Ever been told you have an illness when it is ‘just’ anxiety?

[Alde]

Hi all,

Have any of you ever had your symptoms confused for a physical illness by a doctor?

I was in a cardiology ward and was told I could have 2 different conditions. My GP however still thinks it’s my anxiety state causing the symptoms (and I would much rather believe it is!).

Wondering if anyone else had been in a similar position and how they got the thoughts of physical conditions out of their heads because it’s all I think about at the mo!

Cheers,

Al

[bin tenn]

Sure, it's not uncommon at all. Personally, I'd rather my provider or specialist say "well, it could be X or Y", even if it turns out to be anxiety. Part of moving past anxiety is acceptance of uncertainty / the unknown. It's absolutely true that anxiety causes all sorts of symptoms, both perceived and real. Physical, emotional and mental. Because the possible symptoms of anxiety are so vast, they can and do often overlap symptoms of non-anxiety issues / disorders / illnesses. Thus, the cardiologist is probably playing it safe and not wanting to assume it's just anxiety, because it's possible - even if much less likely - that you have something that needs to be addressed.

[Alde]

Sure, it's not uncommon at all. Personally, I'd rather my provider or specialist say "well, it could be X or Y", even if it turns out to be anxiety. Part of moving past anxiety is acceptance of uncertainty / the unknown. It's absolutely true that anxiety causes all sorts of symptoms, both perceived and real. Physical, emotional and mental. Because the possible symptoms of anxiety are so vast, they can and do often overlap symptoms of non-anxiety issues / disorders / illnesses. Thus, the cardiologist is probably playing it safe and not wanting to assume it's just anxiety, because it's possible - even if much less likely - that you have something that needs to be addressed.

Thanks for the reply Bin:)

At the time I was desperate for a diagnosis as I was sure my anxiety couldn’t be causing the crazy symptoms I was having. However, since the cardiologist suggested the 2 physical problems, I’ve wanted nothing more than to believe my GP that it’s caused by my anxiety state! Very hard for me to stop worrying for any length of time at the mo as I’m waiting weeks for the relevant tests. And of course I’ve started noticing different symptoms that point to it not being anxiety which increases the worry and symptoms!:roflmao:

[ankietyjoe]

A heart 'condition' isn't necessarily an illness.

I was admitted to hospital 3 times with uncontrolled tachycardia over the last 5 years, each time my heart rate was 'stuck' over 120bpm. It was definitely a condition, but not an illness. A cardiologist probably hasn't taken a full history, and is just seeing a person in front of them presenting with symptoms. They've probably spent a day studying anxiety in medical school.

While the cardiologist is correct in assessing you as having a 'condition', it's still falling under the anxiety umbrella.

One of the biggest problems with people suffering from anxiety is that symptoms are looked at individually, rather than stepping back and looking at the root cause. You're given beta blockers for heart rate, anti-depressants for mood/panic, sedatives for anxiety etc etc.

[Alde]

A heart 'condition' isn't necessarily an illness.

I was admitted to hospital 3 times with uncontrolled tachycardia over the last 5 years, each time my heart rate was 'stuck' over 120bpm. It was definitely a condition, but not an illness. A cardiologist probably hasn't taken a full history, and is just seeing a person in front of them presenting with symptoms. They've probably spent a day studying anxiety in medical school.

While the cardiologist is correct in assessing you as having a 'condition', it's still falling under the anxiety umbrella.

One of the biggest problems with people suffering from anxiety is that symptoms are looked at individually, rather than stepping back and looking at the root cause. You're given beta blockers for heart rate, anti-depressants for mood/panic, sedatives for anxiety etc etc.

Thanks Joe.

I’m sure he hadn’t taken a full history, he was rushed off his feet and it was supposed to be his day off. I don’t even know if he knew I had an anxiety disorder.

I would imagine the reason my GP is still almost sure it’s anxiety related is because he’s known me for years and knows of my history with anxiety.

You’re also correct about the meds. I was prescribed beta blockers when I was discharged and had already been prescribed both anti depressants and sedatives.

[jray23]

Maybe? I feel like I am in a similar situation. I have had an off-balance/disequilibrium type feeling every day for nearly a year now. Some days better or worse than others. After all tests came back clear and several proven misdiagnoses (this is not a trigger...before anyone on here freaks out, know that balance issues are always like this - it's not proof that your doctor misdiagnosed you and missed a tumor!) I have seen arguably the top dizziness expert in the USA, who gave me what he called a "working diagnosis" of chronic vestibular migraine. He admitted though that this is a "wastebasket diagnosis". Essentially, "we don't know for sure but this is the most likely".

