Feeling unsteady on feet

[Seryn]

Does anyone get moments of feeling like they're loosing their balance? It reminds me of going on holiday after a long flight and sometimes that evening when you're tired you get the sudden sensation that you're descending in the plane again?

I'm noticing I'm tensing my feet when I walk now anticipating it. I went to the shops earlier and had it which spiked my anxiety. I made myself continue what I was doing and never fell once, but my feet were so tense. I swear my anxiety is determined to try and convince me I'm ill right now, I'm so so fed up of fighting anxiety and constantly feeling unwell.

 

[Chrissyjo]

I'm so so fed up of fighting anxiety and constantly feeling unwell

Same. I’m going back to the doc Wednesday. I’m thinking of getting medication. I don’t want to take anything but I feel like I can’t snap out of it by myself now

 

[Seryn]

I've been given some form of anxiety drug by my doctor too but it's not for me for lots of reasons. I am on the waiting list for counselling again. Just a very long wait. Hoping working with someone else I can learn ways to cope. I mean I cope now but I feel like I'm dragging myself through life rather than coping just due to a constant feeling of illness and physical symptoms which feed my anxiety spiral.

Thoughts are with you Chrissyjo I totally understand how hard it is. I hope the meds being you relief!

I'm home now and haven't felt the faint feeling again. It's got to be anxiety, but I can't sit down with a blanket and my cat on my lap forever as a way to cope! Soon as I feel wobbly again my mind goes straight back to "what if this isn't anxiety and I have xyz illness" uuurgh

 

[suzzeeb]

I urge everyone on this forum to try listening to a few of the Disordered Anxiety podcasts. It's super helpful and could help you start to feel better as you work on what they say they have done to help in their own recovery. It's really worth a listen!

 

[Sweet T]

Episode 17 is about health anxiety specifically. It’s great

 

[Seryn]

I did listen to one when it was recommended before. I felt myself nodding along and agreeing to everything! I feel like I totally understand health anxiety and why I have it. But that doesn't stop it. I spent yesterday with that awful intense feeling that something is wrong. I felt like I had pressure on my head, was walking heavily and kept feeling like I was swaying. It felt like, always feelings not reality! Even though I no this it doesn't stop it. I kept on and made sure I worked and looked after the kids but inside I just want to cry and scream make it stop.

 

[MARCC]

Health anxiety can be tough to deal with especially when you have symptoms. When dealing with health anxiety what works for one person may not work for another. My friend is a psychiatrist and he said when using therapy and or medication it may take a while to find the right combination which works best for you.

 

[EMJ]

Hey Seryn....I have suffered with anxiety (most specifically health anxiety) for 50 years....and PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS??? you name it I have had it ....hives, rashes, jaw pain, upper back pain (so bad and so often), lower back pain, pains in joints, pain in calves ("thinking"oh no I must have dvt), foot pain, hand pain, EMOTIONAL pain that leaves the worst ache in my soul, dizzy spells, skipped heart beats, lightheadedness, headaches, UTI symptoms, as you can see the list is extensive. I have worried and ruminated over these symptoms so much and had every medical test imaginable. The tests come back basically normal....and here I am today still going through episodes of somatic symptom anxiety...it is horrible but it does get better and there are good days ahead. I get the part about how you just keep doing what you do but inside you are screaming .....I understand that completely I spent many days "highly functional" on the outside but falling apart on the inside. Take a deep breath ...maybe start meditation? I remember thinking meditation??? how silly....it makes a huge difference. A day at a time....take it a day at a time.

 

[Seryn]

Hi thank you so much for your reply it's "nice" for want of a better word, to hear someone else has struggled with all these physical symptoms and it turns out to be nothing medical. My fear of tests doesn't help me in the slightest. I'm in such a bad place with physical symptoms I'm going to force myself to have these bloods in two weeks and then I'm on the waiting list for therapy again which I'm hoping will be in the new year.

I'm struggling with the "feels like" symptoms a lot recently. I "feel" dizzy or off balance looking at my computer screen for work and when I walk I "feel" like I'm going to fall. They're all feel like though, my vision doesn't go blurry I never actually fall or come close to it. What I am doing is tensing my feet and bracing when I walk which is probably what's causing the symptoms. I try so hard to relax, untense the bottom of my feet but my brain won't listen, it's like I've forgotten how to walk without tensing or bracing. I've made myself go out for a walk, I've made sure I keep going when I get the feeling of I might fall. It's extremely annoying when this doesn't work. The only thing that seems to work is when I get preoccupied with another physical symptom.

I found some info on deregulated nervous system when you have anxiety which was interesting. I wish I could switch it off. I can get very low moods when I feel like I just can't escape the feelings of physical illness.

I have found mindfulness works immediately after and at the present time. Id recommend the balance app it is absolutely amazing for meditation. Can you recommend anymore? I'm always willing to try new things.

I am getting down that nothing will ever work for me. I will always feel physically ill. This 10years of having health anxiety has been SO draining and i just feel like I have totally lost myself. The anxiety feeling of not being able to cope scares me. I don't like how down I get and how trapped in my negative thoughts I can get. Luckily those feelings aren't continuous like the physical symptoms but I don't like intense feelings of no hope.

