Anxiety Question....

25 male. I take 2.5mg of Lexapro. Been a sufferer from anxiety since Oct. of 2007.

I suffer from these anxiety spells, which are different from panic attacks. My anxiety spells are like symptoms of panic attacks but they last for a couple of weeks or more.

They used to be REALLY bad... but it seems like I am starting to just accept them, and still be able to get on with life.

I just worry alot, and I think that is my biggest problem. Worry. and worry makes my stomach nervous (bad butterflies)

My psychologist told me, "No wonder you feel like ****, you are scaring the **** out of yourself". lol.

I always over-analyze things you see... for instance... I started getting some neck pain/stiffness a couple of weeks ago... and I started to WORRY about it.... kept asking myself what could be causing the pain/stiffness.... then I got some loose stools... and thought, "why do i have loose stools?" then I would lose my appetite... and wonder why... etc. etc. etc. then I start thinking crazy things like "could it be cancer?"... just really stupid irrational thoughts.

I just wanted to ask some of you guys, if these new symptoms I have developed are common with anxiety...

I've been getting some looser stools lately... some diarhea (diarrhea)... loss of appetite... (but im continuing to eat. and ive changed my diet to healthy foods now!) acid reflux... sore and stiff neck/shoulders... woke up in the middle of the night feeling like i really couldn't breathe.... and had this overwhelming feeling over my body... like pins/needles? and felt like I was moving kinda...

I've also been excersising alot lately! and like i said, even though i dont have much of an appetite, im making myself eat, but i am eating HEALTHY. I havnt eaten any fast food in about 3 weeks now.

I also quit drinking soda yesterday.

Anyways, just wondering if those symptoms are very common with anxiety... and will they eventually diminish?

I know that I know the answer to this question deep down... and the answer is YES it will diminish...  b/c I've got through worse worse spells than this before... and they have always eventually left. It just takes time sometimes...

Thanks for listening.

[meatball01]

Say NO to worry!!! You have answered your own question. Yes, all your symptoms are from anxiety and messes with your body. Read "hope and help with your nerves" by Clair Weeks. I have suffered from anxiety since I was 5 years old and am now 51. Mine comes and goes but when I get real stressed or excited about something it flairs up. I know what it is and except it. Once you except anxiety it seems to be less bothersome. I went for 12 years without a flair up until my doctor changed my meds. Don't let the doctor do that to you!!! I got the stomach flu and convinced myself I had cancer and things went down hill from there. Your young so, DON'T WORRY SO MUCH!

[Paxiled]

Digestive problems and appetite changes are classic anxiety problems.  Medication also affects digestion, but you're on an exceptionally low dose of Lexapro, so don't know if it's causing anything.  I get loose stools whenever I get anxious, which lately is all the time, and when I was on imipramine, I always had constipation.  So there you go.  I also think you've got some depression in there, possibly caused by the anxiety or the other way around, but who knows?  That's more likely in loss of appetite.

[cnote]

Thanks Paxiled.