| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| dwinsor52 |
Posted - 05/13/2006 : 09:45:38
I have conquered pain, restless legs, and now I am plagued with anxiety triggered by a very slight reduction in my antidepressant. I believe this is my brain hoodwinking me, because it is my intention to eventually get off the antidepressant. It has been 3 weeks since I reduced my dose so I should be fine. Not only am I having palpitations, shortness of breath, etc. but my whole body feels like it's trembling even though it isn't. I could use some cheerleading or anyone else's experience. In a panic I called my doctor yesterday, who suggested going back up on the med, even though I know in my heart this is NOT the direction I want to go in.
This is the first time I have dealt with anxiety as a TMS equivalent and would appreciate any tips or strategies that I may not be thinking of myself. I find the anxiety more scary than pain. |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| joli |
Posted - 07/05/2008 : 15:53:10
I feel your pain. I had the worst experience with meds like that. But it goes away, Do ask to be tapered with prozac or something.
Anxiety can be so strong , you feel crazy, I know, try craying or laughing with someone close.
Ask for help, don't let it wear you out.
namaste! |
| Jena |
Posted - 07/05/2008 : 11:55:01
thanks for your reply. Ive been having a lot of stomach problems lately and I think I am just going to get an endoscopy and colonoscopy though. My upper stomach seems bloated or distended for 2 years now and was supposed to get an endoscopy and never did, I think its time. Being the hypochondriac that I am I think the worst and I have stomach cancer or enlarged lymhnodes causing my abdomen to swell and unable to breath... Ive had abdominal ultrasound done and it came up normal but I feel pain as well so I doubt its TMS. I dont know if being a hypochondriac and always thinking im dieing is causing some sort of anxiety without me knowing it. I have the symptoms but I dont feel stressed out about anything going on in llife except my cat being sick and maybe just the obsessive thoughts of illness in itsself is causing stress |
| simplyfree |
Posted - 07/01/2008 : 16:07:06
[quote]Originally posted by Jena
Have you ever felt like your just doing normal things not thinking about anxiety not stressed out or anything and you just feel like somethings not right? You just cant breathe? Its nothing overpowering but its just like your not gettting enough air?
Hey Jena, you sound better. I'm glad.
To answer your question, yes, I've had it off and on for years. Some times more severe than others. Even going to the ER to see what my blood oxygen level was. It was normal of course.
Fatigue and breathing issues are both related to TMS. Whether you are consciously worried about something doesn't affect the mind's ability to obsess on it or to cause anxiety. Remember, TMS is mediated through the unconscious, not even the subconscious.
There are breathing techniques incorporated into all modalities of stress reduction. The reason being that one of the bodies responses to stress is to do shallow breathing, faster breathing. This doesn't allow enough oxygen to get into the blood stream. That in itself can make you more tense and have odd sensations.
The muscles around your diaphram also include the ones associated with your stomach. Classic and tension-related. Exercise is a good, physical way to relieve tension.
Fortunately, it's something you can control and practice. breathing.org has some info. It seems like an oxymoron for humans to have to practice breathing, but due to stressful situations in life, we do.
You say you aren't consciously anxious but your symptoms are telling you otherwise. Try to bring those emotions/thoughts to the surface.
Read and re-read TMS literature. Keeping busy is good but not if you're too busy or pre-occupied to address what's going on emotionally. Avoidance is another TMS strategy.
Take care and keep us posted as to how you're doing.
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." -Anais Nin |
| Scottydog |
Posted - 07/01/2008 : 14:06:32
In 2006 I recommended reading Eckhart Tolle on this thread - now I believe his book is mostly about postiive thinking - if you are in the now you are not dwelling on past failures etc - but think that dealing with all the trivia of every day life is the 'cure' so now I do not recommend his book!!
I have had anxiety and my therapist recommends dealing with present issues - something bothering you then physically deal with it (not 'I will speak to them sometime soon when the opportunity arises'), someone is demanding too much of your time then politely explain that you have other important things to do and will call on them in a week's time, teenage son plays loud music then tell him to stop/ chuck speakers out/ tell him to move out/buy ear plugs etc etc etc
Very simple but very liberating and once you have the idea, anxiety reducing.
