New here and could use some guidance and have a few questions answered.

[JADIII]

Good morning, hope you had a nice weekend. Since college I've always had a little health anxiety (AIDS, cancer, etc.) which has kept with me throughout my life (I'm 50). Also, each year I get a physical which usually turns out OK (some high cholesterol, etc) and I have my yearly tomorrow morning which always brings out a lot of anxiety in me. It's not some much the exam its doing the blood work before and waiting for the results.

So here's where I'm at now. About a month ago I was driving around and just having pains in my chest this went on for a week or so and I finally just stopped in a walk in clinic and said, what the hell is wrong me me. They took me in and did chest x rays and some other tests and a D dimer test which all came back negative which was a relief at the time (or so I thought). The MD came in and literally told me that I had GAD and that can cause pain anywhere on the body, including the chest. I was surpirsed that she was able to diagnose this so quickly. She suggested taking some medication and game me Lorazepan (sp?) for anxiety attacks. I took a few but they didn't seem to do anything for me so I stopped. I do drink alcohol which seems to alleviate my anxiety but when I wake up, it's back again with a vengeance (I've read extensively on this so I know all about it.)

I've found it really tough to get out of bed in the morning (especially after drinking) and it's odd, when I'm not thinking about my chest, it's not that bad. When I start to think about it I go down a hole and just want to die. I'm just really at a low point and could use some help in digging out of this hole. I figured when the doc told me it was stress that it would just go away but it hasn't.

Here's my questions and I'll take any feedback from you all and thank you in advance.

1) I have a pretty stressful job and 3 children (mostly younger) that are active to say the least. Can the stress from the job, kids, etc. make this pain in my chest and just have it stay there? I even got a massage and that didn't do anything to alleve the pain.

2) Other than CBT how do you move on from health anxiety as I seem to go from one body part to the next? For example, I wasted a year of my life thinking I had ALS and even going to a neuro to rule it out. In the past the haze has just kind of lifted but its always there waiting for the next bump or pain.

Thanks for any help or maybe pointing out the obvious that I'm missing to help me out.

 

[triceps]

Good morning, hope you had a nice weekend. Since college I've always had a little health anxiety (AIDS, cancer, etc.) which has kept with me throughout my life (I'm 50). Also, each year I get a physical which usually turns out OK (some high cholesterol, etc) and I have my yearly tomorrow morning which always brings out a lot of anxiety in me. It's not some much the exam its doing the blood work before and waiting for the results.

So here's where I'm at now. About a month ago I was driving around and just having pains in my chest this went on for a week or so and I finally just stopped in a walk in clinic and said, what the hell is wrong me me. They took me in and did chest x rays and some other tests and a D dimer test which all came back negative which was a relief at the time (or so I thought). The MD came in and literally told me that I had GAD and that can cause pain anywhere on the body, including the chest. I was surpirsed that she was able to diagnose this so quickly. She suggested taking some medication and game me Lorazepan (sp?) for anxiety attacks. I took a few but they didn't seem to do anything for me so I stopped. I do drink alcohol which seems to alleviate my anxiety but when I wake up, it's back again with a vengeance (I've read extensively on this so I know all about it.)

I've found it really tough to get out of bed in the morning (especially after drinking) and it's odd, when I'm not thinking about my chest, it's not that bad. When I start to think about it I go down a hole and just want to die. I'm just really at a low point and could use some help in digging out of this hole. I figured when the doc told me it was stress that it would just go away but it hasn't.

Here's my questions and I'll take any feedback from you all and thank you in advance.

1) I have a pretty stressful job and 3 children (mostly younger) that are active to say the least. Can the stress from the job, kids, etc. make this pain in my chest and just have it stay there? I even got a massage and that didn't do anything to alleve the pain.

2) Other than CBT how do you move on from health anxiety as I seem to go from one body part to the next? For example, I wasted a year of my life thinking I had ALS and even going to a neuro to rule it out. In the past the haze has just kind of lifted but its always there waiting for the next bump or pain.

Thanks for any help or maybe pointing out the obvious that I'm missing to help me out.

