In October my anxiety hit a bad patch. It had been good over the summer then wham October i had some stress in my life and I started having panic attacks. I quickly became bed ridden with it. Everytime I tried to walk around my house I'd feel so ill. I'd feel weak, nausea, feel faint, dizzy, heart racing and I've even checked my bp after walking about and that and my pulse are high. After walking about it takes ages for me to recover, I feel my ears hissing and woozy for a while and it can trigger panic. So I quickly became too afraid to function around my house.
I was having panic that lasted up to 10 hours, one after the other, shaking constantly all day, unable to eat other than oat cakes and bananas, panic hitting doing anything like hair washing, showers, toilet trips, making a drink..... I became so overwhelmed as everything became so hard for me. This lasted all of mid October until mid December. It was HORRIFIC. I'm now left with general anxiety and terrified about every symptom. I spend all day worried. It can trigger panic. But I'm miles better than I was.
Has anyone ever experienced anxiety to make them feel so bad. I'm terrified every day I will faint and my health anxiety is running wild. I feel the worst wife and mother like this, I spend every day crying by myself. I'm so hyper sensitised to every symptom but they're hard to ignore when that bad. After walking around this morning feeling that bad I lay down feeling awful for at least an hour.
Please can anyone reassure me? My hubby and friend say it's all the stress my body has been under for months and deconditioning. Plus they think my symptoms functioning are anxiety but surely anxiety can't make you feel that bad. I feel so out of puff, weak, drained and teririfed I will faint. It's why I've become afraid to walk around. I daily feel scared, worry, think, text a friend.... I know that's causing me more stress on my body.I just cannot believe anxiety would make you this ill and I'm a terrified mess. Just going downstairs to make a drink is traumatic. I feel so poorly. Then I have to recover lying down for ages after. I feel faint and like I will die. It's awful. It seems to. Be walking around is the huge trigger for these symptoms.
J
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Felt just like you for 6 months. I just sat in one chair, couldn’t really do much else. I had to stop working due to constant panic attacks. Every chore made me shake and I ended up loosing 30 pounds since I did not want to eat. It was almost like entering a catatonic state of fear. I had no feelings, no thoughts, I was a complete zombie. I did cbt which helped and I am now taking three meds which have helped greatly. I am back to work and mostly back to normal. I am dealing with some dizziness, some days are better than others but I will take this over panic. You will be able to beat this but you must seek some form of help.
I just am concerned anxiety can't make you feel so ill walking just around your house. My ears hiss, I feel breathless, heart races, light headed, drained and like I've run a marathon. I take bp after returning to my bed and it s ky high. Which is a bad habit and as my hubby said of course it'll shoot up if you are stressed walking and afraid.
Ju
Look, anxiety cannot kill you and that's a fact...What I would do is go and get a basic blood tests and check your levels..tell your doctor how you feel and ask what tests should be done..its a start..
I just am concerned anxiety can't make you feel so ill walking just around your house. My ears hiss, I feel breathless, heart races, light headed, drained and like I've run a marathon. I take bp after returning to my bed and it s ky high. Which is a bad habit and as my hubby said of course it'll shoot up if you are stressed walking and afraid.
I had tests not long before this all began so my gp said I don't need further tests at this point.
Oh poor you. I could have written this myself. All my symptoms were the same.
I started after a UTI and then had a reaction to the antibiotics. It went on for so long (mid Nov till now)
I think initially it started out as feeling out of control with the UTI. Then other symptoms started, the gagging over food was horrific and I only are the same foods as you, with copious water to wash things down.
I was so out of control, with nightmares and waking two hours after falling asleep with panic attacks. As you know the world is an even scarier place when you can't rely on yourself.
I am sorry if this sounds bad, but it does show how truly awful life can be when gripped by anxiety and you cannot believe your mind can reach such havoc.
About eight weeks later I was just the same. There was no safe place, even at home. Yesterday I made myself walk to the cashpoint. Waiting for my money was a nightmare of what ifs. What if I collapsed before I got it etc.
I am self employed and have not worked now for four weeks relying on dwindling savings, but I know, however scary that is I am just not ready. I hate giving in to it, but neither do I feel strong enough to fail.
Within the last day however I have noticed eating has become easier. Again I didn't force it and can't say I eat a lot, but six small easily prepared snacks worked for me.
I go on about three short walks during the day. Movement helps.
Eased my acid reflux by raising the head of the bed and trying to resist laying down during the day. This is hard as by 2pm I am shattered. I think that comes from having to be brave each day. I do commando like raids in shops when they are quiet as any sort of queues exacerbates my panic.
By about 6pm when all perceived danger is over I feel better and this morning (touch wood) no indoor panic. So yes, you see it can change.
Like you I went from everyday being filled to this. I think it was a sort of burn out. I haven't gone to the doctor as even being in a waiting room would be difficult. Later today I may stress as in the early hours we are due gales.
Please hang on in there. Sorry I have gone on so long but you will get there, I promise. Baby steps.
Are you finding it hard to just walk around though? Like I can't do any of the housework or cooking. I feel so useless to my family and ashamed of myself for basically resting almost all day. I cry all the time which I know it's stressing myself out more.
I just worrying myself silly all day karma everytime I try to walk around I just feel breathless, my heart races, my ears hiss comma I feel like I will just drop to the floor and like everything is just too overwhelming. This had all got much better but in the last two weeks it's returned as severe and it's been frightening me every day so of course I've been upsetting about it which I guess is stressing my body out more which could be making me feel worse physically.
