Has anyone else experienced anxiety after getting Covid?

Posted by da69 @da69, Aug 7, 2022

I never had anxiety prior to getting Covid...Now i am on klonopin as needed and buspar
10mg 3 times a day.
Has anyone else experienced anxiety after getting Covid?
Does it ever go away...im approx a yr and a half and still have bad anxiety that comes and goes out of nowhere.
Thank.you

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@southam97

Try a basic slow forward fold standing with your legs slightly apart. It's fine to bend your legs as much as you need to. The most important aspect is getting your chest as close to your stomach as you comfortably can (not.your hands or head to the floor). Breathe slowly and fully 3- 5 rounds.
YOU CAN ALSO DO THIS LYING ON YOUR BACK,TUCKING YOUR KNEES INTO YOUR CHEST.

That is a great one for anxiety ( basically the fetal position on your back) you can wrap your arms around your tucked legs .

Also, closing your eyes, sitting with a straight spine,focus on a slow inhale and exhale even more slowly. Key is focusing on your breathe and increasing your exhale.

Hope that helps. Please lmk

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I'm sorry I couldn't find how to PM you from here, I have another breathe practice for anxiety as well, if you PM me with your details to reply further

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I started with what I would say felt like butterflies in the stomach that would come and go and that progressed to feeling anxious all of the time.

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@hardytye

I started with what I would say felt like butterflies in the stomach that would come and go and that progressed to feeling anxious all of the time.

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A feeling of constant unfocused anxiety was one of the first symptoms of long covid that I experienced after my (mild) acute infection last June. It helped to realize that it was, in fact, a symptom of long covid. For the most part, I've learned to ignore most of those bodily signals, especially when they're not connected to any actual "threat" (I realize this is not something everyone can do). However, this strategy is limited when faced with real things that I'm anxious about (e.g. a long plane trip for a family event...not because of fear of flying, but because I feared doing something stupid because of covid brain fog).

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@marcslifer

A feeling of constant unfocused anxiety was one of the first symptoms of long covid that I experienced after my (mild) acute infection last June. It helped to realize that it was, in fact, a symptom of long covid. For the most part, I've learned to ignore most of those bodily signals, especially when they're not connected to any actual "threat" (I realize this is not something everyone can do). However, this strategy is limited when faced with real things that I'm anxious about (e.g. a long plane trip for a family event...not because of fear of flying, but because I feared doing something stupid because of covid brain fog).

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i feel anxious too, not the fear type, just more frustrated, and the anxiety is more being a nervous feeling and kind of angry because there are so many things i need to do and get done but don't have the energy to do it...and it's like my brain just can't think like it used to..it has been a struggle to hang in there, i refuse to give up...i don't understand how a virus can leave soooo many different symptoms that mess up your life and just won't leave...

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@marcslifer

A feeling of constant unfocused anxiety was one of the first symptoms of long covid that I experienced after my (mild) acute infection last June. It helped to realize that it was, in fact, a symptom of long covid. For the most part, I've learned to ignore most of those bodily signals, especially when they're not connected to any actual "threat" (I realize this is not something everyone can do). However, this strategy is limited when faced with real things that I'm anxious about (e.g. a long plane trip for a family event...not because of fear of flying, but because I feared doing something stupid because of covid brain fog).

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(@marcslifer Thank you for that suggestion, I will give that a try! This week has not been a good week, I have had generalized total body anxiety (muscle tight, headache/brain aches, stomach issues) to the point that I had to take Xanax to try to quiet down my nervous system.

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@hardytye

(@marcslifer Thank you for that suggestion, I will give that a try! This week has not been a good week, I have had generalized total body anxiety (muscle tight, headache/brain aches, stomach issues) to the point that I had to take Xanax to try to quiet down my nervous system.

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Further clarification: I started out reacting to feelings of anxiety by, 1) trying to identify a source of that anxiety (usually nothing), and 2) trying to control what I was feeling. I now realize that the anxiety is a "free standing" symptom of long covid (at least for me) and that the best way to handle it is to try and live with it like a bad back.

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@kirstenk2003

I started experiencing bad anxiety and some depression after Covid and developing some physical issues (dizziness going on 8 months now, among others). My anxiety came on as chest pain, nausea, heart palpitations, tingling in arms and legs, stomach issues, crying spells, etc. I told my husband I wanted to climb out of my body, it felt unbearable - like I was holding my breath 24 hrs a day. I have never experienced anything like this, to this extent, prior to this year. I asked my doctor for medication we tried Lexapro and I reacted terribly, so started on Buspirone and stayed on that for a few months - was at 15mg 2x. I was still having crying spells, it was making me dizzy in the morning, and I still had anxiety anytime I felt physically unwell or something new, on top of continued constant worry. I started seeing a Psychiatrist and we decided to try something different. I'm still searching for the right medication for me, but in the meantime I have been off the Buspirone for 3 weeks (scary to be on nothing at first) and I have realized that it wasn't as effective for my anxiety as I wanted to believe it was. I also practice guided breathing/meditations through my Fitbit app (they help more the more I do them), and do weekly therapy that has helped me to realize what's happening to me, how to try to cope with it, how my thoughts contribute, etc. I try to take life one day at a time, to go for short walks to get outside, and do my best to go to work each day, even when it feels hard, to be around others and have some sense of purpose. I have bad days. All that to say - Be open to therapy if it's an option for you, and don't be afraid to talk to your doctor or a Psychiatrist who might be able to help you with a more effective medication plan if this one isn't working for you. I recently read an old book called Hope and Help For Your Nerves - it's not modern, but it really resonated with me. Best of luck to you, just know it will get better for us.

