Health Anxiety is torturing me!

Mental health
1

Hi all!

First of all, happy new year to everyone reading this!

I have been suffering from GAD for more than a decade. I used to take Citalopram 10 mg which I quit almost two years ago. Recently though my anxiety increased again and I started having panic attacks almost every day. I was prescribed Opipramol which I have been taking for 5 weeks now and have been slowly increasing the dosage. I started with 2x10mg and now I am at 2x30mg. The problem is though that I have developed pharmacophobia and I am so afraid of the side effects. Every time I take it I get mini panic attacks where I feel lightheaded and have elevated blood pressure for a few minutes. My main issue is that I am suffering from health anxiety which is slowly consuming my life. Most of the days I think that my heart is weakening. The infinitesimal change in my blood pressure and pulse or the tiniest pain I might feel is a reason for me to investigate it further online and start worrying. REcently my pulse pressure was added to my growing list of things I have to check and start worrying whenever they are not within perfect limits. I have stopped exercising because when I do so I notice my heart rate increasing and I get panicky and feel like fainting. I went to the ER one time and hd blood work done and ECG and everything was fine. My oxygen levels were a bit higher than normal though and the doctors said it was because I was hyperventilating. Went a second time to the ER and had the same procedure again. Everything normal, but the doctor said that there was a slight irregularity on the ECG and that I could have it checked at my own convenience by booking an appointement with a cardiologist for an echo-cardiogram to rule out something chronic. I was immediately panicked and she tried to calm me down by saying that is probably nothing. Then I told her that I had an echo-cardiogram done a year ago and that everything was normal and then she said to me that then everything is ok and that all is normal. I couldn't stop thinking about it though and two weeks later I woke up in the morning and had a full blown panic attack. My blood pressure was 180/120 and I called an ambulance. They did an ECG, checked my oxygen levels and said that everything was fine and that it was just an anxiety attack...

On Monday I am going to visit the doctor again and ask for a stress ECG and an echo-cardiogram. After that I am going to my psychotherapist to start CBT again.

The funny thing is that when I am not worried about my heart, my mind worries about its sanity... 90% of the times I am dying of heart failure and 10% of the times I am losing my mind. But it is never both at the same time. I am fed up of feeling like a dying person all the time and I really hope that I am going to get over this soon...

2

Alexandros

You are your own worse enemy, The medical profession are giving you various tests and you are not accepting your results  Your blood pressure will rise if you are stressed, When your breathing heavy and Hypoventilate that will make yo feel worse as the heart rate will increase.and that may case you further problems. If this happens again, have a paper bag handy and place it over your nose and mouth breath into the bag and expel air into the bag you re breath the exhaled sir, that should help you recover your brathing

You have gone through many tests now to put your mind at rest. You suffer like many others on site and you seem to know the ways that will help you move on. When you see your CPN discuss with him Breathing Techniques and Mindfulness, you may find both will help you move on.

I would advise however, try and understand your Anxiety is very irrational and there is no reason why with help you will eventually beat this problem and move on. Remember most of your problems are caused by been over sensitized to your bodies pains and creaks etc and it is only you with some direction will be able to push yourself forward and accept your Bodies little quirks

BOB

3

Hi!

I am so sorry to hear this. I struggle with health anxiety as well although I have somewhat learned how to control it.

Anxiety has a tendency to make you believe almost anything. But you have the control whether or not to listen to it. I hate to say it, but your doing this to yourself. I know your symptoms are hard to ignore because they are so physical but if you've already had tests, you need to calm down.

Trust me I know your situation. I'm 16 & i also though I had heart problems. Rushed to the er 3 times. A plethora of doctors. Blood tests, 4 ekgs, 3 chest xrays, holter monitoring, stress test, an echocardiograms. Nothing found but skipped beats, that were due to anxiety.

