GAD/Anxiety/Panic Attacks: I've Got Questions that Need Answering. Can You Help?

[Shea]

I'm a little confused... I'm trying my best to accept that I have anxiety - since I've been to many doctors (including specialists) and had a plethora of medical tests, all of which came back flawless. I have so many questions and would like to hear from others who have one or more of the aforementioned conditions in the subject heading. I guess I'm just trying to figure out how in the world my condition can be anxiety when it doesn't feel like anxiety. I rarely ever feel mentally anxious - it's purely physical symptoms that have ruined my life. I'm just going to go ahead and describe to you a typical day, OK? I'd love to hear your thoughts/opinions about whether or not you think it sounds like anxiety and/or if you experience any of the same things - for as long of a duration as I do (which is one reason why I'm having such a hard time believing that it's anxiety - it seems to be ongoing, every day, all day, like an internal medical condition, not anxiety).

Typical day:
- wake up feeling horrible pain in lower back and legs
- stretch in bed before trying to get out
- legs feel wobbly/weak/it's an effort to walk
- stiffness/pain subsides after being up and about for 30 minutes or so
- chest pain/tightness/heaviness (some days worse than others, sometimes it subsides all together - but rarely!)
- shortness of breath (like I can't get a deep, satisfying breath)
- slightly dizzy
- feels like head is "floating" or filled with cotton
- nausea
- feel the best (almost symptomless?) when doing anaerobic exercise (i.e., weightlifting, yoga, etc.)
- feels like I can't breath fast/deep enough when doing aerobic exercise (running, power walking, etc.)
- chest tightness/pain/heaviness is worse when sitting/standing in an upright position
- chest tightness/pain/heaviness is usually alleviated when bending over forward or lying down flat on my back
- I go through almost every single day - all day long - feeling the chest tightness and brain fog; the other symptoms seem to come and go throughout the day, not as persistent as the chest symptom

All day long ... almost every day ... for two or three years? WTF is that??? 0534, I must be experiencing the world's longest anxiety/panic attack. 

Please, let me hear from you. And please, please, please be honest! Don't just say "Yup, sounds like anxiety. I have the same thing" just to make me feel better and because you think that's what I want to hear. I just want to hear the truth...

[itsmeesindee]

The truth is that is exactly what I experience when I am not on meds.  I believe a lot of the symptoms are from muscle tension that you may not even be aware of.  My body was like a very tightly wound spring.  I think the reason that the symptoms go away when exercizing or yoga is that first our minds are distracted and the other is that exercise produces endorphins which could be part of the problem we have anxiety in the first place, not enough good chemical production in the brain. 

Anyway it wasn't easy for me to get on meds because I am very sensitive to them, but any discomfort I felt is well worth how much better I feel now.  The other things that have helped me are relaxation cd's and keeping my surrounds calm and quite while my nerves had time to heal.  I had to teach my body how to relax.

I hope this helps.

Cin

[Pan]

This is the same question that you have asked before Shea.  What makes you think that anyone is able to give you anymore reassurance or advise than has been given before??

Each and every 'symptom' you have listed are totally explainable within an anxiety thesis.  In actual fact pretty much all of them are classic anxiety symptoms that are empirically replicable in loads of people who are also suffering from anxiety.

You have had a full and thorough physical workup and as you say, nothing has been found and the GP's etc say that you are organically good to go.

Your only problem is the reluctance you have to accept the anxiety explanation.  You cannot fool yourself with this, you have to accept and believe it is anxiety and more importantly you need to start to live your life acknowlegeing you have an anxiety disorder and moving on from  this point.  I understand you are concerned over the amount of time this has gone on for but you are missing the point....it is not the length of time but rather the mindest etc during this period.  All the while you keep asking the same questions and repeating the same actions all the while you will move further and further away from recovery from this.

[Shea]

The truth is that is exactly what I experience when I am not on meds.  I believe a lot of the symptoms are from muscle tension that you may not even be aware of.  My body was like a very tightly wound spring.  I think the reason that the symptoms go away when exercizing or yoga is that first our minds are distracted and the other is that exercise produces endorphins which could be part of the problem we have anxiety in the first place, not enough good chemical production in the brain. 

Anyway it wasn't easy for me to get on meds because I am very sensitive to them, but any discomfort I felt is well worth how much better I feel now.  The other things that have helped me are relaxation cd's and keeping my surrounds calm and quite while my nerves had time to heal.  I had to teach my body how to relax.