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| Jena |
Posted - 06/30/2008 : 18:23:27
Have you ever felt like your just doing normal things not thinking about anxiety not stressed out or anything and you just feel like somethings not right? You just cant breathe? Its nothing overpowering but its just like your not gettting enough air?
My mother used to suffer from genarlized anxiety and panic attacks when she was 23 as well and I mentioned to her that my stomach, my heart, and my breathing all feel connected, its a very strange feeling to describe. She knew exactly what i was talking about and said its anxiety!
Has anyone felt like there was some kind of connection especially my stomach and my breathing i cant explain it. Ive been getting my lymphnodes checked for years and still no doctors think I should go further in testing... idk
i really try and let go of the feelings but i think its easier to do that during a panic attack maybe? I dont know when i just have a little anxiety which still is [pretty bad in itself I cant rid it. Than my mind runs with the thought "maybe theres something else causing this". I dont know what to tell my current theerapist i feel bad getting rid of her if you know what I mean |
| simplyfree |
Posted - 06/27/2008 : 21:02:07
Jena,
Please know that I'm not a health professional. What I've shared with you has been my experience and may in no way apply to you. What I posted was for information purposes only, not to frighten you.
It sounds as if you've gone the dr circuit and they basically agree. You're a healthy 23 year old woman. Without evidence to the contrary, it may be time to take their word for it.
It is important to trust ourselves; however, when we have anxiety and obsessive tendencies, we may not be in the best position to accurately assess our own health.
Anxiety is self-perpetuating. We have TMS or something similar that causes anxiety. We begin to feel something and that makes us more anxious, which in turn can then cause all types of sensations and weird and unaccountable feelings, which can send us over the obsessing brink. You can become a prisoner in your own body. That is anxiety. And that is TMS.
And if you look back on your earlier post about your grandmother and your father I think you will understand why you have anxiety, in particular health-related anxiety. It's understandable. At the same time, however, it can also take over your life if you let it. I say that from personal experience.
You might want to think more seriously about taking your drs advice on finding a therapist who specializes in anxiety. No matter what is causing it, at this point, it might be best to try and get it under better control. There are several mediums available to help with anxiety. Many have been evaluated on this forum. The important thing is to find one for you.
"LA" gave some very good advice up above. Anxiety builds momentum but we can take back control.
It makes sense that an infection could affect your lymphocytes. You could wait a couple of months and have it re-checked.
TSH and T4 are typically two different tests for the thyroid. However if you're uncertain what was actually tested by 'TSH ultrasensitive,' ask your doctor to explain it to you.
I'd like to say, 'don't worry.' But speaking from experience I know saying that does nothing to help anxiety. You really are the one in control. You've proved it already by managing your pain.
And try to remember that 'feelings' are just that - feelings. Nothing more. They're not tangible. They come and they go unless we hold onto them. And what's the worst that can happen by letting them go? Holding on, letting go - we're still the ones in control.
