Very Scared today...please read

Question

I have been extremely fatigued the past 24-36 hrs. Yesterday my eyes were so puffy & heavy driving home I felt like i was gonna fall asleep at the wheel. I came home from work last night & past out by 7pm. I woke up a few times during the night in sweats, not sure what that was about but fell back to sleep. After 9hrs sleep I am still exhausted and puffy eyed. I take .5mg xanax a day & bid. I cant take being this sleepy its making me anxious, that vicious circle. So now Im thinking something more is wrong with me. That mayeb its not just my anxiety, maybe heart beating slow I dont know....Im scared and at work yet all I want to do is crawl into my bed.

Chrissy1972 · Answer

Just to update to those who posted on here...I went to the dr today bc my ears wouldnt stop ringing yesterday & was very dizzy. I have double ear infections and swollen glands. The dr said ive had the infection prob for the last week. No wonder I was so tired on Thurs & fri I was fighting this infection!!!

Chrissy1972 · Answer

Hi All

I actually got a good nights sleep much needed rest and took it easy today. I felt ok enough to do a 15 min core workout as i know i need to exercise. 
I only needed to take .125mg of xanax so far today & its almost 5pm. Think I just needed to rest and relax!

Thanks for all the input. The support on this site is really amazing!!!!

thegreatcait · Answer

you could possibly have epstein barr. i just got over it. my anxiety was INSANE because i knew i was incredibly sick but i went to the hospital three times and they kept doing tests and telling me i was absolutely fine. eventually i went to my regular doctor. he's a chiropractor/holistic doctor and the second i walked in and told him my symptoms, he did this little test and said i was showing up positive for epstein barr. it's seriously like .. the worst sickness for somebody with anxiety. i had it for about four or five months but it was only really bad for about a week or two. i couldn't get off the couch for the whole time it was bad. my head was spinning and my body ached and i just wanted to sleep but i couldn't so i just layed there and watched movies. before and after that, my only major symptoms were my throat being slightly swelled and just a general feeling of discomfort ALL THE TIME. plus i felt like i was dead, like i literally had no soul in my body. i'm just describing this in case you have some of the symptoms. i read somewhere that a common symptom is "depersonification" and that's totally what i had and it was horrifying. my anxiety was off the charts. also, you should consider acupuncture for your anxiety. i got it recently and it seems to have helped a bit.

nursegirl6572 · Answer

YAY.  I wish you sweet dreams and hope you get the rest you need.  Jammies sound awesome right about now.  Instead of that, I have to don my work clothes and head in.  Ick.  Oh well, at least it's friday!  TGIF!!!  :0)

Chrissy1972 · Answer

Thanks Nursegirl & Mandoliv

I just checked in to see if anyone else responded bc its another day im completly drained. To be honest my anxiety level is down im just completely draggin my butt around. My anxious side wants to say, what if my heart isnt pumping enough...stupid thoughts but i also think   it is prob bc for weeks i have been on edge & wrapped so tight. I do feel like I want to sleep for days. Nursegirl, I like how you call it an anxiety hangover lol But at the same time no flu or cold symptoms just fatigue (got my flu shot in oct) I had 3 cups of coffee today and a soda on the way home from work to boost me up. I should be anxious with all the caffeine today but im ok. I only took .25mg in total of xanax today too which is a cut back. I will try that again tomorrow. 
I just took a shower & am in my jammies going to watch tv and possibly fall asleep doing so.

Mandoliv · Answer

I feel your pain. It's been a long time since I've had a panic attack although I do remember them well, and I would even have a panic attack over worrying about having a panic attack. 
It is certainly possibly that that you are sick with the flu or some virus. I know how I get tho, I could have a simple cold or something and my brain would turn it into all sorts of things, med related and not. Anxiety can make you more susceptible to illness...

nursegirl6572 · Answer

You are dragging from the effects of anxiety.  I cannot tell you over the yrs how many "anxiety hangovers" I've had.  Where, you literally feel as though you could sleep for weeks.

Remember that the act of having a panic attack is very rough on the body, so what you're feeling is normal.  It is the "fight or flight" response, which kicks adrenalin into high gear and ever alters some of our body functions to allow for self preservation.  Now, we're not going to go thru all of that without some unpleasant after effects, ya know?

I've found that the best thing IS to get as much rest as possible when you can.  This includes not only trying to get a good night's sleep, but also some well-placed cat naps sometimes really help.

Try some things that will put you in a better relaxed state of mind, like a hot bath, drink some warm tea, and maybe get into some soft comfy jammies and put a funny movie on, something to lift your spirits a bit.  Try not to overwhelm yourself with chores and other stressful things.  You need some down time, some ME time to all for some rejuvenation.

Chrissy1972 · Answer

Thanks Angie, I keep getting waves of extreme tiredness. I have had 2 cups of coffee today and have only taken .125mg of xanax. I am still feeling like Im dragging a$$.
I have been overly anxious and you are right I am prob emotionally & physically drained. 
Thanks goodness the weekend is here! Typically I do not get more than 5-6 hrs sleep a night as its very hard for me to fall asleep at night. Along with the anxiety at nightime I do bottle with bouts of insomnia from it.

Angie684 · Answer

I know how you feel. I have really bad anxiety and I can't let myself get too tired or it makes it worse. If I'm a home I'm fine but if I have to go do something, it's horrid. It makes you feel like you just won't make it.

There are many reasons I see why you could be so tired. First of all, do you get enough sleep on a regular basis. I know you said you got 9 hours last night, but how much do you usually get? Also taking xanax everyday will definitely make you tired. I remember when I first started having anxiety I was put on zoloft and klonopin and they both made me so tired I just slept all the time. Also, stress and anxiety will make you VERY tired. If you've ever had a panic attack you know that afterwards you are exhausted and can just pass out.Even if you don't have panic attacks, the anxiety can still wear you out. Don't worry yourself for no reason. First rule out all of these things before you jump to the conclusion that something is wrong with you. People that suffer from anxiety usually believe that something is wrong with them. So deal with your anxiety before you think that. I do not think there is something wrong with you from what you've said. I think it's anxiety and xanax combination. Plus when you have anxiety you tend to exaggerate things, including being tired so that makes it feel worse. I hope that helped.