I hope this helps.

Cin

Yes, that does help. Thank you. But aren't you afraid of taking meds for the rest of your life? Are you concerned about the side effects of long-term use?

[Shea]

This is the same question that you have asked before Shea.  What makes you think that anyone is able to give you anymore reassurance or advise than has been given before??

Each and every 'symptom' you have listed are totally explainable within an anxiety thesis.  In actual fact pretty much all of them are classic anxiety symptoms that are empirically replicable in loads of people who are also suffering from anxiety.

You have had a full and thorough physical workup and as you say, nothing has been found and the GP's etc say that you are organically good to go.

Your only problem is the reluctance you have to accept the anxiety explanation.  You cannot fool yourself with this, you have to accept and believe it is anxiety and more importantly you need to start to live your life acknowlegeing you have an anxiety disorder and moving on from  this point.  I understand you are concerned over the amount of time this has gone on for but you are missing the point....it is not the length of time but rather the mindest etc during this period.  All the while you keep asking the same questions and repeating the same actions all the while you will move further and further away from recovery from this.

I haven't asked this exact question before. I know I have asked similar questions, but I wanted to be specific in what I'm feeling - physically - every day. Seems like most people experience these symptoms but not every day, all day. I guess you're right: I shouldn't feel like people here can give me more answers than what they already have. I guess I'm just wasting my time (and everyone else's) looking for answers here. The truth of the matter is: I'm probably never going to get any answers or understand them when I do.

I'm sorry you had to waste your time reading this crock of BS again. 

[Xalatimo]

Meds aren't as scary as wasting your entire life living with anxiety.  Keep your head up though Shea.  Some people live with anxiety for 50+ years.  3 years is a long time but it can get better.  Like pan says, it isn't the duration that is the issue it's the mindset.  So you having symptoms for this long doesn't rule out anxiety if your mindset hasn't changed since day 1.  The sooner you can accept that this is nothing serious the faster you will recover.  I'm not saying every pain, every tingle is due to anxiety.  But the anxiety is what is making you fixate on them and probably even worsen them, creating even more symptoms.  The older you get the more aches and pains you are going to have, that is just a part of life.  But if we try to find a hidden meaning for all this pain it will only make matters worse.  You know, anxiety does cause tension in the body.  For example during my most anxious time I went to the doctor and she found my neck was stiff and full of knots that she tried to iron out.  Stiff neck leads to sore shoulders and possibly numbness and tingling in the fingertips.  Sore shoulders leads to compensating and using your arms more.  Using your arms more causes your arms to be sore, soon you rely on your legs.  Don't underestimate anxiety, it can definitely cause all of this.  But I have overcome this so can you.

[Pan]

This is the same question that you have asked before Shea.  What makes you think that anyone is able to give you anymore reassurance or advise than has been given before??

Each and every 'symptom' you have listed are totally explainable within an anxiety thesis.  In actual fact pretty much all of them are classic anxiety symptoms that are empirically replicable in loads of people who are also suffering from anxiety.

You have had a full and thorough physical workup and as you say, nothing has been found and the GP's etc say that you are organically good to go.

Your only problem is the reluctance you have to accept the anxiety explanation.  You cannot fool yourself with this, you have to accept and believe it is anxiety and more importantly you need to start to live your life acknowlegeing you have an anxiety disorder and moving on from  this point.  I understand you are concerned over the amount of time this has gone on for but you are missing the point....it is not the length of time but rather the mindest etc during this period.  All the while you keep asking the same questions and repeating the same actions all the while you will move further and further away from recovery from this.

I haven't asked this exact question before. I know I have asked similar questions, but I wanted to be specific in what I'm feeling - physically - every day. Seems like most people experience these symptoms but not every day, all day. I guess you're right: I shouldn't feel like people here can give me more answers than what they already have. I guess I'm just wasting my time (and everyone else's) looking for answers here. The truth of the matter is: I'm probably never going to get any answers or understand them when I do.

I'm sorry you had to waste your time reading this crock of BS again. 

Well, I choose to come on here and post so I suppose I choose to waste my time....probably say's more about me than anybody else

I think the thing is that it is frustrating as I really do believe you are being given the answers but that you are convinced they are not relevant to you.  Even though all the sensations you have can clearly be explained by anxiety you refuse to acknowledge this and almost seem to be on a crusade to find something amiss with you physically.  The more I read your posts the more convinced I am that your issue is mind based and does not reside in the physical.

