Shown: posts 1 to 23 of 23. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bookgurl99 on May 19, 2002, at 16:05:25
Just looking for reassurance -- thanks. :D
Posted by omega man on May 19, 2002, at 21:18:41
In reply to Can anxiety cause memory and physical problems?, posted by bookgurl99 on May 19, 2002, at 16:05:25
absolutely...anxiety plays havoc with your insides..prompting some quite impulsive behaviours to feel good that may be bad for you...I had such bad anxiety after a fire..I found myself waking up as one person with no memory of the person from the previous day...and then waking up the next day as that previous person..that is I did not remember what he had done....
I thought it was the BIg S....
anxiety is a real F-er...the disadvantage of being predisposed to it far outweighs the disadvantage of not having it ..in any species...
I would also say its how you use it...roll with the whole lot...try to laugh at the ridicolous ideas and tell everyone how you feel...and the strange ideas...lest you find yourself locked in and isolated....(which is what happens)
Posted by bookgurl99 on May 20, 2002, at 11:20:36
In reply to Re: Can anxiety cause memory and physical problems?, posted by omega man on May 19, 2002, at 21:18:41
Thanks for reassuring me. I have been going through a lot of stress and having a horrid memory/concentration for 10 weeks.
The anxiety of memory problems disrupting my life/identity as an intellectual is quite self-perpetuating.
I haven't been able to do school/work. I think I'm officially going through a 'nervous breakdown.' The problems that come out of that -- running out of money, incompletes in school,e tc. -- just feed the fire.
So I guess I have to force myself to go back to the world, even feeling abnormal.
Posted by bookgurl99 on May 20, 2002, at 11:34:38
In reply to Re: Can anxiety cause memory and physical problems?, posted by omega man on May 19, 2002, at 21:18:41
Omega Man,
how did you overcome the trauma of the fire? were you able to come back to normal function?
Elisa
Posted by Automated Lady on May 22, 2002, at 8:51:41
In reply to Re: Can anxiety cause memory and physical problems?, posted by bookgurl99 on May 20, 2002, at 11:20:36
Just to say I'm suffering badly from anxiety at the moment and I seem to be getting really bad memory loss.. my memory's never been THAt great, but now I find I can't remember what I said or did 24 hours earlier. And the more I think about it, the worse it gets... I also find I can't think of words, I stutter slightly, and sentence constructions seem strange to me. And physically... my hands have just started shaking all the time and I've been sleeping with my fists clenched! Any of this sound familiar? It would help me if it did, because when I get anxious I also turn into a hypochondriac and think I have the worst diseases possible (and start doing obsessive internet research which ALWAYS confirms my fears...) Problem is, I can't go on SSRIs for it (like Efexor or Celexa) because then I just have the opposite problem - I have no drive or interest in anything at all and I just sleep all day. At the moment the anxiety is preferable to that (we'll see how it goes though...)
Posted by terra miller on May 22, 2002, at 11:54:11
In reply to Can anxiety cause memory and physical problems?, posted by bookgurl99 on May 19, 2002, at 16:05:25
hi.
think of it this way: you have something that's really bugging you. it's bugging you so bad that you are really jumpy, frightened, worried, anxious and scared. however, you want to function in your everyday life and have projects to complete, etc. so your brain starts working really hard to accomodate. it tries to keep the anxious and fearful feelings away so that you can complete your tasks, but it doesn't stay all the way away and it pops up.
you can also think of it as someone in a swimming pool with 5 rubber balls that they are trying to keep submerged; you might be able to keep them down, but you have to really concentrate and even with that effort there still seems to be a ball that pops up out of the water that you have to resubmerge.
anxiety kind of works that way. and your brain gets tired. and unless you find a way to lighten your responsibilities (sometimes that's just not possible, i know), then you might find you are losing concentration and you can't remember what you ate for breakfast.
that might sound simplistic, but your brain gets tired.
and physically speaking, if you are on edge then your body starts to wear down. you might not be sleeping enough because you can't, or you may have a sour/acid stomach a lot. that kind of thing.
i am not a doc; speaking from personal experience :-)
~terra
Posted by Bookgurl99 on May 26, 2002, at 10:26:56
In reply to Re: Can anxiety cause memory and physical problems? » bookgurl99, posted by Automated Lady on May 22, 2002, at 8:51:41
To reassure you -- my symptoms are very similar to yours, especially with word finding and sentence construction. My hands are not shaking, but I have had moments when I'm emotionally upset that my whole body shook -- it's a common marker of 'upset nerves.'
I also have a similar tendency to search the internet looking for an explanation. I've had numerous tests done, however, and nothing has been found.