Well done walking outside that is a huge achievement and don't worry about work you can only return to it when you're feeling mentally and physically stronger and I'm sure you will soon.
Hi when anxiety gets so bad it is taking over your life.......you really need to go to your doctor! You need some medication to calm your system down I take low dose of diazepam 2 mg if my anxiety is really bad.but last year was the worst year for my anxiety lost my mum and then lost my X husband to cancer my three married children were devastated and I felt I had lost my best friend.my anxiety was very bad could not eat or sleep fell crap.had to have time of work.read Dr Claire weeks book self help for your nerves.this book helped me to get better also had CBT treatment.I still get days where I have to push myself and accept the symptoms as best I can.as I still have some bad days if I get to stressed about things.but I'm so much better.
. All doctors do is suggest diazepam, something I can't and wouldn't take anyway.
I'm miles better than I was in October and November. A million times better but it's left my body stressrd and drained which is now causing me health anxiety. I think claire Weekes and acceptance is the way to go. Doctors just throw tablets at you, I'm already on an anti depressant which I could increase slightly as I was withdrawing from it slowly and maybe I will in time. I won't take diazepam but if they work for others then that is great. I just wouldn't take it as my gp told me they only give 2 weeks worth and never give more than that so it really isn't a quick fix. Once I had no more I'd be back to square one. Not a road I want to go down.
The diazepam are only low dose 2 mg but when nerves are so bad they really help.my doctor gave me a months worth and I needed to stay on them couple of months as my anxiety was very bad.once I started to feel better my Dr and I worked out to reduce diazepam over 3 weeks so didn't get withdrawal symptoms.but wasn't to bad as I was only on really low dose.I now take half or one tablet if I am really bad.a PKT of 28 tablet can last me months.glad you are feeling better and well done for accepting ( the Claire weeks way)
Thank you. I'm just learning how to accept all of this as anxiety. I think once I can things will improve for me. I'm just finding it hard to accept it can make you feel this ill.
I know I couldn't believe you can feel so I'll I was convinced I had something really seriously wrong.but I promise you that you will get better and you may still get the odd bad day but you will never be this iLL again.
I have written a post very similar to yours today. Please keep in touch I think if you realise others are in the same position it may help slightly. Take care xxxx
I hear you totally get what your going through let me just say the physical side of things are as bad as you feel you will be so surprised I am going to put a list under here what I càme across yesterday I was absolutely shocked out my head I could not believe it have a read see what you think.
I I just copied a list of all anxiety symptoms, you will be amazed. Here it is:
Common anxiety symptoms include:
Body (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with the body in general):
Allergy problems, increase in allergies (number, sensitivity, reactions, lengthier reactions)
Back pain, stiffness, tension, pressure, soreness, spasms, immobility in the back or back muscles
Blanching (looking pale, loss of color in the face or skin)
Blushing, turning red, flushed face, flushed skin, blushing, red face or skin
Body jolts, body zaps, electric jolt feeling in body, intense body tremor or “body shake”
Body temperature increase or decrease, change in body temperature
Burning skin, itchy, “crawly,” prickly or other skin sensations, skin sensitivity, numbness on the skin
Burning skin sensation on the face, neck, ears, scalp, or shoulders
Chest pain, chest tightness
Choking
Chronic Fatigue, exhaustion, super tired, worn out
Clumsiness, feeling clumsy, co-ordination problems with the limbs or body
Cold chills, feeling cold
Craving sugar, sweets, chocolate, usual craving for sugar and sweets
Difficulty speaking, moving mouth, talking, co-ordination problems with the mouth or tongue
Dizziness, feeling lightheaded
Dizzy, feeling dizzy
Electric shock feeling, body zaps
Excess of energy, you feel you can’t relax
Falling sensation, feel like your are falling or dropping even though you aren't
Feel like you are going to pass out or faint
Feeling cold or chilled
Feel wrong, different, foreign, odd, or strange
Flu-like symptoms, general malaise, feel ill, like you are coming down with a flu
Mouth or throat clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking
Muscles that vibrate, jitter, tremor, or shake when used
Muscle twitching
Nausea
Nausea vomiting
Neck, back, shoulder pain, tightness/stiffness
Night sweats, waking up in a sweat, profusely sweating at night
No energy, feeling lethargic, tired
Numbness
Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling
Numbness and tingling, and other skin sensations on hands, feet, face, head, or any other places on the body
Persistent muscle tension, stiffness
Pounding heart, heart feels like it is beating too hard
Pulsing or throbbing muscles. Pulsing or throbbing sensation.
Rib or rib cage tightness, pressure, or feeling like a tight band around the rib cage
Sexual Dysfunction, sexual uninterest
Shooting pains, stabbing pains, and odd pressures in the neck, head, or face
Shooting pains in the face
Shooting pains in the scalp or head
Skipped heart beats
Sore or tight scalp or back of the neck
Startle easily
Sweating, uncontrollable profuse sweating
The floor feels like it is moving either down or up for no reason
Tightness in the ribs or rib cage area, may also feel like a tight band around the ribs or rib cage area.
