Physical symptoms of anxiety overwhelming me

[Petals23]

Things are going okay in my life, I think my body had got used to being tense, heart racing, haven't felt relaxed in years. I'm thinking of going to doc after Christmas. Has anyone felt like this and gone on medication that's helped? Thanks.

Yes I feel like this also, I am sorry to say that none of the medicines I have tried (propranolol, sertraline and citalopram) have been terribly helpful.

Propranolol in particular needs to be taken with great caution as it is addictive and messes with your heart rhythm, you can’t just stop taking it else you risk a heart attack, it has to be phased out gradually.

I am going to try the mindfulness/yoga/Pilate route in the new year.

CBT is helpful for some people, your GP can refer you for it.

Going against the pp I found propranolol very useful. I just took it as needed and it calmed me down enough that I could function.

Propranolol in particular needs to be taken with great caution as it is addictive and messes with your heart rhythm, you can’t just stop taking it else you risk a heart attack, it has to be phased out gradually.

I think this is only the case with high doses used to treat heart conditions. My GP gave me it to take when I felt anxious. No warnings about this on the packet!!

Propanalol has been the best way to manage the physical symptoms for me. I went back to it after a disastrous period on a low dose of anti psychotics.

Beta blockers (propranolol) were a miracle as far as my anxiety was concerned. I actually cried with relief when the first kicked in. I'd highly recommend asking a gp for them to anyone suffering with the physical side of anxiety. They helped the mental symptoms too as my body felt so much better, it broke the cycle.

They aren't known to be addictive at all. The dosage you'll be prescribed for anxiety is very low and you can take one as and when you need to.

OP I posted the same thing a couple of days ago and got some helpful responses.

Things are easing off for me slowly thanks to some of these (mostly breathing) but am not ruling out drs either.

I’ve been on PP for 5 years for anxiety and it has been absolute life changer.

Propanalol has a very short half life and can be taken in small doses regularly for anxiety or as needed

I have found hypnosis brilliant at teaching me to properly relax. I'd deffo suggest a doc trip to start.

Propranolol was wonderful for me, such a relief after near constant panic attacks. I easily weaned myself off them when I felt better mentally.

I have anxiety and depression to the extent in which I used to take up to 5 panic attacks a day. The doctor tried to avoid putting me on AD's and at first prescribed propranolol which helped slightly but didn't have a great effect.
I was eventually given sertraline 50mg which again helped a bit. When my dose was increased to 100mg my anxiety greatly improved and I now only take panic attacks occasionally.

Hmm, it was my doctor who told me they were addictive.
Told me that under no circumstances was I to abruptly stop taking them because it could cause problems with heart rhythm.

I’m glad they have worked for so many of you

Thanks everyone. It can be especially bad at night, I find it hard to relax - it's like my body is all fired up, heart pounding away.

Propanalol was a life saver for me too. It completely stopped the physical symptoms of anxiety for me, and I went on to have counselling/CBT too which helped immensely.

Mindfulness and yoga is brilliant and I still practice but the only thing that stopped the physical symptoms was propanalol.

Mindfulness is great when you really get into it.

I read a fantastic book by Joshua Fletcher called Anxiety: Panicking about panic. He explains all of the symptoms and how although it is uncomfortable it will not kill us, it is "just anxiety". Although I am not free of it now the book and self help methods have really helped me.

Swimming has really helped me but I have to do it at least 3 times a week. I hate swimming!

Like previous posters I find propanalol really helpful for this.
I’m also feeling much better after 20 weeks of high intensity CBT. I’ve had CBT before and it didn’t work, but this time my therapist was brilliant.
I hope you feel better. It’s no way to live.

I have, the first lot of meds made me worse, so moved onto different ones. They seemed to take the edge of but what really helped was talking therapy and learning to manage my anxiety. If u go on meds be prepared to feel worse for a little while. If u still feel worse after 6 weeks then go back and ask to try different ones. What also helped me was audible, I struggled most at night. I would plug myself in and listen to a good book. Still helps me now xoxo good luck

doggydoggydoggy I’d suggest you get a new doctor. Propranolol are 100% non addictive!

Propranonol is a game changer, comes in very small dose tablets to take as and when you need it, e.g. for an interview, presentation or exam. They give you a lovely feeling of calm when normally you’d be shaking, heart pounding, dry mouth etc. The smpc and patient information leaflet states that taken occassionally, its safe and non habit forming.

For me, anxiety only ever felt like a physical problem. I could never pin down how I was feeling emotionally but the physical symptoms were clear as a bell In fact, I’m still not totally convinced I didn’t have a physical problem (like hormone dysfunction) that nobody picked up on.

Propranolol worked well for me, for helping that heart racing feeling which would perpetuate the feeling of panic.

I have taken citalopram for the past 9 years due to anxiety and panic attacks that left me feeling like my heart was giving out. It’s a crippling condition that can leave you with agoraphobia and wreck your life in so many ways. There’s no shame in seeking medical support.

Like most other posters have said for physical symptoms PP works really well. It’s certainly not addictive like Diazpam etc .
I hope something helps and I’m glad you are going to the GP it’s an awful thing to feel.

Sertraline. First two weeks were awful followed by feeling very centered and calm