Will I ever come out of this!!!????

[cnote]

25 Male. Have suffered from "anxiety spells" for the past year and half...

When I say anxiety "spells", this means I have symptoms of anxiety... but they last for weeks.

Symptoms are:
Nervous stomach
Loss of appetite (nothing smells good or tastes good, but I make myself eat throughout the day)
Pacing (the need to move around... can't sit still)
Forgetfulness
Fear that the symptoms will never go away
Waking up early in the morning... struggling to fall back asleep. (get a weird rush of energy throughout my body when I wake up)
Legs/Hand trembling
Mind chatter
Some crying spells when I feel overwhelmed with the anxiety.

What I believe has caused this spell, is that about 2 and a half weeks ago or so, I freaked myself out over a blemish under my left I that I believed to be skin cancer. I went to the Doctor, and he said it wasnt, and it went away.

A couple of days after that I developed a stiff/tight sore neck... couldnt sleep good at night and would wake up with it hurting. This also freaked me out, so I went back to the Doctor and he said it was caused probably by anxiety.

My doctor has treated me in the past for my anxiety... and he decided to put me back on Lexapro.

Ive been taking 5mg for about a week now... and still feel pretty crummy... but I manage.

My question is... this spell has lasted alot longer than my previous spells... or so it seems.

Do you think I will eventually get out of this funk I'm in? And feel good once again?

Do you think the Lexapro will help? How long for me to start feeling the Lexapro work?

Thanks guys!

[No Excuses]

Hey read the book " Hope and Help for Your Nerves" by Claire Weekes. This book helped me alot. I have very similar symptoms to yours. I also get depressed because the way I feel. I take 2.5mg of lexapro a day, more makes me agitated. It doesn't help much so I am thinking about getting rid of this med. They are all bad. However, if they wor for you....you should feel the difference after 2 or 4 weeks.

Good Luck

[toejam_muncher]

sounds all very much like what i and many others have experienced.

you mentioned not being able to remember what it's like to be happy when you have anxiety/depression attacks...or something to that nature. that in itself is what gives me hope because i do remember what 'normal' was like, and it eases the pain to know that...for example...a month has passed since my last round of severe anxiety, and now i'm going to spend a week in hell....but it could have been that i spent the entire month in hell rather than just a week. that gives me small amounts of hope to know it isn't always hell to live, and it won't always be. but what works for me may not work for everyone. and really it only provides mild relief.

anyway...as to your specific situation...i experienced something similar the last time i really went through some rough anxiety. it lasted a few weeks and took at least a month plus zoloft to start to get back on track...but it does happen and everything you're going through is very good reason for it to. it's natural.

[cnote]

Sounds like you have health anxiety. I think I do too to a point. I think that is what triggered my spell.

But we have to learn to Rebuke these things! The Devil wants us to live in fear our entire lives... but God wants us to have peace!

Think about it.... we are all going to die one day.... we don't wanna look back and say "man, i can't believe I worried about nothing my whole life..."

We can BEAT THIS GUYS!!!!! We will!!!!

I am understanding now, that anxiety is like sobriety... you can relapse!

But you can also get out of it! I've done it before!

It's just different every time... never the same...

But I am stronger than before. =)

I used to miss work last year b/c I couldnt go in to work being so anxious and pacy and scared....

now I make myself go to work and get through the day... I feel better at night... I'm more relaxed... its a coping thing... I read at night now with my wife in bed.... its calming... I'm going to the gym everday after work... even if I dont feel like it... atleast I accomplished something...

I have to look at all those things and think "wow, I am handling this spell very well this time."

One thing I've realized is that I talk about my anxiety SO MUCH!!!! Maybe it's not good? B/c it keeps me thinking about it?

My mom told me tonight "honey, tomorrow I want you to smile alot, and not talk about your anxiety one bit.... and keep your head up... tomorrow is going to be a good day for you..."

she planted a seed in my head... a good seed. =)

Back to you Kraggy... your question about the ENERGY RUSH... I only get it every now and then in the morning... I would say "YES" It is like an adrenaline rush, not just in the stomach area... but everywhere.. and its only for like a second or two. And it ***** lol. I also wake up clammy in the mornings... like ive been sweating a bit. Normal for me when Im having anxiety.

Kraggy I just wanted to give you peace of mind tonight... You do not have eye cancer. Your body has NO CANCER... you are HEALTHY.... you just need to change the way you think. Every time cancer comes to your head, just REBUKE it. Say "NO". Talk back to your thoughts. =)

Good luck to you! Glad we met! =)

We will both be feeling better soon Kraggy... and Kristine, and everyone else !  =)

[Kraggy]

Sorry for a double comment, but I cant seem to find the "edit" button

I had a question regarding to the "Energy Rush" you tend to feel in your body when you wake up.