As I've continued to pursue solutions, as treatment for vestibular (or really any) migraine is essentially throwing darts at a wall, I have now also been diagnosed by an eye specialist with a slight form of "binocular vision dysfunction" - misalignment of my eyes. Treatment is special prism glasses - which have somewhat helped so far.

However, in light of all that medical examination, knowing my history, and knowing that balance problems are one of the most common physical manifestations of anxiety, I can't help but wonder if this is still somehow just that. I do know for a fact that anxiety exacerbates my symptoms, at least. I have a follow-up with the dizziness expert in a few weeks, and I'll ask him for his thoughts on anxiety as a sole cause (or that kind of "Mind-Body Syndrome" that has been discussed on a dizzy thread here).

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[Alde]

Maybe? I feel like I am in a similar situation. I have had an off-balance/disequilibrium type feeling every day for nearly a year now. Some days better or worse than others. After all tests came back clear and several proven misdiagnoses (this is not a trigger...before anyone on here freaks out, know that balance issues are always like this - it's not proof that your doctor misdiagnosed you and missed a tumor!) I have seen arguably the top dizziness expert in the USA, who gave me what he called a "working diagnosis" of chronic vestibular migraine. He admitted though that this is a "wastebasket diagnosis". Essentially, "we don't know for sure but this is the most likely".

As I've continued to pursue solutions, as treatment for vestibular (or really any) migraine is essentially throwing darts at a wall, I have now also been diagnosed by an eye specialist with a slight form of "binocular vision dysfunction" - misalignment of my eyes. Treatment is special prism glasses - which have somewhat helped so far.

However, in light of all that medical examination, knowing my history, and knowing that balance problems are one of the most common physical manifestations of anxiety, I can't help but wonder if this is still somehow just that. I do know for a fact that anxiety exacerbates my symptoms, at least. I have a follow-up with the dizziness expert in a few weeks, and I'll ask him for his thoughts on anxiety as a sole cause (or that kind of "Mind-Body Syndrome" that has been discussed on a dizzy thread here).

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Hi J,

I hope you get to the bottom of it soon, I think it’s the not knowing that’s the worst.

My GP gave me some words of wisdom the other day along the lines of “if anybody has enough tests done, something abnormal will be found” and the ‘abnormal’ finding could be due to stress and anxiety.

I saw a post on here about PPPD, which may be the thread you’re talking about. Being unsteady/dizzy is one of my symptoms too, probably my main issue at the moment so I found that somewhat helpful.

[bin tenn]

A heart 'condition' isn't necessarily an illness.

I was admitted to hospital 3 times with uncontrolled tachycardia over the last 5 years, each time my heart rate was 'stuck' over 120bpm. It was definitely a condition, but not an illness. A cardiologist probably hasn't taken a full history, and is just seeing a person in front of them presenting with symptoms. They've probably spent a day studying anxiety in medical school.

While the cardiologist is correct in assessing you as having a 'condition', it's still falling under the anxiety umbrella.

One of the biggest problems with people suffering from anxiety is that symptoms are looked at individually, rather than stepping back and looking at the root cause. You're given beta blockers for heart rate, anti-depressants for mood/panic, sedatives for anxiety etc etc.

That's a good spin on it, too, I hadn't thought of it that way. Well said!

[jray23]

Thanks Alde. I'm certain now that it's one or some combo of vestibular migraine, the eye misalignment, or just anxiety/mental (or perhaps I did have a physical problem, which healed, but mentally I haven't adapted back yet?). I feel evidence for each. At any rate I have strategies for each of these, some which I haven't even tried yet...which gives me peace that it will at least remain controllable if not resolve. And for the day to day, I'm just kind of used to it now and do what I can which most days is most everything. And knowing that it's not any kind of serious condition is also a relief of course, I went through it all last spring, even stayed overnight in the stroke watch ward of the hospital once.

At any rate, after a few weeks (including that ER/hospital stay) I realized that my high anxiety level would make my symptoms WORSE...so in theory reducing anxiety would make them better too (and do). So keeping anxiety in check is a win-win, if that's actually the cause eventually it will resolve the problem...or if not, it will still at a minimum reduce it.

And yes, I do believe the PPPD thread on here is what I was referring to. I've read so much about all dizzy possibilities including PPPD (I probably know more about these than most GPs at this point!) but I think on here PPPD was only brought up in that one.

Hope you get yours figured out soon!

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