Anxiety: bouts of nervousness, dry flushing and nausea
I have been experiencing intense bouts of nervousness, dry flushing and nausea for months. These “spells” come on quickly and pass quickly. They happen a few times a week, which doesn’t sound like a big deal. But this feeling is so frightening! I’ve had heart, blood and urine testing. Everything comes back “normal”. I am a fit 70-year-old woman, so I can’t blame this on hormones! I’ll be at Mayo for my annual physical next month thank goodness. If my symptoms have a name, they’ll know it!! In the meantime, I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who has similar issues!
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Thank you for getting back to us with your results. I hope now that you have identified anxiety inducers, you now have the knowledge of what to do to help curb it. Studies have shown a large minority are sensitive to caffeine so you are not alone in that
@lioness, I have heard about tapping but have not had the time to check into it. I will do this tonight! Thank you!
Mamacita
I want to share an odd observation. As feelings of extreme illness and doom continue to wash over me —despite the use of medication and relaxation techniques — I decided to use reverse physiology. Rather than fight the sickening anxiety, I embrace the thought of death. I tell myself that fighting anxiety for the rest of my days is so depressing that death is appealing in that it offers the only way to peace. So, when these attacks overwhelm me, I say to myself “Good! I’ll gladly die”. Then, strangely, the doom slowly ebbs. Weird!!!
Oh my goodness @annedodrill44 that is an extreme. Has it worked at all? Is death a prominent thought and the feeling of fear and dread? Do you have an illness that you haven't written about quiet? After each of my lung cancers I had obsessive thoughts about my own death.
I had either a panic attack or anxiety attack. I couldn't find or remember where something we need for taxed is. My husband s aid it's ok. We can approach it from another angle. I hate it when I can't remember something or forgot where I put something
Hi, @pjss48 - I moved your post to this discussion on anxiety so that you can interact with others who have talked about similar issues.
I also find it so frustrating when I forget where I put something or can't remember something. Sounds like your husband was very gracious about the item that couldn't be found.
Hoping that @mamacita @johnhans @annedodrill44 @kdo0827 @peach414144 and others in this discussion will return and have some thoughts for you about having either a panic attack or anxiety attack.
What kinds of symptoms were you experiencing, @pjss48, when you had the attack you are talking about?
@annedodrill44
We are the same age, so I recognize the thoughts of our own deaths. I also found that embracing those thoughts and other feelings of fear helps to dissipate the anxiety. Acceptance of the finite reality of life takes time and patience. In my case, I had the "good luck" of having a near death experience after a car accident when I was 35 years old. While it was a terrible accident and I had to be cut out of the car with the jaws of life, I learned from it. I am pretty sure I died briefly and then had one of those experiences others talk about. One moment I was here and the next I wasn't. I didn't know I "wasn't" until later. I wasn't afraid, nor did I physically feel anything. What I "remember" is floating in a "waiting" state, looking forward seeing a bright light seeping around a dark round door. I was waiting to be let through the door. Instead, I began hearing a voice saying, "lady, are you Ok?" It was repeated several times, becoming louder each time, then I opened my eyes. I was quite injured, and in great pain when I became conscious.
After my experience, I no longer have a fear of dying. I wasn't ready to go when I was young, but even then I didn't fear it. I still don't fear death. I'm not religious in any way, so that helps me accept death as part of life, without judgement. I know my body is wearing down and not reproducing cells the way it did when I was young, and I can accept this slow deterioration process. Someone once told me, we've been getting older since the day we were born, and that helped me to better accept aging. In fact, I am more fearful of my husband dying before me and continuing to live without my best friend, love, and lifetime companion. I will deal with that when the time comes. I live my life with conviction, action, and kindness. I hope I leave the earth and my family and friends in a better place for having known me.
I hope my experience with near death is helpful for all who read it here. This didn't stop my panic attacks though. I only stopped having them after I started taking Citalopram when I was 63 years old. I no longer have panic, which I now believe was a function of the wrong brain chemistry. I was in talk therapy for over 20 years, and although I learned A LOT through that, I was never able to get rid of the panic attacks. Embracing them at the time, was the only thing that helped dissipate the feelings. I'm hoping that you find peace and relief for your anxiety and panic in whatever way works best for you. Gentle hugs for you.
@merry - no I have no diagnosed illness, but my anxiety attacks are so strong that I really do feel like a stroke or death is imminent. If I get really upset during the attack, it gets worse and hangs on longer. If I give in to it and say”who cares what happens”, it seems to go away faster. Beats me why!
Gail, you are a very talented mentor, and I so appreciate the benefit of your experience! We can all learn from you. Thank you for your support!
My heart was beating real fast, was extremely nervous, upset at myself, I couldn't think right