Does it feel a bit like Adrenaline? A weird, allmost tickling feeling in your stomach area?

I have this feeling alot to, Not just when i wake up. I seem to get it when I suddenly "Realise" something, especially when it has something to do with my Anxiety.

[Kraggy]

Hello cnote, Kristine,

I've been reading the topic for a bit and I feel alot like the both of you.
My fears and Stomach pains (I'll assume that is what you meen by Nervous Stomach? If not, do you ever have pains in the upper & lower stomach if I may ask?) seem to be at their worst at night, when I'm alone in my room, pondering and thinking.
I got through the day pretty good after a conversation with my Doctor in the morning, but since about an hour or two, I think I have Eye Cancer (I have Fear of Cancer, If you did not know yet ^^) The reason? I've been wearing my lenses at night for the past month's or so, which is REALLY BAD for the eyes, Now I have dry eyes, and my sight got worse. Which are symptons of Eye Cancer. Combined with my Swollen Lymph Glands (They started my fears in the first place, 2+ month's ago) I come to the conclusion that I must have eye cancer.

It is like this everytime, And everytime its something else. Stomach, Brain, Skin, you name it. but in the end, its allways cancer.

For me im trying to repeat the doctors words in my head, I've been there quite alot of times now, Had a blood test and he inspected my body. And said I was pretty healthy.
This works to surpress the Anxiety, atleast for a bit.

Luckely I already had an appointment set for the Eye Doctor this friday morning, And for the Psychiatrist Friday Afternoon. Cant wait...

Anyways, Lets all stay strong and do our best to get over it!

Kind Regards,

Kraggy.

[cnote]

Called a psychiatrist I saw a couple of times last year today... I'm expecting his phone call soon. =) Can't wait to set up an appointment too!

We will win this battle! =)

[kristine9190]

I hear what you are saying, I am the same way in the morning, strictly by habit, the first thing I think about is "is my stomach nervous?" How do we break that cycle?

I always feel better when I am home too, maybe it is because I am not alone anymore, and maybe it is because I can finally turn my mind off of worrying about feeling sick, because honestly, when I am at home, who cares, at least I am home. When I feel sick and anxiety ridden, I just want to be home with my cats :) That always make me feel better. I am lucky, I am able to go home for about 45 minutes each day and relax, that seems to help me carry on with the last few hours of my work day.

Gosh, I wish there was an instant fix for you and I and anyone else that deals with the nervous stomach all day!

I am seeing a Psychiatrist at the end of this month, I have been seeing a Counselor and my regular Dr, but it was suggested that I start seeing an actual Psychiatrist. I am pretty excited about it! Anything that will help, I am game for!

Take Care!
Kristine

[cnote]

It's anxiety... but also an emotion... I'm sure it's b/c of my thinking...
I wake up early... and the 1st thing I think is "great... another day... how am I gonna feel today? Will I get my appetite back today? Etc. Etc. Etc."

It's definetley not an excited feelingin my stomach... it's a bad butterfly in the stomach feeling...

part of the problem why my nervous stomach won't leave is probably b/c i worry about having a nervous stomach... makes sense huh?

I'm also by myself alot during the day at work... b/c I'm out filming all day... so this gives my mind more time to race...

I always feel better at night for some reason... maybe it's b/c I made it through one more day...

Well, I'm thinking about seeing a psychiatrist... this could help me a lot.

[gofio]

Your distress is by no  means unique. If you can summon up hope that you will get well & be able to handle the episodes then you'll probably succeed. There's no universal answer to how to handle anxiety/depression..But, on this site you can see that a lot of people of all ages/sexes share your malady. After c.20 yrs of it I'm not able to 'cure it'. Tried all kinds of drugs, therapies etc. But there will come relief sometimes ~ am certain anyone that has anx/dep. will extend their best wishes to you & understand very well how you feel. My current tactic (not sure if it will work yet) is to try to keep going at something practical every day, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant to others. That way comes a feeling of achievement & some satisfaction. Try to avoid sitting in front of the TV etc. Time will pass for sure, but you will not benefit much from it. Activity may help, give it a try if you can motivate yourself ~ congratulate yourself on every success at doing something that requires effort on your part. Good Luck. Gofio.

[kristine9190]

I wake up with a nervous stomach most days, isn't it the worst. I feel like I am getting on a roller coaster or something. Do you ever think about  the way you are feeling, and wonder if we just assume it is anxiety, rather some of type of emotion? For instance, could it be that when my stomach is nervous before a family party, maybe I am not nervous, but excited? Maybe because we focus so much on our anxiety, that even when things are going good for us, and we have a nervous stomach, maybe it isn't anxiety, but happiness, being excited? I think I confuse these symptoms. I don't see my niece very often, and it seems like every time I am about too, or the day that I am going to see her, I have a super nervous stomach.......why would I be nervous to see her, clearly I am excited. Right?? Are we assuming that every sensation or emotion we have is anxiety? Sometimes I wonder!!