What is quite ironic is that I suspect that you feel that anxiety is a bit of a cop out explanation, it is too easy to explain all of this weirdness with the just anxiety explanantion.  The thing is, as you are actually seeing it is not easy at all...in many ways it is the hardest thing in the world as the only way through it is to relinquish control and too trust and believe, you CANNOT trust your bodily sensations or noise as they are interpreted by a faulty and tired mind.  You have to give in and let it beat you before you can recover shea, in many ways the harder you fight the worse it is and you are fighting and kicking like a tiger!

[Shea]

This is the same question that you have asked before Shea.  What makes you think that anyone is able to give you anymore reassurance or advise than has been given before??

Each and every 'symptom' you have listed are totally explainable within an anxiety thesis.  In actual fact pretty much all of them are classic anxiety symptoms that are empirically replicable in loads of people who are also suffering from anxiety.

You have had a full and thorough physical workup and as you say, nothing has been found and the GP's etc say that you are organically good to go.

Your only problem is the reluctance you have to accept the anxiety explanation.  You cannot fool yourself with this, you have to accept and believe it is anxiety and more importantly you need to start to live your life acknowlegeing you have an anxiety disorder and moving on from  this point.  I understand you are concerned over the amount of time this has gone on for but you are missing the point....it is not the length of time but rather the mindest etc during this period.  All the while you keep asking the same questions and repeating the same actions all the while you will move further and further away from recovery from this.

I haven't asked this exact question before. I know I have asked similar questions, but I wanted to be specific in what I'm feeling - physically - every day. Seems like most people experience these symptoms but not every day, all day. I guess you're right: I shouldn't feel like people here can give me more answers than what they already have. I guess I'm just wasting my time (and everyone else's) looking for answers here. The truth of the matter is: I'm probably never going to get any answers or understand them when I do.

I'm sorry you had to waste your time reading this crock of BS again. 

Well, I choose to come on here and post so I suppose I choose to waste my time....probably say's more about me than anybody else

I think the thing is that it is frustrating as I really do believe you are being given the answers but that you are convinced they are not relevant to you.  Even though all the sensations you have can clearly be explained by anxiety you refuse to acknowledge this and almost seem to be on a crusade to find something amiss with you physically.  The more I read your posts the more convinced I am that your issue is mind based and does not reside in the physical.

What is quite ironic is that I suspect that you feel that anxiety is a bit of a cop out explanation, it is too easy to explain all of this weirdness with the just anxiety explanantion.  The thing is, as you are actually seeing it is not easy at all...in many ways it is the hardest thing in the world as the only way through it is to relinquish control and too trust and believe, you CANNOT trust your bodily sensations or noise as they are interpreted by a faulty and tired mind.  You have to give in and let it beat you before you can recover shea, in many ways the harder you fight the worse it is and you are fighting and kicking like a tiger!

*sigh*

OK. OK, I can do this. I will tell myself it's anxiety (even though I really don't feel like it is) and let it beat me and just give in and not worry about it. Then, hopefully, I'll see an improvement. Your post really makes a lot of sense. I guess I need to stop looking for answers - because I already have them, don't I? 

EDIT: And, yes, I do feel like anxiety is a cop-out explanation. You hit the nail right on the head. Why? Because I know of SO many instances where the doctors cannot find anything wrong with people (because they have a hard-to-diagnose condition), so they just chalk it up to "anxiety" ... and then years later, they find out what they REALLY have.

[Pan]

Yes, I believe that you have the answers.  Sometimes we overlook the obvious and likely and look for a bigger and more complicated explanation than is needed, in many ways this is what provides the seemingly logical (to us) nature of health anxiety.

Acceptance works on two levels Shea!!

You do need to believe I'm afraid as the mind cannot be fooled...if you just 'play along' that residual fear will linger and will always still pose problems for you.

                                                                     HOWEVER

If you really want to move forward, even though you may struggle to fully accept that all your physical ailments are generated via the mind on a mental level just make every effort to live your life as if there is physically nothing wrong with you.  Refuse to be governed by the aches and pains and live your life as a totally 100% healthy person....even though your mind will rebel at the start just make every effort to ignore and live your life exactly as you would do if you where 100% symptom free.  I'm sure that if you do this over a period of time you will find the mental aspect of worrying and interpreting these sensations starts to wane and loses all it power.