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." -Anais Nin |
| Jena |
Posted - 06/27/2008 : 05:28:06
I just checked out my blood test to see my TSH level. To see if they tested for T 4. On my blood test it says TSH, ULTRASENSITIVE. Does that mean it tested that? Since it doesnt just say TSH? |
| Jena |
Posted - 06/27/2008 : 04:48:47
I forgot to mention I asked my friend whose a med student why my lymphocytes could be low and a day after my blood test I had like a 24 hr flu he said that probably did it but I thought the opposite would of happened it would of been high. He explained it depends if it bacterial or viral. Idk I cry every night because I truly think I have these physical fatal diseases. I'd do anything in the world to not gave these obsessive thoughts I wasn't always like this. |
| Jena |
Posted - 06/27/2008 : 04:42:45
basically no doctors dont think I have any fatal illness no matter how much I try and get a cat scan done my doctor doesnt prescribe it because she sees how much I worry and she doesnt see a reason to do a cat scan of my head. The reason I want to get one is because my father and grandmother both had brain tumors (non cancerous) and I feel like I've had a swollen lymph node for years but I've had the lymphnode checked outbu 3-4 doctors and they all say the same
thing its fine! I recently had a blood test and my lymphocytes were 17 the normal range is 20-25. I called my doctor and said " I worry about my lymphnodes and my
lymphocytes are low" she explained how my over all blood work is to good to have anything and she begs of me to stop worrying I'm to young to worry about health as much as I do. She knows I'm talking to a therapist but recommends
talking to the one she knows who specializes in anxiety. I even told her I should get a brain scan because of my dads brain tumor she explained not necessary to put myself
under such radiation these ailments I think I have are rare and she doesnt think I should get the test. I do have health anxiety without doubt but now I checked out that thyroid website and I'm paranoid I have a tumor and not anxiety thats why I'm feeling this way. When I recently sppoke to sarno on the phone he explained hypochondria comes from tms and anxiety 100%! My life just suffers ecause I think I have lymphoma or a tumor of my brain. Idk what to do. I've also convinced myself I've had other cancers like stomach and had an abdominal ultra sound. Everything is normal. I got my heart checker out it was normal. My heart doctor prescribed me paxil because he asked if I had anxiety like symptoms I guess he can tell because of the million questions I asked him and he started askingme some and explained so many peoplehe seed a day suffer from anxiety and I was no different I asked if I should get a brain scan he replied with thevsame thing no way its not worth the radiation based on my age and health not too. I used to convince myself I also had sleep apnea and asked my heart doctor if I should do a sleep study he said no. Idk what to believe or do. |
| simplyfree |
Posted - 06/26/2008 : 22:35:13
quote:
Originally posted by Jena
thanks simplyfree. im starting to freak out though i know i can be hypochondriacal but i think i have somethign seriously wrong with me....im scared i have cancer or a tumor in my brain. my life is severly affected by this. sometimes i dont think this way but its rare.
Jena, I can honestly say I know exactly how you feel. And it is definitely anxiety. Feelings of doom and death are part of its manifestation. Do you have any rational reason from blood tests, diagnostics, drs opinions, etc. to think you might have cancer or some other fatal illness?
The main issue is what is causing the anxiety. It could definitely be TMS. It could be physical. It could be both.
You know your history, your fears, worries, what angers you, what hurts you. Discovering whether this is TMS and only TMS is a process each person has to go through.
That is how I ended up here myself. I realized a long time ago that fear is an underlying emotion which rules my life sometimes. It just comes out of seemingly nowhere and leaves me feeling, just as you do, like I must be dying. I couldn't feel this bad and not have something fatal. I was wrong.
Wrong, because I ignored the 'fear' and focused on the physical manifestations that overwhelmed and debilitated me. And wrong, because I put my faith in drs who, don't get me wrong, they were good, even exceptional drs, but still didn't see (couldn't see) the entire picture.
You know yourself better than anyone else. Trust that completely. I wish I could have learned this at 23 years of age. You're ahead of the game. Stay there.
Just for sanity's sake, take a look at that website I posted on thyroid and adrenals above. These problems are consistently overlooked. Even being anemic can cause or worsen anxiety. If you don't fit those profiles and they are extensive, you can rule those out.
Personally, I have both - the physiological and psychological aspects of anxiety. Either way it's a demon - but one you can eventually overpower, or at the least tame.
Knowledge is power so continue doing what you're doing, educate yourself. (I have to go now and take a dose of my own medicine.) 
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." -Anais Nin |
| Jena |
Posted - 06/25/2008 : 19:18:29
thanks simplyfree. im starting to freak out though i know i can be hypochondriacal but i think i have somethign seriously wrong with me because of the crazy symptoms i get i can easily convince myself its not anxiety. i dont know what to do i feel strange. maybe i do have something seriously wrong with me im 23 years old. im scared i have cancer or a tumor in my brain. my life is severly affected by this. sometimes i dont think this way but its rare. |
| simplyfree |
Posted - 06/25/2008 : 18:12:41
quote:
Originally posted by Jena
according to sarnos the divided mind its rarely an adrenal problem. mine is def anxiety. I've been to several doctors
I didn't mean to imply that you don't have anxiety. Not at all. I experience it myself and know how frustrating it can be to deal with. But what I've come to realize is that understanding anxiety can be like understanding back pain. TMS pain is real pain, just not caused by what we think caused it or by what our drs say caused it.
