Focusing on symptoms - can they make the symptoms worse?

[Tobias]

I had what I think may have been a GAD manifestation several months ago.

I started experiencing light-headness and "jelly legs". Especially in the morning I would notice this.

After a weak of this I noticed my knees felt funny when I was shaving. I was afraid to shave as immediately I would "check" the feeling and sure enough. It was back.

In my case the symptoms all disappeared suddenly after a month and just before I was set to see the doctor.

The ssymptoms have not come back and I can shave and note that my knees feel fine. The symptom does not come on now.

But I was obsessing and looking for symptoms. And they appeared.

How does this happen? Is there a way to avoid this if it happens again?

[kconnors]

Hello,

Sometimes, when we are getting closer to a doctor's appointment, the symptoms will disappear. I think it is because reality brain is saying, come on, these symptoms are not based in reality and that's what the doc is going to tell you. Sometimes, anxiety symptoms appear because of a given situation, either past, present, or anticipated and once the situation passes, so does the anxiety and the symptoms. I would suggest a couple of following things:

1.  Most definitely stop looking for symptoms because our anxiety mind will create the symptoms that it thinks we are looking for. In all likelihood, your anxiety was temporary which is not unusual. I read some place that everyone at some time in their lives may have episodic periods of anxiety that pass. If the anxiety is not intensive or of long term triggers, etc., some people have one maybe two episodes and that is it.

2.  Do have a physical check up just to allow reality brain to confirm to anxiety brain that reality is that the symptoms are from anxiety brain and do not reflect anxiety. This will defuse the symptoms and put your mind at ease.

3.  If you feel that you are anticipating a repeat of anxiety (sometimes this in and of itself is sufficient to trigger anxiety along the lines of self-fulfilling prophecy), do consider some work with a therapist who will help you to develop proactive management techniques to handle any suggestions of anxiety so that they do not become episodes.

4.  Know that you are fortunate that you recognize that you may need some guidance in developing techniques and this you owe to yourself being grounded in reality. This goes a long way to preventing a recurrence.

I am sure that others in this forum will be able to give you more concrete suggestions because folks here are very generous in sharing their challenges and strategies . . . .let us know how you are doing, okay? Take care, kc

[Tobias]

Thanks. It was actually the third episode in the past year. For several months before I was having a tickle in my throat and difficulty swallowing. it went on for 3 months and towards the end I had a full endo. Nothing really found and the symptoms have gone. The tickle cough was real to me and it freaked me in the AM as it would always happen. Less frequently at other times during the day. But it was there every day for 3 months. Just as I was calming down I developed a wheeze which became my sole focus. Thought of lung cancer. Had it checked and nothing. Then a month or so later the the lightheasdness/jelly legs came on.

The only thing I had before was an IBS diagnosis 15 years ago. That hasn't bothered me in a long time.