WOW

[bstubbs]

I am really happy i found this site!  Thank you all for sharing!  A little over a year ago i was taking a fat burner and took double the dose. Stupid!  I found myself in the hospital with increased heartrate.  Ever since then, it has been like i spiraled out of control with anxiety.  Its weird because I know exactly what caused the problem and was released the next day.  Since then I found myself going to quickcare clinics several times and the ER two more times after my initial stay.  I get pain in the pit of my stomach, it radiates to the back, and sometimes feel like i am going to pass out.  I also get the pins and needles feeling in my face.  At night, I find myself going through burping episodes that drive me crazy.  i had my heart checked-all good..got an upper GI and the dr found moderate gastritis that he attributed to stress.  He told me to take zantac everyday and it would be okay.  Sometimes when i am in a mall or store i feel like i have to hurry and get out before i pass out!  my fiance is getting sick of it, my close friends kinda think i am weird..I read one lady say on one of these forums that she decided that yes she would rather die then let anxiety control her life..and this made her stop worrying..in a way i thought this made sense and it helped me a bit.  My brother told me that living and dying isnt up to me. He says you worry about a heart attack and this and that but when your number is up, it doesnt matter anyways so you shouldnt just worry about it.  This makes sense too!  I recently moved to las vegas from michigan from a family that i was so close to.  I also teach 7th grade which is stressful.  i know i suffer from anxiety and not some life threatening illness but it still *****!  This site and the people that write in really help me..writing this has been a form of therapy in itself so i thank you and keep fighting!  we will win

[nora006]

Hi!
Thanks for your interesting post.
You wrote:
"My brother told me that living and dying isnt up to me. He says you worry about a heart attack and this and that but when your number is up, it doesnt matter anyways so you shouldnt just worry about it."

I can totally identify with the preoccupational worrying though my anxiety is a bit different from your's and manifests itself with strong bodily symptoms rather than psychical in origin. But I sure know the feeling of being trapped and "controlled" by anxious or panicky feelings, feelings of being overwhelmed by symptoms/anxiety.
The thing that helps me the most is to "choose" to stay positive and not let myself get carried away with the anxiety when it comes. It is hard but I too know that it's "only" anxiety(though I DO get carried away with it sometimes!)
I include a quote(Patric Overton) which sums up my experience with anxiety in a much nicer way than I myself could possibly express in a few words:

“When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take the step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for us to stand on or we will be taught to fly.”

Best wishes,
Nora

[bstubbs]

Thanks for writing!  what do you feel when you get anxiety?

[Paxiled]

Recommend you stop the zantac and do natural remedies such as aloe juice or DGL and work on your diet.  Zantac suppresses acid, which forces the stomach to just make more in order to digest protein.  As you should be knowledgeable and smart about supplements, so should you be about meds.