Anxiety-physical symptoms

[howdy31]

I have health anxiety and currently getting therapy for that and other things but sometimes the physical symptoms are scary and overwhelming. I constantly think there's something seriously wrong with me and it's taking its toll.
What are the physical symptoms you get when you are feeling really anxious?

Agreed - I'm at the point where I still feel there is something physically wrong but the docs won't have it. I get almost 'flare ups' haven't had one for about 3yrs I think but atm I have numb shoulders, burning skin, headaches and stupid stuff like that :( you? X

I get a racing heart, shortness of breath (to the point I think I can’t breath), sweating, nausea and dizziness. I find taking beta blockers really helpful to all my body down.

I'm sorry to hear that it's really tough isn't it? I've always gotten pins and needles in my hands and feet when really anxious but recently it's only been in my hand and foot on my left side so that's got my mind going over drive thinking it's something more serious! X

*calm my body

@2004pickle what beta blockers are you on? I'm on propranolol but it only works for an hour or so with me

I also get pins and needles when I’m very anxious and then convince myself I have a neurological disorder The shortness of breath makes me feel like I can’t breath which is the worst.

My throat feels like it's tightening up to the point I can't swallow and I think I'm going to suffocate. Of course, I'm not, but it's very, very unnerving.

Normal physical symptoms of anxiety:

Headaches
Dizziness
Dry mouth
Feeling hot
Going red
Sweating
Raised heart rate
Palpitations
Increased breathing rate
feeling like you can't breathe
hyperventilating
Numbness or tingling, esp in hands and/or face
Stomach pain
butterflies
nausea
vomiting
Diarrhoea
Needing to urinate
"Jelly legs"

With extreme fear: tunnel vision, decreased hearing

All of the above are horrible to experience, and part of the body's normal fight-or-flight response that gets activated when we think about things that make us anxious.

howdy31
That’s what I take. What dose do you have? I take 40mg once or twice a day depending on how bad I am. My therapy has helped my trauma anxiety and low mood but the physical symptoms have got worse in the meanwhile (although fingers crossed they are settling again after 4 months of weekly therapy).
Anxiety is crap isn’t it but mine has got a bit better and I’m feeling hopeful for the future. I hope your therapy is effective xx

@Aquamarine1029 that's horrible  I've had that too, makes yourself anxiety worse.

@Tableclothing thanks for the list, I've pretty much experienced all of those many times

@2004pickle oh I'm on the same dose as you, I can take up to 3 40mg tablets a day. I usually only take 1, 2 at the most some days.
It is, it's really hard. I'm glad your therapy is working, it's a long hard process but the end process should be so worth it

Extreme Palpatations
dizzyness
fainting
shoulder / neck tightening almost cramps
feeling just weird like out of my own body a bit
tight around my throat
Dodgy tummy..
I dont even feel particularly "anxious" when these happen so was a surprise to me thats that what it was..

I started taking high strength cbd oil once a day in the morning and they did all ease back quite a lot

I have had health anxiety for years, my symptoms were headaches, pins and needles on arms, tummy ache, dizziness etc.
After therapy - individual and group, I was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and being able to talk really helped. That was over two years ago now and I haven't felt any real anxiety since (with the exception of children stressing me!).

@itsasausage that's really interesting. Will you have to take that long term or can you see yourself being able to come off it in the future?

@wineandsunshine I'm glad therapy helped for you too and you're doing well!
Are the pins and needles in your arms always on both sides?

Yeah both arms! The GP said it's something to do with calcium raising to the surface in your blood - but nothing to worry about!!

I did it daily for maybe 3 months and then started feeling a lot better so now only take it every now and again if it starts to creep back up. dont think I've used it for a few months now though, maybe it just helps break the habit

Funny I literally just realised the reason I’m having heart palpitations is I forgot to take my citalopram yesterday.

Knot in stomach, instant diarrhoea, heart palpitations, cold sweats, headaches, faintness, sickness

Found my people.

What a nightmare it can be.

I've been fine for quite some time but the last few days have been twitchy and nervy,anxious,snappy,tingling arms,tight throat on and off dry mouth etc etc,raised heart rate.

I've learnt since diagnosis of health anxiety and ptsd after emergency surgery a few years ago that I put the symptoms together and just repeat to my brain (that doesn't always see reason )to see how I feel as the days go on.

I couldn't pin point anything in particular that would have got me wired up this last two weeks but then thought of the smaller things and putting them together made me realise that's what's done it for me.

I'm learning to put my foot down and rest and build in down time aswel when possible.

I've been nearly with dh the last couple of days as we are moving rooms around upstairs and he will insist on waking in the door straight to it and it's just hectic for hours til we flip into bed exhausted ready for another day juggling work kids and all the normal routine of washing cooking pack ups uniform etc.
I've got quite a responsible job and have had to make changes to staff procedures this last week which is quite stressful in itself so stubbornly dug my heels in and said I won't be doing anything outside the normal after school and evening madness tonight.

@wineandsunshine I think I'm just more worried because it used to be 2 hands I had the pins and needles and now it's only the 1!

@itsasausage I'm glad it works for you. I've heard so many good things about it for lots of diff health conditions

@luckygreeneyes do you feel a lot better once you take citalopram? I used to take that and it worked v well for me

@marblesgoing 🙋🏻‍♀️. I totally understand. You feel things are okay, you're keeping on top of things and that they are going well but you're feeling anxious/having symptom. It's not until you think about the small things like you said. Hope you're doing okay!

I wish I’d gone on ADs months ago but I’m so much better now it doesn’t seem worth it at this stage.
I’ve got funding for 10 more sessions of therapy (I’ve already had 16 sessions as I have had multiple issues/ trauma to deal with) and am anxious about not being better when it finishes. I think day to day I cope with life so much better and I’m definitely less depressed but the anxiety is still there in the background especially mornings and evenings.

Someone mentioned jelly legs...
I used to get this massively. To the point where I couldn't walk, and my chest used to close and I could only take these deep, heaving breaths, whilst feeling that my chest was closing and I was going to fall onto the floor and die. My arms and hands used to shake as well, couldn't hold anything properly.
It was absolutely horrendous. On 30mg of mirtazapine now. Haven't had a panic attack since. (I found I got more worried about the thought of a panic attack, and that brought on the panic attack if you see what I mean).