Topic: what physical feelings of anxiety do you get?

Yes my GP knows about the issue.

I am seeing a specialist and doing CBT therapy, however, I find it hard to do it with the pain always with me.

Hello Everyone

This thread topic has been a huge help to many readers and members of the forums and thankyou Annabay!

The forums are a rock solid safe and non judgemental place for everyone to post :-)

I hope everyone is doing okay

Paul

I get a weird sensation like my brain is racing and I cannot slow it down,

This usually the 2nd warning I get The first is shaking of my left hand as previously mentioned

I just had a thought,

we all experience anxiety in different ways and we also deal with it different ways.

This makes it very complex and often confusing for us to relate to others experiencing the same.

What I discovered is that through all this we are all on the same journey and we able to encourage one another as needed.

Please keep sharing as I am confident someone will read your post and encourage you on this difficult journey.

As I’ve mentioned before, I often come back to this thread to get some reassurance when the physical symptoms start to heighten my anxiety. I’ve been doing pretty good lately but this weekend a few things have popped up that have brought back the eye pressure, the tight chest, the hand tremors and the horrible dull stitch I get in my left rib.

I also took some time out to go back through my journals where I keep a pretty through list of where my thoughts have been and what my body has been telling me.

Yesterday I started pondering a theory that anxiety is like an onion. At first it’s solid and has this firm, thick skin that wraps around everything inside. Eventually over time the skin starts to crumble and split and once you manage to cut the ends off you can truly start to peel the skin off. From there it’s a journey of layer by layer, removing them each layer starts to get smaller but tighter. I liken this to both my thoughts and the physical symptoms. Each one peels away and each one becomes less as you go but the last ones hang on tighter than the previous. And you have to work harder to get through the membranes and the lead until you reach the bulb. Just the ramblings of a man who fights hard to find the centre.

Hey All, I’ve been reading this forum for awhile now on and off and decided to join tonight after reading a symptom on someone else’s post that reassured me I’m not alone.
My physical symptoms started Aug 18, woke with a heavy arm.
Daily I get symptoms, they just change!

-heavy weakness in limbs, have to manually move them with the other arm sometimes.
-about to fall asleep and it feels like you can’t move your arm or leg, your breathing slows and you jerk wide awake thinking you’re about to stop breathing.
-pins and needles all over

-feeling like I’ve had a stroke in my face, like my face is drooping

-My tongue does back flips in my mouth, my jaw jerks, my legs and arms feel so weak and heavy sometimes I feel like my body is giving up and I can’t move

body jerks, head spins

my hands seize up and My fingers don’t cooperate with my keyboard at work when it’s bad

Out of breath like asthma, lump in my throat that makes me constantly cough to try relieve it

ive had numerous tests and nothing has been found. Mri’s, bloods, neurologists

Tried numerous different medications which made my anxiety physical symptoms 10times worse. Had a test ran that checks what tablets match with you and no antidepressants/anxiety medication mixes well with my DNA.

Tried psychiatrist, lifestyle coach etc

Thanks for all the posting, it’s great knowing I’m not alone in this!

I’ve experienced different types of anxiety through the years.
My mum is anaphylactic so my first panic attack, swollen tongue, tight throat, tingly fingers. I called myself an ambulance because I thought was having an allergic reaction.

For 2 years I suffered OCD anxiety, I went vegetarian because I convinced myself I couldn’t eat meat (I tried to and I had a panic attack).I was convinced there were spiders in my clothes and bed and would have to check everytime I got dressed or went to bed and if I tried to test myself and ignore the need to check I’d have a panic attack. I had a panic attack at work because I couldn’t find my water bottle, on the plane because I smelt burnt toast and convinced myself I was having a stroke.

My first panic attack was in 2014. Since then I have dealt with it with mostly with breathing exercises. I know the first signs are feeling light headed and pins and needles in my fingers.

I have been stuck with habits like sighing, deep breaths, checking my heart rate, blinking each eye to make sure I can see.

In 2018 I started to get aura migraines. I’ve only had these 3 times and now I do breathing exercises and try to do the sensory exercises, things you can see, touch, hear. 2 days ago I started to get first signs of migraine. I took nurofen and thought I’d try to sleep which I haven’t done before and made up potential risks there’d be to falling asleep mid headache. I woke up in total confusion. I started to panic x100. I couldn’t give myself time to breath. I couldn’t remember objects around me, trying to identify things and suddenly I felt like I couldn’t pronounce words (bf said I was talking fine apart from what I was trying to describe), I couldn’t remember the words to my song, or small details about myself like the month I was born in, Still couldn’t see clearly and my hand and mouth went numb.

