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Avatar universal

Anxiety

First - it feels so nice to be able to come out here and post to all of you and know you all understand.  My family, friends, etc, for the most part think it's mental and maybe it is but my problem right now is.....It's so hard wondering if it's anxiety or chiari.  I always blew anxiety off because I've had "shallow breathing" or a "heavy heart/chest" for years.  In fact, I don't remember a time when I didn't have it.  I always assumed if it was anxiety, it would wax and wane, you know get better worse, up down.  I have this tightness and short breath 24/7 - 365.  And when I do have a stressful situation, it makes it a million times worse.  Today was bad.  I was so emotional at work and feel so overwhelmed and scared waiting for my apt and tests and I hate pills but wish I just had something to take for when it is bad bad.  Not an every day pill.  I'm sick of pills and side effects.  I try breathing like when they tell you to count to 10, meditation etc.  It just doesn't seem to work for me.  I know part of it too is probably that I have horrible posture.  I just hate not knowing whether the anxiety is in my head or in my head lol.  I mean head/mental or head/chiari related.  I'm just frustrated.  And I know all this worrying and reading and researching doesn't help.  :-)  Thanks for letting me sorta vent.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the comments.  Even though I have these high maintenance emotions, most people get a kick out of them.  My co-workers think I should do stand up comedy and one higher up (when making rounds) always laughs and says, "which one am I talking to today or do ANY of you need help."  Meaning my personalities.  Normally that might be insulting but they don't mean it that way.  They like that I'm so entertaining. So I do try to deal that way.  It's easier to do at work.  It's the evenings that are the hardest.  
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Avatar universal
ditto selma, It is a direct result of Chiari

When it happens, don't think about it, don't allow anyone to make you think about it. That just makes it worse as we 'want' to fix it, make it better and frankly we can't. We just have to find a way to refocus.

As a young teenager I was blessed with a coach who taught me to mentally focus away from my pain to the point where I got off of some very strong pain meds. I find that is my only real help with chiari, is to find ways to focus away when possible. For me hobbies that I enjoy help, but sometimes even that doesn't help. Above all you just have to accept that this is something you can deal with but others will not understand. So be prepared and when you begin to reconize it coming on that is the moment to start focusing your mind elsewhere, stop what you were doing, no matter how important or simple it may be. Just stop. Go do something else be it mentally go somewhere or physically go into another room until you can calm yourself.

My mom, not talking about CM, but she used to tell you "You may as well laugh at yourself because if you don't someone else will". It's true, very true, so I have a habit when someone notices something wrong I just tell em that I have a birth defect. Pause. Then tell them "yes, I was born with too many brains and my body doesn't know what to do with them all"

Take Care,
CW
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1306714 tn?1327257080
Did you see my post on here the other day and just copy it and paste LOL.  You wrote exactely as I felt the other day.  I get anxious also and alway's wondered the same as you.  I do take Xanax 3 times per day.  Some people can't even handle 1 but my heart rate speed's up.  I also don't like to take med's, but we are here in reality and we just have to except it.  I have alway's been an emotional person.  Never an angree one, but I also agree with Selma.  Just turn around and walk away.  I do this some times.  I have been in sisuation's just having a conversation with more than 3 people and every one talking at once.  I just get up and walk away.  It's not worth a headache.  As far as anxiety it's in your heart not in your head.  This is something we all understad on here.  We are not crazy.  We are people with an illness and were just trying to understand it.  It's also a hard one to except.  I talk to my family often about what is going on because being open and honest is the best.  They don't know what we go through on a daily basis, but I know we all have families that love us.  I am very thankful and very blessed that I have found a Chairian family who listen's, understand, and has walked in my shoe's. Oh 7 1/2 LOL.  If today was a bad day, just think you have something to look forward to.  Tomorrow has to be better than today.  Your in my prayer's.
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Avatar universal
Selma, your dedication is awesome!  And truly appreciated.  
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620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER

   Hi...it is anxiety, but it is a result of chiari...the compression of the brain stem is part of the problem....

  Being over emotional is something that is chiari ...and it is not the same type of issues someone without chiari that had anxiety issues would be dealing with...and y meds for anxiety do not work.

  Try to relax and remember it is chiari related...it may help u calm down...but I know what u mean...I am not as emotional as I was pre op...but when I am in a situation that is upsetting I can get more emotional then the situation warrants and I am aware of it...just can't control it.....
I find I have to walk away...for me the problem is everyone else not listening to me when I say to let it drop...the more they talk about it the longer I am having to deal with it and continue to get upset.

  Educate ur family and walk away.....relax and know it is not u, it is the wiring  that is off .

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