Remember, medical science is not a miracle worker either....many people have unexplained symptoms that last for years and that come and go but we all make the mistake of equating sensations as symptoms that must be attributed to a underlying physical condition, this is a fallacy and we ALL have to learn to live with imperfection, be it with the way our iTunes library is organised or the way our bodies function and feel to us.

[Shea]

Yes, I believe that you have the answers.  Sometimes we overlook the obvious and likely and look for a bigger and more complicated explanation than is needed, in many ways this is what provides the seemingly logical (to us) nature of health anxiety.

Acceptance works on two levels Shea!!

You do need to believe I'm afraid as the mind cannot be fooled...if you just 'play along' that residual fear will linger and will always still pose problems for you.

                                                                     HOWEVER

If you really want to move forward, even though you may struggle to fully accept that all your physical ailments are generated via the mind on a mental level just make every effort to live your life as if there is physically nothing wrong with you.  Refuse to be governed by the aches and pains and live your life as a totally 100% healthy person....even though your mind will rebel at the start just make every effort to ignore and live your life exactly as you would do if you where 100% symptom free.  I'm sure that if you do this over a period of time you will find the mental aspect of worrying and interpreting these sensations starts to wane and loses all it power.

Remember, medical science is not a miracle worker either....many people have unexplained symptoms that last for years and that come and go but we all make the mistake of equating sensations as symptoms that must be attributed to a underlying physical condition, this is a fallacy and we ALL have to learn to live with imperfection, be it with the way our iTunes library is organised or the way our bodies function and feel to us.

That's great advice. But I thought I had been doing that - or, at least, trying. Maybe I'm not doing such a good job of it.

I'm going to try again. Thank you, Pan.

[chinacat]

I think this is the topic that consumes us.  HOW MUCH LONGER?  ARE YOU SURE IT'S ANXIETY?  WHY ME?

For me, anxiety is every day all day long just like Shea described.  It stinks 100%.  While at a family picnic I see everyone talking and laughing.  I'm in a corner trying to breath normal.  What's bothering me?.... NOTHING that I can think of.  Just the fact that I'm focused on the breathing issue seems to be enough to make it continue and linger.  Even in my best efforts to busy myself - which isn't hard with a 1 year old running around - it comes back to me. 

So how long do I have to endure this hell?  Is this life as I know it or will it get better?  OR, will it just get worse from here? 

I get it.  I know this is a cyclical mental disease.  It's exhausting and unfair.  But it's like any other disease.  The more I learn about it the more I can accept that this is me.  Like a cancer patient, I hope to soon be in remission forever.  Then I can say I'm an anxiety survivor.  This, like many other illnesses is not as widely accepted as others.  If you are a drug addict or an alcoholic you are said to have a disease. Some can't grasp that.  I can and I think people need to realize that anxiety is just as severe as bi-polar or other mental illnesses. 

I can only hope that we all recover with no return.

[Xalatimo]

I like what you wrote chinacat.  You're right people underestimate the power of anxiety sometimes.  It can definitely be severe, sometimes as severe as bi-polar -- or even worse.  But just for the people suffering from bi-polar that are reading this, we know it's no picnic.  And I would say that most cases of anxiety do not even come close to bi-polar and some other illnesses.  With bi-polar the su|cide rate is at 30%.  This proves that in general bi-polar is extremely severe, more so than just regular anxiety.  Also, with borderline personality disorder the su|cide rate is at 10%, which is high as well.  These two are both usually much more severe than just anxiety, although they often co-exist.  Point is, don't underestimate anxiety but at the same time don't feel that it's daunting and that you were cursed for having it.  It's bad, but there is worse.  At least it's beatable.  Put it this way, anxiety makes us worry that we have something that others actually have.  Is that really that bad?  Yes, it can be.  Sometimes worse than actually having something.  But tell that to those who do have what we fear.  Tell that to a person who has cancer, or a brain tumor, or severe MS.  They would likely trade places in a heartbeat.  They'll gladly take those heart palpitations over what they're facing.