Feel like I’m having a hangover from it. Im emotional when I think about it and am terrified it’ll happen again any moment.

I was trying to share the physical signs I get but I guess my point is they are always changing. just when I think I’ve beat it, my mind surprises me with something else so I’ve been thinking it’s time I reached out for help. For years I’ve thought I was strong enough and this was just a phase but it’s been 6 years and my signs and symptoms aren’t the same anymore and the panic is overtaking my thoughts and preventing me from living

I have the same symptoms as yourself except I lose complete speach, it starts with full body shakes followed by my hands clinging into a tight fist to the point my nails wanna cut into my palms (comes on real quick) then my jaw lock up and I lose complete speach, takes a good half hour to sometimes an hour to be able to even start saying a word, then its followed by heavy stuttering for another hour or so, until im able to fully unclinge my fists and start my breathing exercises to subdue the shakes.

Medication used to take it all away within minutes, but since my bi-polar diagnoses i cant be pre-scribed both a benzo and anti-psychotics at same time. Its insanely intense.

If you ever need to talk, please dont hestitate to message me or reach out on here. Easier said that done I know coz all i wanna do is be alone during and after. But know it WILL pass!

Take care everyone 😊

Hi Billichook

you have just described exactly what I’m feeling right now

lightheaded, headaches like a tight band in my head and the need for sleep.

only this morning when I dropped my children off to school I thought to my self how hard it would be to feel like this if you were a teacher dealing with a class of children

i feel for you , stay strong your doing an awesome job

Hi everyone and thankyou for being a part of this super helpful thread topic too!

Hi Kavanna....Your input is greatly appreciated and kudos for having the courage to post too. You are proactive with your health by seeking assistance from your health professionals with all the test...excellent

If our anxiety begins to have a detrimental effect on our day to day ability to function.. its a strong indicator that we may require some face to face time with our GP/Counsellor.

Just from my own experience with anxiety Kavanna....the tight breathing is a very common symptom. You are always welcome to start up your own thread if you wish (same goes for all the contributors here) By doing so you will have more responses that relate to your own set of symptoms

thankyou for your kind words

Paul

Hi Josh1245

Hi Josh....I remember having the same set of symptoms as you and they are awful to experience....Thankyou for your support for this (Annabays) thread when you mentioned "I feel like this is extremely helpful for people to list their symptoms".....really appreciate the support you have provided on other threads too...Nice1....Paul

New members are always more than welcome to post their own symptoms of anxiety

Have a good week everyone......Paul

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, I’ve had some ok days but also some bad days. Which is common but the anxiety is what makes it feel bad. But does anyone get night sweats? It sounds odd but it’s getting colder and yet I find myself sweating bullets in the middle of the night.

Hi Healthy anxiety and everyone....New members are always welcome to post their symptoms too!

great to have you back on the forums

It doesnt sound odd at all....the night sweats are awful to have....I have changed my T-shirt a few times during the night and have to sleep under a blanket and take the doona off to avoid the night sweats

As you mentioned it seems to happen more frequently in the colder months..I feel your pain with having the bad days as they still seem to 'hand around' unfortunately

you are not alone at all......Paul

I get so many, gosh! Finally a place I can vent about them all xD

as of late, it’s been that my vision taps out, everything goes blurry. I can’t focus on any one object for too long before it becomes out of focus!

The tightness in the chest is always there. So is the fluttering of the heart. This ‘fluttering’ sometimes leads me to believe I have a health condition, which according to google, is called an arrhythmia. When I’m having a panic attack, this seriously doesn’t help.

Headaches!!! Especially bad when I’m out of the house and I can’t just lie down!! They’re like, stabbing.

numbness, in any particular area- it’s not specific. Usually in the arms though. This makes me think I’m having a heart attack sometimes, that freaks me out.

Shaking and the jitters are terrible. Especially since they make me feel like I’m out of control.

And of course, just a general feeling of helplessness, like there is nothing else in the world but my anxiety and it’s implications.

Hi Bookish!

