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Switters
42 Posts |
 Posted - 10/20/2012 : 09:36:27
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I am a 43 year old male, and a month ago I had a dizzy spell which triggered an anxiety attack. I thought I was having a heart attack. Had to go to the ER 2 nights in a row. All test results fine. Doctor says it's anxiety.
The full-blown attacks have subsided, but I'm still symptomatic: lightheaded, dizzy, short of breath, and anxious. I take a .5 ativan and that calms all the symptoms for a day.
So what brought this on? In the past 8 months, the following 4 things have happened:
1. The love of my life left me after 3 years. I've been totally heartbroken.
2. When the dizzy spell happened, I was working for a company at a trade show that paid me a lot of money. I had to be "on", performing, and my client was hovering.
3. My parents sold my beloved childhood house, and it was demolished by the new owner.
4. My kid sister married a man she only knew for 3 months, never introduced him to my parents, me, or family. She has broken my parents heart yet again, and I'm so angry at her I can't even speak to her.
So....does Dr. Sarno describe anxiety or panic attacks as TMS symptoms?
Thanks for your feedback.
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andy64tms
USA
589 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2012 : 12:38:43
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Hi Switters,
Sorry you have ongoing troubles, I think you are in the right place. In a nutshell the picture you painted was:
1. Separation
2. Fear
3. Loss
4. Anger
All ingredients on the recipe for TMS. Anxiety, panic attacks are definitely TMS.
I did not have one, but if you can a TMS checkup will help firm up your belief.
Good luck
Andy
Past TMS Experience in 2000, with success.
Back on Wiki Edu Program day 15
Charlie Horse on neck for 20 years. (to be evicted later.)
Books:
Healing Back Pain
Unlearn your Pain
The Great Pain Deception |
Edited by - andy64tms on 10/20/2012 12:40:14 |
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susan828
USA
291 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2012 : 22:58:19
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Hi Switters. I haven't conquered my TMS symptoms, but went through a long anxiety program years ago. My choice has not been to use drugs because you are acknowledging that you are afraid of the symptoms. The key to getting over anxiety and panic is to just see it as an adrenaline reaction and not be thrown by it.
I know that sounds simplistic. I have had panic attacks since I was 10 years old and they terrified me but you know how one spark of the first anxiety symptoms escalated within seconds to a full blown panic and all that comes with it.
One book that really helped me was The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne. But honestly, 60 books later (I have read and have them all), it really comes down to not being afraid of the physical reactions. When you stop viewing them as the "bogey man", they no longer have the power to scare you.
People like us who are prone to this will always get the first flash of adrenaline caused anxiety, that is unavoidable, but after a time, we can say "oh it's you, go away". I hope you know what I mean by what I said about the Ativan (or Xanax, Klonopin, etc). I am not against it until you develop the techniques but the therapists I worked with feel it can be counter-productive because it is saying that there is something scary happening. And there isn't...it's just some darn chemical doing its thing because we're shaken up about something.
You have enough to warrant this, sure. My boss hovering gives me jaw pain and anxiety. Feeling like I am being judged gives me anxiety, being watched, hassled. And being left by someone has left me devastated in the past. Totally lost. One time, I hardly recognized my own block, I was in a total daze. The lightheadedness you have, the shortness of breath and dizziness are all from the anxiety. You sound very smart and you probably have researched this (adrenaline reactions). Read up on how to control the breathing and hyperventilation. People aren't usually aware that they're doing this but this is one thing you CAN control and ease the symptoms a bit.
Please feel free to message me. I know you can beat this but for now, like Andy said..the loss, separation...it's like everything familiar has been pulled from under you. I have seen people who never knew what the word anxiety mean turn into a wreck after a breakup, shaking, sweating, unable to go to work. It's normal when your world has been shaken.
Not sure if classifying it as TMS helps or not...it's ALL tension, anxiety...but I find that the books on anxiety really helped me see the symptoms in a new light. |
Edited by - susan828 on 10/20/2012 22:59:39 |
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bryan3000
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2012 : 00:47:10
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Switteres,
As a 3 year sufferer of anxiety who is making significant progress towards healing I have a few pieces of advice:
-taper off the benzos and quit. You will never be rid of anxiety as long as you take them and in fact it will ramp it up until you quit, and then that's another problem. Worst thing I did in my recovery was to take a small dose of benzo regularly.
-Do a search here for posts from Hillbilly and Balto. Read them all.
-Sarno calls anxiety a TMS equivalent. But, most TMS programs alone won't rid you of anxiety. They can be a nice adjunct.
-Read all books by Claire Weekes immediately. (before any tms reading)
-visit anxietycentre.com and join as a member. Immerse yourself in the information. Consider talking to one of their therapists.
My anxiety/panic all started at 40 as well. Very common. Educate yourself and this will help you lose the fear. Then it's about changing behaviors. It's not just what's going on in our lives, it's how we react to it.
You will beat this. But please for your own good, go at it aggressively. |
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jaya
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2012 : 15:04:05
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| Lose the ativan...its bad news,doctors plus pills equals more questions than answers |
Edited by - jaya on 10/21/2012 15:06:15 |
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shawnsmith
Czech Republic
2048 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2012 : 15:13:36
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For anxiety I found this website to be most helpful:
http://www.anxietycentre.com
A lot of free stuff, but the subscription is not that expensive. No meds here, just talk therapy and they make a lot of sense. Read the second on the myth of chemical imbalance.
I hope it helps. |
Edited by - shawnsmith on 10/21/2012 17:14:46 |
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jaya
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2012 : 15:18:18
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| Anxietycentre is the only sensible site I ever found googling. |
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Switters
42 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2012 : 17:34:39
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Thank you all so much for your thoughtful responses. I really appreciate your advice.