 

[EMJ]

Good morning....I agree with everything you said in your post. I have been in the same place as you so very many times....I am a walking "Health Anxiety" case study...and to even make it more interesting is that I am a Licensed Professional Counselor I worked as a therapist for 40 years in Higher education....I know the drill...I know the elements of treating anxiety ......and I know how much I have suffered.
Therapy is very good.......having someone actually listen to you that UNDERSTANDS anxiety is very very important. I live with people who just tell me "it's all in your head...just go do something and those feelings will go away." If it was that easy do you think I might have tried that????
My husband is absolutely clueless...we have been together for 47 years and he still is clueless...when I was hospitalized he told me I was acting this way for attention!!! Can you imagine? so ...yes therapy is important...I find that surrounding myself with people who understand anxiety is vital to my getting through the tough times. I am also a "drug phobic" terrified of what drugs can do ....so when Dr.'s and clinicians push meds I am very resistant...even when those meds could very well help me. I do admit during the last couple weeks with my son and his family living in Western North Carolina and not hearing from them for a couple days I had to take an Ativan... I was a mess and I needed some relief. It is a tough place to be ...suffering with anxiety and afraid of meds that could help..... I am here to help give you back some hope.....I have had very joyous days in between my episodes of anxiety ..."Anxiety Flares" is what I call them...Write HOPE on a couple stick up notes and put around your house to remind yourself. THERE ARE BETTER DAYS AHEAD mixed in with some of those bad days. HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE
I have started a new FB page called MindMuddle...join me for daily updates.

 

[Gale]

Hey Seryn....I have suffered with anxiety (most specifically health anxiety) for 50 years....and PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS??? you name it I have had it ....hives, rashes, jaw pain, upper back pain (so bad and so often), lower back pain, pains in joints, pain in calves ("thinking"oh no I must have dvt), foot pain, hand pain, EMOTIONAL pain that leaves the worst ache in my soul, dizzy spells, skipped heart beats, lightheadedness, headaches, UTI symptoms, as you can see the list is extensive. I have worried and ruminated over these symptoms so much and had every medical test imaginable. The tests come back basically normal....and here I am today still going through episodes of somatic symptom anxiety...it is horrible but it does get better and there are good days ahead. I get the part about how you just keep doing what you do but inside you are screaming .....I understand that completely I spent many days "highly functional" on the outside but falling apart on the inside. Take a deep breath ...maybe start meditation? I remember thinking meditation??? how silly....it makes a huge difference. A day at a time....take it a day at a time.

Hi EMJ my name is Gale also a member here but have not been on for awhile.
You are a carbon copy of me. I also have had soooo many symptoms since I was 22yrs. old and I am now 73!!!! Like you have had numerous tests done and as always everything is negative but yet I continue to suffer with physical symptoms. For years I feared having Ms or brain tumor and the list goes on
The fatigue is endless headaches, feels like I am swaying or walking on a boat, shaking inside, my legs and body ache and alot more. Anything you could tell me I would appreciate. .Still.in denial.that anxiety can do this to your body. Please reply!!!!!! Thanks

 

[Seryn]

Gosh walking on a boat! That's the perfect description. I haven't focused on it today and it's not been bad which just shows it must be all in my head. I did some garden work and after 20mins my back was in agony and I felt shakey inside. I hate it I feel trapped in a constantly ill body

Good morning....I agree with everything you said in your post. I have been in the same place as you so very many times....I am a walking "Health Anxiety" case study...and to even make it more interesting is that I am a Licensed Professional Counselor I worked as a therapist for 40 years in Higher education....I know the drill...I know the elements of treating anxiety ......and I know how much I have suffered.
Therapy is very good.......having someone actually listen to you that UNDERSTANDS anxiety is very very important. I live with people who just tell me "it's all in your head...just go do something and those feelings will go away." If it was that easy do you think I might have tried that????
My husband is absolutely clueless...we have been together for 47 years and he still is clueless...when I was hospitalized he told me I was acting this way for attention!!! Can you imagine? so ...yes therapy is important...I find that surrounding myself with people who understand anxiety is vital to my getting through the tough times. I am also a "drug phobic" terrified of what drugs can do ....so when Dr.'s and clinicians push meds I am very resistant...even when those meds could very well help me. I do admit during the last couple weeks with my son and his family living in Western North Carolina and not hearing from them for a couple days I had to take an Ativan... I was a mess and I needed some relief. It is a tough place to be ...suffering with anxiety and afraid of meds that could help..... I am here to help give you back some hope.....I have had very joyous days in between my episodes of anxiety ..."Anxiety Flares" is what I call them...Write HOPE on a couple stick up notes and put around your house to remind yourself. THERE ARE BETTER DAYS AHEAD mixed in with some of those bad days. HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE
I have started a new FB page called MindMuddle...join me for daily updates.

My ex husband was not understanding in the slightest but I sort of hid it even better then to not have a negative comment off him! I just can't take meds either I had one bad experience on them where I was just so bad I wouldn't be able to look after my kids in that state so it's a massive no for me to try meds again. Anxiety flares is the perfect way to describe it. I kept getting a full pain in my chest yesterday. I literally had to do a meditation in the carpark before I went grocery shopping and held onto the trolley way too tightly! I did it though because if I don't nobody eats!!