What are your thoughts on that?

[cnote]

Good morning Kristine... I woke up this morning with a nervous stomach AGAIN... it lasts almost ALL DAY! That's why I have no appetite...

And I also had nightmares last night... which makes me think I'm having nocturnal anxiety... anxiety in my sleep too.

Hope my day goes well. I'm at work right now....

Hope your day goes well too!

Just remember Kristine... one day... out of nowhere... it will LIFT... =)

[kristine9190]

Unfortunately, I wish I didn't have an appetite :) Though I will say when things were REALLY bad a year ago, I couldn't even look at food, it made me sick, so I understand what you mean. I can remember sitting at the table and I would look at my food and just cry, it felt hopeless, it was a horrible feeling.

I also can relate to having a spell and forgetting what it feels like to feel good, and vice versa, weird isn't it. Even still, on days when I feel reasonably well, I take it for granted! Almost like, "I felt great today, but UGH how am I going to feel tomorrow", even when things are good, I find myself worrying about when it is going to be bad again! It is just such a vicious cycle!

Today, I woke up and felt agitated! I was so tired and I was just grumpy! It hasn't subsided yet, I will probably take a walk at lunch, I have been trying to exercise more and see how that helps, but I can already tell, today isn't going to be my day!

Take Care! And I hope you are well today!
Kristine

[cnote]

When you go through a spell... doesnt it seem like you cannot remember what it feels like to feel good and happy?!?

And when you feel good... it's hard to imagine what it feels like to have anxiety/depression....

I find it so strange...

Also, do you find it that even if it's a beautiful day outside... everything looks and seems gray and gloomy?

I hate this part of the anxiety... and I hate not having an appetite... I can't afford to lose weight. I'm only 128lbs... luckily I've been able to force myself to eat throughout the day to maintain my weight... but I just wish I could actually ENJOY food again.

[cnote]

thank you so much SassyLassie!

[SassyLassie]

I have experienced all the symptoms you mention, it is anxiety at its finest and rest assured, it will pass. Sometimes it may not be as fast as we would like, it seems the more we have, the more of a "path" it makes in our nervous system and we have to work harder to get rid of it, but, it can be done.

I was 23 when I first had this start, and even for me, I can tell I am better. You have accomplished a lot for your age, a good job, a home, that is great, so see, you have lots going for you. Don't let these "demons" as I call them, get you. You WILL make it.

[cnote]

thanks. =)

[kristine9190]

Sounds like you have a lot going for you, there was a post earlier that talked a lot about "Positive Self Talk", sounds like you need to give yourself some credit for all that you have achieved! Really, at 25, you are successful with a great job that you like, you own a home, these things are a big deal! If I was there, I would pat you on the back and "Say Congratulations for all that you have achieved"..........

Be proud of yourself, you should be!

[cnote]

That's funny that you mentioned your job.

This year has been SO different for me...

I know my eye scare/ neck pain has started most of this...

BUT!.... I also just moved back into my home about 2 months ago... we had a house fire that caused us to move into a rental home for 4 months til our house was complete.

I did SO good for those 4 months! I was happy and excited! And when I moved back into our home again... it's like it all started happening again kinda...

AND on top of that... I got a promotion at my job where I have been for almost 4 years.

It is a HUGE promotion... but it I'm doing what I love to do, and that is video editing. The pay is something I've never gotten paid before either. My hours are also different... and when you are used to something for 4 years... and it changes... it's exciting... yet a little scary. lol.

Life should be great right!? lol. That's the hardest thing to understand...

I'm also by myself most of the day at work... driving around and filming locations. But, I really don't think this is the problem.

But, it could all kind of tie in together....

Thanks for the encouragement... I will feel better. I know I will...and can't WAIT! =)

[kristine9190]

My answer to this is "YES" you will get out of the funk!

When I read the list of your symptoms, you sounds so much like me. I have a nervous stomach all day, most days. Give your Lexapro time to work again, it has only been a week and it will take time to build back up in your system. Everything is going to be OK, you will come out of this, as you did the last time. Sometimes these spells are longer than others. I can relate to you so much, I am in a funk right now too, and I really look forward to getting out of it! With me, it is that I hate my job, and dread being here everyday, that on top of all of my other worries, I am in a constant state of Anxiety and Nervousness. So I feel for you!

Have faith that you will do great!

Take Care!
Kristine