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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KimStereo on November 11, 2008, at 9:58:07
Every symptom I have is physical for the most part. Either my heart is racing, I'm shaky, lump in the throat, can't think clearly.
Maybe physical is the wrong word, but the sensations are so discomforting more than anything. In the end, I'm not SCARED of anything. I have no fears except that I'll never get rid of these terrible sensations, which is really not a fear, but a feeling of being hopeless. Evertime I read up on GAD, the articles talk about excessive worry and obcessional thinking, etc. I have none of this. I just have every symptom of being anxious and nothing more. Can anyone explain this ?
Posted by Phillipa on November 11, 2008, at 10:35:41
In reply to Why don't I have FEAR with my anxiety ???, posted by KimStereo on November 11, 2008, at 9:58:07
I wish I could. For me thyroid is an issue at least I've been lead to believe this by my docs. What meds you taking for it? Phillipa
Posted by Guy on November 11, 2008, at 11:05:05
In reply to Why don't I have FEAR with my anxiety ???, posted by KimStereo on November 11, 2008, at 9:58:07
Are you taking an anti-depressant? I experience severe akithisia (inner agitation without external indications)after a few weeks on every AD I have tried. It is VERY uncomfortable and is described by some as inner torture. I will never again take AD's...they just make things worse. If you're like me, a low dose of Zyprexa might help even things out. Best of luck.
Posted by Justherself54 on November 11, 2008, at 11:12:52
In reply to Why don't I have FEAR with my anxiety ???, posted by KimStereo on November 11, 2008, at 9:58:07
I'd go to my GP first and get some tests done to rule out anything physical, especially thyroid. You don't mention in your post if you're going through any additional stress if your life or when this started or how long it's been going on. That may help posters get a bigger picture in order to help.
Posted by desolationrower on November 11, 2008, at 13:58:41
In reply to Why don't I have FEAR with my anxiety ???, posted by KimStereo on November 11, 2008, at 9:58:07
Hm, it sounds like you don't have cognitive problems to work on. IT could be an underlying physical problem, but a beta blocker or noradrenergic drug (mighth suck for the first week though) should be able to reduce your symptoms.
-D/R
Posted by yxibow on November 11, 2008, at 19:33:11
In reply to Why don't I have FEAR with my anxiety ???, posted by KimStereo on November 11, 2008, at 9:58:07
> Every symptom I have is physical for the most part. Either my heart is racing, I'm shaky, lump in the throat, can't think clearly.
>
> Maybe physical is the wrong word, but the sensations are so discomforting more than anything. In the end, I'm not SCARED of anything. I have no fears except that I'll never get rid of these terrible sensations, which is really not a fear, but a feeling of being hopeless. Evertime I read up on GAD, the articles talk about excessive worry and obcessional thinking, etc. I have none of this. I just have every symptom of being anxious and nothing more. Can anyone explain this ?
I may be projecting, but it could be very well that you have some form of the somatoform spectrum disorders. I don't feel anxiety, not typically, because it comes out in other ways, many other ways, the worst being visual and auditory problems. I also have a probable OC Spsctrum disorder mixed in with it.The most common form of somatoform disorder seen in the ER is called "pseudoseizures", because anxiety is pent up somewhere in the brain and comes out as very real symptoms, seizures, but the patient does not have a seizure disorder. Usually that kind clears up faster, typically with benzodiazepines and some therapy.
The feelings and what is going on with somatoform are very real, they are really happening, but they are not organic, they are caused by something psychological and psychiatric that has lead to that place. That's why actually someone wouldn't actually feel anxiety in a typical way, although it can coexist as well.
I have the exact fear that I will never get rid of these symptoms, but does it really help? Anyway I have been in therapy and am doing a "recovery model" which basically means boosting my confidence and working on projects and the like so I can be productive in the future again. I fear the future and am often in the past before this but you can only be in the Here and Now.
Yes, if you could afford it I would rule out organic causes, but an MRI with gadolinium is really expensive and would have to be justified by your GP. And then the usual battery of physical exam blood and urine draws, maybe extended tests and a simple neurological exam which doesn't take very long and a GP can do it.
I'm not saying you have this and your doctor would have to probably do a lot of research because it is an intricate disorder often missed and the patient is not malingering like it used to be portrayed, they really do not want to have these symptoms.It could also be fight or flight, the primitive anxiety that tells us and our distant animal brethren to run or fight off predators. This exists in humans and can bring out a lot of strong feelings when one has an anxiety disorder that taps into it, such as OCD.
-- best wishes
Jay
Posted by djmmm on November 12, 2008, at 11:31:37
In reply to Why don't I have FEAR with my anxiety ???, posted by KimStereo on November 11, 2008, at 9:58:07
> Every symptom I have is physical for the most part. Either my heart is racing, I'm shaky, lump in the throat, can't think clearly.
>
> Maybe physical is the wrong word, but the sensations are so discomforting more than anything. In the end, I'm not SCARED of anything. I have no fears except that I'll never get rid of these terrible sensations, which is really not a fear, but a feeling of being hopeless. Evertime I read up on GAD, the articles talk about excessive worry and obcessional thinking, etc. I have none of this. I just have every symptom of being anxious and nothing more. Can anyone explain this ?I would suggest you see your GP to rule out any organic causes of your symptoms like mitral valve prolapse, pheochromocytoma, etc.
Posted by yxibow on November 12, 2008, at 20:30:11
In reply to Re: Why don't I have FEAR with my anxiety ???, posted by djmmm on November 12, 2008, at 11:31:37
> > Every symptom I have is physical for the most part. Either my heart is racing, I'm shaky, lump in the throat, can't think clearly.
> >
> > Maybe physical is the wrong word, but the sensations are so discomforting more than anything. In the end, I'm not SCARED of anything. I have no fears except that I'll never get rid of these terrible sensations, which is really not a fear, but a feeling of being hopeless. Evertime I read up on GAD, the articles talk about excessive worry and obcessional thinking, etc. I have none of this. I just have every symptom of being anxious and nothing more. Can anyone explain this ?
>
> I would suggest you see your GP to rule out any organic causes of your symptoms like mitral valve prolapse, pheochromocytoma, etc.Ruling out a pheochromocytoma would be the MRI with gadolinium for contrast. But they're rare, and I hate to say it, but unfortunately you would truly know if it wasn't benign. Still if they think the MRI is warranted and you can afford it, that would rule out a lot of organic things.
Posted by yxibow on November 12, 2008, at 20:46:02
In reply to Re: Why don't I have FEAR with my anxiety ??? » djmmm, posted by yxibow on November 12, 2008, at 20:30:11
> > > Every symptom I have is physical for the most part. Either my heart is racing, I'm shaky, lump in the throat, can't think clearly.
> > >
> > > Maybe physical is the wrong word, but the sensations are so discomforting more than anything. In the end, I'm not SCARED of anything. I have no fears except that I'll never get rid of these terrible sensations, which is really not a fear, but a feeling of being hopeless. Evertime I read up on GAD, the articles talk about excessive worry and obcessional thinking, etc. I have none of this. I just have every symptom of being anxious and nothing more. Can anyone explain this ?
> >
> > I would suggest you see your GP to rule out any organic causes of your symptoms like mitral valve prolapse, pheochromocytoma, etc.
>
> Ruling out a pheochromocytoma would be the MRI with gadolinium for contrast. But they're rare, and I hate to say it, but unfortunately you would truly know if it wasn't benign. Still if they think the MRI is warranted and you can afford it, that would rule out a lot of organic things.I should add that the same medications for psychiatric conditions can be used for organic rare conditions like that.
-- Jay
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