Anxiety (Panic) back after almost 2 years of mild symptoms.

[shelzmike]

Well, I have been relatively anxiety and panic free for about 2 years now and overall it has been great. I have still struggled with health anxiety issues over that time frame, but nothing major. Well, Friday kinda brought it all back (or at least, as funny as it sounds, I hope that is what it is, otherwise, it is an actual problem). It was a normal day, and in fact just the day prior, I was feeling really good. Anyway, Friday was going okay and I had just ordered lunch to be delivered, as I was sitting there writing, I had for some reason started thinking about how it has been a while since I ate and was feeling kinda shaky. But then I sort of passed that off as my anxiety (I have always had a problem with anxiously worrying about passing out bc I did one time a long time ago when I was 19 and never went to the Hospital and never found out why. But I haven't since then. So basically, passing out is one of my biggest causes of anxiety.

So as I was writing and thinking about this, the door opened in the office and I got up to see who was in there and immediately felt kinda like I was going to pass out, though it was not so much as the blackness coming in, as it was feeling dizzy and lightheaded and everything was blurry. I immediately walked outside to my car and began to calm down and felt better pretty quickly after that. Though, for the rest of the day, I was quite anxious and on the verge of a panic attack for the rest of the night, pretty much. I have had issues before of standing up and getting lightheaded plently before and am pretty sure it is just normal, but this seemed kinda different at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I was pretty sure it was just related to my anxiety. I told myself that if it happened again then I would get it checked out. I do not have insurance right now, so I cannot just up and go to the doctor whenever.

Anyway, I slept fine that night and yesterday morning I had fallen back to sleep after my wife had gotten up for work at about 9:00 AM. Well, at about 9:30 AM, I was sort of startled awake by my cell phone, but I was confused as to which one it was (I have an on-call cell phone for work in addition to my personal cell). So I sat up quickly, and then realized that the phone was in my pants on the floor and still while laying in the bed, bent down to get the phone and sat up quickly and when I did that I felt like I couldn't breathe and that I was going to pass out - I laid back and my heart was pounding, but I could feel it start to slow down as I was laying there. Then I was too scared to try to sit back up again for a while though!.

So I ended up going to the ER. I felt okay I guess, save some mild anxiety, restlessness, inability to concentrate, etc. They basically did two things - an ECG, which they said was fine, and a lying, sitting, standing BP test. Again fine. They basically said that they did not think that it was tied to any sort of cardiac event (which in and of itself struck me, bc I am 30 and was not even thinking it could have been!). But that if I had another episode like this, then I would probably want to get a holter test.

Since then I have been very concerned with my heart and health (though the tests were fine - I just cannot get over thinking that they were too short or wrong or missed something). To top that off, a guy at our church passed away at the same hospital I was in (small town) and was only 2 years older than me. He actually passed out 4 times within a 10 minute span, so it seems as though it was heart related. This ALL has me freaking out, but I am unsure of what to do. I do have motivation now to stop smoking completely, and eliminate caffeine (I drink a LOT of Dr. Pepper and have switched to Caffeine Free). I feel like I want to have more tests, but then again I do know I DO have GAD w/Panic and have had it since 2001 - so is it just that? Can anyone else relate to this experience and give me some advice?

Mike

[flob]

i passed out once. it was the strangest thing i've ever experienced. it's hard to describe...i felt my body go limp and fall...but the falling felt like it took forever and my body was made out of rubber and i was cold...and time passed really quick but really slowly at the same time. strangest thing that's ever happened to me. most surprising was how peaceful the feeling was. worst part was when i woke up...i still have no idea how much time passed since i was alone. the confusion at first was pretty scary.

you might consider checking your blood sugar levels. you describe some symtoms that sound similar to symptoms of hypoglycemia. the worst part of anxiety is the sudden overwhelming feeling that you're going to pass out just out of nowhere. the only way i help myself keep calm is that it's always followed by a panic attack, so i know it's anxiety related. it's been a long time since i actually did pass out...i was 16....but i have felt close to it many times and it *****.

[shelzmike]

Yeah, I am sure you are right. I am sure everything is fine; I am just sort of iffy about the very short 10 second ecg finding anything if it is there, but I guess if it needed to be anymore, they would have done more.

I think more than anything it is a reality check - while I am only 30, I have been thinking not so much about me being scared of dying or whatnot (I am a Christian and know Heaven awaits) however, I am starting to get more concerned about my wife and kids and not wanting them to have to go through hard times, emotional or otherwise, too soon. It is a reality check that while I feel like I do not have control (which I do not, I know) I do have a hand in it - healthwise, I am not doing what I should to keep myself as healthy as I can. I have become very conscious and motivated to eat better, stop smoking, stop caffeine, and exercise (and TRY to reduce my everyday stress!)

Thanks guys, and I am glad to see that you are still here cj29! I wish I could come and stay more often, as helping others is what helped me beat this the first time! As the day went on today, I felt a little better that it was just my anxiety as the symptoms are similar, I just - in those moments - percieved them differently. I always tell myself if it was some sort of serious issue, I wouldn't just feel like I am "about" to pass out - I would! I actually passed out one time a long time ago when I was in a store (never went to the ER to see why, which I should have) and while I remember every moment of that event, the one thing that sticks out is that I had NO real second to react - it just happened - BOOM. Didn't hurt or nothing and was actually pretty relaxing - lol - but it did scare the heck outta me!

I believe that was one of the two instances that started my anxiety.

Mike

[cj29]

I would have to agree with Heidy85.  You did the right thing by getting checked out.  Now the hard step is to sometimes believe the diagnosis.  As you know from years back the 'what if?' thinking control of my health anxiety for awhile, but while getting out of that cycle can be extremely difficult, you have done it once and you will do it again.

[Heidy85]

Both times that you did bent and stood up, you did both actions quickly and got lightheaded and dizzy. This was caused by a blood rush from your head. It's because of the quick change of body position. It is totally normal. Do not worry. Anxiety is a circle.....you feel dizzy because you got up quickly...that worries you....and your worry is bringing anxiety back which is making your dizziness and other symptoms worst. IF the doctor says there is nothing wrong with you then i'm pretty sure it was just a blood rush from your head.

[cj29]

Hey Mike,
I actually went a little over two years between bouts with health anxiety when it came back with a vengeance and seemingly out of the blue.  Initially, it frightened me all over again and that sense of dread started creeping back in again.  But, I know that you have a VAST amount of knowledge from going through this, and will be able to apply it once the shock wears off.  For me, it took going to talk to someone about it to make me realize that after going through it once, I had a HUGE head start the second time around.

Rationally, you did the right thing.  You went and got checked out and the doc's said you are good to go, which is good news:).  Just put into practice what you advised here awhile back...it helped me!  Please keep us in the loop!