Struggling with Anxiety for 11 Years

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Emilyomouse

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I personally have struggled with anxiety for over 11 years. Started with chronic gastritis. I seemed to go for periods were I was okay and some not okay, which always resulted in me going to a Dr for what ever self diasgnosed disease I was worried about at the time. The doctor would tell me I was okay and I was normally good for a while. 3 years ago my life started a downhill run because my wife had to have brain surgery, about 1 year later I lost my job and then my son was diagnosed with the same thing my wife has but not as severe and no surgery needed. Then both my kids were aching all the time and I then feared they had leukemia and it ended up being a vitamin D deficiency in one and the other had sympathy pains and just mimiced her brother. After going through all this I went to the ER for a headache and had a dystonic reaction to compazine, which is scary as hell and over the last 7 months my anxiety was totally off the charts. Within the last few months I noticed percieved right leg weakness, then twitches and sore muscles started. I just knew I had als. after mri's, nerve conduction and an emg and realizing that my percieved weak side is just as if not stronger than my other side, I have to wonder. How many of us have anxiety. honestly, does anyone feel guilty with all this. The whole time my family needed me, I feel like I was only half there. And after my long journey of "percieved sickness" for 11 years, I'm still here and worse, I'm seeing fear patterns in my kids. I'm in the medical field and know that extreme or prolonged stress of any kind( phsycological or physical) totally kicks your bodys rear. I also know that when establishing a petients dx you always start with the first symptoms and proced from the point of onset. If nothing can be found diagnostically and the patient is WNL on their tests and negative on their scans, go back to square one, Maybe this is my wake up call. I plan on seeing a pshyciatrist and I have also really started standing on my faith in God instead of keeping it in my back pocket as a tool I know I have but will only use if all my personal resources fail. I'm realizing that the reality is, you will continue until you come to an illness that there is no definative test for so then we will all have to just wait anyway.
 
I had terrible health anxiety before all this started and I still do. Someone just did a survey on this and most of us here posted that they had anxiety before their BFS started. Anxiety is a horrible thing and unless you go through it, you have no idea how it can wreck your life. I know cause I have been there. Thank god my doctor put on Lexapro and it helped me tons.
 
As I have said in many many posts, chronic health and general anxiety have been an issues for me for a very long time. And in my opinion, the reason why I have BFS. And yes I am now on an anti-depressant ( Lexapro) for that condition ( Generalised Anxiety Disorder-GAD) and although it has not 'cured' me of the issue, it certainly helps. I think personality make up has a lot to do with it. Some of us are worriers and some of us are not!See yaRodger An example..I am going to a U2 concert tonight and instead of being thrilled about it, I am worried about-the traffic, the crowds, the 'noise', the weather, late home etc etc- to the point where I am thinking I would rather not go-crazy
 
Like you said: Extreme prolonged stress can kick your bodys rear. I´ve also been dealing with anxiety for years.Like Rodger, instead of looking forward to an event (eg vacation) I worry about getting sick before or during the trip, heavy traffic on the way to the airport and so on. In the past year I thought I had stomac cancer, lung fibrosis and now ALS. I´m a nervous wreck and I know it. Getting help from a psychiatrist is certainly a start to deal with this.
 
I have always had high anxiety in similar ways as you all have mentioned. I am not being treated for it, mainly because I don't ask for help. It is a constant struggle and makes it difficult for me to enjoy anything, worry-free.
 
I am the Anxiety king.When all this started i was worried about having skin cancer(doctors fault) ;) and could not sleep without meds.I have always been an anxious person and if you could win a gold medal for it i would be up there with the best
 
I do- this BFS is a tough one though. I see a therapist regularly and also take medicine for my anxiety but its not having any real impact on the BFS. I have always expressed my anxiety through physical symptoms and normally meds help that. The neuro I saw though told me people without anxiety also get BFS though so its not exclusive to we anxious folks. They probably dont dwell on it as much though.
 
I am the poster child for anxiety. I really believe it is just how I am made. I have mitral valve prolapse and their is some evidence that it makes you more prone. Who know, but it sucks. It is hard for my husband to understand and it has caused some problems. He is so opposite which is good because if I were married to someone like me we would explode. Funny thing, most people who meet me think I am very calm. I have 4 active kids and everything that comes with it. My mom has anxiety and just recently my oldest (10) came to me and said he was worried because his head only hurt in one spot. I am afraid he has the gene too :( I am very careful about talking about my worries in front of my kids so I don't think he knows I have anxiety. It is just so hard for others to understand.
 
I also have very high anxiety and when this crap started I was stressed as can be. Now it's even worse because of this stuff, hopefully I can find a happy medium somewhere soon.
 
Yep— diagnosed with GAD and PTSD several years ago. Opted to forgo taking any meds. Hear that? The little voice in my head— "How's THAT working for you?" :)(Surprisingly, my little voice sounds a bit like Dr. Phil. Go figure....)
 
I have always had what my husband called the "worry gene". alway anxious and very OCD. Once this crap started it really sent me over the edge. Had never been on any anti-anxiety or anti-depressant before now I'm taking both :(
 
There are a few of us here that don't have anxiety issues; I'd have to say I am one of the 'nons'. There is of course the normal kind of anxiety that helps to keep you safe but most here seem to be more ramped up than that. I worry yes, about regular stuff, not getting a call from my daughter when she said she would, when a family member is very late for an appointment, budget cuts laying off people at work and if it will come down to me next. Most people do this, right? I know how bad this feels even though for me there is an endpoint - I can't imagine being like that constantly without being able to let it go. At very stressful times in my life I have felt it for extended periods of time - it is not a happy place. I wish you all 'an endpoint'.
 

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