5 years living with anxiety, depression and hypochondria. Any advice on symptoms and life?

[nh_user_675504]

I am a male, 25 years old of average build. I do not exercise much but I am careful with my food, trying to eat as healthy as possible, stopped smoking and receiving any caffeine June 2014. I drink alcohol occasionally over the weekends.

I moved away from home for University over 5 years ago. Just before leaving the country I witnessed my first panic attack. I thought I was dying and had the usual symptoms, racing heart, light headedness, tingling sensations in my gut and fingers, blurry vision etc. I saw a psychologist briefly just before leaving who said this is due to me losing my stability from back home going into an unexplored new country. I also saw a cardiologist who just briefly examined my heart saying there was nothing irregular with it.

5 years later this has not improved. If anything, it has gotten a little worse. First year or two were terrible and I had problems functioning regularly experiencing plenty of panic attacks. It calmed down after a while but until this day I still experience the following:

·       I am constantly aware of my breathing. I feel like I have to breathe manually and this of course leads to shortness of breath and other problems.

·       I am also constantly aware of my heart. From the minute I wake up until the last second I am falling asleep I keep thinking of my heart, checking if it does not beat too fast, and touching my chest feeling how ‘strong’ it is. When I am busy I forget about it but the minute my mind is not occupied any more I start feeling it beating very strongly. Chest physically coming up and down, feel it in my throat, fingers, etc.

·       Problems falling asleep. For the reasons above I have developed real problems falling asleep. My mind is constantly somewhere else.

·       Chest pain. Over the last several days I have been experiencing a blunt minor sensation around my heart sometimes turning into a stronger pulsating pain. It comes and goes every couple of minutes for a little while. This obviously does not help any of the above.

·       Socially awkward. Every single interaction with strangers gives me plenty of stress and boosts the above symptoms greatly.

·       Very tired, exhausted and drained. I often struggle waking up in the morning feeling tired already. I yawn constantly, my eyes feeling tired too. I struggle finding motivation to do extra work, focus or do exercise.

·       Being ill every other week. I feel like I am ill every two weeks or so. Feeling slightly feverish, sore throat. My nose is constantly blocked, phlegm in my throat plus minor cough. I have also had to take a lot of antibiotics recently. I take vitamins and probiotics to work on my immunity and I wonder if it can be connected to the symptoms above. Plus having blocked nose obviously does not help my breathing issues.

·       Back pain. I have had an aching back for a long time now trying to stretch daily but it is not helping.

I am sorry for the long post but I wanted to describe it in detail. I feel every single day of mine is revolving around my symptoms. I have not had a single day in the last 5 years when I would not have to think about some of the issues I have. I fail to enjoy any activity as everything sooner or later turns into stress, depression and self-examination.

Additionally, to calm me down I often Google all my symptoms meaning I self diagnosed my self with 5 types of cancer, 3 types of heart failure, seven different mental health conditions and more. Understandably this makes my situation worse with every single search.

I have not seen a professional about the above yet. Every time I feel like going to see my GP and start a little Google search, realise hundreds of people experience the same, calm myself a little and let it go. I guess I just feel embarrassed talking about these and coming across as a hypochondriac or potentially receiving some bad news I might have problems handling.

I wonder what your suggestions are? If there is someone else with similar problems (I am quite sure there are plenty), how you dealt with them, what you propose I do. Also can these symptoms be attributed to physical condition? (Heart conditions come to mind) Or do you reckon it is all due to anxiety?

[nh_user_630983]

Hi,

I am male 38.

I completely understand Your situation.

I am taking fluoxetine 20mg every day in the morning as prescribed from my Dr. It's week six now ending tomorrow. I was also taking Propranolol occasional for reducing pounding heart instantly..

I struggled also with the symptoms and I decided to put my self on medication and I must admit I feel better.

I also practice Transcendental Meditation.

First 3-4 weeks on medication were HELL...

But now I feel more relaxed and ready as the days go by.

My suggestion is to go to Dr at once and take the first step.....anxiety is living he'll...

I wish you luck...

A

[nh_user_112520]

1) go and see your doctor and be totally open with them. Do not play down your symptoms.

2) Exercise a lot more. Go for a brisk walk each day if possible

3) This definately all sounds like anxiety to me (I was agoraphobic for 15 years and I had all these symptoms and more)

4) Remember that although Anxiety is horribly uncomfortable it can do you no harm whatsoever. You are OK, just anxious. See your doctor, get some meds or some therapy, there is help out there but it wont come to you.

[nh_user_675409]

Hey I'm 22 and I feel what you are going through...i think I have hypochondria because I constantly worry about my health and right now I have severe severe anxiety because of a numbness i have all over my body...so scary...so I know how it feels...its just horrible

[nh_user_675741]

Been there my friend. 11 years a sufferer now. I laughed at the google search part, not at your suffering but because I have done that, lost the plot and ended up at A&E on several occassions. Being with or talking to someone you trust will help. I am lucky that for the last six years I have had my Wife. She yalks me through them and calms me down. But before that as a Single man it was hell. I am 29. Been having these attacks since I was 18. I too have impending thoughts around my symptoms. It is always in ths back of your mind. Sometimes it develops sometimes not. I am always checking my pulse. But listen, it is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. Your GP will have seen many people who suffer like we do and they can help. Do it for you and be better. All the best.