Anxiety. Odd things that it does to you.

[Beaverdam]

Ive had a terrible flare of anxiety which has manifested beyond the norm of panic attacks, night sweats etc.

I now have twitching and odd bursts of pain in my lower arms, lower legs, hand and feet. Doctor has done every type of blood tests and they are all normal. My anxiety has been horrific and somehow it has manifested into the above.

What is the weirdest thing anxiety has done to you?

[minesadecaf]

I gulp incessantly to the point I'm not even aware I do it now. In its place I'm left with agonising trapped wind pain every day.

[weeblefeet]

My face goes numb and it feels like an effort to talk. I also get an upset stomach

[Aquamarine1029]

My throat would feel like it's closing up, it's awful. How old are you, op?

[Stroller15]

I start yawning a lot when I'm really anxious , but I can't 'finish' the yawn. It just stops mid-action then the next one starts. Also shivers. I now think I need to go to the GP for it.

[OneHanded]

Frequently have panic attacks in supermarkets; ie today in Lidl (what idiot goes on the weekend? This fig loving idiot) clutching a box of cereal hyperventilating.
But I have a left wrist twitch too! It’s my paralysed hand too so it just draws even more attention to the bloody thing and it gets extra crampy from lactic acid build up and not being able to stretch it!

Typing that has made it twitch again! 😅🤦🏼‍♀️

[OneHanded]

Oh yes I get really burpy/hiccupy too. I’m really sorry you all relate but it’s reassuring as ever to know I’m not alone ❤️

[Beaverdam]

Im 32. The past month has been hell amd although ive had anxiety for years and have the meds for it, ive never had these symptoms of physical pain.

The brain is a very powerful thing isnt it. Im so glad im not alone in this hell.

[LillyBugg]

Mine manifests as upset stomach and also cold flushes. I see a PP mentioned the shivers. I didn't realise it was a 'thing' until it was listed under symptoms when I had CBT. It can be 30 degrees outside and I can feel so cold and be uncontrollably shivering, teeth chattering, the lot.

Fucking hate anxiety.

[Aquamarine1029]

I would be taking a look at possible hormonal imbalances. Are you using hormonal birth control? For some women they cause massive problems with anxiety, and on the flip side, they can help enormously, too.

[Wecanworkitout]

Sudden and uncontrollable urge to po. There is no way I can hold it in. I feel cold and shivery then hot and sweaty and my bowels just open. It’s horrendous.

[sideorderofchips]

Stomach cramps. Like my gut is shaking

Oh and the need to flick my fingers or rapidly open and close my hands.

[Gamorasgran]

I tap my foot. It's not an involuntary thing like a twitch but it's compulsive. I do it so much it hurts my leg all the way up to my bum.

I get sleepy.

My immune system totally bails and I get every small cold/virus/infection very badly. Sometimes helpful actually as it makes me slow down and rest.

[Megsheeran]

All sorts for me, waves of tingling/pins and needles in my legs, pain in my left arm, crippling pain in my centre chest, these all made me convinced I was going to have a heart attack. Chronic indigestion and pain in my lower back. Light sensitivity so my eyes stream, itchy ears, biting my tongue in my sleep. I empathise with you OP and hope things improve, after years of despair I am starting to have some good days, so things can change, wishing you all the best 🌻

[Mumma1984]

So I've been told by the doc I have anxiety... but I find this odd, every 3 years in October as well weirdly since 2013 I have had the following or a few of them - is this Time just the numb arm and burning skin and brain fog.


Heavy numb arm/leg
Buzzing foot
Brain fog
Floaters in eyes
Finger joint pain
Burning skin sensation

I've had a clear mri and don't really have classic MS symptoms as such so they have ruled that out, and just say anxiety but I swear it's something else! What do you think? Fibro? Vitamins?

[Beaverdam]

@Mumma1984 sounds like what i have. On one of my worst days my skin was literally burning just before i had anxiety attack. Weird.

[itchyfinger]

When I'm in a situation where I anticipate anxiety, particularly confrontation (which makes this even worse) I get crippling lower back pains, to the point where I can't move and feel the need to collapse to the floor. It was awful once in a confrontation with an old house mate who I needed to get rid off as she was awful, I was in the kitchen asking her to move out and my back ceased up completely and I had to bend over. She must have thought I was nuts. I now take beta blockers which manages it.

[Mumma1984]

@Beaverdam have you had any numbness ? That's the one that really bothers me!

[Lolimax]

Once my panic attacks have subsided I just get very very tired.

[naericht]

Palpitations , I’m absolutely terrified of them - doctor said ectopic beats . Thanks to those bloody things I’ve spent much of the last ten years in a state of high anxiety . Restricted my exercise/activity in Dec last year to see if they’d go away . No such luck, I’ve still got them except I’m now very unfit !

[weeblefeet]

@Mumma1984 I get the numbness, was convinced I was having a stroke. I also get a lot of headaches. Reading this thread has been therapeutic though as I know I'm not alone.

[smemorata]

I have electric shocks in my arms and general tingling. Also just weird sensations like I can't tell if my foot is burning or freezing.

[Mumma1984]

@weeblefeet for like a week? I'm still so scared of MS, there is a 0.1% chance of having MS AND I've had a clear brain scan but I can't let it go!

[weeblefeet]

I had it for weeks before starting my medication. I see now that the anxiety was making me convinced that I was seriously ill. I was googling brain tumours, ms, mnd, all sorts.

[Mumma1984]

@weeblefeet I have now started medication but because I've had 3 episodes of this 3 years apart I just keep thinking it's MS relapses it's ruining my happiness and spending time with my kid and family - I don't know how to accept it and let it go I just keep worrying a diagnosis is round the corner for me - all my family think I'm mad but they aren't dealing with the symptoms I am :(

[Sugartits87]

By far the worst symptom of anxiety for me is needing the loo. Either desperately get the urge for a wee or number 2 and if I'm in a place where I can't quickly access a toilet the anxiety goes off the scale. Also very prickly chest and hotness.

I've read that in times of threat our bodies go into fight or flight mode and that's why panic induces the urge to empty the bowels/bladder so that we can perform 'flight' by running away quicker. It makes sense when you think about it but it's bloody awful and has stopped me from doing a lot of things :(