Anxiety is ruining my life

[Cardinals1]

I have anxiety and when I have any type of stomach issue it sends my anxiety symptoms into overdrive. I recently had a stomach bug and since, I have had feelings of doom, dread, and that I am going crazy. I have a pounding heart, shaky hands and legs, stomach pain, nausea, and cannot concentrate on anything but how I feel. am on Lexapro . I am 57 years old and just want to feel normal and be able to do my job and enjoy my family again.

[gajh]

Hello and Welcome. Hopefully being here with others who understand will help you as it has helped me.

[Barbloki]

That sounds like really bad anxiety. Do you have a psych dr who can prescribe meds? See if you can get Xanax or something similar. And try some breathing exercises. I just learned about "box breathing." For me, it takes 5 to 10 minutes of doing this with my eyes closed for the anxiety to start to settle down. I have to learn to LET GO instead of holding onto the familiar feelings. I get scared to let go and afraid of losing control but the box breathing does help. I've heard that mindfulness helps but I'm not sure how that works. I'm just starting to learn these tools. People on here have lots of good advice. There are Youtube videos you can listen to that help calm you down. There is the Calm app for your phone but it costs money so I used the YouTube calm videos that are free. There's another app call Abide that is Christian based and that's my favorite. There are many free meditations and then others that cost money. There are also free YouTube videos for Abide. Make yourself a toolkit. We're here for you. Hang in there.

[Cardinals1 in reply to Barbloki]

I cannot find a psychiatrist close to me or a psychologist that deals with health anxiety. I am on Lexapro, but it is not taking the anxiety away. I am always thinking that something else is causing the issues ie: vitamin deficiency, hormones , etc. Has anyone ever tried hypnotism to find the root of their anxiety?

[Barbloki in reply to Cardinals1]

Your primary care doctor should be able to do a blood test to check for deficiencies like Vitamin D and some of the B vitamins, also check your thyroid because that can cause issues. Maybe your primary doctor will give you something for anxiety like xanax. My primary doctor does. Good luck, I hope you can find some help.