Urge to gag? A symptom of anxiety?

26 Male. Suffers from anxiety. I go through spells, but they usually in the past have lasted for like 1-2 weeks max... then I'm good for a month or 2... have even gone almost 7 months without having a spell....

But I've been having an anxiety spell now for the past month! Pretty much non stop! Everyday...

It started with a work project that was very stressful, then the stress seemed to turn into one of my anxiety spells... I was losing appetite, and also my stools were changing, anywhere from diarhea (diarrhea), to hard, to really really soft and breaky....

My stools have been like this for almost 4 weeks now... and 2 weeks ago I went to the Dr. for it, and he told me it was just anxiety. He said it can do a lot to you. He upped my lexapro to 5mg. I'm still having anxiety. I am also having a sharp pain from time to time on my left side, its strange. Left of the bellybutton. I've also been getting really bloated alot... and sometimes bad acid reflux.

It's like a vicious cycle... my appetite isnt back all the way yet... so that makes me anxious... my stools are still messed up... which makes me think something is wrong... which makes me anxious... and lastnight, I started feeling this tightness in my throat, and started getting the urge to gag.

I wouldnt let myself gag, but it sucked, and I got all hot and cold.... and thought I was gonna throw up... of course this didnt happen. I ate a couple of mints and that helped... and I finally fell asleep.

Today I woke up feeling like this again... and its been happening on and off all day... its bugging the **** out of me.

And of course, I start linking all of these things together... and start freaking myself out...

But I find when I keep myself busy... I don't do it... but when I'm just by myself doing nothing... is when I start to feel like I have to gag. I'm also swallowing sinus drainage. But my stomach doesnt feel upset or anything... its just the sensitive gag reflex.

Is this normal with anxiety?

Think all of this will eventually leave!? It's been a freakin month!!! I'm getting SOOOO tired of it.

Do I need to be patient with the lexapro 5mg for another couple of weeks so it kicks in better? Or do I need to talk to my Dr. you think about upping it again?

Thanks so much for listening...

[cnote]

feeling much better today. took two 0.5mg ativans last night to calm my nerves... haven't done that in a long time b/c i don't like to take them... but glad i did.I was so relaxed... I felt like the old me... and I started getting really hungry... and eating stuff I normally wouldnt b/c I'm so stressed they don't sound good.

I slept like a baby too! And this morning I woke up refreshed.... and didnt have much anxiety at all.

Today is so far so good. =)

I hate to take ativan... but! i havnt had an appetite for a month now! so I may take it as needed for a week or so, so i can start putting some weight back on... and then hopefully my stomach issues will clear up then too. =)