Tingling sensations, anywhere on the body, including the hands, feet, legs, arms, head, mouth, chest, groin area
Throat or mouth clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking
TMJ
Trembling or shaking
Twitching
Unsteadiness, dizziness, feeling dizzy or lightheaded
Urgency to urinate, frequent urination, sudden urge to go to the washroom (similar to urinary tract or prostate infection symptoms)
Warm spells
Weak - feel weak, weakness, low energy, light, soft, like you may faint
Weak legs, arms, or muscles
Weight loss, weight gain
Chest (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with the chest area):
Chest pain or discomfort
Concern about the heart
Feel like you have to force yourself to breath
Find it hard to breath, feeling smothered, shortness of breath
Frequent yawning to try and catch your breath
Heart Palpitations – beating hard or too fast, rapid heartbeat
Heart - Irregular heart rhythms, flutters or ‘skipped’ beats, tickle in the chest that makes you cough
Pounding heart, heart feels like it is beating too hard
Rib or rib cage tightness, pressure, or feeling like a tight band around the rib cage
Emotions (see mood) (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with emotions, mood, and feelings)
Fears (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with fear):
A heightened fear of what people think of you
Afraid of being trapped in a place with no exits
Constant feeling of being overwhelmed.
Fear of being in public
Fear of dying
Fear of losing control
Fear of impending doom
Fear of making mistakes or making a fool of yourself to others
Fear of passing out
Fear that you are losing your mind
Fears about irrational things, objects, circumstances, or situations
Fears of going crazy, of dying, of impending doom, of normal things, unusual feelings and emotions, unusually frightening thoughts or feelings
Heightened self awareness, or self-consciousness
Need to find nearest washrooms before you can feel comfortable
Need to seat near exits
Head (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with the head):
Burning, itchy, tight scalp
Dizziness
Dizzy
Dizziness or light-headedness
Frequent headaches, migraine headaches
Feeling like there is a tight band around your head, pressure, tightness
Head, neck or shoulder pain, tightness/stiffness
Head zaps, head tremors
Giddiness
Numbness
Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling
Shooting pains, stabbing pains, and odd pressures in the neck, head, or face
Shooting pains in the face
Shooting pains in the scalp or head
When you close your eyes you feel like are beginning to, or will, float upwards
Sore jaw that feels like a tooth ache
TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint) - clenching of the jaw or grinding of the teeth
Hearing (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with hearing):
Reduced hearing, frequent or intermittent reduced hearing or deafness in one or both ears
Low rumbling sounds
Ringing in the ears, noises in the ears, noises in the head
Pulsing in the ears, throbbing sound in the ear(s)
Mind (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with the mind and thinking):
Afraid of everything
Altered state of reality, consciousness, or universe feeling
Deja Vu, a feeling like you've done or experienced something before
Depersonalization
Derealization
Desensitization
Difficulty concentrating, short-term memory loss
Difficulty thinking, speaking, forming thoughts, following conversations
Disorientation
Fear of going crazy
Fear of losing control
Fear of impending doom
Feelings of unreality
Frequent feeling of being overwhelmed, or that there is just too much to handle or do
Having difficulty concentrating
Nightmares, bad dreams
Obsession about sensations or getting better
Repetitive thinking or incessant ‘mind chatter’
Short-term learning impairment, have a hard time learning new information
Short-term memory impairment, can't remember what I did a few days, hours, or moments ago
Spaced out feelings, feeling spaced out
"Stuck" thoughts; thoughts, mental images, concepts, songs, or melodies that "stick" in your mind and replay over and over again.
Trapped in your mind feeling
Underlying anxiety, apprehension, or fear
You often feel you are carrying the world on your shoulders
Mood / Emotions (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with mood, emotions, and feelings):
Always feeling angry and lack of patience
Depersonalization
Depression
Dramatic mood swings (emotional flipping)
Emotionally blunted, flat, or numb
Emotional "flipping" (dramatic mood swings)
Emotions feel wrong
Everything is scary, frightening
Feeling down in the dumps
Feeling like things are unreal or dreamlike
Frequently being on edge or 'grouchy'
Frequently feel like crying for no apparent reason
Have no feelings about things you used to
Not feeling like yourself, detached from loved ones, emotionally numb
Underlying anxiety, apprehension, or fear
You feel like you are under pressure all the time
Mouth/Stomach (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with the mouth and stomach):
A ‘tinny’, ‘metallic’ or ‘ammonia’, or unusual smell or taste
Aerophagia (swallowing too much air, stomach distention, belching)
Burning mouth, feeling like the inside of your mouth is burning, or tingling, or like pins and needles, or all of these together or at different times
Burning tongue, feeling like your tongue is burning, or tingling, or like pins and needles, or all of these, or all of these together or at different times
Choking
Constant craving for sugar or sweets
Constipation
Diarrhea
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty talking, pronouncing certain letters or sounds, mouth feels like it isn't moving right, slurred speech
Dry mouth
Feeling like you can’t swallow properly or that something will get caught in your throat
Feeling like your tongue is swollen
IBS
Lack of appetite or taste
Lump in the throat, tight throat, something stuck in your throat
Mouth muscles twitching/jumping
Mouth or throat clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking
Nausea
Nausea vomiting
Nausea or abdominal stress
Numbness
Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling
Stomach upset, gas, belching, bloating
Teeth grinding
The thought of eating makes you nauseous
Tight throat, lump in throat
Throat or mouth clicking or grating sound/noise when you move your mouth or jaw, such as when talking
TMJ
Tongue symptoms - Tingly, “stretched,” numb, frozen, itchy, “crawly,” burning, twitching, “jumpy,” aching, sore, or swollen tongue (when it isn’t).
