Topic: what physical feelings of anxiety do you get?

Hey Puggywug,
Welcome to the Beyond Blue Community and we're glad to have you join the family!
Thank you for sharing your experiences of anxiety here. We're sure many members in our community can relate to the symptoms you're describing.  We just wanted to let you know that if you require any extra support that our Support Service is available. Our Support Service is available 24/7 by phone on 1300 22 4636 or on Webchat 1pm-12am AEDT on our website: www.beyondblue.org.au/getsupport. One of our professional mental health counsellors at our Support Service can give you support and point you in the right direction for help in your area. Thanks again for reaching out Puggywug, we know that it can be tough to do for the first time. 

Hi Skye186,

Welcome to the forums. Hope you find it helpful here and hopefully you can make some new friends. What physical feelings of anxiety do you get? In my case, I always feel out of breath when I'm anxious. I tend to speak fast and loose my breath and experience some palpitations. I realised doing deep breathing exercises helps ground me and calm me down.

Hi Mk2692,

My main one is to hold my breath... I don't even realise I'm doing it. I actually had a little panic attack this weekend in the shopping centre, I felt like my brain was screaming.. it was too much. I'm doing too much and need to stop. I get hectic palpitations and can't concentrate. All 'higgledypiggledy' in my actions and the 'checking' of things is a little out of control!... Doors, set alarms, oven off etc... I feel like I'm losing the plot! And writing it down makes it worse!!

Needing to calm down and regain some control.

I hope you're managing your anxieties with success👌 yes and lots of breathing 🧘🏽‍♀️🧘‍♂️

I definitely get this, the tension in the neck and shoulders also gives me headaches ... Just trying to be aware of it so it doesn't build is what I'm managing at the moment, it's tough, but meditation and yoga are good, and anxiety podcasts are good for sleep help and 'on the go' activities also. You need to find something that relaxes you... I've got one of the Shakti mats and neck roll things.. I like using those too 👌

My anxiety is all in my belly. A feeling that my belly is turning.

So, here I posted 20 days ago about a rough run with what I thought was food poisoning. I had a few days of respite, but after I had a milk tea (bizarrely) it set off my symptoms all over again and I am back to almost square one, except my tummy just feels 'off' and there is a constant uncomfortableness there. I have avoided milk or dairy products since in case I am getting sensitive to lactose, but the anxiety around not being able to go out without feeling uncomfortable is truly awful. I am taking probiotics and trying to eat better. My digestive system sounds like a symphony orchestra and I am having issues getting excited about food, plus bloating. A couple of years ago, I had a few months of a mystery overactive bladder which eventually went away. I hope this is the case as well.

This sucks. Wishing you all well!

Hello all!

I hope you're doing ok.

It's always very reassuring to see posts like these in a time where we might feel so alone.

Since the new year I have been overwhelmed with anxiety and worry. In turn I've have had a flipping tummy and nausea - funnily enough I don't feel it when I'm distracted! I also can get a bit jittery and the frustration can be so intense that I just have to cry and that actually removes the knots in my tummy.

Thanks for posting this question :)

Hello Jad77,

I saw your post and I just wanted to check in to see how you are doing? I hope that's ok.

I also get nauseated from my overwhelming stress - especially since the new year. I understand how challenging it is.

Faith

For me it seems to be bad gut and excessive gas.

For me it's quick breathing - sometimes occasional heart palpitations and restlessness

Mine is always feeling unreal, rapid heart rate, getting flushed, nausea and feeling all the symptoms I searched up.

I experience tight muscles, headaches and churning stomach, it can be hard to put in words but sometimes like I am buzzing.

Sometimes anxiety can also turn into a headache for me

A recent one i’ve been experiencing is a feeling like my skin is not sitting right, leading to excessive arm rubbing and scratching.

Sometimes anxiety can come out as increased body heat! I can get a bit sweaty!