Anciety also raises blood pressure which is normal when your in panic mode. 180 is very high & you really need to calm down. However i know your fear. I went to urgent care a couple weeks ago. Checked my blood pressure on my right arm & it was 135/76. I panicked. Automatically thought I was going to have a stroke or heart attack. So therefore she checked it on my left arm, 144/78. Even more anxious because my blood pressure was too high. Like I wasn't already anxious before lol it's a vicious cycle.

You have to realize that anxiety is a natural feeling that everyone has. It's only a disorder when it's ongoing, interferes with daily activities etc. I was also diagnosed with GAD. GAD in particular is very tricky because sometimes you may not always have a trigger. Which could be extremely debilitating & frustrating.

However, you are not alone. By far. Anxiety is the most treatable mental illness & 9 times out of 10 all you need is therapy & to go out more to adjust back to your own self. I don't condone medicine but that's a different story lol.

But yeah, life isn't about what you go through. It's how you deal with it, & the decisions you make. Now either you can panic & call the ambulance everytime something is "wrong" & continuously put your body under stress & raise your blood pressure which isn't healthy & just causing more panic, or either you can relax& accept the fact that you have an anxiety disorder. It's your choice. It's obvious which one is more reasonable. It's that simple.

Find a mantra to say when your anxious. For me, it's Bible scriptures which are full of anxiety & worry & is extremely helpful. You will get through this. You are strong. You have control over this.

Whether you are ill or not, live you life. Please don't spend your young years worrying. You'll wish you had them back. Be free. Be caring. Be loving. Take care of yourself.

- "Anxiety can make us sad and upset, but knowing that God is with us can bring so much joy in the face of desolation." Psalm 94:19 ❤

Peace. Love. Happiness. Let 2018 be tge year you overcome this. I wish you the best.

4

Hi!

I am so sorry to hear this. I struggle with health anxiety as well although I have somewhat learned how to control it.

Anxiety has a tendency to make you believe almost anything. But you have the control whether or not to listen to it. I hate to say it, but your doing this to yourself. I know your symptoms are hard to ignore because they are so physical but if you've already had tests, you need to calm down.

Trust me I know your situation. I'm 16 & i also though I had heart problems. Rushed to the er 3 times. A plethora of doctors. Blood tests, 4 ekgs, 3 chest xrays, holter monitoring, stress test, an echocardiograms. Nothing found but skipped beats, that were due to anxiety.

Anciety also raises blood pressure which is normal when your in panic mode. 180 is very high & you really need to calm down. However i know your fear. I went to urgent care a couple weeks ago. Checked my blood pressure on my right arm & it was 135/76. I panicked. Automatically thought I was going to have a stroke or heart attack. So therefore she checked it on my left arm, 144/78. Even more anxious because my blood pressure was too high. Like I wasn't already anxious before lol it's a vicious cycle.

You have to realize that anxiety is a natural feeling that everyone has. It's only a disorder when it's ongoing, interferes with daily activities etc. I was also diagnosed with GAD. GAD in particular is very tricky because sometimes you may not always have a trigger. Which could be extremely debilitating & frustrating.

However, you are not alone. By far. Anxiety is the most treatable mental illness & 9 times out of 10 all you need is therapy & to go out more to adjust back to your own self. I don't condone medicine but that's a different story lol.

But yeah, life isn't about what you go through. It's how you deal with it, & the decisions you make. Now either you can panic & call the ambulance everytime something is "wrong" & continuously put your body under stress & raise your blood pressure which isn't healthy & just causing more panic, or either you can relax& accept the fact that you have an anxiety disorder. It's your choice. It's obvious which one is more reasonable. It's that simple.

Find a mantra to say when your anxious. For me, it's Bible scriptures which are full of anxiety & worry & is extremely helpful. You will get through this. You are strong. You have control over this.

Whether you are ill or not, live you life. Please don't spend your young years worrying. You'll wish you had them back. Be free. Be caring. Be loving. Take care of yourself.

- "Anxiety can make us sad and upset, but knowing that God is with us can bring so much joy in the face of desolation." Psalm 94:19 ❤

Peace. Love. Happiness. I wish you the best.