hi all, i hope im not going to be judged, as clearly anxiety is something we have in common and something we struggle to control !
my question is , can anxiety produce real symptoms of a disease you believe yiu may have .
i ve had all sorts of issues but for the last 10 months ive had chronic upper /mid back pain 100% on the left always there just varying degrees of pain BUT ALWAYS present ! ive had blood test, endoscopy and even a CT Colonoscopy ( for 15 wks of upset tummy , which has cleared up) all clear . so dr now not concerned at all I also get side rib pain on the left and stabbing chest (through heart) pain ( heart is fine) . my over riding concern is pancreatic cancer !!!! ive raised this with the GP and he says its highly unlikely !!!!! could it all be stress related , as it did get marginally better after the CT scan , but there are major family issues atm and ive just started a new job which involved training for a week , so ould this have triggered my issues again
please be kind in your replies , dont just tell me to get off the internet , for i have done this and still my problems are the same x
only my opinion but in short yes anxiety will cause those pains and the more you worry about them the worse they seem I’ve noticed that as well as random pains mine are usually in my arms or upper back.. if there is something you are particularly worried about anxiety will make it happen. for example if you worry about brain tumors anxiety will kindly give you more headaches. sounds like you’ve had a lot of tests done and have had the all clear so it may be time to accept it’s all anxiety related which means your in no real danger of anything physical. however if it’s just to much worry keep insisting on more tests it is your docs job to diagnose you after all. good luck it will pass
If you’ve had plenty of tests done then rest assured it will be down to anxiety as I know it does crazy things to your body. I know that’s easier said than done as it’s something I’ve struggled with massively trying to believe that the doctor’s are telling me I’m ok! I’ve found that I only ever notice myself feeling something strange or some pain if I’m sat not doing much or when my mind is wandering, it almost always disappears when I am busy doing something! Why don’t you try meditation or yoga to take your mind off things and to help you relax, you might find yourself worrying less making the pain sensations less intense? I highly recommend it!
It sounds like anxiety. I was convinced I had heart problems and have had all kinds of chest pains and palpitations only have tests done and to be told I am healthy. Your mind can be a cruel thing and make you feel things that aren’t really there.
YES YES and YES. Stress can cause havoic on our bodies. I had alot of the same pains as you. I’m on 10mg of Celexa for 10 1/2 months and finally feel great. Speak with your dr about possibly a med.
Will
I have multiple physical symptoms caused by anxiety. I often have an upset stomach when I’m feeling anxious, that stops me from leaving the house, or starts even when I think about leaving the house. I get tension headaches that last for hours and have terrible nightmares.
I also see a chiropractor for existing spine issues, there is direct association between my levels of anxiety and level of back pain especially in the mid back and neck shoulders. It’s been explained that if I’m stressed my pelvis tilts which causes stress on other parts of my back and my muscles tense up as I hunch over and light my shoulders towards my ears. I also get rib pain because I still can’t relax even when I’m asleep!
I would suggest pilates (which is great for back problems) as it helps you to stay aligned and can release tense muscles, a good way to release back muscles at home is to place a tennis ball between your back and the wall and roll it around until you find the tense spot and just apply pressure with the ball for 30 seconds. Also try putting pressure on the low back right hand side usually tightness in the top left is a result of tenseness in the low right.
Hope things get better for you soon.