Has my anxiety manifested itself differently?

[cnote]

28 Male. Not a stranger to anxiety. But havent had it in a long time!

About a week ago, I felt my lower lip tingle, and my thumb. Just that small sensation sent me into a panic attack, then down a downward spiral of anxiety... even after those sensations left.

Ever since then, I have had heart palpitations like crazy, nervous stomach, and my biggest fear symptom is this feeling of off balance/light headedness. It's pretty much constant when I'm walking around, or if I look down then up.

It doesnt seem to effect me too much while sitting on the computer, or laying in bed.

I can manage my anxiety during the day pretty well, but at night for the past week I've been taking a .5mg to a 1mg pill of ativan just to help knock the edge off.

My question is...

Q: Is this lightheadedness a common symptom of anxiety? I called my Dr. today, which I even saw last week, he said it was more than likely anxiety related. he said it could be something not serious, and my anxiety is making it worse. he said to see him in a month... he must not be that concerned. hes an awesome dr. he said if i had a brain tumor id be having WAY more symptoms than that

Your thoughts? just need some encouragement and some extra reassurance. thanks guys.

[cnote]

Hey, My thoughts are too, if It will help me feel better... I'm gonna go see the Dr!

About 3 years ago when this 1st started I saw my Dr. too about 8 times in a month. I've gotten way better. lol.

These 3 times im seeing him the the past 2.5 weeks is the 1st time ive seen him in like 7-8 months!

So I don't feel bad. Universal healthcare sounds awesome.

[CanuckGuy42]

Don't worry... in the beginning I saw my doctor 3 days in one week.... we have universal health care up here in Canada so I don't feel guilty about expensing it to the governement to whom I have been paying for it to for all my life!!

[cnote]

I think we are starting on 5mg to see how I feel in the next few weeks. I'm pretty med sensitive. I already felt some side effects from the Lexapro lastnight. The nightsweats. lol. That's something I totally remember it giving me at 1st. And lastnight was just my 2nd night on it.

Lastnight was HELL.

Today is I called in at work, taking the day off, made another Dr. appt.

Why am i feeling so bad? Why so constantly off balance? And everything just seems to feel weird.

I'm a mess.... to be honest with you. But I'll keep you all up to date on my Dr's visit today.

I can't believe I'm seeing him AGAIN! This is like the 3rd time in 2.5 weeks!

[CanuckGuy42]

5mg of Lexapro is a very low dose.... what is your target dose? I'm at 15 mg a day now and finally starting to feel really good... but it took 4 weeks for me cause i was sensitive to the side effects... but I DO NOT regret going on this med... it has calmed my thought processes considerably....

[cnote]

It's 5:30am... Just woke up in panic in bed. It's like I woke up with my eyes still closed but felt like I was moving or spinning!! I opened my eyes, felt this overwhelming feeling of dread all over me... Took a deep breath got up to go pee. Kept thinking if I felt off balance or not. Then I felt the urge to have diarrhea ... And sure enough I did have some diarrhea. My mouth is dry.. I feel terrible. I went outside for a cigarette came back in, woke my wife up to tell her what happened. She said its okay it's all anxiety but pretty severe. I think I'm going to take the day off today and get in quick to see my Dr. I can't just keep popping ativan.

I took my 1st Ativan at 6pm then another at like 10:20pm right before bed... Then I'm up at 5am and just took one.

The suns coming up... I'm gonna try and let this Ativan do it's thing... And try and get a little more sleep.

[cnote]

Tonight I came home from work, felt off balance, my anxiety was up a bit. I was on the deck with my kids trying to play with them, but i couldnt even focus... i was focusing on my off balance feeling and lightheadedness...

I then all of a sudden was stricken with FEAR and PANIC.. and BAD anxiety and bad lightheadedness. I held my composure infront of my kids, told them to come inside for a moment.

I talked to my wife for a moment, she said I was fine.

I broke down and called nurses hotline... can you believe it? My own freakin Dr. told me on the phone lastnight I was FINE 100%... Yet I still needed REASSURANCE AGAIN from another person in the medical field.

Anyways, the lady reassured me if I had something seriously wrong with my brain like a tumor or cancer, I'd be having WAY MORE SYMPTOMS... She said I'd be having HEADACHES LIKE CRAZY to where I couldnt stand them... blurred vision or even vision loss.

I have had NO headaches with this. And no visual issues. SO IM FINE.

I popped an ativan, started crying after I got off the phone with her.. and my wife and I just talked for a while.

I'm feeling better now.. still a little off balance feeling.. BUT IM THINKIN ABOUT IT WAY TOO MUCH.

This 5mg of Lexapro better start working in the next 3 weeks or so. lol.

God Bless. This sure does stink.

What helps me get through this honestly is the ativan, and just being with my family.

I LOVE to snuggle in bed with my wife and 4 year old daughter and watch movies at night. It's relaxing and I feel good and safe with them. One thing I will never do is show my anxiety around my children. They don't need to see me like this. Love them.