Anxiety THIS POWERFUL?

[bertybotts]

As you guys know for like 6-7 weeks my feet have been tingling. My physio says it's back issues, but I think I am blowing it out of proportion.

When I am distracted and suddenly think about my feet after not thinking about them for a while, they DO NOT TINGLE AT ALL. The TINGLING STOPS ENTIRELY. But when I dwell, as I do...alll day....it tingles bad.

Can anxiety create these tingles? They feel very real.

[gcalex]

Who says they aren't real?  Being caused by anxiety doesn't make them any less real.

[bertybotts]

Who says they aren't real?  Being caused by anxiety doesn't make them any less real.

Yes, but you do feel that this could be caused by anxiety?
- It can't be MS, since MS tingles won't just "go away" when you ignore them, MS is a serious disease! it's some hard core stuff there! Not something you can ignore.
- I don't have diabetes.
- I'm 20.
- I can make the tingles worse or better by calming down or by panicking or feeling anxious. I can also ignore them and if I am successful, feel NO TINGLING AT ALL WHEN I STOP THINKING ABOUT MY FEET.

[gcalex]

Tingles are an all too common anxiety symptom.  Forget the catastrophic illnesses. 

[bertybotts]

Tingles are an all too common anxiety symptom.  Forget the catastrophic illnesses.

I know what hyperventilation tingles feel like. They feel like everything is just totally tingly and all over the place. My tingles are more centralized to certain areas. They don't feel like hyperventilation.

Anxiety can cause tingles eh?
So I don't have cancer? MS?

[gcalex]

I would bet my life that you are a healthy 20 year old who is anxious and getting yourself scared over nothing.

[bertybotts]

I would bet my life that you are a healthy 20 year old who is anxious and getting yourself scared over nothing.

How can the tingles feel so real? They are real??? but not caused physically? I just don't understand...

[gcalex]

Stressed mind revs up nerves, muscles, etc.  Can hit you anyplace.  Gives some people a headache, others a GI upset, others tingles.  Doubt the power of the mind?  Think about what happens when you are embarrased -- your face turns red.  Nervous?  You sweat.  Same concept.  Physical symptom, mental origin. 

[bertybotts]

Stressed mind revs up nerves, muscles, etc.  Can hit you anyplace.  Gives some people a headache, others a GI upset, others tingles.  Doubt the power of the mind?  Think about what happens when you are embarrased -- your face turns red.  Nervous?  You sweat.  Same concept.  Physical symptom, mental origin.

Interesting idea there. I do agree that a lot of this stuff has mental origin, especially since mine gets much worse when I dwell on it.

[gcalex]

Most bodily symptoms are benign.  Once you embrace that concept you will have much less fear.

[bertybotts]

Most bodily symptoms are benign.  Once you embrace that concept you will have much less fear.

I'm scared that my nerves will be permanently damaged if I have a disc issue or something

[london23]

hey, i just want you to know that im in my 20's too, before i thought anxiety couldent touch me..untill i had a anxiety attack for no reason at all..i started to  panic about everything after that, i had tingles, headaches, muscle aches, fast heartbeat and everything else..its normal..and you will eventually overcome it..i know when your in a spiral of anxiety its hard not to worry because the brain is not stable either..but do try.

[gcalex]

A fearful mind can always come up with something to fear.  Look at some of the posts on this forum where people migrate through all the catastrophic illnesses, and have none of them.  Yet their lives are probably worse than if they did have some of them, because they are spent in fear and not happiness.  At some point, one has to make up one's mind to take a stand, to recognize what is going on as a thinking disorder, and to do something about it.  At 20 you have your whole life in front of you.

[bertybotts]

A fearful mind can always come up with something to fear.  Look at some of the posts on this forum where people migrate through all the catastrophic illnesses, and have none of them.  Yet their lives are probably worse than if they did have some of them, because they are spent in fear and not happiness.  At some point, one has to make up one's mind to take a stand, to recognize what is going on as a thinking disorder, and to do something about it.  At 20 you have your whole life in front of you.

I fear dreadful things all the time -- worst case scenario. Last night during my NYE celebration I turned to my partner and said "this could be my last new years" and he said "why would that be" and I said "I could die this year."

I truly feel like any day now i'm going to drop dead.

[gcalex]

I don't doubt that you feel that way.  My only point to you is that fear does not have to run your life.  This is a treatable disorder, but it takes WORK WORK and more WORK to change your thinking and self-destructive behavior patterns.  When something isn't working for us, that's a clear sign to do something different.

[bertybotts]

I don't doubt that you feel that way.  My only point to you is that fear does not have to run your life.  This is a treatable disorder, but it takes WORK WORK and more WORK to change your thinking and self-destructive behavior patterns.  When something isn't working for us, that's a clear sign to do something different.

I can have long periods where I feel fine but sooner or later I will find something. A funny little mole I've had for years or whatever and start looking for reasons why it's cancer. Worries over genital herpes to the point where I was probably spending an hour looking at my genitals every single day. Back problems. Anything.

It always comes back to this and I want to stop it. I am sick of worrying about health.

[gcalex]

CBT is what you need, a therapist if that is accessible to you, if it isn't do the workbooks and read read read.  It's Newton's laws of physics -- nothing is going to change until you make a concerted effort.  It has to come from you, it's not going to come in the form of a pill, or divine intervention.