My symptoms

[Samuele]

Hello everybody
I'm Samuele, I'm 24 yo , I'm a student (Economics) and I'm from Italy, Pisa.
It's been two years since I started suffering from anxiety disorder.
Here are my symptoms:
-Pain in my eyes (it's very strange pain.. I've never heard about it from anyone suffering from anxiety)
-Pain on my chest and my throat (like an hand holding it)
-Can't concentrate very well

I'm not taking any medications I don't know if it's necessary. I'm on a therapy with a psychologist but I'm improving really slowly.. It's very hard to come out all this anxiety stuff.
I thank you very much for any advice you can give me and I hope to share something with you and give back something.

Hello everybody
Samuele

[apple]

All the power to you if the therapy works...I know it will.

The medications usually just help you get by while you are in therapy.  Go for it!!!
if you can do this on your own you will be better for it....and yes......it does take time.....

good luck, I think your heading in the right direction.

[Samuele]

Thanks a lot for your advices I hope to sort everything out...
Keep in touch!
Greetings from Italy!
Samuele

[basketcase]

Hi Sam,
    I am sorry that you are suffering with this horrible condition and being young too makes it very hard I am sure. I have had anxiety for 10 yrs and the last 6 have been the worst. I do take medication, Klonopin right now to help control my symptoms but even it doesn't always help. I just had my first therapy session 2 weeks ago but it was just to help my therapist get an understanding of my situation.
    I will tell you to continue with your therapy as it is better than nothing and maybe through it you'll learn why you have this problem. I wish you all the best and hope you will soon be free of anxiety and can go on and live a wonderful life.

A friend from Utah, USA
Valerie   :)

[Samuele]

Thank you Valerie,
really thank you,
It's true, I'm young, I would like to be happy or at least normal like all my peers I see everyday at the university. I'm very frustrated, annoyed with myself and I can't find a way out.
I hope you can feel much better soon.
Keep in touch!

Your friend from Pise, Italy
Samuele   :)

[apple]

That pain in your eyes is one of my symptoms..actually I've had all your symptoms and more.
I still suffer today and its been 16 years, although lately a lot has diminished...I have been seeing a behavior therapist since November and I've made giant leaps, I suffer a LOT less than I used to...

Keep going Samuele...if you figure this out you may be able to kick it a lot earlier in life than me...or at least (minimum) you will suffer far less and get to enjoy life more...and for a lot longer!!!

a friend from Alberta,Canada
apple

[Samuele]

Hello Apple,
thank you for you input! I've really appreciated it!
I heard about the effectiveness of the behavioural therapy and I think it could work for me!
How did you cope with your symptoms? Like pain in your eyes.. how did you try to alleviate it? They really affect my life, they are continuous 24/7!
I try to do exercise everyday, to eat healthy food, to control my thoughts but nothing works. I even tried medications , antidepressant, but without results. I am on a therapy but I improve really slowly.. I start to ask myself if is the right psychologist. All this situation is going on since 2 years and a half and I 'm really exhausted , it's a hell!
I'm thinking about taking anxiolitics. What do you think? Have you ever used them?
Thank you
It's good to have friends all around the world in place I've never been!  :)

Good luck!
Hope to hear you soon,

Samuele

[apple]

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Samuele
I am truly sorry for what I'm going to tell you........the only thing that has kept the chest and throat thing under control so far is ...smoking...I am by no means telling you to start smoking because it can worsen the anxiety, never mind it is bad for your health.  I was medication free for 8 months and decided to quit smoking, while on the patch I was still okay...but when I quit nicotine(patch) my anxiety sky-rocketed. after 6 months I couldn't stand the pain any longer.(chest pain, body muscle pain and stress)  See I thought the chest pain was withdrawls of cigarettes...nope(thats over within a week and its the habit after that), my anxiety!!

On a positive note I started to see my therapist, She specializes in anxiety disorders. If you have been seeing your therapist longer than 6 months..I'd hazard a guess that's not the right one.  If you decide to change...ask for a PSYCHOLOGIST(not psychiatrist) or behavior therapist who specializes in anxiety disorders.

Have you ever had your eyes checked by an optometrist? Before you just add that to your anxiety symptoms, make sure there is nothing wrong there.  Tell him what you are experiencing.  then if there is nothing wrong, know that if you get your anxiety in check that will subside.

