AnxiousKat

I just want to say: I love all of you twitchers! After 2 years of panic over my health, I'm now down to plain old anxious -- and not all the time. That's progress! But here I am twitching all over the place, especially, like you @Lolo95, in my feet and calves. I figure 2 years of high anxiety put my nervous system into overdrive. I'll have to give it some time to simmer down. I'm not a patient person but I have no choice! Wishing all of you peace.

Tess22, I really empathize with you. I'm totally phobic about dentists and dental work (and many many other health-related things)...but I had a root canal last year, had laughing gas for the first time and loved it! I literally giggled through the whole thing. The world seemed like such a friendly funny place. I wish I could carry a tank of it around with me every day! Maybe this will help you feel better about it: Once they turn it off you almost immediately recover. It doesn't stay in your system like Valium. (This is a layperson's experience anyway.) Good luck!

I've tried 2: Luvox didn't help at all and Celexa did. One problem is that all SSRIs have side effects which health anxiety can easily use as something new to worry about. But I'm still happy I took Celexa to take the edge off. Good luck!

Just my opinion, but if ever a situation called for a Valium (or other benzo), this is it. If you have a prescription, I would take the prescribed amount and try to enjoy your party (but don't drink alcohol). How nice of your friends to do that for you! Accept the fact that you are anxious. That is a reality. But the disease you're worried about is not reality. Yes, fear/anxiety can make you look pale. The blood rushes to your limbs so that you can fight/flee to avoid danger. You don't have leukemia. There would be other symptoms besides paleness. I wish you a happy birthday!

I've been taking Ativan during this recent bout of HA (.5 mg before bed so I don't wake up panicking, a horrible sensation). I also took it 20 years ago as needed. As long as you take the smallest possible effective dose and only when you need it, I don't think you should worry about it. I wish I hadn't waited so long to begin with it this time. You don't need to suffer! At least not to the point of panic. I intend to stop it as soon as I can, but not before this HA is resolved. You may need to taper off very gradually and might have some jitters or difficulty sleeping while you're doing so. But your doctor will help you with that. Good luck, I wish you some relief.

I'm so sorry you're struggling and overwhelmed, Nutmegbella. I think anyone raising small kids, especially someone who's homeschooling, should get a pass on doing pretty much anything else. When my kid was small, my housework was pretty much non-existent. If you can, set your expectations lower. You don't have to be perfect or even good a lot of the time. Mediocre, especially in terms of housework, is just fine. Can you explore lower-cost options for therapy? I think you would feel a lot better if you could talk to someone weekly. Would you be willing to explore medication? I'm not someone who believes that you have to take a pill for everything, but in periods of acute anxiety or depression, medications can take the edge off and make you feel just enough better so you can address your problems more clearly. In the meantime, there are two easy, free things that help with anxiety immediately: 1. Relaxing breaths: In through the nose to the count of 4 -- hold to the count of 7 -- out through the mouth to the count of 8. Do this slowly 4 times in a row. It does stop the adrenaline rush. 2. A walk outside, if you can. Walking for 30 minutes, especially outside, has been shown to be effective against anxiety and depression. Good luck! Will you let us know how you are doing?

That's very common with palpitations, whether they occur more at night or you just notice them more because you're quiet and at rest. What helped me was accepting that they aren't dangerous (checked it with my PCP), going to bed early with no screens, and taking a magnesium supplement. Honestly, it seemed like the magnesium took care of them right away.

morgans, I recently started Celexa and have been getting twitches. I knew that side effects were going to cause me anxiety but at the time I decided it was worth the risk. Now I'm not so sure!

I don't take Cymbalta but I would ask the dentist if it's a problem, just to set your mind at rest. I'm sure it's fine -- probably half the dentist's patients are on some kind of antidepressant. I am very phobic about dentistry too. This summer I needed a root canal (my first) and I was out of my mind with anxiety. My dentist told me to take a Valium, but I was still panicking. When I got there, she suggested nitrous oxide, which I'd never had before. It is lovely -- it made me giggle and I stayed in a giggly sort of haze until the procedure was finished, with no after-effects. Something to consider! Best of luck to you.

That's a wonderful way to approach finding a doctor, and it seems to have worked well for you!

I'm so glad you found a doctor you like!

It's so hard to know where the line is between understanding about anxiety and not being cautious enough!

Periods definitely do change as you get older. Mine got heavier and lasted longer, but I'm sure other people have had the opposite experience. You're young for perimenopause, but I guess that's possible. Or have you lost a significant amount of weight? That can mess up your cycle. Don't google! But would you consider going to your gynecologist?

I have a general question, and then a longshot question. General question: How do you talk to a new doctor? Are you open about your health anxiety? I am. In fact I lead with it and only after I tell the doc about the lifelong health anxiety do I talk about whatever symptom or concern I have. On one hand, I feel the HA is an important part of the picture. On the other hand, I worry that it makes doctors more likely to dismiss whatever symptom I have as part of the anxiety (which, of course, it usually is...but what if it isn't?). The longshot question: Does anyone know a PCP in the NY area who is knowledgeable about the physical effects of anxiety? And understanding of and experienced with patients with health anxiety? I'm so tired of hearing things like "Oh, anxiety can't cause burning pain..." when this forum documents that it certainly can. Thanks!

Sometimes women spot a little and cramp when they ovulate. Go see the doctor and ask but I'm sure you're fine!