I must say, my symptoms do alarm me because I've never really experienced them at this level. I can't walk into a department store lately without feeling lightheaded, dizzy, slightly off kilter. And yesterday I just had the heaviest feeling of malaise. When it gets extreme I pop an ativan, and it simply helps. But I don't want to remain hooked on it, and I decided not to take meds like anti-depressants for now. I want to deal with this naturally.
During this period I'm back exercising, talk therapy, and have been doing acupuncture.
I will heed your words and suggestions. Thank you!! |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2012 : 20:17:47
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Save your money on the acupuncture, it's voodoo, look up the definitive studies on it. I've had probably 200 sessions in the past, very relaxing, you ain't going anywhere with all those needles in you. Get a massage instead, more bang for your buck for soothing/relaxing from the TMS gremlin or spend the money for sessions with a TMS therapist.
I randomly googled "acupuncture" and "voodoo" and this is just one article that came up:
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2008/12/16/tong-ren-an-unholy-union-of-acupuncture/
==================================================
DR. SARNO'S 12 DAILY REMINDERS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0dKBFwGR0g
TAKE THE HOLMES-RAHE STRESS TEST
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale
Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Jiddu Krishnamurti
"Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional." Author Unknown
"Happy People Are Happy Putters." Frank Nobilo, Golf Analyst
"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." Mark Twain and Balto
"The hot-dog is the noblest of dogs; it feeds the hand that bites it." Dr. Laurence Johnston Peter
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"If it ends with "itis" or "algia" or "syndrome" and doctors can't figure out what causes it, then it might be TMS." Dave the Mod
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TMS PRACTITIONERS:
John Sarno, MD
400 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016
(212) 263-6035
Here's the TMS practitioners list from the TMS Help Forum:
http://www.tmshelp.com/links.htm
Here's a list of TMS practitioners from the TMS Wiki:
http://tmswiki.org/ppd/Find_a_TMS_Doctor_or_Therapist
Here's a map of TMS practitioners from the old Tarpit Yoga site, (click on the map by state for listings).:
http://www.tarpityoga.com/2007_08_01_archive.html |
Edited by - tennis tom on 10/21/2012 23:58:24 |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2012 : 22:02:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Switters
I can't walk into a department store lately without feeling lightheaded, dizzy, slightly off kilter.
Quite a normal TMS phenomenon, here's from SteveO's "GPD" on it:
Page 110, "Standing Pain-Free in Public"
"My next goal was to stand pain-free in the supermarket with my feet together. I've been amazed at how many sufferers I have met who have complained of the same problem. It's common in TMS that pain or dizziness increases dramatically when standing in crowded store lines waiting to be checked out.
"...This is because the blood is withdrawing more strongly, because public places create anxiety and impatience, therefore greater distraction is needed.
"...There are multiple reasons for this effect and they all have to do with the inner self not wanting to be there--due to intrusion into our proxemic space--that degree of social separation that people maintain in social and interpersonal relationships. " |
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jaya
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - 10/23/2012 : 17:19:05
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| I have that happen evertime I go grocery shopping especially when im behind somebody with a full cart in the express line....its the worst dizzy spells ive ever had.almost like the room completely tips to one side |
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Ace1
USA
1040 Posts |
Posted - 10/23/2012 : 17:38:30
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| Yes I think it happens only bc of impatience. |
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balto
839 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2012 : 07:50:44
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or it could be conditioning.
I found that tms/anxiety symptoms could happen at any moment, any place, not just in a crowd. It happened more often in one place only due to my body is condition to produce the symptoms when I'm in that place.
I affraid what TT's post above about what Steve said could steer tms sufferers away from any crowded place. Which I think is not helpful in our fight against tms/anxiety. Avoidance never cure anyone of tms.
Prepare your mind and slowly expose yourself to situation that you find unpleasant, slowly it will get better and better. Symptoms will appear less frequent and then will disappear.
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No, I don't know everything. I'm just here to share my experience. |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2012 : 11:47:43
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quote:
Originally posted by balto
I affraid what TT's post above about what Steve said could steer tms sufferers away from any crowded place. Which I think is not helpful in our fight against tms/anxiety. Avoidance never cure anyone of tms.
Balto how would it do that? I posted it to have the opposite effect. Perhaps because it is out of context you reacted to it that way. Please read page 110 where it came from and let me know if you still feel that way. I've felt great TMS/distress while shopping in the past. I felt forced to venture out of my safe places to shop out of necessity for daily survival. That was while I was in a TMS/"clinical" depression--perhaps it would be dx'ed as "agoraphobia" today. I AM NOW FULLY CURED of that for many years and enjoy shopping opportunities very much. The word "agoraphobia" reminded me of it's linguistic origin: the Agora, the ancient Greek marketplace below the Acropolis in Athens where people shopped--coincidental that I mentioned my views on a free market economy bringing people together in reply to Hillbilly's post on the revising the banking system.
Regards,
tt |
Edited by - tennis tom on 10/25/2012 11:49:02 |
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balto
839 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2012 : 18:33:49
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Hi TT, I may misunderstand what Steve said or maybe it is out of context like you've said, but the reason I said it is because he wrote: "...This is because the blood is withdrawing more strongly, because public places create anxiety and impatience, therefore greater distraction is needed."
I don't think public places create anxiety, it is our own mind that created anxiety. It is what you think, it is not where you're at that create tms or anxiety. People have tms/anxiety symptoms at the office, in their own house, at the church, in bed while sleep, on the airplane, alone at the park, at the beach, at .... blank blank. I mean it can happen anywhere. I just thought that when tms people read something like what you've post they would avoid all crowded place for fear of having a symptoms attack.
again, I am no doctor.  just an opion.
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No, I don't know everything. I'm just here to share my experience. |
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Are anxiety and panic attacks TMS?