Anxiety is real and can be caused by various factors, some psychological and some physical. With TMS a person has to rule out physical injury first, then delve into the psychological aspects. Anxiety is the same.
I'm just saying a TSH test may not tell the entire thyroid story. Adrenal fatigue can be closely related especially if there's been a lifetime of stress involved. |
| Jena |
Posted - 06/25/2008 : 01:37:20
according to sarnos the divided mind its rarely an adrenal problem. mine is def anxiety. I've been to several doctors |
| simplyfree |
Posted - 06/24/2008 : 23:09:40
Having your thyroid checked is always a good practice when you're continuing to experience panic & anxiety. However, a TSH test may not be the be all, end all of the thyroid question. I'm reading a book about thyroid and adrenal fatigue I find extremely interesting. The author has a website: stopthethyroidmadness.com and a forum on Yahoo about thyroid issues and misdiagnoses based upon TSH testing only. If there's a question about whether it's an issue or not, you may want to check out the website. It's very informative and you don't have to purchase the book.
simplyfree |
| positivevibes |
Posted - 06/24/2008 : 14:27:12
quote:
Originally posted by Jena
I had my thyroid checked out it was normal so im assuming this is tms. I also had an ekg and echocardiogram which came normal. panic and anxiety are the worst ever. i cured my back pain and now have anxiety so am i always going to have one or the other?
I'm glad to hear that your TSH is normal. That's good to know!
I agree with what LA Kevin is saying about anxiety. Your frame of mind can make it worse or better. It's not easy to re-train yourself so that you can squash the anxiety when it comes. Deep breathing helps. Lying down in a darkened room, trying to breath deeply and thinking peaceful thoughts also helps. If you find yourself being really out of control, anti-anxiety meds can help a lot, but you don't want to stay on those.
The book I had mentioned to you is: The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne, PhD. My CBT therapist told me to get it. I found it extremely helpful in getting over my panic attacks. It covers a LOT of areas -- not just exercises to help you get over your fears and anxieties, but suggestions about lifestyle changes, inner work, etc. I'm sure they have it on Amazon or other booksellers. I picked it up in my local chain bookstore.
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You are not your mind; you are not your thoughts. The incessant mental noise [of your thoughts] creates a false mind-made self that causes fear and suffering and prevents you from connecting with your true self and living in the Now. - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now |
| la_kevin |
Posted - 06/23/2008 : 20:06:56
quote:
Originally posted by Jena
I had my thyroid checked out it was normal so im assuming this is tms. I also had an ekg and echocardiogram which came normal. panic and anxiety are the worst ever. i cured my back pain and now have anxiety so am i always going to have one or the other?
If you teach yourself to let go of the "what if" thinking, you will not. It's a choice you have to make. Anxiety will only have it's power when you give it power, like TMS. Worrying about whether or not you will have anxiety tomorrow, will mostly likely give you anxiety ....tomorrow.
Treat anxiety like you did the pain. It's another reaction to thought which causes a metabolic change (SEE TMS THEORY), and causes physical sensations(see psychosomatic theory).
Allow the anxiety to happen. Talk to it and say something like "I know you're a metabolic reaction based on my thoughts of flight or flight. You really are kind of silly being that I'm not in any real danger right now...so what gives?"
Allow yourself to cry or be lazy for a while. I don't advise getting angry at it. Anger never helped psychosomatic syndromes in all of my experience, and anger is a CONTROL reaction. You must release control to gain control.
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"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans"- John Lennon |
| Jena |
Posted - 06/23/2008 : 19:24:12
I had my thyroid checked out it was normal so im assuming this is tms. I also had an ekg and echocardiogram which came normal. panic and anxiety are the worst ever. i cured my back pain and now have anxiety so am i always going to have one or the other? |
| positivevibes |
Posted - 06/23/2008 : 15:32:53
Anxiety and panic -- this is an interesting thread. Most of my anxiety and panic is caused by back pain lately, although I can relate to waht Jena is saying because a few years ago I had panic attacks while driving on the freeway (CBT helped it a great deal).