Hi and welcome JAD. We have much in common. I'm 66 years old with GAD and used to basically treat my anxiety with alcohol. Like you said, the alcohol was the best anxiety-reducing drug when consuming it but the price you pay the next day finally proved not to be worth it. So I attended CBT anxiety group with minimal improvement. I also have high cholesterol. I guess what I'm saying is I right there with you in many ways. Again, welcome.

 

[Richard G]

Good morning, hope you had a nice weekend. Since college I've always had a little health anxiety (AIDS, cancer, etc.) which has kept with me throughout my life (I'm 50). Also, each year I get a physical which usually turns out OK (some high cholesterol, etc) and I have my yearly tomorrow morning which always brings out a lot of anxiety in me. It's not some much the exam its doing the blood work before and waiting for the results.

So here's where I'm at now. About a month ago I was driving around and just having pains in my chest this went on for a week or so and I finally just stopped in a walk in clinic and said, what the hell is wrong me me. They took me in and did chest x rays and some other tests and a D dimer test which all came back negative which was a relief at the time (or so I thought). The MD came in and literally told me that I had GAD and that can cause pain anywhere on the body, including the chest. I was surpirsed that she was able to diagnose this so quickly. She suggested taking some medication and game me Lorazepan (sp?) for anxiety attacks. I took a few but they didn't seem to do anything for me so I stopped. I do drink alcohol which seems to alleviate my anxiety but when I wake up, it's back again with a vengeance (I've read extensively on this so I know all about it.)

I've found it really tough to get out of bed in the morning (especially after drinking) and it's odd, when I'm not thinking about my chest, it's not that bad. When I start to think about it I go down a hole and just want to die. I'm just really at a low point and could use some help in digging out of this hole. I figured when the doc told me it was stress that it would just go away but it hasn't.

Here's my questions and I'll take any feedback from you all and thank you in advance.

1) I have a pretty stressful job and 3 children (mostly younger) that are active to say the least. Can the stress from the job, kids, etc. make this pain in my chest and just have it stay there? I even got a massage and that didn't do anything to alleve the pain.

2) Other than CBT how do you move on from health anxiety as I seem to go from one body part to the next? For example, I wasted a year of my life thinking I had ALS and even going to a neuro to rule it out. In the past the haze has just kind of lifted but its always there waiting for the next bump or pain.

Thanks for any help or maybe pointing out the obvious that I'm missing to help me out.

Very familiar story to .one as well...h.a since my early 20s....I'll be 60 in 6 months. Have gone thru certainty of many types of cancer, most recently ALS due to increase of fasiculations. I went to neuro about 6 weeks ago who did strength tests and saw no weakness.
Best hp for me has been anxiety/depression meds. Doesn't cure it but makes my condition much more stable and manageable. Counseling has helped me too.

 

[JADIII]

So had my physical yesterday and my blood work was great (a little high cholesterol). Wants me to see a cardiologist for a stress test and EKG just to be safe. I left thinking I would have felt this weight off my chest but was just kind of numb. Who knows maybe this will set me on the right path. He would also like me to begin CBT ASAP.

THanks

 

[CC83]

I can certainly relate. I've thought I've had so many diseases and illnesses I can't even count anymore. Such strange feelings all the time. I've started reading, Hooe and Help for Your Nerves, by Claire weekes. It's an outstanding book written many years ago but I bet when you read it you will see yourself in it. It has helped me to realize that my issue is within my mind. We have to retrain our thoughts. It's not easy. She says in the book to face your fears, accept them and float through them. And just wait for your body to become desensitized. We are afraid of the fear, which results in the physical symptoms and the symptoms stir up the fear even more and it's an endless cycle.

 

[Guen]

I'll be going to a CBT session on Friday so I'm right there with you. I had severe anxiety in school and got control of it (mostly through CBT, exercise & meditation, plus a few close friends) only recently to have it come back swinging after a frightening doctor's appointment. Alcohol can help but I find that once I'm alone, it can make the anxiety worse. I found a really good herbal tea that helps called "Cup of Calm" that you can get fairly cheap online that I'll use on particularly stressful days/nights. It's a fight but things do get better =)