Does anyone else feel numb all the time?

Hi, im a 25 year old female and i've had anxiety for about 5 years. I used to have frequent panic attacks, but since i've had therapy, im able to control them. I've come to this message board because i have become very desperate for an answer to what i've been going through. Since earlier this year, I've been feeling this constant fatigue, numbness all over my body (especially in my hands and feet), headaches, a lump in my throat sensation (or like my throat is swelling shut), hot flashes, burning or tingling in my extremities, shortness of breath, muscle weakness and stomach upsets. I've also been having some other symptoms that are so strange to me. When i try to fall asleep, some part of my body will twitch and wake me up or i'll feel like i've stopped breathing and i wake with this crazy "vibrating" sensation through my whole upper body. It's alot worse if i had a few drinks the night before (then i get numbness in my face and mouth even my throat and chest feels numb).I've had several sleepless nights and er trips because of this. It has affected my life in such a horrible way. I can barely get out of bed in the morning. I thought that it was being caused by MS or a thyroid problem, but im wondering, can all this be caused by anxiety? Has anyone else gone through this? And if so, have you gotten better? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

[TX35]

Hi,
    To be honnest, I think anxiety can do all of this. Did you have some blood tests done recently in case it's another problem like anemia or thyroid?

The fact that you had done a therapy and control your panic attack doesn't mean that you are in control of your anxiety, what I mean is the fact that I also have a panic disorder with agoraphobia and since a while I do less panic attack BUT I have a lot of symptoms, weird symptoms who also put me into an insane vicious circle of worries and lead to a general anxiety disorder...

I deal with chronic headache (tension headache), chronic jaw pain, irritable bowel syndrome with constipation, stomach aches everytime I eat (I lost more than 60 pounds since January), I also have numbness in my left side of my body especially my hand, arm and sometime my leg, I have also a very low energy and insomnia, in fact when I wake up in the morning I have only 3 hours of energy and the rest of the day I feel tired as hell and only want to return in my bed (i'm disable from work) but even if I return in my bed I can't have a nap and fall asleep.

I also have the weird feelings on my head like the scalp of my head is completly numb, I also have the vibrating sensation throught my whole body, they come and goes once in a while... it's seem that I have a new symptom every 2-3 weeks and it's stay on and become worse and then it's stay there and I have another symptom who appear... that's annoying...

I have to call my PDoc this week cause I can't deal with those symptoms anymore, especially the low energy and the chronic pain everywhere in my body, will need maybe a 3-4 weeks of hospitalisation, even if my PDoc don't want and say it's only anxiety...

So you are not alone and the fact that I deal with all of those symptoms since more than 1 1/2 years mean that you will survive... but begin with some blood tests first to be sure everything is ok because the low energy can be from anemia, lack of B12 vitamin or a thyroid problem...

So keep the faith, you are not alone ;-)

[j17c27]

These are all very much symptoms of anxiety! I go through each and every one of those symptoms you listed. Particuarly, I go through them when I am getting a panic attack but sometimes parts of my body will go numb randomly, or my heart rate will speed up if I am anticipating something that makes me a little nervous.  Talk to your doctor about it though, just for peace of mind.  LOTS of people with typical anxiety symptoms think they are getting MS but in fact it is all in your head.  Thyroid issues can sometimes cause anxiety.  So you may have anxiety issues caused by thyroid disfunction but again, this is only chance and you would need to go to a doctor to find out.  Good luck, and I wouldnt worry that this is anything but anxiety because i know for a fact everything you just described in your post are symptoms of anxiety.

[danv86]

Thank you guys so much for your feedback. It feels so good to get some reassurance from people who are going through the same thing. Well, i've had some blood tests done, and apparently my thyroid levels are fine, my heart, liver and brain are fine. I also had some blood tests done to check for metabolic problems, iron and b-12 deficiency. Turns out i am a little anemic. Im taking iron now and im waiting to hear about my metabolic and b-12 levels. I just cant believe that all this can be brought on by this stupid anxiety. It's so frustrating. I would just like to know if anyone has gotten over symptoms like these. I want to have hope for my future. Thank you!

[j17c27]

There is DEFINITELY hope! It is really amazing that our minds can make all of those symptoms happen.  Have you talked to a doctor about therapy and/or meds? Often those combined is the best treatment for anxiety, but there are also a number of alternative and natural things you can do to help anxiety such as regularly excercize, eat healthy, drink chamomile tea, deep breathing, meditation, etc.
I also find reading really helps becuase it gets your mind focused on someone else's issues rather than dwelling on your own.  It breaks up the cycling anxious thoughts in your mind.  Also, finding a hobby is something that really helps becuase you can give yourself goals and give yourself something to be proud of.  Whether it be photography, painting, swimming, hiking, taking up an instrument, etc.  
You definitely arrent alone! This forum is really great.  There are tons of people here who know exactly what you go through and are here to help and support.  Good luck! You can beat this!

[TX35]

Well, I can understand you about the frustration for the anxiety you live right now... Anxiety, when it's not under control, is very frustrating... the more you fear a specific symptom like for example the numbness, the more you will have it... all of this because the fear of living the same situation will bring on the symptom and the more you will think about and worry about it and the more you will have it... I know that cause I live with so many symptoms, mainly cardiovascular symptoms (unstable blood pressure, very fast or very slow pulse rate, extreme fatigue, dizziness, irritable bowel with constipation, chronic headache, chronic jaw pain, depersonalisation feeling...and many other symptoms). The more I fear them and the more I have them... Also, even if I had a lot of tests done for my heart, I can't stop thinking that I have a heart disease and will have a heart attack, that's stupid cause I know that it's the anxiety who make my blood pressure low or too high and make my heart race at 160 and more in the morning and as low as 50 in the evening... It's like my brain don't want to believe that everything I live right now is from my anxiety and i'm a lot frustrated cause even if I try really hard to ignore my symptoms by doing some relaxing activities, reading a book or watch a movie, the symptoms are still there and can't stop thinking about them...

Also, I had anemia 3 years ago, at the time my panic disorder was under control, I had only social phobia with occasionnal panic attack in social situation and didn't notice that I had anemia!!! Never focus on my heart beat, never notice my heart at all... and now I just hear my heart beating all the time, have chest pain all the time, numbness of the left side of my body, jaw pain and my brain think it's from a possible heart attack or something like that and I know it's only anxiety... that's stupid really... Even the last Therapist I had refuse to see me now cause I don't improve in therapy... The anemia can affect mostly the heart side of your anxiety, mean fast heart beat and feeling tired... but with the iron you take now, it will be under control soon...

I also want to have some hope for my future...like you... and i'm sure we will beat that stupid anxiety!!!

Keep the faith !!! Take care of you ;-)

[StevetothaD]

WOW. i just wanna say your all amazing people. I suffer alll the same symptoms. Anxiety is by far the worst...but i think of it as I mean really why would we tell ourselfs there is somthing wrong when there isnt?? thats the part i cant figure out. i hurt or feel this and that theres gotta be a reason ya know?

[Brownman2323]

Im 23 years old I wish I dodnt think so serious about life like my all my friends Inwouldnt be up 5:12 in the morning :(  We just have to be patient and take the next step what ever that may be. Im overweight and i have to start exercising. I have all of those symtoms (symptoms) and there very terrifying! i thiught I was able to manage this anxiety but apartently I cant after tonight. I pray we all over comes our fears. I was told once that our worst emeny is ourselves in this case I very much feel I am. So I tell myself now.... i will fight and go through what ever to over come this anxiety. I will be happy agian .