Another question...

Hi everyone

My panic has always been based on health anxiety and the feeling that I've got (or I'm developing) some kind of life-threatening illness.

...but, some days I can think about heart attacks and brain tumours and not bat an eyelid, other days I only have to see pictures of a hospital on tv and I'm panicking. Does anybody else find that it comes and goes like this?

Why do you think the same thoughts affect us differently on different days?

Chris x

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the post you left me, that helped. I too find that i can think of something in a totally different way from another day. I keep saying this to everyone but i have done a lot of reading about this (in my obsessive hours when i think i am dying) and found a web article from a psychologist who said that if you are thinking of having a heart attack, it is absolutely certain that you are not, same with a brain tumor. When you are having a heart attack you cannot think of anything but the pain in your chest and your mind releases a chemical that makes you go grey and your lips blueish. At no point, however, before the even will you think "today is the day". A brain tumor, depending on where it is, will cause you to lose your short or long term memory, make you incontinent and you will lose motor function. Again, if this happens, you aren't really aware of it happening and you wouldn't worry about it. As such, if you are worrying about having a tumor, then it isn't there. I have a friend with a brain tumor and the symptoms i have described are exactly what she has. I will try and find the article again and post it.

hmmm well i always think tht im gonna stop breathing and tht my throat is just gonna close up and ill drop dead! i wonder if tht same thing u talk about applies to this to!?!

Chris, I know what you are talking about and the two extremes I can think of are
1/ worst case when Im hung over and/or feeling tired because of lack of sleep and
2/ the buzz after having a/ eaten fairly healthily for a while and b/ straight after a workout and hot shower. theres nothing like it

I guess what im saying is for me it is lifestyle related to an extent

Im a sucker for punishment coz I watch holby city every Tuesday but its just like you say, sometimes it doesnt bother you at all and yet at other times it completely sets me off.

I wish I knew what the reason was

Hi Mark

I do think lifestyle has a big effect. Like you say, hangovers are a nightmare.

I actually find watching holby city quite comforting. I think it's because you see people vomiting blood and collapsing all over the place and it makes me realise that my problems are just in my mind.

Chris

Hi Danny,

I also did a bit of reading on the throat closing up and my fainting. The article says that this is impossible because your heart is beating faster than normal, therefore putting more oxygen in your blood (oxygen, as we all know, keeps you up and about). Additionally, the brain releases adrenaline which will certainly keep you awake. People only faint once their panic attack is over and their heart resumes its normal beating. This causes a drop in blood pressure, which causes you to faint. Generally, the article said that whatever your fear is during a panic attack, it is the least likely thing to be happening to you.

Hope this helps.

Mark

Hi Mark

The question of fainting is a strange one.

I agree that the evidence would suggest that is very unlikely because of the increase in blood pressure linked to anxiety. But there is also a theory that in times of panic, blood is diverted away from organs and into the limbs. This would explain the feelings of light-headedness that you encounter. It also fits logically because the limbs are needed for fight/flight and there is no need for the mind to think about anything other than getting out of danger.

What do you think?

Chris

I would agree Chris. I think your explanation makes sense. I have never lost conciousness during an attack.

With regards to my post yesterday about sex. This problem is now overcome. I am very happy with this and am even happier to report that your advice on thinking "I am fine" is working like a treat, no attacks in the last two days!

Hi Mark

That's excellent news. Keep it up :)

Chris

Hi guys,
interesting theory on the panic causing blood to divert to the limbs. Ive heard of that before and I can tell you that along with the constant tension in my muscles during anxiety, the light headedness comes with it. I can only describe it as almost a semi drunk feeling combined with blowing up balloons too fast!!!

Its reassuring to know that its not only me

PS its holby tonight :)

Hi Markster

You're a glutton for punishment. It's straight to bed after East Enders for you me laddo.

I have in front of me some lecture notes from a respected psychiatrist that state clearly that the light-headedness is caused by lack of oxygen to the brain because of the blood diversion. But what does he know about physiology, he's a psychiatrist!

I also have plenty of notes that say that the light-headedness is caused by a temporary rise in blood pressure causing too much oxygen/not enough co2 in the brain - a theory supported by the paper bag cure for hyperventilation.

Who do you believe?

The fascinating scenario to me is when people have a phobia of blood. When they see blood, their brain actually causes their blood-pressure to drop, protecting them from loss of blood themselves and making them prone to fainting.

Chris

check out the brains on Chris. You're full of interesting snippets aren't you.

Nah I think ill watch Holby tonight. Patsy Kensit is in it (granted the looks have gone a little over the years but I still would) and she'll distract me from the gore.

I dunno who i believe on the light headed debate, maybe its too much o2 / high blood pressure moment but then sometimes im most light headed when I actually feel relatively relaxed. It's a mystery...or maybe there is another cause other than the anxiety. there I go again thinking the worst. Still its annual well mans clinic check up time next week so that'll put me at rest (or not) for a bit

If my doctor could prescribe me Patsy Kensit, I'm sure anxiety would be the last thing on my mind. I'd show her the best three minutes of her life :)

hi guys i understand now the fainting thing but i dont understand the actuall feeling in my throat its a constant feeling so its not what i would call an "attack" three minutes eh thats a long time in my book :D

Hi Danny_Boy

One of the things that intrigues me is the fact that so-called 'symptoms' of anxiety persist even when the anxiety has declined. I don't know if it's because we perpetuate the symptoms out of habit.

I get a lot of muscular twitches (tics) in my arms, legs, back, etc and these continue even on days when I am relatively anxiety-free.

Chris

hi chris

yeah its odd i have been relaxed all day and then all of a sudden my throat "closes" and then im worrying and breathing very deeply its strange i hate it!! i hope i can shift the thought soon!

Most of the effects we suffer as a result of anxiety can be logically traced back to a function of our unconscious mind and its efforts to protect us (ie diversion of blood to limbs, release of adrenalin, etc) but I have no idea why your throat might feel constricted - maybe it's an effect of adrenalin?

Chris

yeah maybe it is! but normally u can feel adrenilin but i cant but thats maybe because i have got so use to it! i have been given propronolol to take but im not sure what good beta blockers are gonna be for my situation! do u know anything about them? danny

Hi Danny

As I understand it, adrenalin constricts the blood vessels and causes the heart to beat faster and stronger in order to increase blood pressure and ensure that enough blood reaches the extremities and supplies the major muscle groups with oxygen.

Beta blockers widen the blood vessels and slow the heart by simply blocking the effects of adrenalin on the beta-receptors (also called adreno-receptors) of the heart. There are also beta blockers that act on beta2-receptors in the lungs.

Don't know if this helps

Chris