SCARED!!!!!

[cnote]

When I'm having an anxiety spell, like I do now, my stomach stays in this state of WORRY (BAD BUTTERFLIES) Is this common? I have nothing to worry about!!! Except... worrying about the feeling in my stomach and WHY it's there. My body shakes, especially my legs... I can notice my legs shaking BAD especially when walking down stairs. Tonight, I almost feel like I'm in the TWILIGHT ZONE, and it makes me scared.

My stomach has been in this "KNOT" for about 7 days now! It's affecting my appetite, my sleep especially... and everything... I believe this is the longest my anxiety has lasted this long. It usually starts to go away... but this time it hasn't. I'm going to see a therapist and try that before meds, but I almost feel like meds is the only answer for me at this point. I'm feeling hopeless. This has been a monthly accuance since this started. I'll go a month feeling great, then BAM, I'm scared feeling, bad butterflies in stomach, anxious,... and the anxiety is making me feel depressed now.

Thanks for listening.

[cj29]

I too have/and do suffer from panic and anxiety.  I actually went through a period of years between any panic, but it has returned this year.  First of all, I believe you are taking the correct steps by wanting to talk to a therapist about this.  This way you gain the knowledge of this cycle of, as fuzzy put it, 'worrying  about the worry."  The first time I went through this experience it totally floored me and I was STRONGLY AGAINST any medication whatsoever because I had read so many horror stories about them.   I chose to use them as a tool, along with my therapist and doctor, and in the long run really helped during the counseling.  I even went back on Zoloft and a very small dose of Ativan this time around and combined with therapy and this forum, it has done wonders.  

I know it is stressful and you feel like you are losing your identity.  Trust me, I know what it is like to have anxiety about the anxiety, that is a common fear in this cycle.  I applaud the fact that you are confronting this, and by no means pushing medication at all, because some people choose not to use them, and they have great success.  Another useful tool I have found in working through this is keeping a journal. I do it almost daily here on MedHelp and it shows my pattern of thinking and the progress that is being made because of hard work, therapy, and this forum.  By posting here, I get constructive comments and great advice; plus we don't always see our progress on a day to day basis because we are so mentally and physically tired working through this.

Keep using this forum and please, if you have any questions/concerns feel free to ask as many as you like through this form or private messaging!

[fuzzy882]

I think you answered your own question.  Your worrying about your worry.  This is a common symptom of anxiety. The butterflys, shaking legs, no appitite, etc...
All signs of anxiety. But, there has to be something that's going on to cause this.  I think your choice of seeing a therapist is right on. I'm sure you will be able to get to the bottom of it.

Good luck

[xanweaner]

Hang in there - try to hold out....can you drink a glass of wine? There's nothing wrong with adding a - 2 servings of wine/day to your diet. It will also help your appetite, too. Go with the therapist.
Do you know anything about fish oil supplements? Are you taking folic acid? Do you want me to send something over to you?
I'm rooting for you - I know that you want to stay off anti-anxiety drugs if you can.....
let me know if the wine helps!

[cnote]

I should add, the feeling in my stomach is like "waiting in the Dr.s office to hear the worst terrible news about me" or... something terrible is about to happen.