Well, I just got diagnosed basically with a very bad case of anxiety, had it strong for about a week and off and on for a few weeks. It all started when i was diagnosed with high blood pressure, which was the first time I had ever been diagnosed with something that was chronic and potentially life threatening. Suddenly I started noticing other things wrong with me, weak breathing, light-headed, muscle twitches, morning coughing fits, loss of apetite, dry mouh, my arms and legs felt like the were on fire. And the more these symptoms occurred the more I worried about them, that there was something wrong and the worse they got. 90% of the time I am thinking about “What is wrong with me? Whyis my body revolting against me?” It is a vicous cycle. To add fuel to the fire I would go onto onhealth.com and look up something, like “muscle twiching” and have come up “Muscular Dystrophy” which only added to my anxiety. Rule #1: Do not use onhealth.com :).
I got two opinions, my regular doctor, and then the ER doctor who confirmed what my regular doctor was doing, basically saying “Sounds like a classic case of anxiety.” He prescribed some Oxazepam temporarily to help.
But let me tell you this is easily one of the hardest things I have had to struggle with. It is twists your mind around, you feel helpless, you feel scared. It isn’t painful, but I would prefer a broken arm to what htis does to your mental state.
Anyway, the medication plus a fairly definitve diagnosis has done a world of good. I am feeling better already. Very much so.
This may not be MP, but it was definitely SIMS. Thanks.
I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder last August. I was on Zoloft for a while, and am thinking of calling my doctor again, because I’ve been having trouble lately handling my anxiety. I’m still learning about the illness and about the way it works on me. In fact, just a few months ago, it really hit me that I have probably had this since I was a child and that other people really do not have an understanding of the extremes that my emotions can go through.
The biggest thing that has helped me was that I try to accept it in myself every day. That’s not to say that I make it into an excuse (“Hey, don’t confront me. I have anxiety!”), but I do try to recognize it when it happens. I also am not willing to pretend it doesn’t exist (I’m finding out recently that my family has a big history of mental illness and/or alcoholism, but “we don’t talk about these things.”).
I’ve been lucky that my family and friends are so willing to accept this and try to learn about it. If you ever need to talk, please email me. Like I said, I don’t know everything, but I know what it’s like to sometimes feel like an alien in my own body.
{{{{{Tretiak}}}}}
Dear Tretiak
This was very frightening for you. But you have gotten excellent help, from what you said. And now that you have help, it is not life threatening.
((((Tretiak))))
Try to calm down, baby. Life is scary… now that you know what is going on, it need not be crippling. Email me if you need or want to talk. scotticher@earthlink.net
Scotti
I feel ya! I’m also on Zoloft and I’m only 19. I thought I was some kind of a freak or something, but I too believe that I’ve been suffering from this ever since I was a child. (well, I still am kinda) I totally understand where you’re coming from though, I was in the “what’s wrong with me?” cycle forever. I also had slight depression and Obsessive compulsive disorder. Once I got on the medicine though, I finally felt like a million pounds was off my shoulders. I’m hopefull that things will look up for you in the future.
***Note: Their is alot of different kinds of Anxiety medication out there. Make sure you get the kind that works for you. Some work better than others in different people don’t be afraid to try different ones out if it’s not working too well.