Hello everyone, I am new here. I developed an anxiety disorder just a few months ago and it's been pretty hard. Since the anxiety has started, I've also been experiencing pain that I never used to have, so I assume it's symptoms from the anxiety. I've looked into it and I'm pretty convinced I have chronic anxiety pain. I have pains all throughout my body even when I'm not necessarily anxious which matches the "definition" of chronic anxiety pain. But my big issue is that I have also developed health anxiety and would definitely consider myself to be a hypochondriac. I'm working on convincing myself that the pain is anxiety symptoms, but new symptoms are always arising so it's hard. I've scheduled many doctors appointments and they always tell me I'm fine, but it's still hard to believe I'm healthy. My least favorite symptoms are throat related ones because I become very afraid my throat is going to close. Chest pains don't scare me as much anymore though so I guess that's a step in the right direction. I'm just wondering if anyone experiences chronic anxiety pain and health anxiety? Or if anyone has any advice that'd be nice too. Thanks for reading guys!
Chronic Anxiety Pain and Health Anxiety
- Thread starter dtown710
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Hey dtown . Yes, if you count constant neck and shoulder pain as chronic anxiety pain. Seeing as I wear my shoulders around my ears pretty much 24/7, due to the anxiety that I feel, I think it’s one and the same. When you constantly worry about your health, you are very much aware of every twinge and anything that may feel a little different than what you are used to. That then brings on more anxiety, bringing on more symptoms. It’s a very weird world we hypochondriacs live in, you want so badly to just stop thinking about what is going on in your body, yet that seems to be all we can think about. Kind of like when someone tells you that you can think of anything in the world except pink squirrels.....
suddenly that’s all you can think about. If you aren’t already seeing a therapist, that would be my one and only suggestion to you. Find a good one (sometimes it’s a process) and do the work. Anxiety is something that has to be managed and you have to work at it and stay consistent. You’ve already done the first step by getting yourself checked out by a professional. When they tell you that you are fine...you are. Now you have to learn to trust that what they say is correct and you are okay.
suddenly that’s all you can think about. If you aren’t already seeing a therapist, that would be my one and only suggestion to you. Find a good one (sometimes it’s a process) and do the work. Anxiety is something that has to be managed and you have to work at it and stay consistent. You’ve already done the first step by getting yourself checked out by a professional. When they tell you that you are fine...you are. Now you have to learn to trust that what they say is correct and you are okay.Hey I appreciate the reply. I have planned on seeing a therapist for a while now, but I always feel the need to go to the primary care doctor first and "clear everything up" before I see a therapist. I guess to rule out that my problems could actually be physical? As I said before though, new symptoms are always arising so I feel the need to continue to schedule doctor's appointments. I'm aware this is pretty irrational and silly so I'm just going to find a therapist soon. Sorry to hear about your neck and shoulder pain. I hope you're seeing a therapist if needed and taking care of yourself Have a good day
Have a good daypinkshaylee
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I completely understand what you’re saying. I have been dealing with anxiety since July 2018. The initial attack was caused by a health issue - fluid trapped in the ear causing vertigo while driving - and my physical symptoms have manifested over the months. I have always had issues with motion sickness and now those are intensified. Pain in my chest from my breastbone, in my shoulder and sometimes in my upper arm, heartburn, nausea. I have had 4 EKGs, chest X-rays, all the tests and physically I am fine. Actually, my BP is the lowest it has been in years. On particularly bad days (like today) my arm feels weak and I have digestive issues. My heating pad is my best friend for the physical pain, and I do my best to eat right and take supplements for digestive health. I just started medication less than two weeks ago, so the jury is still out as to if it helps. I’ve noticed a little positive difference.
daysinthesun
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hi there. i completely understand what you mean. i haven't been diagnosed with health anxiety (but i do have GAD) but i, too, have recently been struggling with random aches all over my body. In my arms, my legs, even my damn back. Before January of this year, I never worried about my health. I was never as afraid of death as I am right in this moment. Even now, I'm struggling with anxiety. As I type this, I've got various tabs open looking up symptoms of things. I know that's not good for me and makes the anxiety even worse. I don't have the chest pain anymore but I was having heart palpitations for a week. It just felt like it was skipping a beat and would flutter and I had all the usual tests. My heart is fine but I still struggled with the "what if they missed something" emotions.
i simply cried and cried and finally stopped giving a ****. i just went "if this is it, FINE." and i would turn over and go to sleep only to wake up the next morning completely fine. it's a process. i'm finally starting to accept and adapt healthy techniques like taking a warm bath filled with epsom salt. sometimes i treat myself and buy books or movies. sometimes i simply find a great video series on youtube. getting other things, positive things, into your sight and mind helps. as for the physical discomfort, a heating pad (even better if it doubles as a massager) is a godsend. truly. i put it around my shoulder, onto my neck, sometimes even on my legs for brief periods of times. treating the physical symptoms does help ease some of the anxiety. i hope i helped or at least gave you some kind of hope. hang in there, dtown. we're with you.
I've had so many tests and I keep thinking what if they missed something. I'm always worried about my heart I've had an ekg, Holter monitor and echocardiogram, numerous labs. All were fine but it's never enough. Now I keep thinking I should've gotten a stress test. I'm a 36 year old woman and I'm just terrified of having a stroke or heart attack at any given moment. I have no risk factors. But these symptoms. The constant anxiety and panic, racing heart, sweats, shaking, nausea and dizziness. It's every day. I'm so sick of it.
