Anxiety and Vitamin Deficiency

[MindPieces]

Hey guys. I started experiencing extreme anxiety about a month ago, and since then I've dealt with the following symptoms:

- Dry mouth
- Hard heartbeat
- Jolting awake with heart pounding
- Limb tingling
- Sense of being off balance
- Poor concentration and memory
- Fatigue

After reading numerous things online, it seems like all of my symptoms could be caused by a vitamin B deficiency. I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor in the next couple days to get some blood tests done, but I'm wondering if any other anxiety sufferers have had their vitamin/mineral levels checked? I really hope this ends up being the issue, because I still have many of these leftover symptoms despite the fact that my anxiety has lessened considerably.

I'll update in a few days and let everyone know the results.

[rilesnic]

I take a med for my stomach that can cause B-12 deficiency so I have had those levels checked.  They were normal.I have extreme anxiety.  I do believe that anytime our bodies deviate from the norm, and b/c people who experience anxiety are so in tune with their bodies, that we can tell when something may be a little off.

[Katie35801]

I often wonder if anxiety folks get their levels checked also. I have severe anxiety and symptoms even when I feel relaxed. I have wondered the same thing about B deficiency.

[MindPieces]

I'm not currently on any medications. I do think a B12 deficiency is possible, especially since I rarely eat meat, and also drink alcohol and caffeine, all of which can screw with those levels. I'm tempted to just start popping supplements and see what happens, but I'd feel better if I knew for certain. I guess I can see if my regular doctor will do the tests, and then go from there.

[Paxiled]

Are you on medication?  Sounds like side effects of some of them.  Also could be thyroid.  Don't know how useful a regular doctor is going to be in diagnosing your vitamin B levels.  You might be better with a holistic nutritionist -- they take those kinds of things more seriously.  At any rate, you can always increase your uptake of B vitamins by taking a B complex or a stress B.  The most likely ones to be deficient in are B12 a folic acid, especially for vegetarians, and B6 could be involved in those symptoms as well.  But it's very hard to tell in one test -- testing over time is the only true way to tell.  Good luck.