I Think My Anxiety is Trying to Return.

[JFrancois]

Hello friends,

Well, I haven't been on this forum in quite a while, but almost roughly 2 years ago I unexpectedly experienced my first panic attack which led me to the hospital, which then led me to 15-month ride of hypochondria, depression, weight loss, and just overall fear. I was a walking disaster, and by the grace of God, it all just suddenly stopped. I think once I started to catch on to how the physical symptoms changed rapidly I was able to replace my fear with awareness and readiness. Soon I found myself literally ANXIETY-FREE & living quite a normal life without any help from meds (I was never a fan of them). Now, after a pretty stressful few months which involved job losses and almost losing my home on Christmas day, I have began to feel sensations in my body that remind of sensations I felt during my initial anxiety scare.

Sometimes I feel like my arms and legs are weakened, or that my fingers are numb. I'll get tension in my head, but it's not like a headache, but more so just tension around my temples that also brings pain to my ears. I really haven't regain much weight since I lost those 40 pounds in 2011, but I started to noticed my legs looking skinnier than usual. Basically things I never noticed before are now noticeable to me, whereas I begin to obsess over them which leads to a spiral of bad things, as I know.

I'm asking for someone to share their advice on returning anxiety & also what is some advice you can share that led to you successfully overcoming it the second (or third) time around.

Thank you all.

[vardnas]

Well, what did you do before to help manage your anxiety? Apply those same tools now.

Now that you KNOW that what is happening in your body is caused by anxiety, you don't need to let it scare you.

[rr2005]

Mine comes and goes. I can go months with no problem, then WHAM, I'm in full-blown crisis. I'm not sure if ever get totally "past" it? Just realizing that it's HA when it hits is a big step though. Hang in there!

[oregoncoastlady]

My HA and anxiety comes and goes as well. When my life is very crazy and stressful it comes back. Sounds like the stress you have been through is causing the symptoms you are describing.

[it is well]

it's crazy how familiar this is.

i'm in it now.

and i'm trying so hard to learn to not let anxiety scare me.

i'm trying to learn to not be anxious about being anxious.

it's just that when i feel like i know how good life CAN be, that's all i want.

i fear getting worse.

i fear never getting better.

and that is anxiety brain talking.

as unhealthy as it might be, i'm reassured not to be alone.

take care.