I have been struggling with anxiety and dissociation and occasional depression. Recently i drove for a very long distance on a family trip. Now, having returned home. I am experiencing some weird symptoms some of the are familiar but stronger. Eg of symptoms are feeling as though my body is about to shut down; feeling disconnected from myself and others; numbness, tingling (increases when i am driving); sensations like i am about to go crazy or have psychosis like symptoms (i have never had any psychotic or manic symptoms though); feeling like my body, mind are frozen. The irony is i do not usually experience rapid heartbeat or shortness of breath which are classic or usual symptoms of anxiety. So i have to question if these feelings are even anxiety. But i have had a panic attack before and in the aftermath of the attack most of the symptoms i described were there for days. Have anybody with anxiety have these symptoms?
Hello Nichola, I, m experiencing many of the same symptoms, I, ve been everywhere to sort this out.;docs counseling, taken meds all to no avail.It really does ruins one life.Ihave been assured it, s not life threatening. Do you get a tight jaw with numbness, also my legs feel so heavy like I can, t move.of course I get the dizzy , shakey, nausea.Have you any tips to help with anxiety, I will pass any advice I recieve and hope it helps you.take care.
Hi nicholo. Yes, I have these kinds of feelings, thoughts and sensations too. Anxiety is often referred to as the fight or flight reflex that protects us but there another anxiety response not often mentioned which is freeze. Animals in the wild when feeling threatened either run way, fight or freeze.
In humans anxiety makes us want to escape, get aggressive or freeze. I run away but mostly I freeze a lot. My thinking freezes and I cant think clearly. I also freeze physically as if 'if I dont do anything, nothing bad can happen to me' and I freeze emotionally and cut myself off from people. This 'freezing' then makes me feel something is really wrong with me and then I get even more anxious. Round and round it goes.
The warmth and kindness of other people or animals can help unfreeze me and I try to be warm and compassionate and forgiving to myself to help unfreeze me. I have a warm bath every day and I try to go out in the warmth of nature. Contact with other people. This all helps. You are definately not going crazy (I think that myself) but you are anxious which is not a mental illness but is an entirely natural response of your body to protect you from real or imagined harm. It is important to remember that anxiety and panic attacks do you no harm whatsoever but it does feel horrible at the time. Love and support xx
Hello nicholod
I get the same feelings after a long drive, I feel that I am still travelling and I feel dizzy. When I drive I suffer tinglin in my hand and I have to knock my hands on the dashboard to get ride of this sensation.
Have a early night and hopefully all will sort by tomorrow
BOB