scared to faint - is it anxiety???

[Boo89]

So for the past 3 weeks I've felt more in control of my GAD, panic attacks and hypochondria. Yesterday I had a mini panic attack and managed to control it and go on with my day after about 10 minutes of fast heart rate and the impending doom thoughts. Even today I felt great till I was driving home from work. I didn't eat my lunch till my drive home (ate breakfast around 6:30) at 3pm and as I was getting closer to my house I started to feel anxious. Things were still under control despite the shakiness and anxiety but then after I was home for 5 minutes I started feeling headaches (which I thought were from locking my jaw together/worrying). I felt a bowel movement come and started to feel really faint. I sometimes get the faint feeling but for some reason this time with the headaches, slight nausea, shaky muscles and the faint feeling I ended up freaking out. My mom made me some tea and reminded me that 3 doctors have ruled out that I have anything serious besides the anxiety issues. Now I'm just shaky since I thought I was feeling better

I guess I just want to hear confirmation that this is normal anxiety behavior - that symptoms can change. I know its anxiety but when the symptoms kick in I start to worry if its a false alarm or if I need a doc this time.

Anyone else get these feelings of fainting?? Have you ever actually fainted?

[kconnors]

Hi,

Glad to hear that you have checked out fine re: physical causes . . .

No, and I am not a professional (I always feel as if I am starting some type of infomercial) but what you have experienced in symptoms are not unusual for me if I do not eat on a regular basis . . . this may be the same for you . . . if you ate breakfast at 6:30 and did not eat lunch until you were on your way home, from my experience this confuses the body --- especially if on your way home, you were driving, trying to decompress from the work day, etc. . . . add this to a spot or two of anxiety, and yes, not an unusual reaction . . . I would suggest (and this worked for me) that you try to keep to a pretty regular food intake schedule without large breaks . . . even if you are not feeling hungry . . . let your body know that it does not have to go into a starvation mode scenario which could trigger anxiety . . . . I always carry something with me to eat if I am not going to be able to have my standard lunch . . . for me (because I don't like a lot of the sneaky stuff even most protein bars have), I make my own protein bars (actually quite easy to do) and carry one with me . . .it may not be lunch as I would like it to be, but it is good stuff and the body knows that it has something to work on . . . the fainting, by the way, was probably low blood sugars because you went for about 10 hours without food . . . and, if you, during that time had something like a soda drink or coffee (caffeine) you probably had your blood sugars spike on you and then do a fast decline . . . take care, KC

[chase615]

I'm pretty sure I have anxiety....all the symptoms here are pretty much exactly what i have.  My question is, is there really hope or are we just screwed?  Living life like this seems very pointless and stupid.  The second I open my eyes in the morning, I have a headache, nausea, feel like I constantly need to have a BM, especially after i choke something down.  Most of the time, I don't even know what i'm actually worried about.  I have no idea what the trigger actually is for me.  It's a daily thing, and from the looks of it and reading other posts there doesn't seem to be any end in sight.  Living my life "just getting through the day" isn't what life is supposed to be like.  I want to have fun, i want to be "me" again. 

I have meds sitting right next to me, but I am terrified to take them because the first time I actually took them, I did not want to move from my bed.  Worst thing is, if this wins, I have absolutely nowhere to go.  I'm 30 and a full time student, there is no way I can get a solid job like this especially in the field that I chose "culinary".  I don't know what to do anymore...

How do I beat this so I am normal again?

[kconnors]

Hi,

To answer one of your questions . . . of course, there is hope but for those of us with anxiety we have to use the hope and make changes, thus it is a process . . . your symptoms are quite similar to those of anxiety. . . because you say you have meds, I am assuming that you have seen a doctor and received a clean bill of health re: your physical well being . . . were the meds prescribed by a family doctor with a background in anxiety? If not, you may want to check with a specialist in the field (a therapist or doctor with a background in anxiety treatment) to see if meds are the best approach for you . . . for some of us, meds are the answer either in the short- or long-run for others of us, we use different techniques in identifying and managing our triggers . . . but if you feel that you were given meds as a "default" without due consideration to other approaches, then you may want to consider a second opinion . . .

You are frustrated, scared, depressed (the other side of the coin to anxiety), and you are lost . . . .all very standard reactions and symptoms of anxiety/depression . . . in order to regain the life you want, though, you probably need professional intervention . . . if you are a full time student, you might have access to such resources through student services . . . the culinary field is an exciting field (I have a large steamer and I just put everything into it, steam the hell out of it, and that's the extent of my culinary talents) . . . so, do yourself a favour and seek professional help (perhaps your triggers may be in a lack of confidence in your skills in your field of choice, or the competition, etc. --- all of these can be managed once identified) . . . .finally, have confidence in yourself . . . at 30 you probably have skills that can be transferred to the process of healing yourself and it is a process . . .

I know that I am not offering any easy fixes --- I don't know of any . . . .I do know that the process is worthwhile and although there are bumps in it, you have the strength to engage in it and come out of it on the other side . . . .please let us know what is going on and, if nothing else, know that we are here as your support . . . .take care, kc

[evagisele]

Fear of fainting was a big one for me many years ago, even though I've never fainted. As others have said, eating small portions several times a day is important to keep your blood sugar balanced which makes you feel steadier. I always try to eat a protein with every meal and I have a good carb (minus the protein) before I go to bed. The latter helps to calm you.

During an anxious bout, my anxiety is always worse in the morning until I get up and start moving around.

[July2nd]

Hey I just wanted to add in my 2 cents. Your story is exactly what I'm going though. I feel as though i'm just going to faint/drop dead at an instant. Do you ever feel like your 1 second from losing control while going through anxiety? I woke up with a dull pain in my right chest,went to take a shower,hopped out and started feeling dizzy, I brushed my teeth because I knew I was going to the E.R then I through on some clothes. (10min tops) by the time I got to the 1st floor on the elevator I was hanging on my friends shoulder yeling for help feeling like I was going to fall out,heart beating a million times an hour. Keep in mind 2 days prior I damn near had anxiety free days! Of course I went to the E.R and they sent me home :) smh