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Experiencing physical anxiety symptoms

Z

ZebraAutismo

Well-Known Member
V.I.P Member
I am experience a lot of physical anxiety symptoms. I have awful stomach pain (and I’m worried I will be sick). My throat goes tight making it hard to speak and feels like I’m genuinely ill. I use to have seizures during times of stress which I’m hoping they don’t come back.

any tips for managing these symptoms.
 
I have General Anxiety Disorder. Medications have helped me a lot. But I know everyone has their own feelings on them. If you want to investigate that route you can talk to your doctor or get a referral to a specialist.
 
ZebraAspie said:
I am experience a lot of physical anxiety symptoms. I have awful stomach pain (and I’m worried I will be sick). My throat goes tight making it hard to speak and feels like I’m genuinely ill. I use to have seizures during times of stress which I’m hoping they don’t come back.

any tips for managing these symptoms.
Click to expand...

These are definitely tough times for all of us right now. Do you wish to talk about what you are feeling?
 
If you don't go the medication route, you can try more natural supplements, such as slow release l-theanine, gaba, herbs, etc.
 
If you're on meds for such, another visit to your medical practitioner to discuss increase or decease may be required?


In my own circumstances and over a life time I've created some habitual responses to stress and anxiety which produce the physical symptoms you mention in addition to others.

Breathing is playing a major role in changing the outcome for me but first,
I found I wanted to understand what was happening to me. Cause and effect if you like.

When I repeatedly think this or that,
I trigger or inhibit a chain reaction within my own body to produce said physical symptoms.

On changing what I think,
Or at the very least, pausing (and breathing) before reacting,
I can change the chemical reaction happening inside my own body and thus the physical outcome...

Albeit slightly, but I'll take slightly over no change,
means it's beginning to work :)

By 'breathing' I mean exhaling for longer than inhaling.
For example inhale to the slow count of four, exhale to the count of eight.

I'm not cured by any means. I find I can function a little better in situations where previously I couldn't.
It's progress :)
 
Fino said:
Not to point out the obvious, but deep breathing is a popular remedy for pretty much everything.
Click to expand...

Deep breathing/breathwork works for me, but it takes a LONG time. I have to practice it for at least 10-15 minutes, sometimes more like 20-30 before my body finally gets the hint.

It took perseverance, because I have always heard "take three deep breaths" or "take 5 deep breaths" and that has never, ever worked.

Fino said:
If you don't go the medication route, you can try more natural supplements, such as slow release l-theanine, gaba, herbs, etc.
Click to expand...

Magnesium and CBD both help me a lot. CBD helps cut down on sensory issues, magnesium helps me stay on the level with emotional responses. Neither of these is a cure by any means, but they're kind of a safety rope while I figure the rest out.

Gracey said:
Breathing is playing a major role in changing the outcome for me but first,
I found I wanted to understand what was happening to me. Cause and effect if you like.
Click to expand...

I'm definitely one of those people who need to understand why I'm feeling what I'm feeling before I can come to terms with it. I'm really not OK with not knowing, and that's kind of an issue for me when it comes to dealing with complex issues.
 
Keep yourself preoccupied. Focusing on breathing techniques as mentioned previously can help. Probably because it's a distraction and also gets more oxygen into your body.

In general you need to spend less time dedicated to anxiety which is a simple statement that takes a lot of time and effort to eventually master. I had anxiety symptoms for a very long time, but eventually got them to the point where they occur a lot less frequently. The pattern eventually emerged that symptoms would often last as long as I fixated on them. One symptom would often replace another and my focus shifted onto the new pain or symptom.

A stressed mind often leads to a stressed body. Don't respond to it with more stress, or you'll simply be promoting more aches, pains and symptoms.

If a symptom is there, don't fixate on it. Go about your day and do your utmost to not let symptoms ruin your enjoyment or plans for each day. Anxiety is a part of everyone and it's as strong and dominant as we allow it to be. As with anything - the more time invested in it, the better you become at it. When you're busy, or distracted or having a nice time the symptom is probably causing minimal upset, or might disappear for a while entirely.

Accepting it is due to anxiety is another big factor. If you're assuming it could be due to other causes, or could escalate into something worse - then once again you're focusing your attention on the anxiety and symptoms. This will in turn make the symptoms last longer or possibly feel more intense.

Time, focus and negative emotions are what empower these symptoms. So you need to spend your time, focus on other things that will help promote positive emotions. At the end of the day everyone's approach will be different, but the common denominator with symptoms born of stress is that they will continue to get worse if you invest more and more time thinking about them or heightening your anxiety.

Often what we get most anxious about is things we have no control over. So focus on what you can affect and do your best to enjoy yourself. After all - it's all about perspective. Often the biggest burdens in life are the one's we put on ourselves.

