ADVISE?

[VERBALOUTLAW]

I'm 23 currently having a variety of random pains ie; slight chest pains, weird feelings in my chest area, weak arms, aching legs, slight twiching, back pains (upper & lower) & i have had a few 'panic attacks'  - i've had various tests & they were all negative, i'm not convinced that i'm fine or it is related to anxiety y'know, but the doctor says so - i feel uncomfortable on a daily basis & i'm getting pretty sicked & tired of this.

Anybody with any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[VERBALOUTLAW]

Thankyou ever so much for that, i found this to be very compelling & uplifting.

I think before i can move forward i need to accept this as anxiety you know?
I always think of the worst which is half my problem, my glass must always be half full & certainly not half empty - i must believe this.

I'm going to give myself simple steps bit by bit, day by day to tackle this head on & slowly ease these problems out of my life.

Thankyou.

Liam.

[nursegirl6572]

Hello Liam, and welcome.  You've gotten excellent answers thus far.  Mr. Green nailed it when he said that accepting that what plagues us is "just anxiety"is not an easy thing to do.  It takes some of us a long time, and a long list of medical tests later, before we can come to accept that our problem is anxiety.

Think of it this way...while anxiety is certainly NOT a fun thing to have to live with and endure, it certainly IS better than actually having a medical problem, right?  So, it's great that all of your (quite extensive) medical testing has turned up nothing thus far!  I would say that it really sounds as though you are dealing with anxiety.  What makes it so hard to accept sometimes is that anxiety causes such real PHYSICAL symptoms...and people without anxiety would never imagine just how "real" those symptoms are...which is why so many of us go rushing off to the doctor or ER when the symptoms rear their ugly heads.

When your doctor says to you, "It's JUST anxiety".....you can most likely believe him/her...but also realize that anxiety is nothing to minimialize..."just anxiety" is a phrase that angers me when I hear it.  Anxiety is a big deal, and for those of us living with it, it is often a lifelong struggle...something that is scary, frustrating, and maddening all rolled up in one.

The good news is....it is VERY treatable.  The best place to start is an appt with your PCP to ask for a referral to a psychiatrist.  Don't get me wrong, many PCP's are equipped to handle and treat anxiety/panic...but a psych is better equipped, and better educated on the meds, especially the newer ones. Plus, they will be able to arrange for you a holistic plan that includes therapy...which will help you learn coping techniques..a process that is vital.  The medications help to minimize the symptoms while the therapy empowers you with the knowledge about anxiety disorders, and how to combat them.

Just keep in mind that recovery from anxiety and panic is often not an easy or quick road.  It takes some time....any medication that you would try needs to be given at least 4-6 weeks to really start noticing an improvement...and the coping techniques take some time to master....you basically have to re-train yourself in the way that you think.  We are "what iffers" by nature.  The smallest thing that would not worry a non-anxious person would send us into a worrying frenzy.  It takes time and while we want to feel better NOW, you have to realize that that is likely not going to happen, try to be as patient with yourself as possible.

I also recommend reading books...not only is learning about the process helpful, but it makes you realize just how NOT alone you are in this battle.  I believe the current figure is something like 20% of the US population is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.  That is a lot of people. This again is where a good therapist comes into play...they often have many books at the ready to lend you, or recommend to you to help you through this process.

Also, feel free to come here and share, ask questions....it seems like anxiety would be a simple enough concept, but believe it or not, there are a lot of aspects that you would be surprised to learn about.  Knowledge is power.  Hang in there, and again remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  Nothing was more reassuring for me when I was first diagnosed with Panic Disorder at age 18....it really took a huge weight off my shoulders.

We're here for you.

[VERBALOUTLAW]

Hello,

Thankyou everybody for your thoughts & feedback - i appreciate it.

They have checked my Thyroid & everything was all okay.

I've had a chest scan, heart scan, many ECG's, portable heart monitor, many blood tests, acupuncture, camera down my throat & others but i still feel uncomfortable on a daily basis.

I think i just need to let go of whatever it is haunting & holding me down, i don't want to loathe, i'm a pretty happy guy & i don't want this to get the better of me & my day to day life.

Could anybody advise some simple steps for me that would be of any help?

Thanks once again,

Liam.

[Jade59]

When we are anxious, we are tense and your pains could be caused from tension. Also, when we have have panic attacks there is alot of adrenaline coursing through our bodies so when we calm down, we feel exhausted and achy.  

[Crewchief67t]

Just as Mr. Green stated there a Million and One symtoms of anxiety an i think i have had them all over the last year.  I have had MANY tests done.  5 er trips, echo, CT angiogram, LOTS of EKG's, gallons of blood drawn, CT scans, Xrays, Stress test and many more i am probably forgetting.  It is very hard to accept the anxiety diagnosis.  I know i havent yet and still having a hard time believing the tests performed on me.  Even though they were all negative time and time again (the heart tests anyways were negative).

I really think anxiety is possibly the most debilitating thing there is.  It can cause all kinds of things.  

I wish you the best of luck and hope you feel better.

Mike

[Paxiled]

Did they check your thyroid?

[MrGreen]

Well if they ruled out everything else, at best you could seek a second opinion. But what would happen if they all came back negative as well? There comes a point were we must accept that maybe, just maybe, that is all might be anxiety related. The thing about anxiety is there is a million and one symptoms. And I will be honest and say when they can't find anything else the matter with you the obvious next best thing, giving the fact that you have had panic attacks, is anxiety. It is more a case of how many more tests do you want them to do on you? Hard thing to accept. I am well aware of that. That all we go through is anxiety related. Because it is so much by way of pain. You don't mention if medication or theraphy was suggested? To help ease some of that pain and then see how you feel. If you don't think it is anxiety I would say try medication for back pains and the likes. Just to ease the pain. Then see how you are feeling. If that does nothing for you, then you have to begin to maybe think of the anxiety answer. And where you can take it from there. For such a small word, anxiety carries such a big punch.