View Full Version : Please help with your experience.
Hey all, really suffering at the moment. Want some support and positive thoughts.
I suffered from a lot of stress recently, moving to the US, my Dad being diagnosed with Motor Neurons disease and my brother recently having a surgery that saved his life and my wife is trying to now get a job in the US after just having got a work visa and is always stressed out.
Ive suffered from all classic signs of anxiety.
Vision Problems
Burning sensations
Weight loss
Gagging
Numbness of extremities
GERD
Insomnia
Panic Attacks
Spasms
Chest pain
What is strange are these symptoms
Previously pain walking on feet
Still cant stand for long periods of time
Joint pain, clicking, popping and such.
Shin splints when running, like the impact of exercise is painful.
Radiating pain of my inner left thigh near my pelvis
Hip pain on the right side mainly on the side and back
Hip pain on the left side
Seemingly lost weight in certain areas, particularly my legs, collarbone, hips. (everything is way bonier when Im sitting it feels like I have no butt and Im 170lbs at 30 yrs old)
Could someone please tell me this is just all anxiety
!? Or suffered similar?
Had bloods Fine (thyroid, diabetes, STDs, CBCetc_
Had urine test - Fine
Colonoscopy - Fine
Chest X-Ray - Fine
Im at my wits end, and I dont want to talk about it to friends and family anymore as they are so bored of me complaining and I dont want to be an imposition.
Just know that anxiety can manifest in many, many different and unique ways. I've had weird physical manifestations that I've seen many specialists about, only to be told I am totally fine. From dizziness so random and bad I had to hold onto walls and close by furniture to walk to muscle spasms and such.
When it comes to physical pain and discomfort, I've personally linked it to (and remember, I am not a doctor) muscle tension. Muscle tension linked to anxiety seems to be able to resonate wherever it may please, despite the vast amount of discomfort it may cause you.
One way that I deal with muscle tension/tightness is to simply deal with the symptoms while I also simultaneously deal with the underlying cause (anxiety). Dealing with the symptoms themselves is, to me, very important, since many symptoms personally cause my anxiety to snowball into a mountain. Usually my anxiety has manifested as chest tension on the left side, so I learned stretching, used a heating pad, etc. I recently wrote an article on it in my blog (Article: http://anxietypress.com/index.php/2017/05/04/general-ways-to-deal-with-chest-tightness-caused-by-anxiety/)
What has also seemed to help joint issues and anxiety/depression itself (moreso depression, I believe) is Fish Oil. I wrote another article on that as well (Article: http://anxietypress.com/index.php/2017/04/11/supplement-fish-oil-good-for-mental-health-and-overall-health/). Some people swear by it helping their joints especially. I don't eat fish, so supplementing with Fish Oil capsules daily (2g) helps ensure that I get Omega 3's in an efficient fashion. Just don't go to a pharmacy and get it, though. I too often see Fish Oil on shelves at stores that have very, very little EPA and DHA and even cost MORE than what you actually need (I think pharmacies do this to push you towards pharmaceuticals, but that's my little conspiracy theory lol). Go on Amazon or even a local, good vitamin store (I am not a fan of GNC) and check for higher levels of the aforementioned substances within the Fish Oil. They're important! Don't make the same mistake that I did.
I also suggest acupuncture and massage therapy to people for muscle tension. They both increase blood flow/circulation and they're both pretty relaxing, even though the idea of getting stuck with a dozen needles doesn't seem very relaxing to many. I've had pretty good results with it at times. Sadly it gets a bit pricey, even with insurance covering a bulk of the bill.
As for shin splints, many people have had this issue. Running is quite an impacting exercise on our joints. Think about it: Every step you take, you're basically slamming down on your ankle, knee and hip joints. I mean, running isn't bad, but for people with potential issues like yours there are much better and safer options. Swimming would be the best, as it's incredibly easy on the joints. If that's not available, opt for an Elliptical Machine or a Stationary Cycle (Recumbent Bicycles are OK, too). Basically these allow you to get your cardio in without nearly as much impact since your feet are always connected to the moving parts of the machines.
As for weight loss, spot reduction is a myth, despite what many people may tell you (Article: http://anxietypress.com/index.php/2017/03/31/general-spot-reduction-fact-or-fiction/). While some parts may be boney and others may be a little fatty, exercising that one specific area won't burn fat specifically in that area. Say you have a little bit of a gut (many people do, especially guys since fat tends to accumulate there first most often); doing a hundred crunches every morning will not target the fat in that region. The exercise is still good, of course! I'd suggest strength training and a caloric surplus of 2,500 calories per week ensuring adequate protein intake to gain some weight. If you feel you have no butt, squats are your best friend! Lunges, glute bridges, etc are good, too.
I hope that this helps!
Hi Drew (guessing at the name)
Thanks for this post. It's made me feel super positive today and I'm feeling a lot more sunny because of it.
Yeah, exercise, yoga, swimming and the gym has helped me a lot personally. Mentally it allows me to disconnect from a lot and feel good about myself. Massages and acupuncture I'll be sure to try.
