Anxiety: bouts of nervousness, dry flushing and nausea

Hi, @chipper -- I'd like to add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Wanted to let you know I've moved your post over to this discussion, as there are many members here who might have some thoughts on pregabalin (Lyrica) for anxiety.

You may be interested in this Mayo Clinic information on generalized anxiety disorder: http://mayocl.in/2gIAPBa.

How would you say your anxiety affects your daily functioning, @chipper?

@chipper

I've been taking 1mg, with a second available, of Klonopin for 12 years. I warn you, it's a challenge to get off it.

I took Lyrica for a few weeks for peripheral neuropathy, and it was the first med, and the only one other than morphine, that helped the pain. Unfortunately, the side effects put me in the hospital for a few days. Bummer!

Jim

I’m out and about just picking up cupcakes for a party tonight. Out of the blue my stomach contracted, I felt a wave of nervousness roll over me, nausea, an urgent need to go to the bathroom. I felt like I may drop dead on the spot. I’m on Lexapro, but the 10 mcg May need a bump up. This is ruining life quality! Just reaching out here!

Thank you for reaching out. Plenty of people have had this kind of experience. I have had this too. I have found some things that have helped me. Of course we are all having different experiences and different health problems so these may not work for you, but something to try. The first is for me to realize this will not kill me, and look at it as an experience to be analyzed. Keeping a record of what you have been thinking, doing and eating before this panic attack. Find any common occurrence and see if changing these helps. That brought up for that I was eating or drinking something with a stimulant. Chocolate, cola, tea, coffee, msg, artificial sweeteners are all stimulants that trigger anxiety for me. The third thing was dealing with stressful situations. Avoiding does not work for me. Realising that others have the same problems and that we all make it through has helped. Also doing something to work through problems keeps me going. The last item is medication. There are certain meds that help with anxiety. The best for me has been an antidepressant that also helps with anxiety. I hope that something from this list will help you.

Johnhans, thank you so much for putting things in perspective and for the sensible suggestions. I will try each and every one. The most reassuring approach for me is just reminding myself I’m not alone in this journey. All I need do is hop on Mayo Connect! Thanks everyone!!

That appointment is coming up soon and I will report back.

@annedodrill44, above all else, take care of you! When you experience symptoms, write them down, so that you won't forget them. It's not that I necessarily think we Seniors are forgetful. No, not at all. There is just so much going on in our everyday lives, it is hard to keep up. It seems there is a specialist for everything these days. That makes for an awful lot of tests, office visits, medications and over the counter health aids. Every week my family has an appointment of some kind. Usually three or four. I don't know how people with tons of children do it. We are only responsible for the three of us. I am thinking of you and your situation daily. My hope is that you get answers and some peace of mind. You are doing a fantastic job. Hang in there, sweetheart. I am here for you. I usually hang out at the Autism sites, as well as Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain, Anxiety and Depression. But this came up in my inbox, so I thought I would respond. Seeing as teeth grinding is a symptom that rears its ugly head when I am in severe pain or anxious. Talk to you later! Mamacita

Good morning, dear hearts! Mamacita here, from Mayo Clinic Connect. I am a fledgling Volunteer Mentor, and I usually hang out on the Autism sites, Fibromyalgia, and Depression sites. I have discovered that, somewhere along this healing journey, I truly belong here, as well. The same symptoms that I have had all my life can be categorized along with Anxiety. With all my other "labels" I hesitated to add yet another one to my laundry list that often seems a mile long. Actually my doctor was the one who suggested that I take a low dosage anti-anxiety medication. He knows me very well, and totally understood when I responded with laughing and crying, all at the same time. He knows that I have always used meditation, prayer, positive affirmations, healthy eating, exercise, special interests, determining what triggers me, stress reduction, essential oils, using a planner.....all those things. When one has almost a photographic memory, it is extremely difficult to tone down ones awareness of external stressors. At any rate, I thank you all for your wonderful remarks on here. You have shown me once again the power of community and a common goal. Love and light,
Mamacita

Hi everyone! I want to share with you that I’ve been employing johnhans’ suggestion. I’m keeping a journal of thoughts, foods, etc., in an effort to identify possible triggers that may bring on my anxiety attacks. Sure enough, there’s a pattern. If I have ANY negative thoughts, drink a cup of “real” coffee rather than decaf, or indulge in too much chocolate, I have anxiety attacks in very short order. I will explore with my doctors at Mayo how I might boost my nervous system so I can better tolerate every day life. It seems the older I get, the more sensitive I get to everything! I’ll pass on what I learn. Hope this finds all of you doing better

@mamacita Good to hear from you I am all over the place ,saw your post and wanted to ask you if you do Tapping? This is another great tool Tapping.com I have a DVD and you need to have 3-4 hrs free time to do it Love@Light Lioness