Hi, I just joined 15 minutes ago and I felt a need to reply. I am 67 yrs young, hehe. I have suffered sever anxiety/panic attacks since third grade due to childhood trauma and genetics. Last year I finally was told I need a stress test. I have worked out most of my life except for the last four yrs. I did not pass the test. I finally was referred to a heart specialist who did an echocardiogram. Thank goodness it came out fine. A previous EKG showed I had a stroke though. My anxiety is so bad I get angina. It has taken me a long time to be assertive and be my own advocate for myself regarding doctors. They are under watch regarding meds that work like ativan. Yes, it is addictive, but so is paxil which they have me on. I have had to fight for right to be calm in this world, and that is a terrible thing that doctors are not so patient friendly anymore due to them being watched if they give out a class IV drug. Remember, patient first! They have a "duty of care" to you. I am not advertising ativan, I am just saying if you do not be assertive, you might not get the care you need. Hope you feel better.
Hi and welcome angel. I don't have as many years behind me (only 66 years) but I completely agree with you on the importance of being assertive with your patient rights. I'm lucky in that I live in such a rural area, my relationships with my medical care team make it easy to not be talked down to and actually listened to. I'm on lexapro and klonopin and don't even have to do the standard 6 month checkup to get refills. They just know me and know that I'm not abusing my medications. I get angina during many of my panic attacks. Am glad the testing you've had hasn't shown a major problem. Again, welcome, this is a compassionate helpful group.
Do you think I need a stress test after having good results from echo and Holter and ekg?? I'm only 36. I am not overweight and try to line a healthy lifestyle. I do not smoke drink or use drugs. I'm actually terrified of medicines but I take my antidepressants. My doctor refuses xanax or any other benzodiazepines. He says they are addictive. I feel like sometimes I need something to take the edge off. But I'm stuck.
Have you looked at side effects of your meds? Your doctor is correct, benzos are addictive. I have been on just about every antidepressant through my life on earth. Everyone has a different experience with them. just pls let your doctor know if the one you are on is not working, although when a person first goes on an antidepressant it does take time to work. At first your body and mind have to adjust and sometimes that might be uncomfortable. You can research meds online as I have for years, but communicate with your doctor how you are feeling. If doctor does not communicate if you email or call him, make appt asap to communicate. I would never want you to use benzos if other antidepressants/meds can work for you. Remember, I am no medical person, although I worked in medical field. I worked in nursing homes and saw people on wrong meds, people in withdrawal because a doctor did not do his/her "duty of care". I was not looking to be a "whistleblower", but I had to expose "lack of care" for those who could not voice it. I am an advocate for those who cannot speak up. I lost a career I wanted when I became a whistleblower, but my moral compass is so high I have no regret in speaking for those who cannot. I am also an advocate for animal rights/welfare. Do not go on a benzo if something else can help you. Make sure your doctor knows your needs. Please! I hope you know how much I can relate to your earthly struggles regarding anxiety and depression. I care. Pls never do what I did. I went to drinking when meds did not work. Pure hell on earth. I am not saying you drink at all, just being open about myself.
Thank you triceps! I am so happy you get the care you need without having to go through negative channels of the medical field. There are good people in medical field, and I am happy your experience has been positive! So good to hear.
I've been on antidepressants for years. I went off and am now back in since August. Still anxious. I have taken xanax before and it helped. But my doctor will not prescribe it. He says it's addictive. I may have to find a new doctor. Maybe a psychiatric doctor will be more understanding.
Hi CC83. Nobody seems to be answering your question of whether to have a stress test. I don't think it is necessary if you can accept the good results of the other tests. You're young and don't have risk factors. Your health anxiety tells you otherwise and it sounds like you would like some more medication for that disorder. Yes, the Xanax is VERY addictive and if you get off of it you must wean yourself over a period of months. However, I was on Xanax for over 15 years and for me it worked well enough that it probably kept me from getting a few suicidal episodes. I would suggest you find a doctor that is willing to prescribe thirty (one month's worth) .25mg pills to be taken as needed to see how you tolerate it and if it is helpful.
Thank you for answering that question!! It's very hard for me to accept it's just anxiety. I'm always asking my husband, a former ccu RN, if this or that could be wrong. I feel like deep down I know it's anxiety, but when you're in the throws of it you feel this is it. Something must be horribly wrong. I've felt this way so many times you'd think by now I'd accept it. But I can't!
I think health anxiety is the best at changing your thinking in a more irrational way than most of the other anxiety disorders. OCD, agoraphobia, hoarding and generalized anxiety all mess with you with "what could happen if" thinking. Even tho what we're scared of happening rarely comes true, we'll still agonize over the possible "horrible" thing happening in the future. The health anxiety is strong enough to skew your thinking even with indisputable evidence to the contrary. Then, it is mean enough to have you move onto another malady when you finally believe that you don't have the previous illness. Just brutal.
You are absolutely right. I had an awful childhood. A mother with mental illness and witnessed a father abuse my mother and I know that all of that plays a huge role in what's happening. The saddest part is I am an adult now with a beautiful family and a job and so much that I love. But this anxiety puts a stain on everything. I do not feel depressed just anxious. I feel how cruel it is to be suffering like this after a rough childhood. I never felt that anxious as a child. Why now? I know it manifests that way but it's so unfair.
This is so well said. Thank you