Urgency to urinate, frequent urination, sudden urge to go to the washroom
Vomiting
Skin (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with the skin):
Burning skin sensations, skin sensitivity
Numbness
Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling
Skin problems, infections, rashes
Sleep (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with sleep):
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
Frequent bad, bizarre, or crazy dreams
Hearing sounds in your head that jolt you awake
Insomnia, or waking up ill in the middle of the night
Jolting awake
Waking up in a panic attack
You feel worse in the mornings
Sight (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with sight):
Distorted, foggy, or blurred vision
Dry, watery or itchy eyes
Eye tricks, seeing things our of the corner of your eye that isn’t there, stars, flashes
Eyes sensitive to light
Spots in the vision
Flashing lights when eyes are closed
Your depth perception feels wrong
Touch (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with touch):
Burning skin sensations, skin sensitivity
Feeling cold or chilled
Numbness
Numbness tingling, numbness and tingling
Pain
Tingling, pins and needles feelings
Other anxiety symptoms are described as:
Being like a hypochondriac, muscle twinges, worry all the time, tingles, gagging, tightness in the chest, tongue twitches, shaky, breath lump, heart beat problems, head tingles, itchy tingling in arms and legs, and so many more.
In addition to these anxiety symptoms, you may also find yourself worrying compulsively about:
• Having a heart attack
• Having a serious undetected illness
• Dying prematurely
• Going insane or losing your mind
• Suddenly snapping
• Losing it
• Uncontrollably harming yourself or someone you love
• Losing control of your thoughts and actions
• Being embarrassed or making a fool out of yourself
• Losing control
• Fainting in public
• Not breathing properly
• Losing control of reality
• Choking or suffocating
• Being alone
These are some of the more common anxiety symptoms. This list isn't exhaustive.
That's from anxiety centre? I go on there often just to reassure myself. I have had almost all those that you have listed. I believe some very stressful events along with some obsessions have sensitized my nervous system and thrown it out of whack.
Yes autumnthebrat2 it is from the anxiety centre I got it from my therapist just last week who recommended the anxiety centre to me for a quick fix when im I a panic
No hun I just read my reply it didn't get typed right haha no I mean I go on anxiety websites and I saw the symptoms of anxiety list on there and when i went to my therapist it was pinned to a board that' also where I got it from
I have seen this list and honestly I feel a lot of these most of the time. I don't have classic tight throat, choking or tight chest with anxiety. Yet I have a lot of the others.
I just am concerned anxiety can't make you feel so ill walking just around your house. My ears hiss, I feel breathless, heart races, light headed, drained and like I've run a marathon. I take bp after returning to my bed and it s ky high. Which is a bad habit and as my hubby said of course it'll shoot up if you are stressed walking and afraid. I just pottered about upstairs now and fekt absolutely drained, dizzy, breathless and I walk hunched over like an old lady. I'm beginning to think it is a very stressed body.
Forestina you are so right it is very exhausting but also very sad that people like us have to go through some of these if not most of these symptoms to be told it' just simple anxiety now that' a lot of symptoms isn't it
Hi yes anxiety can make you feel so I'll but you can get better ,but you need to go to see your doctor and tell them how bad you are feeling.I also needed to take diazepam 2 mg to calm my body down I had shaky hands ,couldn't sleep.couldn't eat felt anxious all day every day .but I started on diazepam 2 mg one morning one night and slowly my anxiety started to calm down enough for me to start functioning again,read Dr Claire weeks book self help for your nerves.started CBT treatment ( had to wait 5 months) as waiting list was so long.....just shows you how many people suffer with anxiety and mental health problems.but good news is you do get better.you may still get bad days but you will be able to get through the bad days without being panic struck.then the good days turn to good weeks then good months.
My husband's the same although he tries to help he also gets frustrated with me for keep using my blood pressure machine at home and my digital temperature and they are both high and he says the same as your hubby it's high because I'm panicking so I'm making it high... its easier said than done though i think i walk round like a zombie too i used to take good care of myself pay for expensive makeup, hair extentions, eyelashes, smart clothes, be the life and soul of the party not now its all gone out the window i hardly change out my pj's never go out never do my hair or make up but i do keep my house clean ive got ocd in cleaning so it has to be spotless!!! But everything i do is effort im always so tired out too i have to keep taking deep breathes because i feel i cant breathe
Good for you still cleaning, my body just won't allow it. I honestly feel I will collapse if I push through some days. I feel my body has broken from all the bad anxiety I had those 2 months.
I haven't worn make up in 3 months. I am always just in chill clothes. I rarely go out. I look a mess. I feel so ugly. I also cant eat properly. I haven't had a full meal in days, I seem to just graze. I can't eat meat or anything like that now.
Me too my appetite goes out the window when im anxious you just don't feel like it when your so low are you on meds ju... do you know what triggered you off at all
I am on meds, have been 4 years. I had some stress during the summer, which also started whilst I was slowly withdrawing off my meds. I was fine with drawing at first but then with the stress I went through I just hit a wall and panic attacks hit. Thrn I just quickly fell down a very dark hole. I also suffer form. SADs so I think it was all one huge combination of things.
I think you should get a comprehensive medical check up as a first step. You should also see a therapist on a frequent basis. If you are in physically good health then perhaps some changes to your psych. medications would be in order.
LilLibby, you have to stop fighting this thing, you must surrender to it completely. You've been fighting it for months, even years, what good has it ever done you? Exactly. So now try the opposite. Stop fighting and frame your mind to coexist with the symptoms of your anxiety, just for the time being.
If you stop fighting the symptoms you also stop generating the fear and stress hormones that have been keeping your nerves highly sensitive which causes them to complain by responding with all the symptoms you list.
Tell your nervous system: "Sorry, I've been treating you badly but all that's going to change. I've been bombarding you with fear hormones and then wondering why you respond the way you do. Well, I'm going to break the vicious circle of fear causing symptoms causing fear causing symptoms...
