok, i could feel something was wrong..

then one day my cousin gave me one traquillizing pill containing diazepam, and in 15 mins i could eat again, i wasn't feeling shaky or unwell... since then, things got better, but from time to time i still get all those symptoms, mainly that stomach upset and neurosis, and feeling lightheaded... it happened just now,..

yesterday i got relly upset over some problems at work and had some issues with my married "boyfriend".. and now, day after, 2 hours ago, i started feeling dizzy, lightheaded, stomach upset... i feel shaky, nervous, i feel scared, had to go to the toilet twice in 2 hours..

it seems like everything starts from my stomach... and what about these "toilete" things and feeling shaky? i get scared of course when this happens and things get worse...

what do you think guys? does this sound like anxiety or i should be worried that there's something else wrong with me?

thank you everybody in advance.

[kdanielle]

yeah..thats definitly anxiety since everything else came back okay..just try not to worry..i know its hard tho..your symptoms may change also..like right now u always get the same symptoms..but one day they may be totally different but try not to freak out..thats how i did..i would have certain symptoms for about a month or two..then they would totally change..i think ive experienced every symptom there is! & i still freak out sometime like im having a heart attack..its a really horrible situation to be in but like i said just try to keep calm and tell yourself it cant hurt you!here is a pretty good list of some symptoms u may get!



Body
Burning Skin Sensation
Chronic Fatigue
Electric shock feeling
Excess of energy, you feel you can’t relax.
Feel like you are going to pass out or faint
Feeling cold or chilled
Hyperactivity, excess energy
Increased or decreased sex drive
Muscle twitching
Neck, back, shoulder pain, tightness/stiffness
No energy, feeling lethargic, tired
Numbness or tingling in hands, feet, face, head, or any other places on the body
Persistent muscle tension, stiffness
Sore or tight scalp or back of the neck
Startle easily
Sweating, uncontrollable profuse sweating
The floor feels like it is moving either down or up for no reason
Trembling or shaking
Urgency to urinate, frequent urination, sudden urge to go to the washroom
Warm spells
Weak legs, arms, or muscles

Chest
Chest pain or discomfort
Concern about the heart
Feel like you have to force yourself to breath
Find it hard to breath, feeling smothered, shortness of breath
Frequent yawning to try and catch your breath
Heart – beating hard or too fast, rapid heartbeat, palpitations
Heart - Irregular heart rhythms, flutters or ‘skipped’ beats, tickle in the chest that makes you cough
Tight chest, tight chest muscles

Emotions
Dramatic mood swings
Emotional blunting
Emotions feel wrong
Frequently feel like crying for no reason

Fears
A heightened fear of what people think of you
Afraid of being trapped in a place with no exits
Constant feeling of being overwhelmed.
Fear of being in public
Fear of dying
Fear of losing control
Fear of impending doom
Fear of making mistakes or making a fool of yourself to others
Fear that you are losing your mind
Fears about irrational things, objects, circumstances, or situations
Fears of going crazy, of dying, of impending doom, of normal things, unusual feelings and emotions, unusually frightening thoughts or feelings
Heightened self awareness, or self-consciousness
Need to find nearest washrooms before you can feel comfortable
Need to seat near exits

Head
Dizziness or light-headedness
Frequent headaches, migraine headaches
Feeling like there is a tight band around your head, pressure, tightness
Head, neck or shoulder pain, tightness/stiffness
Giddiness
Shooting pains in the face
Shooting pains in the scalp or head
When you close your eyes you feel like are beginning to, or will, float upwards
Sore jaw that feels like a tooth ache
TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint) - clenching of the jaw or grinding of the teeth


Hearing
Frequent or intermittent reduced hearing or deafness in one or both ears
Low rumbling sounds
Ringing in the ears, noises in the ears, noises in the head

Mind
Desensitization, depersonalization
Fear of going crazy
Fear of losing control
Fear of impending doom
Feelings of unreality
Frequent feeling of being overwhelmed, or that there is just too much to handle or do
Having difficulty concentrating
Obsession about sensations or getting better
Racing thoughts, Rapid thinking
Repetitive thinking or incessant ‘mind chatter’
Underlying anxiety, apprehension, or fear
You often feel you are carrying the world on your shoulders

Mood
Always feeling angry and lack of patience
Depression
Feeling down in the dumps
Feeling like things are unreal or dreamlike
Frequently being on edge or 'grouchy'
Frequently feel like crying for no apparent reason
Have no feelings about things you used to
Underlying anxiety, apprehension, or fear
You feel like you are under pressure all the time


Mouth/Stomach
A ‘tinny’, ‘metallic’ or ‘ammonia’, or unusual smell or taste
Choking
Constant craving for sugar or sweets
Constipation
Diarrhea
Difficulty swallowing
Dry mouth
Feeling like you can’t swallow properly or that something will get caught in your throat
Feeling like your tongue is swollen
Frequent upset stomach, bloating, gaseous
IBS
Lack of appetite or taste
Nausea or abdominal stress
The thought of eating makes you nauseous
Tight throat, lump in throat
Vomiting

Sleep
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
Frequent bad, bizarre, or crazy dreams
Hearing sounds in your head that jolt you awake
Insomnia, or waking up ill in the middle of the night
Jolting awake
Waking up in a panic attack
You feel worse in the mornings

Sight
Distorted, foggy, or blurred vision
Dry, watery or itchy eyes
Eye tricks, seeing things our of the corner of your eye that isn’t there, stars, flashes
Eyes sensitive to light
Spots in the vision
Flashing lights when eyes are closed
Your depth perception feels wrong

Touch
Numbness
Pain
Tingling, pins and needles feelings


Other symptoms are described as:
Being like a hypochondriac, muscle twinges, worry all the time, tingles, gagging, tightness in the chest, tongue twitches, shaky, breath lump, heart beat problems, head tingles, itchy tingling in arms and legs, and so many more.

In addition to these symptoms, you may also find yourself worrying compulsively about:
• Having a heart attack
• Having a serious undetected illness
• Dying prematurely
• Going insane or losing your mind
• Harming yourself or someone you love uncontrollably
• Being embarrassed or making a fool out or yourself
• Losing control
• Fainting in public
• Not breathing properly
• Choking or suffocating
• Being alone

[dorigen]

sound like anxiety, you've been through a lot!!!! i would expect you to have anxiety!

Take good care of yourself, eat well, sleep, and exercise. See a doctor just to check, but they will probably say "stress". Your anxiety sounds situational so hopefully it will get better on it's own. Don't hesitate to see a therapist if it gets worse. They will help.