Strange feelings down one side?

[Bluemoon5254]

Hi, first time poster long time lurker.
I’ve been suffering with severe anxiety for about a year now (more milder for a few years previous to this)

Anyway, a few months ago I started feeling strange sensations down one side of my body (left). It’s almost like a feeling of irritability all down my left side. Like ancey, like I need to shake it away, kind of an impatience feeling if that makes sense? It also feels slightly more sensitive. But again only ever down the left side of my body. There’s no pins and needles or numbness at all.

I’ve been to the doctors multiple times, even to neurologist, had MRIs of brain neck and spine and all came back fine. I feel it pretty much from waking and it seems worse when I’m sat or lay still. But it’s there all the time, just different intensity.

I’m going out of my mind worrying what it could be. The fact it’s only ever down my left side worries me and makes me think it doesn’t fit in with anxiety as surely that would be more generally all over? I also can’t find anyone else experiencing it online and the doctors have said nothing seems to be physically wrong so just “try not to worry” but it’s not getting any better.

If anyone has experienced this or has any ideas what it could be or where I could find help or advice I would really appreciate it.
Thank you

 

[smitch087]

Hi, I understand what it is like to worry after a doctor has told you that everything is fine. However, you are fine. If you've had extensive testing with no avail, that means there is nothing wrong. Going back to the doctor would likely ease your mind for a day, or maybe even just a few hours, but It is truly a vicious cycle that I understand.

When I was in my worst bout of health anxiety back in 2014, I was convince I had cancer, then It was MS, then ALS, then back to cancer. I had tons of weird sensations that were weird in my mind because I was so anxious, but honestly, they were just normal things my body always did (fascullations, etc.) that I exemplified because of my anxious state. Since I was thinking that there were so many disease going on in my body, and twitch, feeling, or tinge of pain I attributed to that.

Eventually, after numerous doctor visits, I put my health anxiety to rest and allowed myself to believe their lack of diagnoses and It was the most freeing feeling ever. I got back to my life.

As far as it only being on one side of your body, your mind could be playing tricks on you. I'm no doctor, but I've never really heard of a serious ailment that affects ONLY one side of the body! I think you are fine all things considered. Your doctors have ran tests and cleared you. I know relaxing is easier said than done, trust me!!!, but It sounds like you are going to be ok.

 

[Bluemoon5254]

Thanks for your reply
Anxiety can be such a lonely place, it often feels like I’m the only one experiencing these things but I know that’s not the case in reality, so many other people are. It’s just difficult to convince myself that such real physical symptoms are caused by anxiety, or at least that my anxiety heightens my awareness of these symptoms. That’s what I’m struggling with. It’s like a clash between my mind thinking one thing and my body acting another.
But you make a good point about not knowing of any general ailments that affect one side of the body like that. Which makes me think that it really could just be my mind playing tricks on me like you say.
It’s all very exhausting

 

[smitch087]

Thanks for your reply
Anxiety can be such a lonely place, it often feels like I’m the only one experiencing these things but I know that’s not the case in reality, so many other people are. It’s just difficult to convince myself that such real physical symptoms are caused by anxiety, or at least that my anxiety heightens my awareness of these symptoms. That’s what I’m struggling with. It’s like a clash between my mind thinking one thing and my body acting another.
But you make a good point about not knowing of any general ailments that affect one side of the body like that. Which makes me think that it really could just be my mind playing tricks on me like you say.
It’s all very exhausting

I totally understand. I constantly feel alone with hypochondria, but this forum is really a great place to get your worries out and people that truly understand what the feeling is like can respond without judgement. Sometimes friends & family can get sick of the constant worry and ignore it or brush it off. I get it!