Physical Symptoms Trigger Panic Attacks

[Worrywort626]

Anyone else get triggered with major anxiety when you have a physical symptom? For instance, I’ll have a panic attack if I have diarrhea or vomit or if my stomach hurts. Any tips for how to combat this?

[Rilo7268]

this has been my day today. i had a good idea why i had the physical symptom, and paid it no mind all day, but then before bed last night i second guessed myself and i thought what if its not what i think and its something bad. needless to say i barely slept. it seems like most of my anxiety is from physical symptoms or the physical stuff comes on after i notice im anxious and that makes it hard too. its like is this anxiety or just something bad at the same time. learning to accept the symptoms and not trying to push them away is one way to deal with them. im not always the best at that because ill be doing good for awhile with no physical symptoms and low anxiety so when i get a physical symptom it freaks me out.

[Worrywort626 in reply to Rilo7268]

Yes! I can so relate. I suddenly had to run to the bathroom today and then I had a panic attack because of it. Ugh. Then, my mind starts to spiral that I’m seriously ill or will need to be hospitalized (I have a fear of hospitals and illness). I am depleted of all energy afterwards. Breathing helps sometimes but I need to be consistent with it. Thank you for responding.

[Rilo7268 in reply to Worrywort626]

no problem. im around if you ever want to talk. today was day two of going from 25mg to 50mg of zoloft and i felt sick to my stomach and nauseous and had diarrhea so of course i was preparing to die. my thing is i think im going to have a heart attack. anything that can be construed as heart related i think this is it. it sucks living this way. i was alright before the med increase so i hope this isn't like starting all over.

[Tedddy]

YES this happens to me too. I think it's because my anxiety manifests very physically (stomach aches, digestive issues, sweating, heart racing). So when I am actually sick and have one of those symptoms for a non-anxiety reason, my brain just recognizes the physical reaction and assumes it's anxiety. It's the worst!! I find going for a walk and doing some breathing exercises, affirming to myself that I am actually sick, and that it's temporary, helps a little. I hope you feel better!

[Unknown13]

Definitely! I have emetophobia so any strange stomach feeling definitely sends me into a panic thinking I may vomit. & my anxiety causes stomach discomfort & nausea. 😔 it's an awful cycle.

[Sttbngi]

Two things have really helped me with this.... and it was from two people on this forum that helped. 1... focus on the now. I have a tendency to get way ahead of myself with my worry and thinking. Therefore if I am panicking about health related issues, it is looking into the future of something bad that is going to happen. Go through a list for the now. For example.... I am fine, I have a pain but it is just a pain. I don’t have anything else wrong. I am all good. 2.... Don’t google. The hottest topics will only be pulled when you google... so most likely you are going to get cancer or heart attack for most of the symptoms you google. Stay off of it and reaffirm you are fine.

I understand how hard it is not to panic. I have had serious health issues and have no tools to cope. Thanks to a few very kindhearted people here, I have been able to pause that cycle. I hope you are able to do that too!