How are you coping at the moment, always good to chat. What have you been through?
Hi Drew (guessing at the name)
Thanks for this post. It's made me feel super positive today and I'm feeling a lot more sunny because of it.
Yeah, exercise, yoga, swimming and the gym has helped me a lot personally. Mentally it allows me to disconnect from a lot and feel good about myself. Massages and acupuncture I'll be sure to try.
How are you coping at the moment, always good to chat. What have you been through?
Good guess! lol
A lot of people feel the same way about exercise and how powerful it can be to assist in your treatment of anxiety and/or depression. Consistency and quality are key, though. Some people think you can do a few crunches and you're good to go. I'd say at least 30 minutes 3-4 days per week of moderate intensity!
Eh, I am OK. Every day is different overall. It isn't really anxiety giving me issues, though... it's like a combination of depression due to anxiety, if that makes sense. My mind is clouded due to the anxiety (what is left, at least), which causes me to feel depressed, which then snowballs. I'm often fatigued, but not as much as I've been in the past. I feel stuck in life at the moment, and money is causing issues.
I've been through a lot. Not as much as some others, of course, but a lot for me. I believe I've always had anxiety to some degree due to bullying in grade school. This caused me to become increasingly socially anxious, even into my 20's. About 3-4 years I had a LOT of stress simultaneously coming from different directions. The mother of my daughter was threatening me constantly, money was (still is) always on my mind, I was having trouble coping with some stuff I had seen in the volunteer fire department I was in (death), etc. I remember starting to get shortness of breath for a few days, regardless of where I was - driving, sitting, at the gym, etc. I remember telling my girlfriend (not mother of my daughter, and is now my wife) and she demanded that I go to the hospital. En route, it just spilled over, friend... My heart started pounding like it was going to come out of my chest, I was sweating profusely, I couldn't catch my breath, I was shaking, etc. It was not very fun. Ever since that event I've never been totally the same, with anxiety manifesting physically often after that. The thing is, I didn't know it was anxiety until months down the line after multiple hospital visits and seeing so many medical professionals it was insane. It was a GP who randomly said that it may be anxiety that lead me on the right pathway. I never knew anxiety could be so powerful and manifest in such potent physical ways!
To this day I still have a lot on my plate. Money, work, issues with my daughter's mother (which she was a whole other issue back in the day - she tricked me into getting her pregnant by saying she was on birth control when she wasn't really. I do have sole custody after I buckled down and stayed in my daughter's life and she ran off and abandoned her multiple times), personal crap, etc. I feel stuck in life with my job and life in general. I work what should be a well paid or comfortably paying job, but we're underpaid. I can't leave because I need the medical benefits due to treatments, so it's like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. Politics plays a pivotal role in our raises, and our union is weak when it comes to fighting for us. Myself and many others fall in a gray area because of the unit we work in, so we get to see other people making well over six figures, buying new cars, having big homes, going on vacations, etc., whereas my wife and I cannot afford to move out of our apartment in my parent's house. See where I am getting at?
But I am still trying to make things work and am looking for opportunities elsewhere. The personal training thing for one (but it's hard to get clients... many people don't stay committed), the blog I linked to earlier, am looking into starting a business with a friend, and even went through a battery of tests and interviews for another job... But that is a whole other issue that is causing me anxiety. It's a fantastic job, but it is a LOT of learning, testing, memorization, and the schedule for newcomers is inconsistent for years, which is hard due to me having a family.
Sorry if that's a lot. That's my story, though! What's on your plate?
I feel you man, I've just went through a similar thing, lots of tests and doctors appointments but I've just given up on that, knowing it's anxiety. Which is really helpful and hints have shown a gradual improvement.
No worries for the length man, it's always good to talk about things. Sounds like a stressful situation with all the spinning plates. I'm similar, I've recently moved to the Us, for a new job in California, myself and my partner got engaged and married recently, my job is high pressure and I always have to hit deadlines, mw wife is currently looking for a job after a stressful period of her not being able to work (11+months) and it's really beaten us up. Adjusting to life has been tough, because of that. It was a big decision to tell her I had the offer. Pressure of providing for two. Then over Christmas got bad news of my dad having a terminal illness and that just broke me tbh. Anyway lots of positives and I'm just siding with those from now on. Job is good and life in California is better than the arse end of Northern England. What do you enjoy the most out of your situation?
It sounds like putting in the work with your fitness could help pay dividends at some point. If that's what you enjoy doing, what with your blog. I've luckily been able to have a personal trainer recently and it helped me massively, my headaches disappeared and my brain fog rarely happens now. And it made me feel good about myself again, the wife noticing the difference etc.
I feel you man, I've just went through a similar thing, lots of tests and doctors appointments but I've just given up on that, knowing it's anxiety. Which is really helpful and hints have shown a gradual improvement.