Yes I have been on all sorts of medications:
Right now (because my ex-psychiatrist) I am on an anti-psychotic called Risperdal.(too many medication changes sent me into hell) the first week my tongue waggled but I'm on a small dose (1.25mg)and I'm great, on Thursday I take my last dose(doctors orders)and I'm scared.
I am also on Nortripyline(anti-depressant)

anti-anxiety meds may help you...also called Benzodiazepines...I take Clonazepam occasionally only when I really need it.

Take a look in the medications and therapy section in this forum, Find my "medication table-different groups".  No doctor sorts them out like this, everything in different groups work on different parts of the brain, this is useful...I took so many in one category, No kidding they didn't work, I needed something that was different.  It may enlighten you if anything.

The only way your therapy will work is if you find the consistencies of something. For me it was the way I grew up and my mother, I learned how to think and react terribly to absolutely anything, I heard her in my head over everything that happened or "didn't happen". I love my Mom and she is still big in my life only in the past couple of months I learned how to not let her affect me the way she did.

I hope you don't get tired of me because I have a lot of ideas in my head, everyone is different and different things work for different people...something is bound to work for you.
I am by no means cured but I am closer than I've ever been.

My motto  "I hope everyone could suffer less by learning more"

Keep truckin...you will succeed!!

Stay in touch
Apple

[Samuele]

wow! really long and good e-mail!
I smoke sometimes actually, but I don't like it very much.. but sometimes I do it becouse I'm very nervous, stressed or anxious.
I 'd like to meet a psychiatric about the medication stuff.. the psychologist is quite good but he 's young , I think without a lot of experience but you know, I can't afford to pay a fee, all the psychologist I had were paid by public money, I don't know how it works in Canada, so what I mean is that I can't choose very much, you just take what you get..
That could be a problem.. but I'm not sure he is not the right one becouse anyway we meet only one a month which is not very much I think, so the period of time since I started with him is quite long but actually I met him not many times..

let's stay in touch
Thank you very much
Good luck

Samuele  :)

[apple]

In Canada I have everything at my fingertips, alot of psycologists and psyciatrists cost alot, however because we are government funded across the country free can often be better than pay pay pay...
Mayby if you could have some things to practice during the month.
For me at first it was the stress of the dishwasher being filled "properly" then it was the only one who cares if the truck gets a dent is my Mother not my husband. Now I really okay with most things, now its the anxiety I experience when good exciting things happen...needless to say i shouldn't complain but this aspect is physical as well and I'm going to beat it all!!!
I hope!?

apple

[Samuele]

what you mean I should practice this month?
I didn't understand when you wrote about the dishwasher...I'm sorry, it's becouse my english is not perfect! 
I hope anyway you will be better really soon.. and I hope me too...

Samu :)

[apple]

What I meant was this:

If there is something that really bothers you,or that you fear, to the point of making you have anxiety, then figure out if it really matters.

For me, the dishwasher had to be filled just the right way...if someone put stuff in the "wrong" place I would get all upset over it until I fixed it myself.  I realized this was one of my triggers to anxiety...It really does not matter how it is done, they still get clean.  My mother used to get so angry when I filled our dishwasher when I was a kid and I became like her.  So I forced myself to put things in the dishwasher just anywhere, and turn it on without organizing it.  Stupid huh?!  But after doing it over and over and telling myself the world would not end if 1 dish didn't come out clean, I got over that part.

then I moved on to the next thing that got my anxiety going.  Which was freaking out while my husband was driving, for fear that someone would hit us an then we would have to pay to get it fixed.  The world would not end if we drove around with a dent in our truck as long as everyone was safe.  My mother used to freak out on my Dad for the same reasons.  I would then practice telling myself it was OK if the truck got a scratched and then I stopped being so afraid when he drove somewhere with me.

Find out what things triggers your anxiety and ask yourself if it is really something to worry about...then find out what to say or do to help yourself get over it.

One thing at a time, little as it may be, is the stepping stone to getting to the real issues.

Sorry I wasn't so clear, i can see it in my head and forget you can't.

hope this can help just a little

Apple

[Samuele]

Yes.. now I understand really well, it's interesting!
I will try to do the same! Even tough not always I'm able to understand what gives me anxiety.. it could work with me also!
Thank you very much! :)
I'll let you know if it works with me!

Speak you soon!
Samu