Welcome and thankyou for your post as sharing our symptoms helps so many people with anxiety know that they are not alone with their anxiety!

The tightness in the chest....the heart palps...the shaking and jitters are very common symptoms of anxiety (and our adrenaline working overtime)

You are not alone

my kind thoughts

Paul

Well, the past few months of covid-enforced isolation has brought back most of the severe anxiety I spent ages getting rid of. I'm now afraid of stairs (heights/vertigo), for example, but thankfully not avoiding using them as I live on the third floor in a building with no lifts, so there's no choice unless I abseil down the facade, and I think that might cause too much attention.

Thankfully also I recalled things I had to learn from when I was in CBT to deal with this in the first place. I may have gone from a 4/10 anxiety to an 8/10, but at least I'm an 8/10 who knows how to deal with it; though it appears getting back up this high probably means not very well. I mean my resting heart rate has gone back up to pre-CBT levels (a bit too high for comfort), but I'm trying to convince myself it's all temporary and once we're allowed back into society and our offices, it'll calm down again. I'm also convincing myself it is for the greater good as many people would be severely affected if the pandemic hadn't been contained the way it is being contained at present.

So yeah, is there anybody else who became afraid of heights - including in photos and videos - and subsequently afraid of stairs due to their anxiety? It's a less-than-pleasant experience, but then so are all symptoms.

Like everyone else I experience similar physical symptoms. They range from mild to extreme.

stomach ache>flushed hot face>increased body temperature >right shoulder tip pain (?)> shaking>increased heart rate, respirations etc> chest pain> nausea etc.

the only thing that seems to help me is either let it all out in the form of sobbing, pushing it down, or distraction therapy in the way of music

Hi Ammoverthinking

Yes l have had this many times. ..not necessarily a smoke smell but other weird ones...its a strange sympton.Im told its the anxiety. Im currently getting heart palpatations and like a tickle in the throat that catches my breath. There is always something to desl with.

Nice to know we are not alone.

Hi Everyone and thankyou for sharing these awful feelings of anxiety.....All posts help others know they are not alone on this Rocky road

Hey Funbot.....I hear you loud and clear about fear of heights.....ugh!!

Hey May Tee Tee....great point on using CBT..(Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)....excellent

Hey StrugglingEll.....you are not alone with your symptoms...I used to have the same and there are heaps of members in this thread that also suffer the same...Good1 using the power of distraction using music :-)

Hey JillG...always great to have your input on the forums!....The heart palpitations can be a bit scary when we are new to them..harmless as they are

thankyou amazing members!

Paul

Hello everyone!

New members are always welcome to post their anxiety symptoms! Sometimes it can be beneficial to talk/write about these symptoms

Thanks to Annabay for writing this super helpful thread topic :-)

my kind thoughts always...Paul

Hi all,

I often feel like I’m downing and gasping for breath. I also feel the anxiety rise from deep inside my tummy and race to my heart causing my heart to race.
It’s worse when things are not going right or I’m not feeling in control.

it’s not a nice feeling

Marto, these are some of the same feelings i get (it’s such a relief to know I’m not the only one).. The numbness in my face, tingling lips, sharp nerve pain, sometime palpitations, sometimes elevated heart rate. My doctor had me tested for MS and they came back negative, though I may just have nerve damage. I’ve had CT’s, xrays, mri, blood tests and it came back I have panic attacks now. We were in the middle of the fires and working in a hospital with COVID around is the main cause. I’m so glad I read your post tonight, it has made me feel so much better and releaved as the panic attacked were heightened tonight for some reason. PS - here’s a tip, don’t mentioned to a doctor or nurse you went onto dr google, they don’t like it.

Thankyou Everyone for helping out and posting your symptoms of anxiety!

Hi Case83...Welcome to the forums and thankyou for your post too...I understand your symptoms as I used to have exactly the same feelings....These are temporary yet when these symptoms start to have a negative effect on our day to day ability to function seeing our doctor is always a huge help!

my kind thoughts....Paul

Hi Booshark

Thankyou for having the courage to post and replying to Marto9014 too! I also had the same symptoms as yourself and they were awful to go through..ugh!

Its only my humble opinion that using Google for our mental health symptoms is unhelpful as doing so can exacerbate our symptoms. I think using Google for basic physical ailments is okay though

Thankyou again for your valued input Booshark :-)

Paul