All I know is anxiety ain't a picnic but I feel fortunate that I got that instead of some other things out there.  And yes, you can recover.  But it takes determination.  It's a fight; a tough one.  But if you win you're on top of the world.  The question is how fed up are you?  How badly do you want it?  When you want it badly you're able to tell yourself, "I might have some weird symptoms right now, but I sure as hell ain't going to the doctor again and I'm definitely not going to obsess about it."  I'm not going to let anxiety kill me, that's my mentality.  If something else does so be it.  I'm not saying that it's OK to just stay home and die on your couch, but as long as you're having regular doctor visits you should be fine.  That's what it takes Shea.  Gettin' fed up, accepting it's anxiety, feeling fortunate that all it is anxiety, and the rest will fall in place.  Even if you're wrong and it isn't anxiety(extremely slim chance), you'll still benefit from this mentality.  Pan's right.  The harder you fight the deeper a hole you dig.  You gain control of anxiety by letting go of control.  It's a delicate balance, like driving a stick-shift.  When you stop trying to control it, you -are- in control.  The anxiety leaves on its own and you win.

[LameBrain]

Shea,

As I read your list of how your day went, I noticed something very important missing. Very seldom did you mention what you were thinking, or any emotional sensations. If you are constantly thinking (focused) about how you are feeling physically, that may be a good starting point for your personal exploration on how to defeat this (if it is indeed anxiety).

If I have a physical injury, it always seems to hurt worse when I look at it, concentrate on it or think about it. The pain subsides when my mind is occupied with something else. It stands to reason that the reverse could also be true. Constant thought about the physical symptoms may serve to exacerbate them. (just suggesting that this may be something to explore, not offering an explanation for your situation)

Once you accept that it MAY be anxiety, you will have made a big step. Explore it from that perspective and maybe try to treat it as though it IS anxiety and see if you get some positive results. Look at it as a fact finding mission. If nothing else, the research/discovery process should be interesting and perhaps divert your mind away from your pains.

All the best of luck to you.

[Shea]

That's why I said "I don't feel mentally anxious." My symptoms are purely physical. At least, that how it seems to me. Maybe I'm subconsciously anxious and don't realize it, I don't know - and there's really no way of knowing that for sure. All I know is that I could be having an otherwise fantastic, relaxing day, doing something I enjoy - and yet the physical symptoms persist. This is why it's so damn hard to accept that it's anxiety. It doesn't feel like anxiety.

Oh, and I forgot to mention a few symptoms:
- headaches
- neck pain/stiffness
- pain in muscles/bones/joints
- fatigue/low energy levels
- stinging/prickling widespread pain through body, especially in arms and legs

To me, my overall symptoms sound more like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia or MS or some sort of chronic pain condition. These medical conditions are difficult to diagnose, so maybe the doctors just haven't gotten that far yet.

Also: No one said anything about two of my symptoms regarding breathing while exercising. I feel great when doing anaerobic (weightlifting, yoga, etc.) but feel like I can't breath fast/deep enough while doing aerobic (running, cycling, power walking, etc.). Are you gonna tell me that's anxiety-related, too? C'mon!

[Pan]

A fair number of GP's will tell you that BFS, CFS and Fibro are basically the physical manifestation of anxiety given a nice new name in order for people to accept that they have a mentally generated physical condition.  People must be dull to fall for that one eh!

[Shea]

A fair number of GP's will tell you that BFS, CFS and Fibro are basically the physical manifestation of anxiety given a nice new name in order for people to accept that they have a mentally generated physical condition.  People must be dull to fall for that one eh!

Yes, they must be dull if they think those medical conditions are just anxiety. However, the field of medicine has made progress and continues to advance, and - slowly but surely - those conditions are now being recognized as real, physiological, medical conditions - not just anxiety-related or physical manifestations of anxiety. Hopefully, in a few more years they will be recognized worldwide - not just by some - and, even better, a cure. :)

[britgirl04]

Shea, it seems like you are having a hard time accepting anxiety as the cause of your symptoms. I had a really hard time with this too so I understand. When my symptoms flair up I too do not feel mentally anxious. By going to therapy I have uncovered many subconcious things I have not fully dealt with in the past. By facing these and accepting them, my symptoms have got less and less. You cannot always find the cause of your illness on the surface.  The thought of dealing with anxiety is tough but at least now I can arm myself with powerful knowledge to help accept and overcome it. The alternative is not worth thinking about. Life is way too short to spend it looking for answers. I would rather enjoy today and let tommorow take care of itself.
There is a lot of help out there Shea. Take your life back and get some help. I used to worry about being on meds too but it is way less scary than having regular panic attacks and not being able to live life the way I want to.
Give yourself one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. Accept and you will then begin to heal.

[LameBrain]

Shea,

It is certainly possible that you have a physical ailment that has not yet been diagnosed properly. You should continue seeking help through various physicians by all means. That would be the prudent thing to do.