I really hope you can find a way to get through your symptoms and it get easier :) I also found the list very helpful

Hi Bearypun and everyone

Thankyou for being a part of the Beyond Blue forum family with your helpful post :-)

Sometimes 'deep breathing' doesnt work as it can result in hyperventilation....Taking a breath and slowly exhaling is the first step....A GP or counsellor can provide more detailed support re breathing techniques

There are many kind people on the forums that can help out with their own experience too

I hope everyone has the best week they can

my kind thoughts always

Paul

Hi Bearypun and all the new members!

Welcome to the forum family and thankyou for your post :-)

The forums are a safe and non judgmental place for everyone to post...myself included

I hope everyone has a really good week

my kind thoughts

Paul

I've started meditation and yoga. I find regular massage help too.

Hi there, I'm new member.

The symptoms of anxiety that I get are somewhat embarrassing. I mean, the panic attacks and the holding of my breath not so much but it's the stuff I can't talk about that's embarrassing. The constantly churning stomach which then leads to not so pleasant IBS type symptoms. No doctor or specialist seems to know what to do, Ive literally tried everything and it's so severe that it has become debilitating. I've started meditation and yoga in an attempt to turn my life around. I'm desperate. 😢

Sorry for the downer topic but I need help, even if it's just confirmation that I'm not alone. Sometimes I feel like it's pointless and I'll be forever trapped in this pit I'm in.

Hi Satine97 and everyone

Welcome and thankyou for your post! Its not a downer post at all as anxiety does have a affect on our digestive system whether its IBS...bloating or the churning you mentioned

Our digestive system is the most sympathetic to most levels of anxiety/panic and yes its awful to go through

You are definitely not alone at all...I used to have anxiety/panic attacks for a long time and had the same symptoms as yourself

These are very common symptoms to experience yet please make an appointment with your GP as talking about the symptoms can be a huge help. GP's have a greater understanding about anxiety nowadays than they used to when my anxiety started years ago

You have everything to gain and nothing to lose :-)

my kind thoughts always

Paul

Hello, I'm a new member :)

I've gotten really bad anxiety since the beginning of 2021, and it just got worst over time. I will get panic attacks, and will just randomly breakdown. I feel like everyone dislikes me, which may not be even true. I've tried reaching out to my family and friends, but they don't seem to understand me... Any advices?

Hi Hellothere!

Welcome to the forums and good on you for having the courage to post too!

I feel your pain, I used to get bad anxiety attacks and they can sometimes have an affect on our self esteem as you mentioned above (no one feels really good about themselves when anxiety is around!)

If your anxiety begins to have a negative impact on your day to day well being seeing your GP on a regular basis is a huge bonus as doing so can help decrease the levels of anxiety.....I neglected to do this for a decade and my own anxiety attacks exacerbated

New members are always welcome :-)

My kind thoughts...Paul

Sorry to hear Satine. Just want to let you know that indeed you are not alone. I have had anxiety for just over 3 years now and it comes and goes. I am recovering from a bout of food poisoning in early December yet am still having post-infectious like IBS symptoms. Little by little they are improving, and I have had tests done to rule out anything else. But like anything, with anxiety my body seems to take longer to recover.

My nervous and digestive systems are all out of whack after years of panic attacks which have slowly improved. But my 'equilibrium' is still off and my body hasn't quite been the same since my first attack. I have accepted that.

I just want to tell you - it might just take time for your body to heal from what you are going through now. For example, I had heart palpitations daily for about 3 months straight once. One day they just stopped. I have had week-long spells of horrific dizzy spells which have come and gone. I had mystery bathroom visits due to an overactive bladder for weeks and then it just stopped. Probably just about every physical symptom imaginable, I have had it and it has gone away eventually.

The IBS-like symptoms I have now are much improved from 4 weeks ago when I could barely eat anything without bloating and grumbling. I felt so depressed and horrible at cancelling social engagements etc. until I finally took myself off to the doctor. Peppermint oil capsules, probiotics, and vitamins might have helped, but it all probably just needed time to settle down also and me to stop getting so uptight about it.

