Is my boyfriend having anxiety attacks?

[gigi6993]

My boyfriend has been recently diagnosed with crohn's disease (or so they think that is what it is). Ever since then he thinks he has cancer and is dying. If he gets a bad headache, he thinks he has a tumor. His shoulder, arm, neck, chest and wrist has been hurting lately and he thinks it is cancer of some kind. He complains about hip pain. He gets cramps in his leg at night all the time. When he has pain, his heart starts racing and he thinks he's having a heart attack. He is only 25 years old. He has had every kind of x-ray, MRI, CT scan, blood work. They can not find anything wrong with him, (other than his "crohn's) Or are these symptoms that go along with crohn's? I don't know. He complains everyday, and does not like to be alone when he starts feeling this way. Can anyone help???

[krs7171]

I could read these all day long. I am newly dating this great guy for 4 months now and he suffers from anxiety. He briefly discussed how he has developed anxiety after the suicide of his dear friend. I didn't realize until now that it can take over him. He has 'stood' me up twice, I really thought at first he was blowing me off. I learned that isn't the case, he'd be at home sleeping. He sleeps alot. I see him usually at night off the heels of one his hockey games. He seems to be feeling great. I don't know if he is taking any meds. I want to learn more. I really like this guy. He's 43 years old, I want to help him seek out treatment, but how on earth can I do that?
He'd be so offended if I just brought it up out of nowhere....

[karatekid123]

This is my first time posting on this website, and the only reason i decided to is because this is almost exactly what i have been going through. And i'd just like you and your boyfriend to know that he isn't crazy at all, and he's not making it up. the symptoms he feels are very very real, and terrifying. but just remember that although they're so scary, they cant hurt you at all. i've gotten the headaches, and the tension in my neck and shoulders and chest, and i have gotten the fast heartbeat and thought i had a tumor or a heart attack and all of that. see a psychiatrist, it really helps.
keep posting...good luck.

[chcnme]

I just wanted to say that was a really neat story (that you have been helped so much with Buspar and Paxil and are living a fulfilled life in spite of the diagnosis of anxiety / depression).  Your story should give many who are suffering from anxiety and depression the hope that even though it seems like it will never end with them,  it can end with the right combination of medications, time, and persistence.

[suzi-q]

BTW....the heart racing is a panic attack.  It really sucks!!!  I just want to give you a little of my history that got me to a doctor....I thought I had MS, Brain tumors, Lupus, just to name a few...I went to a regular physician, a hemotologist, an allergy doctor, ears nose and throat doctor, and 2 neurologists!!  Had a brain echogram, CAT scan, and MRI (I SWORE IT WAS A BRAIN TUMOR!)  I had extensive, extensive blood work from the hemotologist.  As my doctor said to me at the time, "You are the healthiest sick person I ever had!"  I find humor in it now, but back then it wasn't so funny.  grrrrr.  BUT HE WAS RIGHT, I GOT THE HELP AND AM STILL HERE TODAY!

[suzi-q]

You betcha!  There are definitely meds for this.  There is Paxil (which I take) which is for generalized anxiety disorder.  and there are 100 more!  I know that there is a terrible stigma attached to these meds...but hey, whatever works!

I also take buspar, which is also for anxiety.  Don't know actually what it targets, but it does help!

I live a totally normal life.  I am 40 years old, I am a kndergarten teacher and work full time for 18 years and I also just got back from China after adopting a beautiful little girl in March!

I am totally able to function normally. I have a normal life, and no one would be the wiser!  I feel it takes a strong person to admit he/she needs help and get it!  I was first very skeptical about psychologists etc.  I truly believed my problems were physical.  I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT COULD ALL BE IN MY HEAD!  I started battling anxiety/depression about age 28 and have been ever since.  It can be treated but one must be patient.

I remember my first visit to the therapist and told her I was afraid of going crazy.  she said the ones that think they are going crazy are the ones who aren't.

maybe put your boyfriend on this site and we can help him.  i know how men can be and think that people would perceive them as weak.  However, there are many men on this site also who maybe can "talk" to him via this website.

Take care.

[gigi6993]

Thank you so much for your input. He came in last night and I discussed this possibility with him. His first reaction was..."So you think I'm crazy and making all of this up?" If this is what he has, it is going to be a long journey with him. He is not one to take meds that make him groggy or disoriented. What kind of meds do they prescribe for anxiety, and do they make some that he could take and still work everyday? I know nothing about anxiety, so I don't know how to talk to him about it. Thanks for everything.

[suzi-q]

Sounds like anxiety to me too.  Been there.  It is a horrible feeling.  He truly believes that he is ill even though all tests come back normal.  He needs to get to a psychiatrist.  he should not have to live this way and it is treatable.  

You said he was diagnosed with Crohns.....just so you know, chronic diarrhea can also be from bad anxiety.

This anxiety disorder could have been up and coming and now it is full blown.  

I wish him the best and keep us posted.

[Lightwise]

Sounds like anxiety to me. Specifically HYPOCHONDRIA (you might already know what this is, if not look it up). With this type of anxiety, any uncomfortable sensation/pain you have, you dwell on and begin thinking it is a serious illness. This makes things worse of course, because the fear of the disease brings on more anxiety which brings on more symptoms. When you are deep in this mind set, you usually will not listen to anyone's reassurances. Hopefully though at some point he will turn the switch in his own mind and begin to believe that he is OK. For me it took six months from the initial anxiety to finally tell myself that I don't have MS or a heart condition and so on and so on. Also, please tell him to resist the temptation to  "google" every sensation he has. He'll just come up with new diseases to worry about. Most importantly have him see a psychologist or psychiatrist to talk over what he has been feeling.
Another you should know is that anxiety can cause a number of very real symptoms/sensations. I have or have had constant dizziness, eye pain, memory/concentration problems just to name a few, but they all began to disappear when my anxiety began subsiding. I'm still working my way through this process but I am getting better and so will your boyfriend.
Good luck with everything.