"Nervous system, I'm going to give you a break. For the time being I'm going to start accepting all the symptoms for a change. After all, I'm the one causing them so I'm the one who can stop them. Simply by accepting them calmly when they strike and without second fear.
"Sure, I'm going to feel lousy but I'm going to feel lousy anyway. Only this time I'm going to stop pumping out the stress hormones that make you so highly sensitive and giving you a chance to return to normal.
" That way you'll recover and I'll recover all because I stopped frightening myself to death every time I have a hot flush. Why not? I can do it, sure I can!"
My problem is when I walk around my house. I just go downstairs to make a drink for example and I feel drained, heart races, ears hiss, breathless and I'm hunched over. I can be on my feet only 5 minutes and I feel that bad. Then when I sit to rest after it I test my bp some. Times and it's high which then worriedly me why my blood pressure jumps up whwn I function. It takes me about a minute for it to come down after I've sat to rest from it. It can take a while to feel less faint and drained from walking about. It terrifies me as I really feel dreadful walking about and uve a huge fear of fainting but I really do feel that bad. That's been happening these 3 months since this bad anxiety hit and I'm still struggling to accept it is anxiety. How can I do that?
Julie, to ask the obvious question: for your reassurance have you discussed your symptoms with your doctor to eliminate any physical causes like thyroid problems? Have you had any tests or scans?
As I always say, if the symptoms are overwhelming the right thing to do is to obtain respite through a course of medication. Refusing to use meds when appropriate is just cutting off your nose to spite your face. They don't cure of course, only talking therapy or self help methods can do that.
Do you think that you've spent so long in bed and generally not engaging in physical activity that it has made your muscles weak?
I already take medication that is the only med I can take after trying many thst gave me some pretty nasty reactions, one landed me in an ambulance. I'd I've no option to change. I'd also never take diazepam.
I've had blood tests 4 times over last year. So I'm up to date. I've an underactive thyroid that I take treatment for.
Claire Weekes says no matter the cause of the anxiety it's not important, the recovery plan is the same. So if your anxiety started after a trauma and you have a form of ptsd can the method of acceptance still work?
My brother attacked me.. I thrn lost my nan around the same time. I thrn lost my mother and sisters and suffered emotional and verbal abuse from them for years after my brother attacked me as I refused to forgive him. It led to me having severe agoraphobia, social anxiety, GAD, depression and I was told last year it's all been a huge trauma losing so many people. My brother didn't physically hurt me but it was classed as an attack as he chased me, I ran j to a police station for help where he cornered me, raised his fist and roared at me. He was then pounced on by 4 policemen and arrested. From that day abs the abuse my mum and sisters gave me afterwards I was left with noone but my own hubby and kids. It's led to extreme isolation and anxiety issues.
I've had therapy but never found it that helpful and I've tried a few for years. I made some progress in 2014 but then 2015 the chronic fatigue issues hit me and I've had health issues with that since. I was diagnosed with cfs last year. I'd made progress with my anxiety and agoraphobia and had my life back 80%, thrn the cfs hit and my life just turned upside down and I'd say now the agoraphobia and anxiety is worse these 2 years especially this last year, than it was before. I can't do appointments, struggle to go out, never see anyone but my hubby and children. I just seem to hide away more than before since had the cfs issued as I just felt so fatigued and drained I stayed home so much and lost so much confidence in myself. I was very ill with cfs for the first 18 months. I now struggle to even see my gp, terrified of tests, can't socialise.... Hubby does all the kids appointments and parents evenings. It's tough and very upsetting for me as I feel less of a wife and mother.
I feel my fight or flight is permanently switched on and I just find life so overwhelming. Sometimes just stood making my porridge in the morning nh heart races and I want if to hurry and be ready so I can sit down and feel safe again. I feel the health issues were another trauma for me I felt bad for so long with the cfs. I always feel on alert and everything too much at times. I had this before but it is worse in the last year but these 3 months since the bad setback it got worse. Now I'm so hyper sensitised to eveey sensation I feel, slightest tingle send s me into anxiety. Sounds, smells.... Even a sneeze last week triggered panic haha.
I'm just wondering if you think Claire Weekes would still say her method would help someone like me. I saw a therapist last year and she focused on the trauma a lot at first and then onto acceptance but in the end she said she didn't feel she could help anymore and let me go which was very hard on me. I tried 2 therapists after and 1 told me I couldn't ever recover and I'd just have to learn to manage this.
Oh dear. That is awful. What a negative thing to say. You must feel so abandoned..Sometimes however experts can be wrong. I am thinking of you in your struggle. You are so strong and brave.
I'm having a very tough morning. Children are in school and I'm feeling so ill just walking around my house. I just went to make a drink downstairs and my heart was racing, ears hissing, heart racing and chest felt couldn't breath properly. Felt I'd drop at any second. Now I'm lying down I'm recovering. Feel I ran a marathon. So my anxiety is now sky high worried. Every day since this bad anxiety hit I'm struggling to function and it's caused these symptoms everytime I walk around, but me being me I panic I'm dying or something. Its surely not normal anxiety has caused this. Every day i have to deal with this. At 38 I should be able to walk around my house. In floods of tears. Argh what a mess my life is. Why did this anxiety have to hit I've felt broken these last 3 months 😢😢😢
I am feeling a little similar. Force fed myself breakfast and chores are now done. Am sitting here with the funny sensations in my arms thinking what shall I do now.
Have cancelled work till the beginning of February. The worst thing is being self employed I can ill afford to and when the time comes I am beginning to think anything will have changed
At least the winds have died down.
