Let me get this straight....

[AnxiousAmy]

Hi guys,

Ok so let me get this straight... People who suffer with GAD, do you get physical symptoms even when you're mental anxiety isn't even high at the time? My entire disorder is controlled by random physical symptoms.. I am not worrying about anything in particular yet have had every physical symptom occur at the most random of times. Like today was a good day for me, but i suddenly get bad facial flushing, to the point my mom looks at me to ask me why am I so red? I could feel my skin getting hotter and hotter. It's gone now after a nap. Im just trying to wrap my head around whether or not I have GAD, and how symptoms manifest. So I guess my question is......

Do people with GAD have physical symptoms even when they are thinking to be having a good day? Is it normal that symptoms appears to be completely random in nature?

Thanks,

Amy

[Angiecis22]

I've been wondering that myself too! And I think yeah as I do get my good days too but still will get some type of physical symptoms. Sometimes I'll get breathlessness even tho I've had a good day or chest pains, sometimes even feel shaky or get disoriented and it could happen at a random time even when I'm not thinking about it and then suddenly it happens and I'm like "oh god"

[AnxiousAmy in reply to Angiecis22]

That's my reaction too "oh no here it comes again" I still wonder if I have GAd because I don't worry about anything in particular... The physical symptoms just started happening and took over and I usually have this feeling of dread and inability to relax. Ugh it's a daily struggle, but I'm hopeful for better days. Thanks for the reply! I hope you are feeling better soon!

[Angiecis22 in reply to AnxiousAmy]

I feel dread and worry all the time. Worst I spend too much time worrying about my anxiety and like "what If I get breathless. What if my chest starts hurting" and I'm sure that's how I trigger mine. And I dread what's to come once it hits me and I need to stop as that's how it controls me. And that's alright I hope get better soon too!

[Tonyhope in reply to Angiecis22]

Can you give me a call Angiecis22 at 7733318844 i want to ask you bout your chest pains

[thunderacer in reply to AnxiousAmy]

It sounds more like depression than GAD!

The symptoms i get are very similar to yours, and when i am in a deep depression i can get all of the fear and anxiety symptoms because to be honest i am not paying full attention to whats going on around me, so i won't drive, won't ride my bike, can't go shopping. Basically i become a recluse! I find it very difficult to talk to people as i can't stay focused on a subject, and people ask me what just happened in a tv programme because they can see me looking at the screen, but i can't tell them. its as if i am looking through the screen to busy thinking to take in information (its just all noise) so if you feel that it is not GAD don't be afraid to tell your Doctor/therapist your concerns! I spent years with doctors telling me it's because of this or that, take these pills even if i knew they didn't work,or in some cases made me worse. There is no shame in telling them what you think... Who knows you better than you and all of us are different anyway. Good luck with it. Steve. 😁

[Macs123]

hey Amy how long have you had GAD for because after a few months I started to notice I was getting my physical symptoms randomly but if you have only just started to have anxiety it may be that you are worrying about your anxiety if that makes sense

I'm not a professional when it comes to anxiety I'm just a 16 year old who suffers with it myself if anything I said does t make sense or doesn't seem to help I understand just wanted to say what I thought could be useful

Best of wishes 😀

[AnxiousAmy in reply to Macs123]

Thanks for the reply I have had this to varying degrees for almost 7 years. What you say makes perfect sense.... I'm subconsciously worrying about my anxiety. I seem to have anxiety the worst in situations that are meant to be relaxing... I think in my mind I'm like " oh my I hope my anxiety doesn't come and ruin this moment" and the more I wish it away, the closer it seems to stay. I hope you feel better as well! It's a tough road but there will be many great days ahead

[Macs123 in reply to AnxiousAmy]

Yeah just try do to various activities you enjoy doing to keep your mind of it

We will all make it through this together 😀

[thunderacer in reply to AnxiousAmy]

Hi anxiousamy,

It's when we are "" relaxing""

Well physically anyway, our brains have free time to wander into the thoughts we don't really want, eg. Self doubt, i tend to think and analyse everything I've said/done in the past few hours, wondering if I've made right decisions, also start to analyse if i am getying better or why aren't i vetting better! LOL, and it just starts the cycle all over again.. The brain trying to answer questions it can't answer and trying to protect us by releasing sinaptic fluids and chemicals that actually make us feel worse but its functions are a little out. Try and keep yourself mentally busy... I know this is hard because it is hard to focus when depressed or anxious but distraction and acceptance are too things that help me (i get severe recurring clinical depression)

I have ECT for it along with meds i have been taking for 11 years (it still comes back when on meds) so i have to befeeling a lot better before i can distract myself but acceptance has been a big change... I have had it last for 2.5 years, 18months,9months but now with ECT and accepting that it willkeep coming back they only last for about 3/3 1/2 months now, wejust have to keep learning what is best for us and try to work out the best ways to cope. Good luck, be happy and just ☺ smile. Steve.

[Agora1]

Hi Amy, it's called "free floating anxiety".

[Diane21]

I have the same symptoms and it happens everyday. At work it's really bad. I thought I am really making myself sick it's all in my head.

[Leah36]

I get myself worked up after I've heard about someone dying young or getting really sick. I then obsess over it subconsciously and I feel like I create physical symptoms. I'm going to see my dr soon. I had a conversation the other day with a friend who told me her brother who was 48 & very healthy died unexpectedly from a heart attack. Ever since that conversation I've been experiencing left jaw pain, left arm pain and upper back pain. I can't decide if I'm truly experiencing these and it's an impending heart attack or if it's my anxiety. I'm really scared.

[Lbk64 in reply to Leah36]

I do this too.. I find the health anxiety much worse after I hear about a death or illness. There seems to be so much of it around. So much to worry about :/

[Lynl]

Hi Anxious Any, to answer your question , yes, you can have random symptoms even when your feeling fine , and they may all be due to anxiety, if they go away . If the same symptom persists , then get it checked out to make sure. Yes anxiety sucks I've had it since I was 23 and maybe you even randomly as a child, I'm 51 and some areas of anxiety are better and some are worse. Just have a good doc you feel comfortable talking to, and all of us are here for you too.❤️

[Hopefulone]

I have random symptoms. I'm currently trying to have a nice weekend break in Poland. When I arrived I felt ok and in the evening I just lost all my energy. I still plug away though and try to enjoy myself. It's so hard though and exhausting fighting the fight. The trick is really not to fight at all but just allow it to happen and wait. The second day I felt sick all day and lost my appetite since, only really eating out of habit rather than hunger. For 2 month my anxiety caused my sight to deteriorate in my right eye. Blurry. It has returned now and I was jumping for joy. I even went as far as going to the optician to get contact lenses which I did only to find that I don't need them now. I will use them if it happens again. Just shows you how freaky anxiety can be, we really are at its mercy and any symptom can occur cause all our bodily functions are controlled via the nervous system, and if our brain instructs something to happen, it will. I've been fully checked numerous times and doctors have found nothing wrong. Besides, my symptoms do come and go so in some weird way this is reassuring that's it's nothing super serious. Sometimes a 20 minute belly breath breathing session can reduce or get rid of symptoms. Do what makes you happy, daily. Stop fearing the symptoms. Just say "Everything is ok". This way your anxiety loses its power. It takes time though. I am confident better days are ahead.

[SER14]

Yes! Sometimes I get symptoms out of nowhere, then I start worrying about them which in turn causes me to become anxious.

It's a cycle that doesn't end. And I do stress about symptoms coming out when I have plans, etc. it's like I'm psyching myself out.