Aa
Recovering from severe anxiety
Almost six weeks ago I had sex with a sex worker, the folks down at the HIV prevention forum told me my risk was near zero so I've taken it to heart and I'm doing my best to return to normal. During the first 4 weeks I would experience heavy fatigue, lack of appetite, depression to the point of not making contact with family members or leaving my house.
My doctor gave me Xanax but stopped taking it because it made me feel worse but these symptoms have been starting to disappear. I've been more active, I began working with my father again, and more. I do have two concerns which I'm not sure if it's related to Anxiety or not but I keep feeling tightness in my jaw, neck(by the Adam's Apple), and groin to the point where all I do is feel the bone being compressed by my pants or the muscle feeling sore(Perhaps I think I have a swollen lymph node which is another HIV symptom) and my other concern is, I just woke up with my pillow all wet thinking it was night sweats. That made me jump back on the net looking to see if it's HIV related which kinda messed me up again. I've tested negative 3, 4, and 5 weeks and going for a 6. I want to believe I'm home free and I know I am but my body refuses to accept it. Are these related to Anxiety? Am I losing my mind? It's hard waiting to get tested; just want my life back.
My doctor gave me Xanax but stopped taking it because it made me feel worse but these symptoms have been starting to disappear. I've been more active, I began working with my father again, and more. I do have two concerns which I'm not sure if it's related to Anxiety or not but I keep feeling tightness in my jaw, neck(by the Adam's Apple), and groin to the point where all I do is feel the bone being compressed by my pants or the muscle feeling sore(Perhaps I think I have a swollen lymph node which is another HIV symptom) and my other concern is, I just woke up with my pillow all wet thinking it was night sweats. That made me jump back on the net looking to see if it's HIV related which kinda messed me up again. I've tested negative 3, 4, and 5 weeks and going for a 6. I want to believe I'm home free and I know I am but my body refuses to accept it. Are these related to Anxiety? Am I losing my mind? It's hard waiting to get tested; just want my life back.
You should make it a point to visit your general practitioner and get a referral to a psychologist and/or psychiatrist. Anxiety can be hard to get over on your own and a psychologist can teach you how to calm yourself down. I have used Xanax before without a problem. It actually calmed me down. So perhaps Xanax is not the right benzo for you. There are others that can be tried...klonopin for example (which is what I take). It takes longer to start working but actually stays in your system longer.
Dry mouth is a common anxiety symptom. Give some thought to seeing a therapist.
Dry mouth is a common anxiety symptom. Give some thought to seeing a therapist.
Yeah...I did touch it constantly but I don't appeal pressure to it but I did notice the skin getting tighter around the jawline and neck so I started to feel it. I actually thought my Adam's Apple was the node since you can grab it from the side and slightly push it around. I began to notice that I've been applying pressure to my teeth when looking up symptoms so I think it's safe to assume it's just a human error.
My family doctor prescribed Xanax and I used it for like 4-5 days. It made me feel worse as my heart rate would constantly rise, I would run out of breath so easily, It made me struggle when trying to sleep.
Also, is dry mouth and white foamy saliva a symptom of Anxiety? It occured two weeks after my exposure and it returned just recently(which is like 3 weeks apart)
My family doctor prescribed Xanax and I used it for like 4-5 days. It made me feel worse as my heart rate would constantly rise, I would run out of breath so easily, It made me struggle when trying to sleep.
Also, is dry mouth and white foamy saliva a symptom of Anxiety? It occured two weeks after my exposure and it returned just recently(which is like 3 weeks apart)
I don't know the entire history behind your anxiety but I do know that the HIV prevention forum people know what they are talking about.
Your jaw pain could indeed be caused by anxiety. You could be clenching your jaw without really realizing you are doing it. As far as the lymph node goes. Are you palpating it all the time? If so, this can cause the lymph node to become swollen and sore.
The internet search was a bad idea. All it does is feed into the anxiety. Because of your anxiety you will only be keying in on the negative things you read so don't use the internet for that purpose right now.
The bottom line is you don't have a handle on your anxiety right now and rampant anxiety can take a heavy toll on you the body. What are normal everyday aches and pains are turned into something horrid by the minds of people with anxiety.
Who prescribed you xanax? Your general doctor? And when you say it makes you feel worse, what do you mean by that? IMO you need to see a therapist to help you deal with the anxiety, Yes medications are useful but CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is useful as well and I think anybody with anxiety should learn techniques to help themselves.
As for the sex worker...well I guess you know now not to do that again. You are much better off taking care of your own needs than turning to that route. Take care and I'm sure you will feel better soon.
Your jaw pain could indeed be caused by anxiety. You could be clenching your jaw without really realizing you are doing it. As far as the lymph node goes. Are you palpating it all the time? If so, this can cause the lymph node to become swollen and sore.
The internet search was a bad idea. All it does is feed into the anxiety. Because of your anxiety you will only be keying in on the negative things you read so don't use the internet for that purpose right now.
The bottom line is you don't have a handle on your anxiety right now and rampant anxiety can take a heavy toll on you the body. What are normal everyday aches and pains are turned into something horrid by the minds of people with anxiety.
Who prescribed you xanax? Your general doctor? And when you say it makes you feel worse, what do you mean by that? IMO you need to see a therapist to help you deal with the anxiety, Yes medications are useful but CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is useful as well and I think anybody with anxiety should learn techniques to help themselves.
As for the sex worker...well I guess you know now not to do that again. You are much better off taking care of your own needs than turning to that route. Take care and I'm sure you will feel better soon.
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