New member - intro

[Del]

Hi Everyone!

I'm new here, and new to the whole anxiety/stress thing.  At this point I don't even know if it is anxiety, and I guess I'm looking for - answers?  Well, I guess it's more knowing that what I'm feeling is common, and that it is just stress that's causing it all.

About a month ago I started having trouble sleeping.  I was feeling nervous and my heart was beating faster than normal.  Luckily I was going in for a physical so I discussed it with my doctor.  My heart rate was 122. (ACK)  My bp is fine, my bloodwork is fine - I even had an echocardiogram and that was fine. 

In recent months I have been dealing with a death in the family and the holidays and buying a house.  I have had plenty of stressful situations in my life before - even moreso than now, and never had any problems dealing with it all.  I let my doc know that I feel fine mentally - I am not thinking about my problems, I am continuing my life as always.  But I have this awful feeling or nervousness physically through my body.

My doctor prescribed prozac (generic) 20mg and I began taking it last week.  Last week I was feeling okay.  On Sunday I felt poor, and by last night I was in that complete nervous mode and slept on and off.  It's worse at night.  During the day it's okay, or sometimes goes away.

Why at night?  Is this truly a mental issue I'm dealing with?  All the physical tests so far are okay.  I don't feel upset about anything going on in my life.  Is this my subconscious messing with me, because I just couldn't take in everything?

I don't know what to think, but I hope to find out.

Thanks for listening.

[Kayteecatt]

Welcome to the forum.  I'm not a doctor, but what you're talking about does sound like an anxiety issue.  With the economy the way it is, more and more people are feeling overworked, underpaid, and stressed out to the max.  You're definately not alone here. 

Check out the GAD forum.  That's a catagory that takes in all the anxiety issues that aren't specifically related to one particular thing.  I have/had a fear of heart disease caused by a misdiagnosis a year ago that led me to this site.  I hang out in the HA forums because it's a specific type of anxiety.

I'm sure you'll find tons of support and hopefully some helpful advice here.

Again, Welcome.

[wannabfree]

Welcome to the forum.  I'm not a doctor, but what you're talking about does sound like an anxiety issue.  With the economy the way it is, more and more people are feeling overworked, underpaid, and stressed out to the max.  You're definately not alone here. 

Check out the GAD forum.  That's a catagory that takes in all the anxiety issues that aren't specifically related to one particular thing.  I have/had a fear of heart disease caused by a misdiagnosis a year ago that led me to this site.  I hang out in the HA forums because it's a specific type of anxiety.

I'm sure you'll find tons of support and hopefully some helpful advice here.

Again, Welcome.

Hi Del

Kay made some great points! I just wanted to welcome you to the forum. I too am sure you'll find the support and advice here you are seeking.

Take care.

[Del]

thanks so much!  I already feel better being here rather than getting the same old advice from everyone I know to "just relax!"  I wish it was that simple!

[Lady Aijou]

thanks so much!  I already feel better being here rather than getting the same old advice from everyone I know to "just relax!"  I wish it was that simple!

We ALL get that, all the time! "Oh just relax! you're fine!" Well, its not that we AREN'T ok, its that we have anxiety issues, and they can and do interfere in our lives sometimes. While yours sounds a little more mild than some of us, if you are up all night feeling nervous and anxious, there is definitely at least SOME anxiety there. Maybe during the daylight hours, when you're occupied with work and your daily life you DON'T think about all that's going on. Maybe its just at night because that's when you're not busy and distracted. I kind of get the feeling from your post that you're maybe reluctant to believe its any kind of "mental illness", but it's far better to approach it with your doctor from that angle, and explain EXACTLY what you're dealing with, than to try to skim over it all and insist nothing is happening.

[Del]

I think my biggest problem is that I'm not worried about anything.  At least outwardly.  In the past when I've been stressed, I always knew the reason.  Now I'm physically ill but there isn't anything going on in my brain.  (Well, nothing terrible, anyway! :) )  I think that's the most frustrating part.  I would feel better knowing that I was ill because I was worrying about so much.  I'm feeling more upset with the fact that I can't identify the problem.

I'm okay with having a problem - I'd welcome knowing what it is.  I mean, if I'm going to be upset, there should be a reason.  At least, that's what I'm thinking of logically.  Maybe I can't address this logically.  I just wish I could synch up the mental and the physical so that I'm on the same page.

[Kayteecatt]

I think if we take a look at all the little things that are going on or have gone on in our lives, sometimes we can package them together and think "oh, yah that's why I'm stressed out"...I've learned to release things little by little.  Forgive those that deserved forgiveness years ago, try not to sweat the small stuff, find the positive in everything, and just be glad that I've had yet another day to live.

It's tough, especially at this point in your life to completely believe that it's anxiety.  There always has to be some other answer, it can't be all in your head..but the more you search for that other answer the scarier the information you find becomes.  Google is our worst enemy here.  I have a little tip that I pass on to those who google their symptoms, and even though I don't know if you are, just incase I'll give you the same advice.

When you search for something...let's say heart palpitations, include the word anxiety...so for example search "heart palpitations anxiety" and you will find an enormous amount of information about the effects of anxiety on our bodies including the very common symptom of heart palpitations. 

For some reason when we search for our symptoms on Google or any of the other search engines, it always pulls up the scariest thing first.  If you wanted to read 200 pages of hits, you might eventually find the ones about anxiety based symptoms, but no one ever reads that far.  This is the reason cyberchondria (hypochondria due to computer information) is such a problem.  I honestly blame the search engine companies for the increasing amount of those suffering.

Anyway, try to accept that your doctor is there to help you, trust them.  If you don't completely trust them, find a doctor you do trust. 

If all else fails, we're always here!!