Anxiety is driving me nuts

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I've always had problems with anxiety but recently the physical effects have been driving me bonkers. I've had blood tests done and there's nothing physically wrong with me. And yet I still keep getting aches in most of my muscles, tightness and pain in my chest, rapid heartbeat and surges of nervous energy. My appetite is screwed as well, fluctuating all the time. Basically, I'm in good health but feel very unhealthy.

How can I deal with the physical effects? I'm taking propranolol which seems to help a bit but sometimes I get the effects anyway.

Hi there Laddo

I'm sorry to hear you've been having such trouble.

There's no reason why you should always continue to have such great problems with anxiety. What have you tried (besides propranalol or other drugs) to deal with it?

It sounds to me like you're in a self fulfilling prophecy kind of vicious circle. You get "bonkers," angry and/or anxious about being anxious and so round and round it goes - getting worse. That vicious circle needs to be cut.

I would recommend self hypnosis / mindfulness. They're both practically the same thing and they help people to develop a different way of looking at things, removing anxiety - over time.

Once you moderate the anxiety, your body will follow.

Best wishes

Paul

Hi PaulHughes, thanks for your reply. Other than the propanolol I've been slowly cutting the negatives out of my life. I'm gradually disassociating myself with friends who have been very bad for me (think drink, drugs and debt). I'm trying to do as much art as possible as it's very therapeutic for me. But it's not enough. I still get flashes of guilt about things I shouldn't even be guilty for.

Self-hypnosis/mindfulness sound like they could be very helpful. The problem is, there's nowhere peaceful enough in my house to practice them. I suppose I might have to find somewhere out of the house to go

Hello again

One place I work (as a therapist) is in a gym. I have a little room in which to see clients and although it's private enough it's still quite noisy. It worried me at first but it actually doesn't matter at all. In fact, I use it to my advantage because if clients can relax very deeply whilst in that environment then they are reassured that they can do it anywhere. It's no use learning to relax and be mindful in a silent place, only to find that it's of no use when you go somewhere full of painful stimuli.

Paul

This may sound silly, but breathing can help. The really controlled 'in for two, out for two' breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth, can help when you get those tight stress feelings.
I'm sorry you are struggling with this right now.