Are the anxiety symptoms?

[tw27]

Bit of background, I'm 29 yr. old female. Have had anxiety/panic/OCD disorders when about 5 yrs. ago when my grandmother died of Ovarian cancer. Currently take Buspar, Xananx when needed, have TMJ.  Brief summary, last fall/winter time I noticed that some of my fingers would turn white and feel numb.  Sometimes I would have to run warm water over them to get feeling back and the color would turn back to red and be a little tingly but not painful.  My feet (toes and heel of my feet) also did this too but would go back to normal after getting off my feet.  This seemed to only happen when I would go get the mail @ the post office for work (1/2 mile at most-driving). Didn't think much about it, just related to the cold weather at the time.  Now it doesn't happen when I put my hands in freezer or refrigerator or in the air conditioning.  It hasn't happened like that since last winter.
Well the other day, I was gripping a bowl when I noticed my right thumb turn white and numb.  So at that point on got on the internet and came across Raynaud's disease and then came across Scleroderma. But with Raynaud's all the websites state that its related to cold temperatures and/or stress. I am FREAKIN out now eventhough I have NO numbness or color changes.  Constantly looking at my hands, face, whole body. Constantly searching the internet about Scleroderma (which I know not to do-get on the internet) and I panic.  Before last Friday I felt completely fine other than my right thumb went white and numb while gripping a bowl (now the monster has come full cycle), my hands weren't cold at all but now they are cold, my feet are cold.  I now get tingly, burning sensations in my fingers, hands, arms, face and it feels like it all moves around too.  I swear it looks like I have a swollen middle index finger now (looks like a bump on inside middle index finger, but its not huge) and maybe it has always been there but I freakin out about that too.  I feel like the floor is moving, I get really sweaty fast when thinking about it, my heart is racing, insomina, constant fear of impending death by having Scleroderma.  Which I don't even know if I have Raynauds or not much less Scleroderma.  Just terrified cause its like I worry that everything little ache or pain or noticing something on my hands or face is Scleroderma.  Not sure if the symptoms that I describe are anxiety/panic/OCD or if I might have this very rare disease (Scleroderma). Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The whole picture is classic anxiety, with somatization.  It's quite common when you already know you have anxiety.  It's a variation, going back to the root of all fears, the fear of disease and helplessness.  YOu would be much better off talking to a therapist about how your life is going.

[Jenjoy76]

Wow! This post could be mine, except I am 30.  I definitely don't think you have scleroderma.  Raynaud's is possible.  I have the exact same thing.  I always contributed it to being almost frostbitten when I was a kid but then I discovered Raynaud's while doing my usual internet obsessive **** of looking up symptoms for hours and then panicking over them.  I also have anxiety/ocd/hypochondria.  Now taking celexa and ativan for it.  Yesterday I went out to the garage barefoot and that set it off but it doesn't happen every time my feet or hands get cold so I'm not sure.  My latest obsession is MS because I always feel kind of tingly in my feet and hands.  I wonder if anxiety can create or bring on these syptoms (symptoms).  My doc seems to think so.  Anyhow, you're not alone in your worries.
Take care!!
Jennifer

[tw27]

I defintely know what you mean about being anxious/OCD/hypocondriac.  I noticed today at work while my mind was off all my symptoms, I felt completely normal but once I thought about it everything returned.  It is a terrible roller coaster when you suffer from anxiety and I thought that I was doing sooo much better, it came complete circle this time around.  Usually I can keep in under control before it turns into a monster.  I should know better than to get on the internet.  I totally think your feeling on tingly in hands is truly anxiety.  It nice having someone to chat to about this.  My husband gets upset sometimes when I try to explain to him what I'm going through or how my mind is thinking.  Oh well!!

