Hey there - just reading through this thread for the first time. Anxiety can absolutely attack while you're asleep - when I'm really struggling, I frequently wake up in the middle of panic attacks, or jerk awake. In my case, being treated for mild sleep apnea has helped that lot.
Hang in there man. I don’t have the twitching but I get sharp pains in my chest and arms that put me into a nasty panic cycle. Been in one since Monday. Haven’t gotten out of bed much except to go to the ER, which resulted in a bunch of normal test (ekg, chest X-ray, blood, urine, etc..). I’m 36, overweight, smoke and also have 3 kids including a newborn. The depression that comes on when I think I may be dying is very overwhelming. I used to see a therapist but stopped six months ago because I hadn’t had a panic attack in a while. Now I’ve got an appointment to go back in to therapy next week. Panic and hypochondria are exhausting. I’m sorry you’re dealing with all this but know you’re not alone.
Hi and welcome Flipmartin. Yes, that darn panic and hypochondria is very exhausting. I don't have hypochondria but am blessed with panic and GAD. I'm 66 and smoke, drink way too much coffee which drives my psychiatrist nuts. I hope you can get past those anxiety symptoms soon. Does being overweight make those fears of dying seem more realistic given the symptoms you're currently experiencing? Try if you can to just ignore those symptoms that were verified to just be anxiety by the testing. You really aren't dying no matter how much it feels like you are. I'm sure you have small windows where you realize it's the hypochondria messing with you but the trick, much easier said than done, is to lengthen the periods of objective thinking. I sit here not being able to personally do what I suggest, otherwise I wouldn't need this forum. My irrational thinking is just as debilitating, just happens to not be about health issues. So again welcome and you hang in there also.
Thanks Triceps. Yes being overweight makes the panic feel more valid. It certainly is much easier to tell someone the best way to respond to anxiety than to actually do it our selves. I wish I could take my own advice lol
Have you got much support? Are your older kids aware of your disorder at all? Both my kids (almost your age) and my wife are very supportive although not fully understanding what we go through.
Hi and welcome! I also don't suffer from hypochondria, but understand the panic attacks and the depression that goes along with them. One thing that helps me with the 'I'm dying' feeling is to research what's physically happening in my body. It was never enough for me to know that I wasn't having a heart attack - I need to understand why it feels like I am. The word 'anxiety' wasn't specific enough for me. So I go and read about the physical panic response online, and what adrenaline and cortisol do in the body...it gives me a sense of control over it, so to speak, and makes it less scary. I can tell myself that this is adrenaline being released in my body and it makes my arms feel uncomfortable, and it sucks, butvit is what it is and now thing more. Hope you can find some relief - you're not alone!
I get good support from my family, although sometimes they don’t truly understand. My kids are all under 5 so I try to keep it from them at this point. We have a newborn too. My wife is stressed but supportive.
And by the way - the newborn phase is enough to make ANYONE ho a little nuts. LolYour symptoms are so identical to mine amazing....I am now 59 and started with the calf and feet twitching when I was 21! I was told way back when it was benign. Ow flash ahead umpteen years and .my worsening health anxiety and I start to develop twitches elsewhere...hands. tounge...upper arms etc. Immediate fears of "A" word. Major anxiety ou seems to make the twitching worse. I have been on Lexapro the past six weeks and feel much better and even see a reduction in the twitching. Ironically I went to see a neurologist today (appt scheduled for quite some time). She ran battery of strength tests etc and saw no reason for .e to have emg. She said fasiculations by themselves without clinical weakness are benign. Even in the toungue..it would show signs of clinical weakness too. I really notice for me that an increase in anxiety equals more twitchingFor the past 3 months I have had constant 24/7 fasciculations in both calves. They only stop when I stand,walk, or flex the muscles. I have random bodywide fasciculations in archs of both feet, forearms, thighs, hands, lips, eyebrows, tounge etc.. everyday.
I went to a neruo and he has done a bunch of testing and even a emg.
the emg was clean besides showing a few Fasiculations.
i then went back to my neruo a few days ago who i asked him to test me for UMN signs ( Clonus, Hoffsmans, Babinski ) all came back fine. and strength test all came back fine. He has checked my body for atrophy and in his reports have told me he has seen no Atrophy, Hyperflexia, Hypertonia, or brisk reflexes. But he did tell me the neruo that did my emg might have seend a positive sharp wave so they want to do a follow up emg in 4 months to see if there is any "Diesease Progression" if it happens.
I'm a 30yr old male. With 3 sons 12,5, and 1. With a beautiful wife. This fear is debilitating and ripping my family apart. I sit and hold my 1year old crying thinking I won't be here to watch them grow up or even by next christmas. I'm at a loss and need advice. Thank you all for listening to my story.
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Hi and welcome SallySmith. Boy, it's been quite the past 18 months for you. You've come to a good place to share what's going on. There are many with health anxiety who know what you're going through. I'm glad that you're seeing a therapist, hope he/she are able to help with all the crazy thoughts anxiety somehow makes us think. Again, welcome.
Hey, good to have you back! That just sounds so miserable...Is there any chance that this is some kind of medication side effect? Hang in there, friend...