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Hi, just read your post. I noted it is dated Aug 2022. I’m wondering how you are doing now? Have you found anything additional since writing this that has helped? I identify with your feelings. I have suffered with Long Covid symptoms for quite some time. They get better but then return. However I am seeing slow improvement. I developed panic attacks at night after never experiencing one in my life. I take Trazadone for sleep but it has caused weight gain. . I intend to check out some apps. Thanks for your suggestions. I used to think the anxiety was from the worry about the symptoms themselves and I do think that’s part of it. I’ve lost a lot of hair. How can you not feel anxiety from finding a handful in your hand when you shampoo? Same with The weight gain! And There are just so many awful physical symptoms that cause pain, fatigue and constant discomfort,etc.. Then there are the psychological symptoms as well. However, I’ve come to believe at least part of the anxiety has developed as a true medical condition. I can just “feel” something going on in my body. Things just feel “off” , so to speak. It’s hard to explain. I just do not feel like myself since Covid. Sometimes I feel like a different person than the one I was for 65 years. I’ve had the anxiety that most of us go through while raising children, losing a parent, having a teaching career, being diagnosed with serious illness and coping with life’s struggles. However “this anxiety” is different. I wish you the best of luck and will be thinking of you!

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@poppy67

Hi, just read your post. I noted it is dated Aug 2022. I’m wondering how you are doing now? Have you found anything additional since writing this that has helped? I identify with your feelings. I have suffered with Long Covid symptoms for quite some time. They get better but then return. However I am seeing slow improvement. I developed panic attacks at night after never experiencing one in my life. I take Trazadone for sleep but it has caused weight gain. . I intend to check out some apps. Thanks for your suggestions. I used to think the anxiety was from the worry about the symptoms themselves and I do think that’s part of it. I’ve lost a lot of hair. How can you not feel anxiety from finding a handful in your hand when you shampoo? Same with The weight gain! And There are just so many awful physical symptoms that cause pain, fatigue and constant discomfort,etc.. Then there are the psychological symptoms as well. However, I’ve come to believe at least part of the anxiety has developed as a true medical condition. I can just “feel” something going on in my body. Things just feel “off” , so to speak. It’s hard to explain. I just do not feel like myself since Covid. Sometimes I feel like a different person than the one I was for 65 years. I’ve had the anxiety that most of us go through while raising children, losing a parent, having a teaching career, being diagnosed with serious illness and coping with life’s struggles. However “this anxiety” is different. I wish you the best of luck and will be thinking of you!

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I totally agree with you, this anxiety is different! For me it seems to be “in” my whole body! It is hard to explain, hang in there!

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@da69

I will add i have had depression all my life and was on Zoloft for 25 yrs and i got Covid and Zoloft quit working and anxiety came out of nowhere on top of that.
I can't remember all the meds i have tried since and none of them have worked at all.
Most made no difference at all....I even did the gene sight test and nothing works.
I am on Fetzima now and am constipated and cant urinate.
Its like i have to go so bad all through the day and i strain to go and it trickles.
Yes had my prostate checked also and it was fine.
Fetzima aint helping so left message wit Doc today.
Been trying to get into mayo and my insurance company is a joke.
They wont take faxes and referrals have to be done online but my mental healt doc
and PCP says their website just spins and when they call the 800 helpline they are on hold
forever and they give up.
I am switching Doctors till i find one who is willing to tolerate the joke that is my insurance company
and can get my referral where and how my insurance company wants it.
It should not be this hard to get care this long after we have been dealing with covid.
I have been reduced to do doing the bare minimum i have to do just to get by.
The only med that helps me at this point is Klonopin and i take .05 milligrams at night
and as needed when a anxiety attack kicks in.
I am always tired and winded if i do anything but my body sure can find the energy to start
start shaking and trembling out of nowhere which then wipes me out even more after the anxiety
attack.
I am out of options until i can find a place to diagnose what the heck is going on.
25 yrs on 100 mg of Zoloft and never a problem and life was rolling along until
I got Covid ( Had both shots and a booster ) and now no medication will help
except Klonopin and i am scared to death of becoming addicted to it so i use the bare minimum.
It's a shame we have so few resources and people are still suffering!!

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Your situation sounds exactly like mine. I had been on various antidepressants over the years and they all worked until I got Covid. I’d been on Paxil for several years prior to getting Covid and felt fine. Once I got Covid, Paxil quit working along with anything else I tried to take. I also now have to take Klonopin at night to sleep. My anxiety is crippling. I’ve never felt like this for an extended period time, in all my life. It’s very frustrating because nothing seems to really help.

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I remember having to return a package which is not stressful and my body having symptoms of high "anxiety." My body has calmed down alot since that time. I try to eat less sugar and eat a low histamine diet.

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