Has propranolol helped anyone with the physical symptoms of anxiety?

[Saywhatnowhey]

I wasn't quite sure if this should go in the mental health, physical health or women's health section so decided to pop in Chat.

I have suffered with anxiety my whole life - since childhood. No idea really why I have always struggled with my mental health but a recent adhd diagnosis may shed some light on this but I also have a lot of anxiety sufferers on my mum's side so maybe it's partially genetics and/or learnt behaviour? Either way it doesn't matter so much these days, all I know is that I have spent decades trying to 'fix' it and now in my 50's I just want to learn to live alongside it.

I have spent years and years having all kinds of therapy:- CBT, counselling, EMDR, hypnosis, seeing psychologists and psychiatrists. I have tried so many medications, SSRI's, SNRI's TCA's, ADHD meds (currently on Nortriptyline and feel like a zombie so coming off that soon) but most antidepressants really upset my gut, oh yes, I have IBS too - such fun but I suppose that often comes along as an evil twin of anxiety disorders, yay! I am still full of anxiety despite trying all of these therapies and meds (not helped these days as I help look after my mum who is in the advanced stages of dementia).

I have come to the conclusion that I can cope with an anxious mind, it's who I am at the end of the day and I can not change that now, I can put in all the coping strategies I have learnt along the way. What I really really struggle with though is the physical side effects from the anxiety, the constant heady feeling, the tight jaws, the 'coat hanger pain' (recent doctor asked if I had made that term up lol), the shoulder, back and hip pain and aches and the coiled spring that I feel I am. I have also struggled with a bad tummy (IBS and functional dyspepsia) for almost 30 years. I always feel so shaky, wired and on the edge of panic all the time.

I very much look after myself, I exercise, keep my weight down, I go to bed at a decent time, I only drink water, no nasties in my diet, I am a absolute bore really but still I am physically feeling like shite most days.

I have read that propranolol often helps people feel more relaxed within their bodies, I understand it won't do anything for the actual anxiety but I like the idea that it could help me to relax because I often find the more my body feels weird, wired and hurts in places the more anxious I get and then the cycle continues.

Has anyone tried this drug and found it helps with the wound up, shaky and panicky feeling?

Sorry this is a bit of a ramble btw (thank my adhd).

This is exactly how I would describe it too. I suddenly developed driving anxiety, I blamed the menopause, but propranolol got me back behind the wheel

Thank you. I understand the anxiety over the anxiety thing, I get myself into such a vicious cycle with my thinking, the outside stress I have as a carer, then physical symptoms, then more anxiety over the latter and on it goes. I really struggle to break atm.

I am on a waiting list to have CBT so if I can trial the Propranolol before then hopefully it might help settle me before the sessions start.

Did you find the combination of meds and cbt worked well?

Thank you Lilacwhisky

The coat hanger pain is in the area shown on this diagram, I know it's tension and stress causing it but it hurts so much, like deep pain. My DH massages the area for me but I seem to be getting it a lot these days, kind of my default setting now.

And you think this is related to anxiety?? I’ve had this pain since my teens. I thought I had a bad back.. tried all sorts of therapies and painkillers ! The propanol doesn’t help me with this pain unfortunately x

For me, I do think it probably is anxiety related. I care for my elderly mum who has advanced dementia and my father is a very difficult man to deal with and we clash a lot, I have found since caring for mum and dealing with my demanding father my body's default has become to hold stress in certain areas and this 'coat hanger' area is where I often feel the most pain (and it will radiate through to my chest bone too), I will often become aware that my shoulders are up near me ears and my head will feel like a tonne weight lol!

I do have some lower disc degeneration but I am sure the upper issues are stress and anxiety related.

I did. I'd had therapy as a teen and it didn't achieve much, but once I was on meds and able to feel less anxious I could engage better with the therapy. CBT was really helpful with my thought patterns and viewing things in a different light.

Definitely helps with the physical symptoms of anxiety. Along side an antidepressant of some sort, which does also help chill your mind too. Both are a lifesaver for me. Just wish I had tried them sooner.

You are like a dog with a bone, what the hell is your issue? You obviously frequent this board a lot to know so much about what I am posting, it's a mental health support board, yet you appear to have zero empathy for anyone else.

I am worn down to the bone caring for my poor elderly mother who is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's. I have helped care for her for 8 years and watched her die year in and year out. I am mentally and physically worn out and ill from the stress of it all.

I am desperate to feel well and have tried most things suggested to me, I post on here for advice and to seek help from others who may have similar health issues and can offer advice. If I can also offer up any advice to anyone on MN I do because regardless of my own issues I am an empath and want to help people, if I can offer any advice, even if that is repeated advice I do so. I don't have any issues if I see someone posting the same questions, why would that cause anyone concern? It takes moments to type a reply it's not exactly taxing on someone's time and effort.

You, my friend, are the one with the issue, NOT me.

@Eyesopenwideawake

I think perhaps that if someone has such high levels of anxiety that they repeatedly post, it suggests they are in need of support, and maybe calling them out isn’t helpful, as they probably really need to talk to someone.

Op re the ‘coat hanger pain’, I suggest Qigong. There are a lot of posters on TikTok doing really helpful videos, just 5 mins a day can help. It can be to do with the stiffening of the fascia due to stress, this really does ease the awful pain and stiffness.

Also, maybe speak to your dentist. Stress can cause teeth grinding at night which can result in awful stiffness and pain in the neck and shoulders.

Quigong really does help with my shoulder pain, forcing myself to do it when weary with stress and exhaustion is a different matter!

Thank you LifeOfAnxiety I will try doing some QiGong tonight. I have had a couple of night mouth guards but I end up biting through them, my dentist has said that she can refer me for some botox in my jaw.

Propranolol changed my life. I have a stammer due to my severe anxiety. And it helped me massively. However , I have developed raynauds as a side effect. My GP is now tailoring me off the propranolol because of my severe raynauds. I’ve begged him not to but he’s told me it’s actually not licensed for anxiety anymore.
im now drawing being completely off it. I can feel the physical symptoms of my anxiety coming back and I’m starting to struggle with my speech again

Oh that must be so frustrating for you, has your GP offered up a replacement med?

I too have Raynauds, it runs in my family, I will mention it to my GP and see if she's still ok to prescribe it.

I hope you manage to find an alternative med which can help you.

I'm on methliphenadate 56 mg ,no anxiety when it's working and propropnal for the times it's out of my system.so morning and evening.
Both help enormously

@Winterwalks90

It really doesn’t help my Raynauds either, but my gp
is excellent and knows for me that the benefits of propranolol outweigh the Raynauds.

He did offer me some medication for the Raynauds…I declined it (as it can make you flushed) as I feel I can manage the Raynauds overall…but have you been offered it? Maybe see a different GP if you don’t have any luck.

My GP prescribed it to me. It did fuck all. When I googled it it’s supposed to slow your heart rate but I didn’t notice that.

I'd like to thank you for suggesting this. I have been doing 10-15 mins off YouTube for the last few days and its really helping to ease the tension in my shoulders and neck.