Shall try and use up what I have and go shopping tomorrow.
It is a little chilly as try not to have the heating on in the day. Shall probably go for my walk round the block.
How are you feeling now? Does listening to something with headphones help or writing?
When I am at my worst I am becoming aware that I am holding my breath
Tried breathing exercises but not found the one yet
Do you at any stage of the day feel a little improvement? Mornings and mid afternoons are definitely the worst for me.
I sometimes use the alphabet .....running through a tree beginning with a then b until I get to Z. Then I do the same for flowers, animals, books, authors etc
I hope you find some respite during the day
P.S. I am assuming you are in the UK not USA because of the timing of your postings.
Mornings seem to be the worst time. I shower, make breakfast, see the kids off and I'm literally by that point breathless, heart banging, ears hissing, feel I will collapse and feel faint. I lie down and feel I've just done a major workout and I then panic I will faint or panic I'm dying because surely it's not normal. I'm stupid and check my bp after walking around and it's always sky high, but after sitting 2 minutes it's fine again.
I had this bad yesterday till about 2pm then functioning was a bit easier. Far less intense. I managed to cook dinner which is rare. I was a hunched over and breathless feeling so stressrd in my body but I did it. Afterwards I had to lie down and again felt I'd done a workout but it's not as severe as the first half of the day. Just now I walked to the bathroom and again had the same symptoms, I was only upright 2 minutes. Feel my body is broken and it's not normal. I find it hard not are panic and add fear because I've never read if anyone with anxiety that's made them this ill walking around.
These symptoms began 3 months ago after about 2weeks of crippling 10 hour panic attacks and shaking all day. I suddenly just couldn't function. Now I'm doing much better panic wise, obvious I'm still anxious but mainly about these symptoms I have walking about.
I never feel normal or well but the evenings are definitely much better. I still struggle walking about but not as intense as this.
I think everyone reacts so differently and I think anxiety can be cunning and exploit your worst fears
I feel ok standing and walking in my own home and walking round the block calms me, although I am going for walks more often I am going less far. I am out of the house for just 30mins.
Standing in queues and at traffic lights my panic rises and I feel faint. Where I live the roads are very congested and tutoring means I can only go after school when it is busiest. I can see how I have closed my own world in. At first I stopped going to pupils ten miles away, then ones with roadworks. By the time I got there I was shaking and my brain just went for teaching and all I wanted to do was escape and not frighten anyone.
I am wondering whether to go to the shop now. I have found a convenience store where there are few,queues. I am thinking I shall need quite a bit soon, but if I got some today and thought of something that might tempt me for lunch.
Ironically I live in a flat attached to a convenience store, but it is quite expensive.
I think that the fact our anxiety wanes slightly in the evening tells us that the perceived threat is over and the day is done. The cruelty is we have to resume the battle the next day.
Sometimes just watching the clouds and wild life from your window helps.
Just remember, although the condition is isolating you are not alone, so many of us know just how it feels.
Julie, Claire Weekes believed her method would work regardless of what had caused the sensitisation of the nervous system. This is because she directed her cure towards the result of the mental stress/trauma not the cause itself.
Acceptance of the symptoms of anxiety will have a beneficial effect regardless of what caused those symptoms.
Please do not give up in your quest for recovery because you are going to recover, be in no doubt about that, the only question is when.
Your sensitised nerves are firing off symptoms ten to the dozen. Your nerves need a rest in order to recover, no more second fear responses to first fear. It's all in Weekes books, acceptance can be difficult to apply so it depends on repeatedly reading her books, the first one in particular, until right thinking becomes almost a reflex action.
You are not going to have these bad feelings for ever. You will recover, be assured, that day will come.
Thats really reassuring. I've had people including therapists say that I can't recover, only learn to live with the trauma and anxiety. I cant live a life like this any longer.
I feel those 3 months of sheer hellish anxiety and panic that was 12 hours a day of shaking and panic attacks has broken my body. I feel my body is stuck in a stressed response. I feel it when I walk around. I swear it's why my heart races, I've a breathless stressed chest and why I feel I've run a marathon.. I can only manage a short time on my feet before I need to rest and then by the time i get back to my bed i feel I've done a workout and need to let the feelings pass. I went downstairs to put dinner on as quick as i could. I felt ny body desperate for me to lie down. I felt the stress in the body and i swear its why functioning even at home has become so hard for me. I feel i will drop some days with hoe rough i feel and tosay i was mindful and when i lay doen after doing what i needed to downstairs and i felt dizzy like I'd run a marathon, i realised how stressrd my body feeks when i walk. Im tense, brewthless, chest is heavy, breathing heavy, sore tight shoulders, fast heart... Its all stress so no winder i findnit hwrd functiining and thats noe brcome a dread so it will trigger each time. It all began after 3 months if awful anxiety so i know the anxiety is the trigger. My body is stuck stressed and run down after 3 months of that.
I feel a lightbulb went off today. I have to stop fighting this thing. I have to accept 3 monfhs of anxiety has broken my body down and its sruck stressed. Me woreying, obsessing and panicking after every walk around the house is addinf to it and making it worse. I have to accept for now itll be hard to function.
Well I read that long post about acceptance and am trying that. Yesterday was not a good day as back to slugging water to down half a baked potato. Also my hot water bottle burst.😦
Today I am exhausted but......have done the washing. Sunshine helps, even so I stressed about what if the machine breaks and I can't get the washing out. It was very noisy.
Anyway changed halogen bulb in the ceiling I so hate that job.
