Lived Experience Forum

[Inca]

Hi I'm inca 22 year old female from a small city in Tasmania, I'm here as I would love to talk to someone about how they cope with anxiety and what's helped them out I've always known I've had a bit of anxiety some people they say can be born with it and as I've grown up my parents have always said and I can also remember always having scans and x rays and going to the hospital ( and don't you worry they knew me after a while there haha )
I always thought I was sick or something was wrong with me how ever I have never had a broken bone the worst thing I've had are costricondritis chest attacks if anyone is waste of those which are probably anxiety related ....well they are and kidney stones which is the WORST PAIN EVER. If you've had them before I bloody feel for you!!
I've just been to the doctors recently snd guy tested properly so I haven't gone to a physiologist yet or on any medication, every day I think I'm going to die I've always been like it I get anxious about anything I do I've never tried any drugs as I'm to scared and of course don't want to anyway which is great I hate driving with people and any little feeling in my body that hurts or a pain in my arm I think I'm going to herb a heart attack before I go to sleep every night I never know if I will wake up however apart from putting some weight on I have no reason to think any of this 😔😔 As I mentioned the costracondritis chest pain is very scary and I always think that has something to do with my chest pains I have difficulty breathing always have as my air ways are smaller or bones are bigger or something thats why you get the attacks lately tho I have been so sluggish and down I've been tryin to fall pregnant for a year and it's not happening and I also am in the middle of finding a new job I am a beauty therapist and I only work one day a week ATM which sucks cause I love what I do but there's only so much you can do in a small place, being upset about this doesnt help I have been getting headaches and my hands have been shaky for a month now (that is why I went to the doctors ) I always feel light headed and drained ATM, I had a episode a couple of months ago at the hospital when they tried jabbing to many needles in 4 different places in my arm and it ended with my arms and legs ceasing up slowly my hands arms slowly crossed with no control and my fingers were bent all different ways and raised to the top of my chest and I literally thought I was going to be disabled for the rest of my life and not being cruel but that is exactly how I looked after I stopped screaming and crying out for help it took an hour for my arms to slowly lower I physically couldn't move them myself without sending it worse. I feel like this is going on forever because this is the first time I've spoken about anything to anyone so sorry about that and I hope to hear from anyone who has suffered from shaking and upset stomach /chest pains or difficulty breathing xxx

[utopia]

Hi @Inca and welcome to the forum.
I have depression and anxiety (mild) & ptsd (now under control). So I know the feeling of having a panic attack. I used to get them a few times a week. Only had 2 last year. Yay.
Having chest/airway problems as well as anxiety is a bit of a double whammy. As we tend to shallow breath when anxious or during an attack. Which also means that we can get tingling in our hands and arms.
Have a look at my thread called Breathing Exercise - it is under the Looking After Yourself link.
Breathing and relaxation and meditation techniques work really well. But you do need to practice them daily, for them to work.
I'd suggest talking to your gp about a referral to a psychologist who specialises in anxiety. There are many helpful techniques they can teach you - that can reduce your anxiety.
I also take an anti depressant which is also for anxiety. It really helps me. I wouldn't want to think what life would be like without it.
But this is your health, and as such you need to do what is right for you. So speak to your gp about a referral. If he wants to put you on meds and you are unsure - ask for a referral to a psychiatrist as well - who can give you a proper diagnosis and inform you of all your treatment options.
I wish you well

[Inca]

That's good you only had two!! Thankyou so much for the advice and writing to me I will have a look at those exercises as I really do need to do them I have been told before from airway problems but haven't properly done them daily for it to work I also love yoga so I will start going to that again I definitely will be getting a Refferal and see what the best thing for me is ☺️ Thankyou again and I wish you well sounds like you've improved a lot which is awesome !!

[Fancy_Pants]

Hi @Inca

Welcome to the sane forums

i am sorry to hear about your experiences, they sound very scary

there is a sane fact sheet about anxiety (although not painic)here, some great ideas in the Coping Box  and a great thread about coping strategies here - also in case you did not find utopias thread it is here

does anyone else have any ideas?

[utopia]

Thanks @Fancy_Pants. I still can't add links to other threads.