My post was just trying to get you to explore more deeply the variety of ways that anxiety can manifest so that you might better understand it. Most people I know do not understand how powerful it really is and I had no idea myself until I read up on it.

As I said, even if it turns out that you are not suffering from anxiety, you will have gathered some great knowledge of the disorder and maybe be able to use it to help a friend in need one day, and it may help keep your mind off your pain for a while too.

All the best.

[WorriedinTexas]

Shea,

You may have already read this information but I found it interesting since you mentioned the onset of your anxiety beginning with your episode of Vertigo which the doctors said could have been a virus like Labrynthitis. This can definately explain some of your ongoing symptoms and anxiety. Even if their was no permanent damage to your inner ear it states that it can trigger anxiety or anxiety can trigger Labyrthitis. But to answer your original question my anxiety symptoms, ie. head fullness, dizziness, tingling, numbness, hot flashes, fatigue, etc. are all day, everyday. That is why I have had such a hard time accepting treatment. It seems so much more than "just" anxiety. I have been searching for answers for years as to why sometimes I feel like I am going to jump out of my skin, or my heart is going to pound out of my chest when I am just sitting. I was an avid walker and went one day and could hardly breath when it used to help me with anxiety. I hated that anxiety took away the one thing that was most comforting to me. I sit there wondering how everyone else can feel so normal when I am out in public but I am feeling so hot, anxious, short of breath, dizzy. I have periods of extreme exhaustion as well and then times where I can't sleep at all. This has all been going on for years with me, non stop. I have been to the doctor and gotten blood and heart tests and they have found nothing. I have had an MRI for headaches several years ago, again found nothing except a beautiful brain, lol. This latest horrible debilitating onset of anxiety is finally subsiding with treatment. I did not want to resort to medication but I have to get back on with my life and it does allow me that. I wll continue to get therapy as well to get to the bottom of this as well as treating other underlying conditions such as hormonal imbalances. This is no walk in the park for sure and it isn't as so many people put it "just" anxiety. It can not be underestimated and is just as much a dis-ease as another other and often with more debilitating symptoms. The frustrating part is the mental aspect of it, how can my thoughts make my body feel this way? I don't think anxious stuff most of the time, in fact I am a pretty positive person but nonetheless suffering from paralyzing anxiety "symptoms". Sorry I went on so long but I am just trying to help because I know for you and for all of us this is so frustrating and seems neverending and all consuming.

The following is from wikipedia:

Recovery
Recovery from acute labyrinthine inflammation generally takes from one to six weeks; however, it is not uncommon for residual symptoms (dysequilibrium and/or dizziness) to last for many months or even years[1] if permanent damage occurs.

Recovery from a permanently damaged inner ear typically follows three phases:

An acute period, which may include severe vertigo and vomiting
approximately two weeks of subacute symptoms and rapid recovery
finally a period of chronic compensation which may last for months or years.

Labyrinthitis and anxiety
Chronic anxiety is a common side effect of labyrinthitis which can produce tremors, heart palpitations, panic attacks and depression. Often a panic attack is one of the first symptoms to occur as labyrinthitis begins. While dizziness can occur from extreme anxiety, labyrinthitis itself can precipitate a panic disorder. Three models have been proposed to explain the relationship between vestibular dysfunction and panic disorder:

Psychosomatic model: vestibular dysfunction which occurs as a result of anxiety.

Somatopsychic model: panic disorder triggered by misinterpreted internal stimuli (e.g., stimuli from vestibular dysfunction), that are interpreted as signifying imminent physical danger. Heightened sensitivity to vestibular sensations leads to increased anxiety and, through conditioning, drives the development of panic disorder.

Network alarm theory: panic which involves noradrenergic, serotonergic, and other connected neuronal systems. According to this theory, panic can be triggered by stimuli that set off a false alarm via afferents to the locus ceruleus, which then triggers the neuronal network. This network is thought to mediate anxiety and includes limbic, midbrain and prefrontal areas. Vestibular dysfunction in the setting of increased locus ceruleus sensitivity may be a potential trigger.

[Xalatimo]

Shea,

It is certainly possible that you have a physical ailment that has not yet been diagnosed properly. You should continue seeking help through various physicians by all means. That would be the prudent thing to do.

