I sware I have MS!! Really, truly freaking out. Please respond! Thank youuuu!

[ag1982]

Hi everyone,

So lately, I've been having all these MS symptoms...I've also been off my anxiety meds for a bit and stressed about money, school, etc. I also know I haven't been getting the kind of sleep I need and have def been overdoing the party scene lately, which affects my anxiety for sure.  I can't tell if these are anxiety symptoms or MS symptoms and I'm totally freaking out. I've never experienced these symptoms before, which also bugs me out. So, that being said, have any of you ever had the feeling of loss of coordination due to anxiety?  I have been having been experiencing sore muscles in both forearms and in my neck on and off....can the sore tight muscles in my forearms cause a lack of coordination in my hands? I feel like my hands aren't doing what my brain tells them to.  My hands also shake on and off when I try and move the muscles a certain way.  I am also experiencing bouts of tinnitus on and off. The combo of all of these things makes me truly believe I have MS or ALS or something terrible.  My arms also feel weak on and off as well.  Has anyone experienced any of these things from anxiety? Especially the lack of coordination issue?  I'm terrified and could really use some reassurance.  Thank you all so much!

[sixpack]

yeah I was sure I had ms off/on for 12yrs.  I was wrong.

I've had all that you mention  and more.  The most I have are disk issues which really don't cause much trouble unless I'm a bit freaked.

anxiety can cause all kinds of symptoms

This is my "neuro" symptoms I've had.  Well it isn't a complete list   

 *Shocking pain down thigh and left arm--due to herniated disks
*Sciatica pain--due to stress and the disks
*back pain
*hip pain
*numbing and tingling over various parts of my body--fingers/toes/hands/feet/back/legs/stomach/groin etc
*tense muscles
*cramping muscles---feet/hands/hips/shins
*Twitching/spasms---all over my body.  My right thigh sometimes twitches quite hard--the entire muscle
* coordination/clumsy--fumbling, tripping, missing things I would reach for, etc
*vibrating/buzzing limbs
*muscles feel weak/fatigued/heavy
*patches of skin or limbs that feel wet
*burning skin or chilled skin
*vision--jumpy eyes (not eyelid twitching, though I've had that), blurry vision, floaters (which have ZERO to do with MS), sore aching eyes, pain behind eye orbits
*sore aching muscles and joints--name a muscle and a joint and it's hurt me
*headaches---that just won't go with meds
*sharp/shooting/jabbing pains down my arms or legs or stomach or head
*dizziness--sometimes mild; sometimes I've been off balance.  Once it was a 'dizzy day'-I spent most in bed
*head feeling swirly
*jolting awake, trouble sleeping, waking with a panic feeling
*forgetfulness
*trouble saying words--saying the wrong word repeatedly
*face pain--primarily my right side of face--pressure
*TMJ pain
*ear pain
*trouble swallowing
*Stress incontinence--buy hey I've birthed quite a few kids
*very fatigued/tired
*trouble sleeping
*when anxious--fast movements muck with my eyes--makes me somewhat dizzy/headache--ie.  watching the page on the computer scroll down

This link takes you to a list of the most common anxiety symptoms:

http://www.anxietyzone.com/index.php/topic,17050.0.html

I don't live in a constant barrage of aches/pains anymore.  My mind and body have calmed some.  But it takes a leap of faith, several actually.  You have to accept logically (the easy part) and emotionally (the hard part) that anxiety can and will muck with you in all kinds of ways.  Once you can do that you will start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Here are some suggestions--and I've posted this a few times on what you can do to help you in your recovery

1. Therapy---meds if you and your doctor feel it is appropriate---everybody is different on this issue.
2. self-help books--lots of good stuff out there these days ---Claire Weekes has good books out there that explain how it all works.  I read The Roadless Traveled by M. Scott Peck many years ago.  He speaks to people in a variety of ways.  He has a few other books too.   
3.  Exercise---even if you don't want to.  At first you are likely to feel miserable and panicky feelings are likely to bubble up OR rush at you.  It is BEASTY (your anxious overthinking) causing this.  But do it anyway.
4.  Eat a healthy diet.  This helps on all kinds areas of your life.
5.  Forums often have helpful advice.
6.  Hobbies--anything that completely immerses you in it and keeps you occupied.  This helps because eventually you'll get snippets of time when you feel good.  These are teaching moments because then you know it is obsessions/anxiety mucking with you.  After a while those snippets turn to hours then days etc.
7.  Don't pity yourself.  You can have a happy life.   As we experience life, we change.  Having any form of anxiety will impact your life just like all life experiences do.  But that isn't necessarily a bad thing.  Even once you are on the road to recovery, you will have a 'new' normal but that doesn't mean you aren't happy and fulfilled.

[jojo1976]

"I've also been off my anxiety meds for a bit and stressed about money, school, etc. I also know I haven't been getting the kind of sleep I need and have def been overdoing the party scene lately, which affects my anxiety for sure."  --> Well there you go right there. 

Yes, yes, and yes.  My "normal" anxiety sensations are when my hands don't work right and they get all fumbly, slow - kind of like the same feeling when you are out in the cold and your hands are too stiff to work quickly or well.  My forearms are always tight and sore. I think it goes hand in hand with ... well my hands.  We keep our bodies and limbs pretty tight when we're anxious even though we don't realize it and that leads to pretty much everywhere being sore.  I also get dizzy - add not being able to balance and have stupid hands and limbs and of course my mind wants to believe I have some crazy neurological disorder. LOL.  Not. I'm fine. I have had MRIs several years ago and also a catscan just a few months ago (from a headache after the birth of a baby, not for other stuff) - nothing,

You're ok.  This is not MS or anything else -  this is normal stuff with anxiety.

[jillie]

Most definitely.  I am always sore with various pains somewhere on my body: legs, arms, fingers, hips, back whatever.

I often feel clumsy, heavy and uncoordinated, not only with my body but with speech too; like I can't find the words I'm thinking of.

Sounds like you're really stressed out and your body is manifesting that.

[ag1982]

Thank you all!

It's been really bad lately...but it's so on and off.
I"m guessing if it were MS or ALS, it wouldn't stop and start.
It's truly a bizarre feeling, isn't it?

[sydneymom]

I get those things all the time with anxiety. The weak arm and hand that cant seem to write or type correctly, feeling like I cannot walk or that I am walking on a boat, the muscle weakness, etc. But I dont think I have MS. Maybe because my sisterinlaw does and she is living a full life so it is not one of my real fears. When it crosses my mind I just put it aside. Because when I am distracted or not so anxious, I can type perfectly fine, speak and walk without fumbling etc. And with MS that is not the case.