Keep going with your meditation, try and download something like the DARE app for daily messages. Get a good nightly relaxing routine and most importantly, don't force anything on yourself particularly social engagements if you're not up to it. Take care.

Often as soon as I wake up I start shaking, like a tremor through my body. It generally goes away after I get up. It's like being born into the world again from sleep, realizing it and then shaking.

It can also make me sweaty with pins and needles and make my bowel problems worse but the worst feeling is like an electricity / tingling feeling that goes through my body, makes me feel like I want to jump out of my skin .... once I get that I reach for sedatives which work really well to stop it. I'm not sure how long my Dr will prescribe the sedatives though ... without them it will be difficult. I am very careful with them and only need a 1/4 dose normally. Oh and I don't take sedatives at work, I am a contractor and have control over my hours, so if things are getting tough most of the time I can head off back to home.

Apparently I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (lots of doctors have said over time)

Eczema and unknown skin conditions which usually involved scratching so badly I was digging into raw flesh were big when I was younger

I have also had hair loss in bad bouts of stress (though lucky I have alot of hair so you wouldnt know)

Stuttering (I still stutter somewhat when anxious ) and also skipping words and racing when I speak

Restless legs- both in bed and not - thats annoying

Tension in the body - that I cant control nor explain even when I think I am relaxed - but it is anxiety

Panic attacks not so much bc I do manage them so they are rare - the other kind of panic attacks which are new to me - is one after the other - they are smaller but general - I cant explain - the whole body just goes into flight or fight mode and wont stop- I have had that quite a bit lately

I have had other too -like atm mood swings are a huge issue

but I think the worst is paralysis - that I cant physically do things like open my emails or answer the phone - bc its usually someone wanting something from me - to do it at all really takes alot of effort - its like the body and mind wont allow it - logically I understand the process andwhat needs to be done - but the body just says nup- it can lead to bad avoidance behaviors which have actually in the past harmed me in very real life ways

Hey Shizzle,

Thank you for sharing this, and welcome to our community. It sounds like things get really hard sometimes, but sharing with others is a great step towards feeling better. If you'd like to talk this through with someone and maybe find out about getting a bit more support, our Support Service is available 24/7 by phone on 1300 22 4636 or on Webchat 1pm-12am AEDT on our website: www.beyondblue.org.au/getsupport.

Some of the lovely community members may be able to relate to some of what you’ve been going through. We’d also like to suggest starting a thread of your own if you’d like to share more of your story and your perspectives, and this way it's easier for the community to spot your post and let you know what's helped them through. 

Thanks again for sharing, it’s not always easy so we hope you can be proud of having taken this step.

Kind regards,

Sophie M

Hi Shizzle

Like Sophie mentioned...Welcome to the forums and good on you for having the courage to post too!

I understand your GAD as I used to have the same for a very long time and its horrible to experience...As Sophie mentioned above...if you start your own thread topic about your situation there are many gentle people that can reply to you :-)

Sophie mentioned this link www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/welcome-and-orientation/the-forum-faq-thread about starting your own thread...We hope its helpful

Im Paul...a volunteer on the forums.....any questions are always welcome!

Usually my heartbeat speeds up, and my head begins to feel lighter, as I either feel my body go cold or hot depending on how severe my anxieties are. After a while though, it usually just makes me feel both physically and mentally exhausted.

It's a coincidence that I'm seeing this as I'm feeling pretty anxious right now (I'm okay)

Most of the time it feels like my stomach keeps dropping repeatedly, like when you suddenly realise something and your gut drops. I hate the feeling and it makes me want to throw up. Another common feeling is inward trembling. Like on the outside it doesn't look like I'm shaking but on the inside it feels almost like my body is stuttering or like I'm in a laggy video game :P. Luckily I have a sure fire way to tell when I'm anxious: my breathing gets super shallow. I have asthma so I normally don't breathe that deep anyway but when I'm anxious it feels more like I'm out of breath and it's difficult to breathe in.

Hope someone can relate :P