Hope all is well and take care,
Tara

[Jenjoy76]

Hi!  I do feel better about what the doc wrote.  I definitely agree that while your mind is not on symptoms they go away.  It's sooo odd.  So, what has helped you the most with this awful anxiety ****?  Celexa helped me a lot until I was switched to lexapro and almost turned suicidal (which was crazy because I had NO depression befor taking this stuff) and am now back on Celexa, but trying to stay on a low dose.  Also, cognitive behavioral therapy seems very promising. I read a book which helped greatly (can't remember the name now). It involved changing your thoughts and "changing the channel" when you start thinking crazy thoughts. I saw a regular therapist- only 3 sessions and felt it was a waste of time.  She didn't seem to know anything about anxiety disorders and I have no insurance.  (I'd rather use the money for retail therapy!! :)
Hope you're feeling better!
Jen

[tw27]

Hi, I'm currently taking Buspar for anxiety both I don't really think its working and I also take Xanax when needed, which has been for the past 2 weeks, now I'm freakin out about maybe I'm withdrawing from that.  This is a vicious cycle.  What is Celexa, is it a antidepressant or anti-anxiety?  I've tried Paxil, Zoloft and Effexor but none of them worked and I gained a lot of weight.  Do you know what help with anxiety/panic/OCD disorders?  I'm planning on making an appt. with therapist this week.  I'm open to any suggestions.

Hope all is well!
Tara

[navyman31]

I have been having feelings of Anxiety at work. I am a recruiter and I have been under a ton of stress. I haven't gone to talk to anyone yet because I am not sure how to. When I get to work my heart rate goes way up I keep thinking about all these bad things that are going on here and I can't concentrate on my job. I get bad headaches and I can't eat. What do I need to do and is this Anxiety?

[tw27]

Sounds like anxiety to me.  Anxiety produces a lot of symptoms and they are only symptoms.  I experience very rapid heart beat, sweating, tingly hands and feet, legs sometimes feel like jelly, dizziness, can't concreate, a lot of pacing.  I would recommend that you talk to either your doctor or a therapist.  I'm currently taking Buspar and did really well for a year until now so my doctor upped the prescription.  Hope you start to feel better soon.

[Jenjoy76]

Celexa is an ssri- I tried lexapro and Zoloft but I LOVE celexa- I lost weight actually.  Don't worry too much about addiction to the xanax.  I hads to take if for about 3 months every day and when the celexa kicked in I stopped with absolutely NO problem.  I actually like ativan better though.  Longer lasting.  It seems that completely engrossing yourself in something that takes your mind off it helps a lot.  Like now, I have broken out HORRIBLE (probably from all the stress) but I have been obsessing about my skin and haven't thought too much about my anxiety.  So instead of searching about symptoms I've been on acne product websites. lol.  I'd try the celexa- it's more mild than the others and helped me greatly.

[Soap]

As a fellow recruitment specialist I sympathise and can say yes, it certainly sounds like you suffer, like me, from anxiety.  If you can find someone to talk to, it really does help.

Your doctor is a good place to start.

[patchwork]

I've read these posts with interest (and relief!!) as I'm having exactly the same symptoms - numb face, mouth, hands, fingers, toes! I'm almost 100% sure mine are due to anxiety but there's always that nagging voice deep down inside saying "but what if it's this, or what if it's that" and then I get even worse! I've had agoraphobia/anxiety for nearly 30 years now (grrrr) and should really know better, but I guess that's the way I've taught myself to think!

Take care all.

[totem]

Just signed onto this site for the first time as I think this is a great idea as I get so frightened with my symptoms which are constantly changing.  At the moment my great fear is because I cannot feel my hands or feet.  They seem unreal somehow and when I try to walk I am so unsteady as the floor does not seem to be in the right place and is far away and my brain just starts spinning.  I then go into total panic.  I am trying homeopathic remedies at the present and for bringing the panic and anxiety down this is great but I cannot stop the thoughts running through my head although I have been told by thinking about them I am bringing them on or making them worse.
Has anybody else had these symptoms?

[scg]

Hi ....can it be as simple as having anxiety attack....im 36 and i think im going nuts , i sit and think omg my asthma will start and omg what if i dont have my inhaler will i ever see my kids again ..mind you  i have asthma related to allergies so i dont get attacks alot .but lately i sit and think about it and boom the attack starts .then i think because of all the coughing i do i get heart palpitations which i dont  but its in my head ...this thing is starting to take over my life i call this fear its constently there i think about it day and and night it is slowly taking over ...does anyone have any idea whats wrong ....scg