Then I went to my "safe shop" I really needed salad so thought what if I went a bit more central. It was before 10am so reasonably quiet. Managed a set of traffic lights on red. Not a great queue so did it. The fact that I had back pain just convinced me it was anxiety playing its tricks. Never had back pain before!!
My closest friend, my security blanket if you like was supposed to be fishing overnight tonight, but isn't. I haven't seen him for nearly a month as I want to get through this myself but just knowing he is not round the corner makes me worry. Ridiculous isn't it. I obviously have a long way to go.
I have been on another short walk and have even managed one shop bought tuna sandwich without water!!!!! I am still trying to eat something every two hours but only things I fancy and buying on a daily basis I am hoping soon makes me not give it a second thought.
So in summary not pushing myself but trying this acceptance and it does seem to be working a bit like feel the fear but do it anyway. It will be interesting to see how I cope on Sunday with heavy rain all day.
Yes you are right, I am in the UK on the South coast
Friday already. Do you find the weekends easier, with everyone at home or does it make it harder for you? I will happily text but not see or phone people as I don't want them to see,me like this. So obviously have a long way to go and definitely work in progress.
Please take care of yourself and maybe just accept and do what you feel is right.
i can sympathize with you that's anxiety to the max. i've been there myself. been pretty good lately but i never know when it's gonna strike. it's just not predictable. hope hyou'e feeling better
Yes Anxiety surely can just about cripple you with the symtoms. I have been there with numbness, tingling, weak legs from the adrenaline, tight muscles, brain fog, swollen tongue, prickly feelings, it's a mess. I can totally sympathize with your situation. Family and friends don't get it as they don't have to walk in the shoes of this situation.
Ive felt awful for almost 4.months. It started late October when something really upset me. The situation continued and i ended up with severe panic and anxiety. 12 hours a day shaking and panic after panic. It was so bad i ended up glued to my bed too afraid to move. I felt too ill to walk. I ended up bed ridden. Couldn't go downstairs or it would trigger severe panic because I'd feel so weak and poorly. I ended up finding showers so hard as id feel so much panic. I was overwhelmed completely.. If i thought of making dinner or loading the washing machine id feel panic and overwhelmed. My hubby had to do all the cooking and chores as i was too unwell.
By mid December thankfully the 10 weeks of constant panic attacks stopped. It was then i tried walling around my house again. I' make myself hourly go downstairs for a drink but now mid February my body still finds it hard. Everytime i go down my heart hammers and i feel i csnt stand up for long. I feel as though ny body is screaming at me to get back to my bed to lie down. I stay and make my drink, feed my dogs or put the dinner in pans ready. I can be downstairs 5 minutes only and then i walk the stairs and by the time i sit on my bed i feel light headed (like how you feel after a run or workout), ears hiss, heart racing and breathless. I tske my blood pressure and its weirdly high after walking around and pulse is raised. After about 60 seconds sitting my blood pressure is back to normal again. It takrs me a good 10 minutes to feel better and less like i just ran around the block. Can you relate?
If i lie still on my bed i can feel normal at times. My blood pressure and pulse will be normal so i then worry why my blood pressure shoots so high when i walk around. Why i feel so like I've done a workout just afger a trip to make a drink. I cry often worried this isnt normal. All of this began after those awful 10 weeks of severe anxiety and panic. I literally shook 12 hours or more a day with 12 hour panic attacks. No lie they were that long. I was alone all day, kids in school and hubby at work. It was hell. My hubbt says its my body broken after a horrific 3 months and he thinks i had a breakdown and depression hit hard which i guess it would anyone going through that and all the guilt you feel as a wife and mother in that state. He also thinks its deconditioning after months of being stuck on my bed. I was doing 2000 steps a day max. Now i can manage 3000 on my fitbit on a good day. Bad days i can even feel horrible just resting, light headed and everytime i move i feel horrible.
Can you relate to this? I feel stuck. The anxiety has calmed a lot but now I'm left in this fatigued body that just wont let me function normally. I hardly get out because of this hell. Which is making my depression even worse.
I could have written your post myself! I have been suffering from very similar symptoms since October after a upsetting experience.
I am doing slightly better now but can totally relate to how you say your body feels weak and burned out from all the anxiety. That’s exactly how I feel. I’m trying to focus on building it back up.
Hi, how are you feeling today? Sorry you're struggling too.
Ive felt awful for almost 4.months. It started late October when something really upset me. The situation continued and i ended up with severe panic and anxiety. 12 hours a day shaking and panic after panic. It was so bad i ended up glued to my bed too afraid to move. I felt too ill to walk. I ended up bed ridden. Couldn't go downstairs or it would trigger severe panic because I'd feel so weak and poorly. I ended up finding showers so hard as id feel so much panic. I was overwhelmed completely.. If i thought of making dinner or loading the washing machine id feel panic and overwhelmed. My hubby had to do all the cooking and chores as i was too unwell.
By mid December thankfully the 10 weeks of constant panic attacks stopped. It was then i tried walling around my house again. I' make myself hourly go downstairs for a drink but now mid February my body still finds it hard. Everytime i go down my heart hammers and i feel i csnt stand up for long. I feel as though ny body is screaming at me to get back to my bed to lie down. I stay and make my drink, feed my dogs or put the dinner in pans ready. I can be downstairs 5 minutes only and then i walk the stairs and by the time i sit on my bed i feel light headed (like how you feel after a run or workout), ears hiss, heart racing and breathless. I tske my blood pressure and its weirdly high after walking around and pulse is raised. After about 60 seconds sitting my blood pressure is back to normal again. It takrs me a good 10 minutes to feel better and less like i just ran around the block. Can you relate?
