Anxiety?

[TylerJ]

Last week, a guy I knew passed away unexpectedly at 37 years old, leaving behind a wife and four young kids. I knew him a bit, and simply the thought of him being gone has bothered me. But more than just his passing, the situation has really messed with me. I am scared and timid to live life. I have found no escape. If I'm with my girlfriend, I think how our "forever" could be cut short like by buddy and his wife. If I think of my brothers, it freaks me out because this guy wasn't much older than we are. If I'm with my parents, both of whom I've been concerned about for awhile due to their health issues, I get scared thinking of losing them. We assume we'll live a long time and we have plans in place, but the truth is, we could be taken at any time.

Anyway, yesterday at work I started to get a neck ache, which I attributed to stress. Then my lower back started to hurt, as did my legs. I walked around a bit and I got very weak-legged and dizzy. I went into my bosses' office, and told them that I needed help.

The doctor said I had an anxiety attack. I hope that's what it was, but I'm just not sure. Even today, my back hurts; it's the type of back ache that I get when I get sick. Would anxiety really cause this type of back ache?

Did the doctor and I both leap to the anxiety conclusion based on the stress I've been under, or is there more to this? The back ache and legs hurting both have me flummoxed. Oh, I also broke into severe chills at the doctor, and then again last night right before bed (though that could be because I only took the one anxiety pill they gave me at the doctor's office, which probably wore off by bed time). Are chills associated with anxiety?

I know I'm all over the place here. Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.

[sweetdoll]

None of us want to think of leaving our loved ones.  The thing that helps me the most is simply my faith and belief about death.  I keep focused on the fact that we are only seperated for a time and will be reunited with our loved ones.  I have a very strong conviction of this.  

[remar]

Everything you're describing does sound like anxiety. I would recommend seeing a counselor to help you deal with your stress.
It's true that none of know how long we will be here on earth. But, worrying is like paying on a debt you don't owe because all we can do is live in the here and now and try to enjoy our lives as much as we can.