If you look for weakness you will find it?

[Catesykes]

Hi again,

In panic mode yet again. After 3 months of various symptoms of a neurological nature (after a period of trauma in my life) I'm still so scared about ALS/MND. I can't get it out if my head. I keep thinking something bad is going to happen. I've been doing lots of strength tests after widespread body muscle twitching, sometimes all my limbs feel like they are jumpy (not all at once). I read somewhere that jerkiness was a symptom of ALS. I know twitching usually comes later. Anyway in my strength tests I've found my left hand weaker than right (I'm right handed) is this normal? Especially my left index finger is a lot weaker. Really freaking me out. I keep reading so many stories about how it starts. Weakness in left hand seems common. Also is it normal to have a non dominant arm to be smaller???

Please help!

[Catesykes]

Also I'm sure things feel heavier to lift. Especially a glass in my left hand.

[Leapple]

I would say that is totally normal. Your left hand/arm is your non dominant an going to be used less therefore it's not going to be as strong. I know my right arm is bigger and stronger, I always use it to carry my kids etc.. I can't carry my kids in my left, I'm too uncoordinated and weak :)

Best thing, stop doing self checks.

[Allochka]

Hi,

of course if you are right-handed, your left hand will be weaker! When I first encountered full-blown anxiety, my left arm felt really weird/weak (among other issues). Then some months later one my leg behaved strangely...
This is not a clinical weakness, it is percieved weakness, very common with anxiety. Right now you are following a classic route of newbie hypochondriac - you switch from MS scare to ALS. Many-many people here did the same. I also started with MS scare, but after twitches ALS fear came up. Surprisingly, I was able to shake it off by myself pretty quickly. I twitch all over for a 10th month already, intensity depends on my stress level. But I am not scared of ALS at all.
Try to accept that what you are going through is anxiety, just anxiety. It is a terrible and heavy experience, but it is not life-threatening. Physically you are healthy.
And please stop googling. You are making your HA worse and don't give yourself a chance to start recovery.

[Catesykes]

I just want all the weird symptoms to go or fully accept they are anxiety. Then I may be able to recover. Thanks for your replies. X

[Allochka]

Unfortunately, if you' ll wait first for symptoms to dissapear, and AFTER that you' ll calm down - it just won't happen. Symptoms will go on and change and get more intense, as long as you are worried.
It is all the way around - you must calm down first - and only after that your symptoms will gradually (very gradually) get better. Use all you can to get this insane anxiety under control - CBT, maybe some medication in the beginnig, anything to calm down a bit.
And also please read what some insightful members posted here - you do not have to be symptom-free to feel OK, to know that you are physically healthy! You can feel these strange sensations, but just know that it is anxiety, nothing else. For example, I've mentioned my twitching. I twitch, but it absolutely does not worry me, cause I know it is stress. Did these twitches go away after I accepted it is just stress? No. But do they scare me or cause any trouble? No    So why bother and wait them to dissapear?
So, first start working on your recovery, despite all symptoms. And only after that they' ll get better!

[Catesykes]

Thanks for the excellent advice. I'm really trying and feeling a bit better today. My symtoms do get better with being calm then one or two come out of the blue and trigger off the anxiety again. That's what I need to beat! All the best. :)