Do you have GAD/panic? If so do you also have an ongoing problem with physical pain?

[jonchoo]

I'm trying to test the idea that GAD/panic is caused by pain/damage in the body, not by a malfunctioning mind.
I'm a sufferer, not a 'scientist', but the more I look into it the more it seems plausible.

[Capercrohnj]

I have 2 severe GI diseases so idk if my answers count. My GAD started way before I developed those diseases. I can't take most OTC pain meds because of my gut issues (everyone stay far away from NSAIDs if you have gut issues). Opioids kinda help my pain but not anxiety. Cannabis helps my anxiety not pain. The tricyclic antidepressants didn't do anything.


My diseases (Crohn's and gastroparesis) didn't cause my anxiety and were not caused by anxiety though anxiety makes the worse.


ETA: I have had my colon and rectum removed and ghat difn't decrease my anxiety at all other than the fact I have 0% chance of crc now so don't have to worry about that.

[MyNameIsTerry]

This being the HA board the nature of the fears will differ greatly to most on the GAD board, speaking as a GAD & OCD sufferer myself.

It sounds like you are asking about a chicken & egg scenario of whether GAD has been caused by disease/injury that has made the person hypersensitive to symptoms of their disease/injury. That's complicated by the fact trauma may be healed but left solely in the subconscious like in PTSD.

In my case, I do suffer loads of aches & pains like anyone on here but find my anxiety has always latched onto them big time to amplify them (my GAD that is, my OCD has no health elements). But it wasn't injury or illness that caused my GAD, it was not spotting the signs of working myself into the ground until BANG one day something snapped in me at work.

Are you looking into the inflammation side of mental health?

[jonchoo]

My GAD started way before I developed those diseases.

Have you considered that your gut may have been in distress, but didn't present obvious symptoms? You obviously have severe problems with your gut - I can't imagine that they appeared out of nowhere.
What I'm driving at with this idea/theory is that anxiety is linked to 'pain'. There is published evidence to support this (Google "anxiety paracetamol").
Now, when I say 'pain' I'm not only referring to the sort that we actively feel (like a toothache) but also signals that the body sends to the subconscious about 'damage', 'inflammation' or 'malfunction'. I wrote a more thorough explanation in another thread if you are interested (I can't post links yet apparently).

[MyNameIsTerry]

Many antidepressants treat pain too, among other meds (Pregabalin, for instance). They work on the neurotransmitters that also work with pain reduction. But I wonder just how much anyone knows about this stuff other than "we observed it helped" in a study and therefore we'll give a go?

When my adrenaline levels are ramping up, up goes any existing pain with it even if it's not actually any worse.

What do you make of the studies of things like Mindfulness, and even CBT, in reduction of pain symptoms?

You will be able to post links once you're post count hits 10. It's just to help keep the spammers out.

[jonchoo]

Mindfulness, and even CBT, in reduction of pain symptoms

That's interesting - I hadn't heard about that, but it certainly backs up my 'theory'. Meditation could fall into the same category.

Many antidepressants treat pain too

The evidence just keeps on mounting. What if ... just imagine ... WHAT IF I'm right about this.

---------- Post added at 08:13 ---------- Previous post was at 08:08 ----------

The latest drug they have me on is Mirtazapine. I just checked and guess what - its effective at treating chronic pain. Google "Mirtazapine pain" and you'll find the study. The very first thing I noticed when I took the first pill was that my gut stopped bothering me.

[pulisa]

CBT and psychological therapies are all part of Chronic Pain Management programmes in hospitals.

[Capercrohnj]

There are lots of antidepressants that help with pain and are given to chronic pain patients. None of them worked for me though (including mirtazipine).

I 10000000% agree anxiety can cause gut pain but not necessarily gut pain causes anxiety (except worrying about the pain).

My GAD started as a teenager. I was diagnosed with Crohn's at 38 almost 39 so Crohn's didn't cause my anxiety.

---------- Post added at 09:42 ---------- Previous post was at 09:25 ----------

CBT and psychological therapies are all part of Chronic Pain Management programmes in hospitals.

Yes because chronic pain is difficult to live with and causes/worsens depression and hopelessness. I have aevere chronic pain all the time and it sucks bigtime.

[pulisa]

I have chronic neuropathic pain and it certainly gets you down. Not a good combo with GAD but you just have to cope with it as best you can.

[Capercrohnj]

I have chronic neuropathic pain and it certainly gets you down. Not a good combo with GAD but you just have to cope with it as best you can.

I have neuropathy too I believe (lyrica helps my body pain but not my abdominal pain).