With people like us, I suspect, there's a strong tendency to want to control what's going on. Especially if you have strong intellectual tendencies, having information seems like the best way to have control.
But if I had it all to do over again -- going back to when the problem started 3 months ago -- I would not have spent as much time online. I would have saved my brain for work and school, and stuck to as stable a schedule as possible.
It's hard to accept that anxiety could cause our problems, but this seems to be the illness of intellectuals. We're "neurasthenic." From what I've read and been told, it's best to accept, go back to a normal life, and wait for the symptoms to lift.
Posted by Bookgurl99 on May 26, 2002, at 10:27:57
In reply to Re: Can anxiety cause memory and physical problems?, posted by omega man on May 19, 2002, at 21:18:41
Omega man,
did your memory improve after the trauma from the fire lifted? how did you get over it?
Posted by automatedlady on May 26, 2002, at 11:41:34
In reply to Re: Can anxiety cause memory and physical problems?, posted by Bookgurl99 on May 26, 2002, at 10:26:56
Thank you! I am reassured. You're totally right about the "being in control" as well. Well, lets hope things improve for the both of us! AL
Posted by Bookgurl99 on May 27, 2002, at 22:06:52
In reply to Re: Can anxiety cause memory and physical problems? » bookgurl99, posted by Automated Lady on May 22, 2002, at 8:51:41
Can I say, I just did another day of looking up things -- and now I have something I'd like my g.p. to test for? Sheesh!
I wish I could believe that it's caused by anxiety. It's hard to do, even after numerous tests have been performed, no?
Posted by automatedlady on May 28, 2002, at 15:05:01
In reply to Re: obsessive searching, posted by Bookgurl99 on May 27, 2002, at 22:06:52
Tell me about it... I get so worked up when searching that I tend to burst into tears whenever I come across something that fits, whatever public place I happen to be in. I tell myself that this in itself PROVES I'm just anxious, and I really should therefore just get myself OUT of the library (or internet cafe, or whatever), go home and DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE... But there's always that little nagging fear (something along the lines of: just because you're a hypochondriac doesn't mean you're not seriously ill!)
My doctor never bothers to test me for things, whatever symptoms I'm experiencing. When I was withdrawing from Efexor (my doctor told me "just come straight off it" !?) and I was having loads and loads of those brain shock things he just said it was "a stress thing" and didn't even bother to check my heart or BP. That, as I've said before, is the NHS for you. But I have the same thing from many people I know. My family in particular refuse to believe there is anything at all wrong with me (apart from "being a miserable git" or "thinking too much").
Oops, gone off subject there. Whinge.
AL
Posted by bookgurl99 on May 29, 2002, at 20:12:46
In reply to Re: obsessive searching » Bookgurl99, posted by automatedlady on May 28, 2002, at 15:05:01
Well, it's fair to say that just having anxiety doesn't preclude you from illness - it would be great if it did.
Bec. I've been having horrid memory/concentration/cognition problems suddenly, I keep looking for possible dx's that could have been overlooked. But I _never_ burst into tears. The difference for me is that the difference IN me is confirmed by those around me.
If you had something horribly wrong, you'd seem different to those around you -- different enough for them to confirm it. Your family wouldn't mislead you.
But I understand how you feel. It's horrid to be told "you're in denial" about anxiety or what have you.
However, if you're having mild symptoms, it makes sense to believe that it -is anxiety.-
Posted by automatedlady on May 31, 2002, at 10:08:58
In reply to Re: obsessive searching, posted by bookgurl99 on May 29, 2002, at 20:12:46
Hi
Don't think I explained that right. It's definitely comforting that my family refuse to believe there's anything seriously (physically)wrong with me. But they refuse to believe there's anything mentally/emotionally wrong with me either. They don't use terms like "depression" or "anxiety" (only "you're a miserable cow" or "it's really hard to be your parent"). So I'm left with no diagnosis whatsoever for my symptoms. I'm not physically ill but I'm not allowed to call myself mentally ill either. Which in itself makes me think I'm going mad. The particularly sad thing about all this is the fact that my mother has been depressed on and off all her life. She is, I'm not allowed to be. Do you see what I mean?It's a big deal to me at the moment because I'm living at home (just finished a university course and looking for a job). I suppose it offers me an insight into WHY I feel it's so important to find a physical explanation for my difficulties, since in my family mental illness doesn't exist.
I hope you don't mind me ranting like this, somewhat off topic. I'm just sick of that feeling you get when the people closest to you tell you that what you are experiencing doesn't exist. My mother keeps telling me I "seem fine". I just hide it because I know it's not allowed! Here's to the day I move out!
