LUKES STORY... Day 28 With Health Anxiety

[Luke1995]

so last night was a real struggle for me trying to get to sleep my mind was racing at 10,000 mph, I must have woken up at least 4 times. I remember the second time waking up i looked at the ceiling and just saw lots of black dots, wich automatically pushed my thoughts into panic. Blicking and breathing got me through it tho.

I havent had the best day today again (luckily no panic attacks) but chest pains, racing heart from time to time, tensed muscles, swollen throat, shortness off breath and twitching in the face. It was so horrible, to think i was having a heart attack and then a stroke in one day to the point were im searching the Web for diagnosis and checking my pulse every 5 minutes. I just wished all of this would just go away.

But I have tried a different approach today, i have been researching different ways to help naturally bring down anxiety in foods and drinks. (Will put up what I'm having for breakfast and lunch tomorrow at work) I also tried my first bit of yoga tonight i did 15 mins and my heart was racing wich led me to check my pulse again so I need to just have will power to stop myself (any ideas everyone might have let me know) but felt a little less tense after it.

So for breakfast tomorrow I have:

3 boiled eggs(Eggs also contain tryptophan, which is an amino acid that helps create serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical neurotransmitter that helps to regulate mood, sleep, memory, and behaviour)

For lunch I have:

1 mug of whole grain pasta(Whole grain pasta and bread contain magnesium and tryptophan. A magnesium deficiency may lead to anxiety, while tryptophan becomes serotonin and helps to calm the body and mind)

1 tablespoon of pesto(benefit of pesto is that it keeps your heart strong. Thanks to it containing high amounts of Omega-3, it encourages your heart to function properly which reduces your risk of stroke and heart disease)

For a snack im having:

Raspberry, peach, strawberrys, mango and kiwi(are all a good source of vitamin C which can help in combating stress to a great extent. Low levels of zinc have been linked to both anxiety and depression)

Natural yoghurt(contains healthful bacteria, Lactobaccilus and Bifidobacteria. these bacteria and fermented products have positive effects on brain health)

Tonights drink of choice before bed is:

Chamomile(Many people around the world use chamomile tea as an herbal remedy because of its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and relaxant properties)

I hope these different remedies help me and some of you out, see you all tomorrow stay safe and message if you need to chat.

[Cajswansea]

Great to see this positive post. I’m on day 10 of my awful health anxiety and I can still barely eat. I am managing a little more each day so hopefully going in the right direction.

Let us know how it goes.

We can and will get through this! There are better days ahead

[Anonymous798]

Hi Luke, I’m really sorry about your health anxiety. I understand how you feel. My generalized anxiety disorder makes me terrified and obsessed about me and my family’s health. I had a similar situation to yours where I thought that every little thing I did would hurt me or someone else and that they were going to instantly die. Recently I have been passing out a lot but I’m not sure if that’s just my anxiety. It’s really good that you are eating healthy. Although I hope you are making sure that you are getting all of your nutrients if you are eating the same thing everyday. If you wish to stop checking your pulse I find it that thinking that I would know if my heart stopped helps. I’m not a professional but I think that when your heart stops there are huge noticeable differences. Telling yourself this may help. Just remember that none of this is your fault. You didn’t choose to have health anxiety and you can’t control it. I hope that this helps and that you feel better. I’m rooting for you and am here if you need to talk. Have a wonderful day.

[Islandgirl15]

It good that you are researching different approaches hope it works for you. I have just started researching and found that you should also avoid caffeine as this can make you worse.