If i lie still on my bed i can feel normal at times. My blood pressure and pulse will be normal so i then worry why my blood pressure shoots so high when i walk around. Why i feel so like I've done a workout just afger a trip to make a drink. I cry often worried this isnt normal. All of this began after those awful 10 weeks of severe anxiety and panic. I literally shook 12 hours or more a day with 12 hour panic attacks. No lie they were that long. I was alone all day, kids in school and hubby at work. It was hell. My hubbt says its my body broken after a horrific 3 months and he thinks i had a breakdown and depression hit hard which i guess it would anyone going through that and all the guilt you feel as a wife and mother in that state. He also thinks its deconditioning after months of being stuck on my bed. I was doing 2000 steps a day max. Now i can manage 3000 on my fitbit on a good day. Bad days i can even feel horrible just resting, light headed and everytime i move i feel horrible.
Can you relate to this? I feel stuck. The anxiety has calmed a lot but now I'm left in this fatigued body that just wont let me function normally. I hardly get out because of this hell. Which is making my depression even worse. My anxiety is now more general and health anxiety. Im left sensitised to every bodily sensation too.
I can totally relate to everything you’ve been through and all of the symptoms you describe. Completely and totally get where you’re coming from!
The anxiety has subsided somewhat for me but it’s still there and like you say, my body feel very weak.
I felt like I was on the edge of a cliff 24/7 for 2-3 months, it was absolutely awful! At one point I was absolutely too scared to leave the house, even had to work myself up to post xmas cards in the post box literally across the road!
Every day my heart would be pounding out of my chest for no reason. I noticed a few weeks ago I’d be out of breath, sweating and my heart would be pounding just hoovering my flat! I’ve had the ear hissing symptoms as well and sometimes my head still pounds. Gradually these symptoms are going though, I can tell the difference now form a few months ago - I can go to the shop!
I think we need to focus on the positives and building our bodies back up - I lost a lot of weight and feel really fragile! I hate it!!!
I have felt very alone and worried what I'm feeling isn't normal at al and cant be caused by anxiety.
Today i feel breathless and just moving position sat on my bed can make me have a heavy head rush or my heart skip a beat. Crazy. That worries me when i get days lioe that where even in my safe place i can feel bad.
I've managed to go in my garden most mornings to feed my pets and get some air for 5 minutes or so. So that's something.
I am really trying to be better.... I’ve been off work since October and I can’t afford to be off for much longer. A couple of months ago, I’d feel like I was going to faint just getting out of bed and walking around my flat....
Yes definitely getting into the garden for even 5 minutes is something keep trying!
I do think anxiety can cause all of these symptoms, I really really do.
I had blood tests for something unrelated not long before all this happened last year, which all came back fine.
I think after everything you have been through this is totally understandable. Anxiety can do crazy things to your body - I didn’t understand this until recently.
Even just anxious or negative thoughts can set off that fight/flight response and cause all of these symptoms.
I really do feel that you’ll recover (and soon) now that the anxiety has calmed down. I think your body has just been put under strain from all the adrenaline and anxiety
I still hace anxiety but nothing like what i experienced those 3 months. Ive had anxiety years but more general, agoraphobic on and off and worries but those 3 months were something else. Full on panic and shaking. I still have anxieyu but irs more im highly sensitised to every bodily sensation and obsessing daily about how poorly i feel. Today walking aroundi feel breathless, fast heart and like i cant even change position on my bed without a rush if fast heart and feeling faint. I fearing fainting all day because i feel so breathless and awful walking. I just went downstairs for 5 minutes and on returning to my bed i felt awful for ages after. So then i sit worrying and frightened I've something serious wrong.
Its so tough. I really hope you feel well and are back in work soon. You're making great progress.
I can totally relate to everything you are saying and how you feel. I feel like those months for me were also the worse I’ve ever felt. I’m pretty sure I had a breakdown. I felt helpless and like I’d never get better but I did somehow accept that it was anxiety (at its worst) causing all of the symptoms.
I have always suffered with anxiety - I’ve always been a worrier/negative thinker and find that when I’m not quite happy or going through a stressful time, anxiety really rears it’s head and it’s a lot harder to be rational. I’ve also suffered with OCD at times too, but it seems to go away once I’m ‘happier’ again.
I still even these days get taken over by thoughts about all the anxiety symptoms but they are definitely decreasing day by day. A couple of months ago, I felt like I was scared of everything. Even if somebody came to the door, or if I was standing on the doorstep talking to my neighbour it’d make me dizzy and heart would pound. I’ve lost a lot of weight and don’t like it - I’m trying to make sure I eat at regular intervals & it’s getting better.
I didn’t want to see anybody for months because it made me so nervous and I didn’t want anybody seeing me that way.
I became obsessed with thoughts that I was going to faint - I still get that now. I couldn’t drive for a while even though I used to love driving & am a confident driver.
I really do understand that faint feeling. Have you read about the fight/flight response and what adrenaline can do to you body? I found this helped me understand and accept.
I know this sounds a bit silly, but could you do something to occupy your hands for a while? Like crafts or knitting? Just a little something to take your mind off these symptoms.
I think we can get obsessed by these symptoms and can therefore go round and circles and exacerbate every physical symptom.
I’m still suffering but can hopefully see brighter days now.... and I really hope you do too
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Anxiety sucks
Falling dropping sensations head pressure feel spaced out all the time 
Lets talk about anxiety
Fatigue anyone else?