AL x
Posted by katekite on May 31, 2002, at 12:01:51
In reply to Re: obsessive searching, posted by automatedlady on May 31, 2002, at 10:08:58
Hi,
I'm just joining this thread, haven't read the older messages...
but wanted to chime in with "my parents took 10 years to understand". What it took was me getting a professional diagnosis.... then them complaining to their friends that their darn daughter had gone to some head-shrinker, could they believe that?.... then a few of their friends, said, well actually they themselves took meds or had had problems in the past. Once a couple of their friends told them it was a real issue, they came around.
So several points:
1. Our parents generation did the stiff upper lip thing never talked about emotion and believed illness equalled weakness. Only by seeing members of their own generation who they like or admire admit to not being always healthy, will they see that it really happens to people who aren't visibly crazy.2. Parents like to be in denial: they want to believe that their kids are completely healthy because either it would reflect poorly on them as parents or they would have to admit that they don't have 100% control over their children.
What can we do to help them see?
1. get a professional diagnosis and tell them what it is. See a therapist who will have excellent advice on what to do about them. Buy them a book about it (expect them to be dismissive).
2. tell them (to the degree its possible) that it has nothing to do with them, that we don't blame them etc. that we still like them.
3. tell them to ask their friends about it or please, just for us, to read something about whatever the diagnosis is.
4. tell them what we need from them: for example if we're depressed, asking them to encourage us to exercise, etc. Specific, small, easy things that will actually make a difference. Not just 'support' because they have no idea at this point what that might be. Then thank them for it if it happens.
5. Wait, and try not to have huge fights. Try to find alternate places for support.
kate
Posted by kpo2002 on June 1, 2002, at 17:57:19
In reply to Can anxiety cause memory and physical problems?, posted by bookgurl99 on May 19, 2002, at 16:05:25
I lived in blinding pain for a year and a half. I watched my whole life go away while I was plastered on the couch.
After 4 months I started to get migraine headaches.
After 6 months I started having blackouts.
After about 8 months the outer bones of my ankles and elbows became extremely sensitive to touching or even lightly bumping a hard surface.
After a year my left forearm, (the part where you might lean your arm on a desk),developed a 4-inch long patch of thickened, dried skin.
After 14 months my fingernails started to thin and my toenails began falling off.
After 14 months I had explosive diarrhea every day, all day long for 11 months straight.
After 18 months I was prescribed Ultram, and although I was out of blinding pain, I was still in horrific pain...Then came the rashes. Usually on the back of my hands, and fingers, but sometimes went up as far as my wrist. Sometime they were itchy, sometime they were painful, but sometime they looked just awful but didn't feel like anything.
Now it's been 4 1/2 years of pain for me now, and even though it's not anywhere as bad as it was I still have irritable bowel syndrome, tension headaches, rashes, sometimes welts on my abdomen and neck, eyelid twitches. You can tell that they are from stress because they occur immediately after a stressful event, and the stressful event can be something as simple as someone cutting you off in traffic.
Stress and anxiety can cause almost any physical or psychological symptoms.
Posted by kpo2002 on June 1, 2002, at 18:04:27
In reply to Re: obsessive searching, posted by katekite on May 31, 2002, at 12:01:51
My last statement from my last message was that "Stress and anxiety can cause almost any physical or psychological symptoms." But one of the reasons that I was continually denied pain medication was that I had had a history of bulimia and the doctors would say that I needed psychotherapy for my pain issues because they were surely caused by my mental illness, even though they had caused my nerve damage and knew that it was a most painful injury.
Posted by kpo2002 on June 1, 2002, at 18:06:57
In reply to Re: obsessive searching, posted by katekite on May 31, 2002, at 12:01:51
I can't find your thread with your conversation with Ben.
Posted by katekite on June 1, 2002, at 19:36:13
In reply to Re: Kate Kite--Where are you?, posted by kpo2002 on June 1, 2002, at 18:06:57
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020503/msgs/105049.html
That's the start of it I think. I'm not so great at looking things up...
kate
Posted by katekite on June 1, 2002, at 20:26:50
In reply to Re: Can anxiety cause memory and physical problems?, posted by kpo2002 on June 1, 2002, at 17:57:19
I guess I have to question whether anxiety or stress really are the "cause"? of all this, or whether it just puts you over the threshold of having symptoms of a disorder of some other cause. And I feel like doubting one's own perception of pain could lead, for some people who tend to doubt themselves to begin with, to delay investigation of something potentially serious.
