Feeling sick with anxiety

[perrytan]

I'm new on here I was just wondering if anyone else is physically sick when they have anxiety it's very frightening xx

[drews]

i have made my self physically sick with anxiety so your not alone. the best thing i try to do is think of only good things i know this is not always easy but hang in there.

[_anne_]

Hello perrytan, yes absolutely, anxiety can have a lot of impact on our physical condition...I guess we can't separate our body and mind, can we?.. It's not easy but I guess what we must try to do is not to let the physical symptoms make the anxiety bigger... I thought I had health problems so many times but then after the check ups everything was fine, so I just try to accept that it's "normal" in anxiety... But yes, sometimes it's hard to think positively when we feel sick and it can be scary, I understand...

[BriarRose]

Hi Perrytan and welcome to the site

Yes, physical sickness is a very very common symptom of anxiety - it's all part of the "fight-flight" syndrome - the body trying to lighten itself in order to run or fight. You could try thinking - What's the worst that could happen? - Well, I'll be sick! - So, is that so terrible? Not very nice, but not life-threatning! I'd recover! If you accept that you MIGHT be sick, and that its not so very awful, then you reduce it's power over you - and, strangely enough, you're LESS likely to feel/be sick!

Believe me, I know, for years - no decades - I had horrendous panic attacks which involved being/feeling sick which terrified me! I've recovered, hun, and so can you. You can also try distraction - think of something else, watch tv, count backwards from 100 - anything to take your mind off feeling sick.

If you want to talk about it in more detail, PM me - I think I qualify as an expert on the subject!

good luck, hun

Love

Rose

xxxxx

[hope_to_help]

Welcome to the site Perrytan. Anxiety has many symptoms and I'm sorry to hear you're frightened by your symptoms. The 'Get Help' section of our website is a good place to start exploring the support available to you: anxietyuk.org.uk/get-help/

You could also call our helpline for support. You can call our main helpline on 08444 775 774. These are run by people who have personal experience and are volunteering their time in order to try and help people who are in a similar situation to them.

[Rolla]

I too feel sick with anxciety and tight feeling in ribs also shaking inside ROLLA

[perrytan]

Thank you for all your comments it's good to know that I'm not alone and that I can come on this site to get some support xxx

[Danielle301]

I went through a phase of sickness when my anxiety first started, it was awful I lost half a stone in a couple of days, try eating little and often, i found myself feeling worse if I didn't keep my strength up.

[Jade2012]

hey, this is my major anxiety symptom - I also have a phobia of being sick so if I feel sick my anxiety gets worse and it can get into a vicious cycle! Sometimes I only gag but it can make me sick and o get anxious about being sick in a 'public' place and looking silly I find it a massive struggle to deal with each day but I am so much better than I was 9 months ago! it can be an up and down long journey but it is possible to get better from it! xx

[perrytan]

Hi jade I'm the same being sick is my major symptom I get so frightened about being sick that it makes me worse it is a vicious cycle and I also get anxious about being sick in public places I don't go out for meals or to the theatre or a lot of other places i case I start to feel sick.

[perrytan]

Hi Danielle do you still get the sickness if not how did you over come it xxx

[Danielle301]

I only get the sickness feeling now rather than actually being sick, some days I don't get it at all, the sickness stopped when I started my cbt therapy an I was feeling more positive, but since the anxiety has come back along with the feeling of being sick, I've coped better than last time tho I'm not actually throwing up this time, I've been struggling to eat tho the past few days, it's been more like a chore, I used to love my food before! The best way I think of it is, if I manage to eat something I praise myself for it, I try to concentrate on my successes rather than the negatives xx

[Danielle301]

Don't give up I believe this phase will pass, it has done for me previously, an once u start to feel hungry again u will find u feel a bit better xx hope u feel better soon xx

[kazbaz]

Hi Perrytan

Not sure if this will help but worth a try. I haven't actually been sick with mine however I feel so sick to the stomach I am standing over a toilet and heavy breathing etc.

My doc suggested keeping a diary of what I had eaten prior to the attacks as with anxiety the body is in fight or flight mode therefore any excess sugar into the system would make the pancreas produce more insulin therefore make the sickness feeling worse.

I kept a diary and the sick feeling was always worse after eating something sugary therefore I have cut these out of my diet and it has reduced the sick feeling so much.

Hope this helps and take care

Karen xx

[perrytan]

Thanks Karen ill have a go with the diary see if it helps ill try anything because its not nice when your actually sick with anxiety just wish it would go away xxx