My post was just trying to get you to explore more deeply the variety of ways that anxiety can manifest so that you might better understand it. Most people I know do not understand how powerful it really is and I had no idea myself until I read up on it.

As I said, even if it turns out that you are not suffering from anxiety, you will have gathered some great knowledge of the disorder and maybe be able to use it to help a friend in need one day, and it may help keep your mind off your pain for a while too.

All the best.

The problem with that is it's always possible.  For her, for you, for anyone.  But there comes a time when you have to let go and just accept it's nothing serious and/or anxiety.  Otherwise you're just suffering even more and delaying treatment.  For Shea, it's already been three years.  She's had the required testing (and beyond).  IF it is something that hasn't been diagnosed, chances are that A)It isn't serious B)It might not -ever- get diagnosed.  Sometimes it's hard to conclude anything with 100% certainty.  So where do you draw the line?  And I keep stressing this point, you don't have to feel mentally anxious in order to feel symptoms.  If you have OCD you don't have to feel mentally anxious to get an intrusive thought.  Well, it's the same with the physical side of it.  Like others have mentioned, it's difficult, but there comes a time (after you've had the required testing) when you just have to assume it's nothing serious and work on the anxiety.

"Also: No one said anything about two of my symptoms regarding breathing while exercising. I feel great when doing anaerobic (weightlifting, yoga, etc.) but feel like I can't breath fast/deep enough while doing aerobic (running, cycling, power walking, etc.). Are you gonna tell me that's anxiety-related, too? C'mon!"

Shea, it's fine, you don't have to believe it's anxiety.  If you want, keep searching for answers for another 3 years.  But you create a thread, and then you dismiss what everyone is saying.  So I'm not sure what the point is.  Are you doing this to get over your anxiety or create more of it?  With that attitude how do you expect to recover?  It's like every little thing that comes up you want an exact explanation of WHY it's anxiety.  Who knows?  Sometimes not even doctors can tell you.  But it's possible that you're just too self-conscious.  You know when you run, your heart rate goes up and yes, you get tired, exhausted, etc.  Breathing -can- be affected.  Whatever it is everyone tells you -- you're not buying.  So now it's gonna just have to come from within, as I really don't think any of this is registering with you.  Good luck.

[Pan]

A fair number of GP's will tell you that BFS, CFS and Fibro are basically the physical manifestation of anxiety given a nice new name in order for people to accept that they have a mentally generated physical condition.  People must be dull to fall for that one eh!

Yes, they must be dull if they think those medical conditions are just anxiety. However, the field of medicine has made progress and continues to advance, and - slowly but surely - those conditions are now being recognized as real, physiological, medical conditions - not just anxiety-related or physical manifestations of anxiety. Hopefully, in a few more years they will be recognized worldwide - not just by some - and, even better, a cure. :)

I find that commeny quite telling as it does highlight how you still see anxiety as somehow distinct from these other 'real, physiological medical conditions'....what part of anxiety or not real or physiological??

The point about people being dull was a bit tongue in cheek...the issue is that all these new weird and wonderful conditions are given these names for a reason as it is common knowledge that people have a very hard time accepting something that is unable to be defined organically and that cannot be explained in medical terms, just maybe all this grief and frustration you are going through is nothing more than the search for a name in order to get that acceptance.

[nipplelina]

ok, wow. I pm'd pan on something very similar to this. If i would have read all this first i wouldnt have had to lol. Shea i feel all those sensations all day everyday. And i feel pretty calm compared how i used to be. However, i'm constantly worried or thinking i'm going to collapse any second or the doc's were wrong. I am more accepting that it is anxiety, no i know it is anxiety. Its the 'what ifs' that crush me. It feels good to know so many of us feel these sensations because of anxiety. I gotta say i've been scared to exercise. Today i visited my aunt in the hospital. Since i was on safe grounds i decided to run in place in the lobby for a few mintues. It felt good and i was ok. Now i'm ready to exercise and i felt good afterwards about beating anxiety and setting goals. On the way home we stopped at target. I walked in feeling good and confident. But then it hit me, my legs felt weak, and i felt that wave of dizzyness. I almost panicked but i repeated to myself 'i'm ok, i'm fine. I feel this because...

[nipplelina]

of my anxiety' i kept saying this as i felt nervous and awful waiting in line to pay. I walked out of target feeling good again. Thank god! Good luck everyone

[Thechm3]

I know you probably wont read this but I am new to this site and i enjoy reading your posts Shea they have been giving me a little bit of hope!