anxiety relapse I hope

[wblmh]

First off thanks to those that put this site together, atleast I know im not alone. I am a 35 year old male in pretty good shape good blood pressure etc etc. About four years ago I thought I was having a heart attack, and left work only to find I had ulcers in my esophagus.  Thought things were fine but then I began to have muscle aches, muscle cramps, muscle twitching. I got online and did what I know I should not do and self diagnosed myself with ALS.  after going to my GP weekly, a doctor that specelizes in muscles, and two nuroligist, a full brain and spine mri and more blood test then I want to remimber, I was told by all of them I was fine and it was just stress. after that I felt much better in fact I forgot all about it for two years. Know it is back and much worse. Im having sever muscle pain in my left arm, cramping and pain in the muscle in the back of my legs, muscle twitching, muscle spasms some that wake me in the night, all over body weakness mostly in my arms though, insomnia.  Once again I try to self diagnose and now only make things worse.  Is it common for anxiety to relapse like this and are there others out there struggling with these same simptoms?  I was on paxil for a year and a half but have been off for two years.  should I go through two years of going from doctor to doctor more mri's and blood tests?  Thanks for any advice on this

[debaser23]

From what I've experienced and what I've read, anxiety can cause just about any symptom.  Your struggle to self-diagnose is also a very clear sign of anxiety.  It's a vicious cycle.

A couple weeks ago there was this girl in my metro area who died from flu.  The news was all over it.  I look on-line at the CDC maps, and sure enough, my area is red...meaning flu epidemic.  I literally had no symptoms prior to this, but within minutes was in an a full on panic attack and reading every site I could find about flu epidemiology, treatment, mortality, etc.  I took my temperature and even had a slight fever!  It took hours to get through that little spell.

Anyway, that's how powerful it is.  I can cause acid reflux just by thinking about it.  Muscle aches, headaches.  Just about anything.  The problem with anxiety is that people often become hypersensitive about their bodies.  A pocket of gas traveling through the abdomen becomes an extremely painful ordeal.  A dull sinus headache becomes brain tumor-like.  Itches become rashes.  It's not that we imagine it, exactly.  It's real.  

Anxiety Disorder is often explained by telling people their "fight or flight" reflexes are screwed up.  I believe that's true even though it may be a little more complicated than that.  Your body has a definite physiological response to a perceived threat.  You become acutely aware.  Blood shifts away from the digestive tract and pumps into muscles.  Thoughts race.  You instinctively look for exits.  Respiration increases.  Glands start pumping hormones into your bloodstream.  It's all very real.

[suzi-q]

Yes, anxiety can rebound and stronger than the first time!  I suggest you go back to your doctor, just for a physical to clear your mind.  Then talk to your doctor about the possibility of going back on medication...If it worked the first time, it should help again.  Best of luck.

[396SS]

Same here, 31 yo F and anxiety I think is now causing me to have muscle twitches, burning in the feet, weak calves.  I have had several tests, mostly ok.  I think after about 6-7 years of major stress, your body suffers physically.  It is chemicals coursing through your body, so it does make sense that they have an effect on you at some point.  I definitely don't want to be dismissed though as just "all in my head" and there be something wrong.  I think it's wise to go ahead and get checked out and make sure.  I understand though, the whole looking up symptoms/diseases etc. and making yourself freak out.  Been there done that.  That has to stop at some point - I finally decided to just stop doing that and let what happens happen.  Just let the doctors do their work (and make sure you have a good one that doesn't just dismiss you as anxious).  Something that helps for me is working out at the gym and some breathing exercises, also the thinking that - today is all we have, just what you are doing right now, whether it's eating, watching TV, whatever, that's all we can possibly know.  We can't predict the future.  Hope you feel better.  PS...I was on Zoloft, then Ativan to sleep at night.  Now Cymbalta - not sure about it.  Zoloft was pretty good for anxiety.

Take care

[hockeycrazy3033]

Hey there!

Well it seems like you've been given a clean bill of health so maybe you shouldn't worry so much! :)

I know all about self diagnosing as I've done that several times. It's horrible and really makes you so worried and stressed over nothing. I thought I had EVERYTHING wrong with me, but I realized it was just all in my head. I went to doctors, and had tons of tests done on me in which they were all normal yet I'd still go online and look up symptoms. It got really crazy to where the second I'd look them up I'd have an anxiety/panic attack. I then said enough was enough and haven't done anything since. I realized that the doctors were right. Nothing is wrong and im just making myself stressed over nothing!

Same goes for you. If your doctors have already done tests and already told you everything is fine then you shouldn't worry. Just try and stop diagnosing yourself because that is what gets us all riled up and worried. Once you fix that problem Im sure you'll feel like a new person. *At least I did*

Just know that you are fortunate compared to those that really do have life threatening/sick conditions.

Hope you feel better. Stop worrying. :)