Like, occasionally people with cancer who are put on drugs that make them optomistic and happy beat the odds, they live a normal life span. It doesn't mean depression caused their symptoms.
Or lets say someone has a heart problem. As it comes on over years they are only aware that every time they are stressed they feel faint and their pulse races. Did anxiety cause their heart problem since for they were only aware of it when they were stressed? After all, when they take klonopin they barely feel faint ever. It could take 20 years for it to get to the point where they actually have a heart attack, or never. But maybe a valve job would improve their life, now.
Rashes, dry skin, eyes involved... sjogrens or other autoimmune disease? Seen a dermatologist, had a biopsy of the patch of dry skin or the rash? How about duodenal washes and colonoscopy and intestinal biopsies? It's just surprising you are so deeply affected by anxiety. I'm no doctor and I don't mean to scare at all, it just would seem anxiety is a wild explanation for such complicated and serious symptoms.
At some point, if no medical explanation is found and symptoms are not worsening, I agree completely that it makes sense to stop dwelling on the undiagnosable and untreatable, and to start dwelling on coping and on reducing the severity of symptoms. Living in a state of non-diagnosis is difficult and a sort of emotional limbo. At that point it makes complete sense to see that anxiety is only treatable component of the constellation of problems and focus on that as the most important issue.
I feel concerned about your quality of life, and urge you to seek a re-evaluation if at any time a new symptom appears, or if you haven't seen one of the following specialists: endocrinologist, neurologist, dermatologist, rheumatologist in the last couple of years since all the symptoms you describe became apparent.
kate
Posted by omega man on June 1, 2002, at 22:34:24
In reply to Re: Did memory improve?, posted by Bookgurl99 on May 26, 2002, at 10:27:57
strange I forgot had replied here..and had told somebody about the fire yesterday..he said the Schizophrenic style split break was probably some way of trying to get away from the stress...I had visual "waking" hallucinations too..seeing myself covered in blood..and then blinking and its all gone..
hate to say but had to spend some time in the local psyche ward...
it did'nt take long to recover..because I just said to myself have whatever you need..spending sprees..drugs...and three years of getting away from the life that preceded it all helped get back to...
my usually anxious self...
Posted by bookgurl99 on June 2, 2002, at 13:01:10
In reply to Re: Can anxiety cause memory and physical problems?, posted by katekite on June 1, 2002, at 20:26:50
Yes, it's true that it's wrong to say that certain things are solely 'caused' by anxiety. For example, my younger sister has severe anxiety due in part to having a heart that skips beats. Of course anxiety didn't 'cause' the beat-skipping, but it feeds into it.
In the end, I'm starting to theorize that the central nervous system and endocrine system are tightly interwoven into these 'psychosomatic' symptoms.
For example, I visited a qualified naturopath and have been following an anti-inflammatory diet for 2 weeks. Suddenly, my memory and 'anxiety' are improving. I'm also aware of sensitivities to things -- coffee, dairy, tomatoes -- that I didn't notice before. Considering that I've had a thyroid problem, it's possible that my adrenals needed some extra help too -- when you prop up one and the other is weak, you will have increased symptoms.
I think that many of the symptoms that we have _will_ be improved if we don't dwell on them, but doing what we can to empower ourselves outside of the realm of Western medicine is important too.
Posted by CtrlAlt n Del on June 2, 2002, at 16:47:11
In reply to Some things western medicine can't solve. . . , posted by bookgurl99 on June 2, 2002, at 13:01:10
> Yes, it's true that it's wrong to say that certain things are solely 'caused' by anxiety. For example, my younger sister has severe anxiety due in part to having a heart that skips beats. Of course anxiety didn't 'cause' the beat-skipping, but it feeds into it.
Hi ,
That's interesting I've had same heart problem for many many years and also have severe anxiety.
Things just keep getting more complex ..the holistic approach I feel should be carried out also wish there was some kind of body scan we could simply walk through then a bit of detective work and common sense together with what science has to offer...
Posted by bookgurl99 on June 3, 2002, at 8:33:58
In reply to Re: Some things western medicine can't solve. . . » bookgurl99, posted by CtrlAlt n Del on June 2, 2002, at 16:47:11
>also wish there was some kind of body scan we could simply walk through then a bit of detective work and common sense together with >what science has to offer...
There _IS_ a body scan that's gaining in popularity -- it's a full-body CT scan. With contrast solution, it's as effective as an MRI of your body. The downside? The exposure to full-body radiation increases your cancer risk, and the high cost --about $1,000 -- isn't worth it for most of us.
BUT -- for someone anxious about their health, it could be a nice tool.
This is the end of the thread.
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