I find that my anxiety over back pain is caused by fear. Fear of the pain getting much worse in the future and ruining my life. It is totally against "living in the now" to think that way -- but damn it's hard to break! That feeling of "oh no, oh no, this is terrible, here we go again..." when the pain begins for whatever reason.
It's just hard for me to get ahold of myself when I feel this "pain panic." This feeling is probably the number one feeling I hate having in my life. I wish my back would just get better and stay better so I won't ever have to feel this way ever again. It feels like being in the middle of a horror movie.
**********
You are not your mind; you are not your thoughts. The incessant mental noise [of your thoughts] creates a false mind-made self that causes fear and suffering and prevents you from connecting with your true self and living in the Now. - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now |
| la_kevin |
Posted - 06/23/2008 : 02:34:42
Also, physical pain is predictable day after day. Losing control over pain is not as scary as losing(or seeming to) lose control of your mind.
The first time I had anxiety "disorder" I was 19. Ended up in an emergency psych unit for a day. The Doc thought I was so bad he swore I was having a Manic attack from Bipolar disorder. Later he realized I was having a severe 8 hour long panic attack.
I have had a panic attack so bad that my face and arms went numb, and my fingers shriveled up into "claws" from hyperventilation. I was in the E.R at the time and this nurse rushed over to me.
I was literally paralyzed and my stomach was convulsing like I was detoxing off of heroin or something. She looked over at me and said, "You are completely doing this to yourself". I thought she was insane. She forced me to breathe into a bag and my arms, fingers, and face came back to life.
Yes, anxiety can cause you to oversaturate your blood with oxygen, to the point where you are literally paralyzed.
Anxiety is one of the scariest feelings on earth. The only way to defeat it is to change the thinking that caused it.
Don't allow yourself to 'alarm', by thinking rapid succession of negative or doubtful thoughts all in the blink of an eye.
Cut the cycle off by going through it.
If you have certain thoughts that are setting this in motion on a regular basis, you might want to consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or desensitization techniques. These teach your mind to actually confront the thoughts so much that they become boring to you and after a while they don't even evoke any emotion in you.
For instance. You have fears of a family member dying, and that causes anxiety. You would purposely imagine their death hundreds of times a day, and go into every weird and disturbing detail of how it could or would happen. After a week of this, your mind starts to really get bored with the whole idea.
Anyways. Hope that helps.
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| la_kevin |
Posted - 06/23/2008 : 02:19:14
If you do not suffer from any 'physical' ailmenys and have been diagnosed with TMS, it is TMS no doubt.
Relax. Let the anxiety happen. Laugh at it and feel it run through you. Don't concentrate on the "what if" thoughts. Remember to just let all your thoughts come out unforced.
Trying to control the anxiety or make it go away will amplify it. Lose the control thoughts when they come. Tell yourself that it is ok to feel out of control for a while and that you are not dying.
You will find that just giving into it, will take it's power away. Practice this enough and you can INSTANTLY stop an anxiety attack.
I can stop most anxiety attacks within 2 minutes by just letting it happen. As soon as you start laughing when your realize it's basically a ghost, it seems to give up.
Now for some reason, chronic low grade "background" anxiety is a little more stubborn. Also use the same approach but stay "busier" during the day. Acknowledge that you are anxious and what you're anxious about, but move on once you 'know' the source.
If you don't know the source, it's fine. Remember the moment and keep your mind in the now. You will notice that your anxiety is fed by thoughts and visual pictures that are mainly in the past or future. These are the "what if" and the "What should have been " or "what was that" thoughts. None of those represent the now, the present.
Practice just letting go. I'm not saying to meditate and think "positively". I mean letting go of the control of your thoughts and fears, and realizing that 90% of the thoughts that are giving you anxiety, are things you cannot possibly control, or are illogical.
It takes practice.
Good luck.
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"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans"- John Lennon |
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