Hypochondria stinks!!!!

[sandrad85]

I have been prone to panic/anxiety attacks and typically have pretty good control over it.  However, I experienced a panic/anxiety attack that scared me mindless today!  During this attack I had what I relate to the feeling you get when you have to have an IV before a CT scan and they warn you you will feel like you are warm all over and that you feel like you are peeing your pants.  I have had this before...this strange feeling...and my heart races, I get a metallic taste in my mouth and I get numb and tingley all over.  As I am a hypochondriac I went to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack.  Everything checked out fine.  You would think that after having a good checkup at the ER, my mind would be ease, but I keep waiting for this to happen again.  If I didn't have health anxiety, life would be perfect!  Anybody else experience these types of physical symptoms when having an attack?  It always puts a person at ease knowing there are others like you!!!!  What a horrible viscious cycle!

[SarahG85]

You are not alone I'm prone to anxiety/panic attacks I've had them since I was 18 I'm about to be 30 nothing seems to work but prayer I'm sorry but I'm a hypochondriac and I have a phobia of medicine as well. I've been diagnosed and treated but nothing works. Zoloft made it worse and when I went to the hospital they give me adavan and it makes me feel high and sleepy. But my attacks consist of chest pain difficulty breathing hot sweaty heart racing feeling of doom and like I'm about to pass out. Everybody says breath but you're breathing it's just the attack making you feel like you can't. I hate them. It holds me back from life and fun because if I feel like something isn't right with my body well panic attack here I come. That feeling you get hot tingling flushed warm is nothing new to many. Yiure not alone my friend and I pray you can find something or someone to help because attacks are scary and unless you have these you'll never understand. Good luck to you hun!!!!

[dolphin8808]

Oh yes, I get that everytime I would have a panic attack. I called it a "heat tree" going up my back, warmth going out into my limbs. That is the adrenaline moving through your body.

I too have hypochondria and health anxiety. I get so fixated on something and it scares me so badly I become OCD about it. I google it, I call my doc, I push for all kinds of tests etc just looking for answers. Then I move onto the next thing. Its a vicious cycle but one that Zoloft has helped me with as well. It has stopped the panic attacks and over all GAD, I just now deal with the Health Anxiety.

Thinking of you and please know that you are NOT alone.

[achillea]

Actually, a lot of people here experience these symptoms.  I certainly have.

Panic attacks can make anyone miserable.  Personally, the thing that worked for me--and it really DID work--was to find a really good psychiatrist.  Since he actually has a medical education, he could not only understand my symptoms, but also prescribe medications.  I think this is a reasonable approach, since panic disorder is a medical condition.

In my case, a low dose of Zoloft, one of the SSRIs, did the trick.  It is nice to feel normal again.

[sandrad85]

Sorry...I see I posted this in the wrong forum!