No worries for the length man, it's always good to talk about things. Sounds like a stressful situation with all the spinning plates. I'm similar, I've recently moved to the Us, for a new job in California, myself and my partner got engaged and married recently, my job is high pressure and I always have to hit deadlines, mw wife is currently looking for a job after a stressful period of her not being able to work (11+months) and it's really beaten us up. Adjusting to life has been tough, because of that. It was a big decision to tell her I had the offer. Pressure of providing for two. Then over Christmas got bad news of my dad having a terminal illness and that just broke me tbh. Anyway lots of positives and I'm just siding with those from now on. Job is good and life in California is better than the arse end of Northern England. What do you enjoy the most out of your situation?
It sounds like putting in the work with your fitness could help pay dividends at some point. If that's what you enjoy doing, what with your blog. I've luckily been able to have a personal trainer recently and it helped me massively, my headaches disappeared and my brain fog rarely happens now. And it made me feel good about myself again, the wife noticing the difference etc.
Yeah, getting the clearance from a doctor really does help with the anxiety, but it was a long, long and expensive process. Even with insurance, I'd have to pay my copays on visits, tests, medications, etc.
It seems like you have a lot on your plate as well. It was/is probably tough since even relocating in itself is quite stressful for many people. My buddy's father was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and passed a year ago as of last week. The best thing you can do is honestly spend time with them as much as you can. With medical technology and advancements these days, people can live for longer than decades ago, even quite comfortably. Regardless, it's a tough spot to be in, and I am sorry that you're going through with that.
Out of my situation, as in life? I don't know if I enjoy much of my life anymore. It's just not what I had imagined back when I was in high school. Time is passing by so quickly, it's as if I don't have a moment to stop, take a breath and enjoy the scenery. A second ago I was in high school, now I am 28. Through all of that and what I believe to be shortcomings, I do have to admit that I do have a fantastic daughter. She's got a great heart and conscience. Is she stressful? Well, of course. Getting her to do her homework at a decent pace is like pulling teeth. But compared to other kids who seem like demons, she's a sweetheart. She's 8-years-old and loves fairies and mushy stuff, which I think is adorable. But I know before I know it she'll be older, I will possibly be stuck in the same situation, and get more saddened.
Another aspect of stress is that my wife and I would like to move out of my parent's house, but where we live is quite expensive. We're both underpaid and she works two jobs, so she is constantly stressed since she works all day, comes home, cleans, cooks, etc. I do what I can do help clean the apartment, but with my recent wrist surgery I can't do the dishes (wound cannot be submerged in water) and such. All I can do is vacuum, clean the bathroom, etc. She works too hard and it takes a toll on our relationship a bit. I get stressed because I've been working here for 7 years this month and still make less than the average cost of living, even working for the local government. I've received more and more work and responsibilities, but no additional pay, no overtime, etc. And I can't go demand a raise because that's not how the government works. It's based on grades via titles and steps (each year is a new step). So I work my ass off, while the person next to me does the bare minimum and makes more than me because they have a higher title and more time on. It's saddening, depressing, etc., especially since I've watched my friends with less education than me (I only have an Associates, but still) surpass me in pay with flying colors. Like, I'll continuously around half their salaries or a bit more. Then I feel stuck because I need my insurance through my job otherwise I am stuck. I guess we are both a bit anxious about money in a way.
I love training people and have my own company out here in NY, but NO ONE wants a trainer it seems. No one wants to pay for a trainer and/or people lose motivation. I've had a bunch of clients, but they fall off within a month or two. I don't think some people understand what I am doing with them, in that I am doing strength training to increase muscle mass a bit to increase metabolism. I had some clients make some good progress, but then they'd start overindulging in sweets and gain the weight back. I have some overhead, but not much, thanks to a home gym my father bought most of the equipment for. I still have to pay for future education and insurance before I can actually turn a profit.
The blog is fun and all, but at this rate I'll be losing money. The hosting + the domain was a bit over $100 for the year. So far I've made 5 cents off of ads lol. It actually increased a bit this month, but not nearly enough to pay for it and make a small revenue stream. But I am continuously going to try and write, try and advertise here (as long as it pertains to people's problems) and elsewhere, and see what happens.
Stick with the job man. I get similar things but it's been a steady progression. People don't seem to recognize your effort, I won a design award recently for work I'd done, not even an email got sent round congratulating mine and a colleagues effort yet there were emails for others work that was lauded. Sometimes you just have to keep slaving away and be strong. I'm sure you'll be rewarded soon. Luckily my wife is a good barometer for when I'm being a moany bum so I'm glad I have a positive anchor.
Try and focus on the positive, I know it's tough. But I've been winning against anxiety by just celebrating all the good stuff.
Be strong and know there are others like yourself!
Stress overload caused my anxiety to tip into causing physical symptoms after I saw my parents suffering with age/terminal illnesses. That, on top of raising 2 small children, and not having much social support at all (parents live across the country), my anxiety -which I've always had and has always just been mental- became panic attacks, chest pains, heart palpitations, migraines, tension headaches, eye pain, vision issues, facial pain, shortness of breath, fear of dying, etc.
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