Ed
 
Raggamuffin said:
Keep yourself preoccupied. Focusing on breathing techniques as mentioned previously can help. Probably because it's a distraction and also gets more oxygen into your body.

In general you need to spend less time dedicated to anxiety which is a simple statement that takes a lot of time and effort to eventually master. I had anxiety symptoms for a very long time, but eventually got them to the point where they occur a lot less frequently. The pattern eventually emerged that symptoms would often last as long as I fixated on them. One symptom would often replace another and my focus shifted onto the new pain or symptom.

A stressed mind often leads to a stressed body. Don't respond to it with more stress, or you'll simply be promoting more aches, pains and symptoms.

If a symptom is there, don't fixate on it. Go about your day and do your utmost to not let symptoms ruin your enjoyment or plans for each day. Anxiety is a part of everyone and it's as strong and dominant as we allow it to be. As with anything - the more time invested in it, the better you become at it. When you're busy, or distracted or having a nice time the symptom is probably causing minimal upset, or might disappear for a while entirely.

Accepting it is due to anxiety is another big factor. If you're assuming it could be due to other causes, or could escalate into something worse - then once again you're focusing your attention on the anxiety and symptoms. This will in turn make the symptoms last longer or possibly feel more intense.

Time, focus and negative emotions are what empower these symptoms. So you need to spend your time, focus on other things that will help promote positive emotions. At the end of the day everyone's approach will be different, but the common denominator with symptoms born of stress is that they will continue to get worse if you invest more and more time thinking about them or heightening your anxiety.

Often what we get most anxious about is things we have no control over. So focus on what you can affect and do your best to enjoy yourself. After all - it's all about perspective. Often the biggest burdens in life are the one's we put on ourselves.

Ed
Click to expand...

To add to this fabulous post - accept your anxiety, validate it (it's OK to be anxious) - don't fight it, because if you do, you'll start a vicious cycle of being anxious about being anxious. Your brain is highly trainable and will learn to fear something you see as a threat. Be OK with being anxious as you get on with your day. Be OK with being anxious if you can't get on with your day. "You know what? It's OK that I'm too anxious to do anything productive right now. I'm going to watch Netflix instead."
 
I have found a dark room with some pleasant background noise (I especially like trains in the rain from Youtube on Black screen,) a cup of flavored hot Tea & a fluffy-cozy blanket on bare feet can be quite wonderful! A nap is always a nice escape too. Sleep is so important for us on the Spectrum. ;-0
 
Watch comedy shows. Because comedians are great at showing us how ridiculous life truly can get. Then you take your anxiety and dissect it in a more understanding mode. Sometimes l really want to tell people just because you are doing this doesn't make right.
 
Aspychata said:
Watch comedy shows. Because comedians are great at showing us how ridiculous life truly can get. Then you take your anxiety and dissect it in a more understanding mode. Sometimes l really want to tell people just because you are doing this doesn't make right.
Click to expand...
Good plan. I will be doing that tommerow.
 
Yunxi Sighs said:
I have found a dark room with some pleasant background noise (I especially like trains in the rain from Youtube on Black screen,) a cup of flavored hot Tea & a fluffy-cozy blanket on bare feet can be quite wonderful! A nap is always a nice escape too. Sleep is so important for us on the Spectrum. ;-0
Click to expand...
Thanks I’ll be trying you’re advice.
 
Tom said:
I have General Anxiety Disorder. Medications have helped me a lot. But I know everyone has their own feelings on them. If you want to investigate that route you can talk to your doctor or get a referral to a specialist.
Click to expand...
I take Fluoxtine. I on a highish dose (they don’t want to go higher). I take 40 mgs
 
Gracey said:
If you're on meds for such, another visit to your medical practitioner to discuss increase or decease may be required?


In my own circumstances and over a life time I've created some habitual responses to stress and anxiety which produce the physical symptoms you mention in addition to others.

Breathing is playing a major role in changing the outcome for me but first,
I found I wanted to understand what was happening to me. Cause and effect if you like.

When I repeatedly think this or that,
I trigger or inhibit a chain reaction within my own body to produce said physical symptoms.

On changing what I think,
Or at the very least, pausing (and breathing) before reacting,
I can change the chemical reaction happening inside my own body and thus the physical outcome...

Albeit slightly, but I'll take slightly over no change,
means it's beginning to work :)

By 'breathing' I mean exhaling for longer than inhaling.
For example inhale to the slow count of four, exhale to the count of eight.

I'm not cured by any means. I find I can function a little better in situations where previously I couldn't.
It's progress :)
Click to expand...

I can’t see anyone because of Corona. I’ll try you’re advice though. I don’t actually know who to speak to about my meds since It was my paediatrician who put me on them and the GP s have just upped my does as an adult. The GP say it would be up to a phycolgist to discuss what to do but the phycolgist I was seeing said they didn’t with medication.
 
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