Alright girls, I need your help....

Avatar for cassia7
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-29-2003
Alright girls, I need your help....
6
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 3:39pm

I am sitting here at work and I am totally going to lose it. I have been having some tension headaches for the past 2 days....I usually never get them, but i've been under some stress lately. Anyway, I now have convinced myself that I am going to have a brain anyurism (i know I totally spelled that wrong). I am now starting to get the feeling like im going to have a panic attack. I just took a lorazapam and hopefully it'll kick in soon. Why do I do this to myself? Deep down I know I know i that it's just a little headache, but then my wild imagine makes me believe im dying. HELP!!!!

Cassia

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 3:47pm
I have never had headaches in my life until all of my anxiety sprung up. And as for an anurism (spelling lol), my moms best friend had one, and dropped to the ground immedietly and didn't even know it was coming on, so I am sure that is not it. I take advil to help them go away--sometimes it feels like my temples are pulsing, or that my brain is growing out of my head or something and it hurts really badly too--it comes with the anxiety! This sucks, huh? I am so sorry you are having a cruddy day at work, just try to concentrate, breathe, and tell yourself that you WILL be OK! I don't know if you are religious or not, but saying a little prayer asking for help, gives me peace. Best of luck and I hope your day gets better!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 3:50pm

K Sorry, one more thing--Sometimes when I feel anxious I read over this list of symptoms I found online to help convince myself that it is all anxiety, and that physical symptoms go along with it...

Here is a list of common symptoms for anxiety/panic disorder...of course
there are a lot of other ones but these are the most common:

HEART sensations~

* racing or rapid heart beat (flight and flight response)
* heart palpitations (flight and flight response)
* 'missed' heart beats (flight and flight response)
* pounding heart (flight and flight response)

BREATHING sensations~

* breathing difficulties (can be a result of swallowing air, chest pain through tension or hyperventilation)
* choking sensation (tension)
* hyperventilation (flight and flight response)
* feel as if can't take another breath (can be a result of swallowing air, chest pain through tension or hyperventilation)
* tightening of the throat (tension)

PAIN sensations~

* chest pain (tension)
* headaches (tension)
* neck aches (tension)
* lower back pain (tension)
* sciatica (tension)
* muscle pain (tension)
* aching jaw (tension)
* clenching fists (tension)
* chronic temporary pain (tension)

STOMACH / ABDOMINAL sensations~

* nausea (flight and flight response or caused by not eating)
* loss of appetite (effects of anxiety disorder)
* churning stomach (flight and flight response)
* burning stomach (flight and flight response or caused by not eating)
* indigestion (flight and flight response)
* abdominal pain (tension or caused by not eating)
* digestive problems (flight and flight response or caused by not eating)

ASSOCIATED ANXIETY sensations~

* hot and cold flashes (flight and flight response)
* flushing face (flight and flight response)
* shaking/ trembling (flight and flight response)
* excessive perspiration (flight and flight response)
* sweating hands (flight and flight response)
* dizziness (either Fight and flight, hyperventilation or dissociation)
* giddiness (either Fight and flight, hyperventilation or dissociation)
* feeling lightheaded or faint (either Fight and flight, hyperventilation or dissociation or caused by not eating)
* pins and needles (flight and flight response)
* diarrhoea (flight and flight response)
* loss of bladder control (flight and flight response)
* grinding teeth (tension)
* sleeping difficulties (can be a result of overactive thinking, worry,
nocturnal panic attacks or taking sleeping medication (wake after a few hours and then can't get back to sleep)
* night sweats (flight and flight response)
* lack of concentration (effects of anxiety disorder)
* extreme exhaustion (effects of anxiety disorder)
* loss of feelings (effects of anxiety disorder)
* localised pressure (flight and flight response)
* loss of libido (effects of anxiety disorder)
* appetite swings (effects of anxiety disorder)
* numbness of hands or feet
* unexplainable rashes

DISSOCIATIVE sensations such as feeling~

* detached from the body (dissociative sensations)
* feeling as if you and/or surroundings are not real (dissociative sensations)
* as if looking through a white or grey mist (dissociative sensations)
* sensitivity to light and sound (dissociative sensations)
* tunnel vision (dissociative sensations)
* stationary objects appearing to move (dissociative sensations)
* sensations of falling into a void (dissociative sensations)
* temporary paralysis (dissociative sensations)

MAJOR FEARS~

* Having a heart attack and/or
* Going to die
* Brain tumour
* Going insane
* Lose control in some way

EMOTIONAL sensations~

* episodes of anger and "rage" and frustration (effects of anxiety disorder)
* deep sadness (effects of anxiety disorder)
* depression and major depression (effects of anxiety disorder)
* increased feelings of worry (effects of anxiety disorder)
* increased feelings of guilt (effects of anxiety disorder)
* feelings of emptiness (effects of anxiety disorder)
* feelings of loneliness (effects of anxiety disorder)
* feeling detached from "normal" emotional state

(healthboards.com)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 3:53pm
Hi, Cassia! Sorry to hear that you're having a rough spell. I also get scared when I have a headache or a head cold or just feel *off* or woozy. Anything that deviates from the norm. Try to keep busy. Re-focus your thoughts to more positive ones. Try making a grocery list in your head or name the 50 states. Practice your belly breathing. Place your hand on your abdomen & breathe in through your nose & watch your abdomen rise. Breathe out through your mouth & watch your abdomen fall. This will relax you till the med kicks in. You will do fine. As for the aneurysm, you won't *get* one. You would already *have* this weakness in a blood vessel in your brain. You would be unable to think straight or type up an understandable
 

 


 



Avatar for cassia7
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-29-2003
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 4:20pm
Thank you both so much for replying back to me and the words of support. My med's kicked in and I at least didn't have a major panic attack here at work. I did my breathing and I feel much better. My mind is of course still having awful thoughts that something is majorly wrong with me, anurysm, cancer, stroke, etc. Isn't it crazy what we can talk ourselves into???? I just want to thank you for being here for me!
Cassia
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2003
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 4:35pm

I'm glad you're feeling better. Thankfully we have the meds for times like these! I can imagine how hard it was, trying to stay in control at work -- but you did it!!!! You could have left, but you didn't, I'd say that's pretty darn good!

Sheri Ann

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2005
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 5:18pm
Boy, does this fit me to a T. Question is for me, can we get over this and live normally again. I Sure Hope So. Jan
Jan