Am I having anxiety attacks?
 

Do any of you feel this way too?:

I start watching what I eat, think about it constantly, try to avoid temptation, do well for a few hours, and then WHAMMO, my whole body feels like it's going to jump out of my skin! My heart races and I feel PAIN! I want to curl up into a ball and just lay there moaning because it hurts so bad, mostly in my heart. Of course I end up eating, just to make the pain go away. Healthy food doesn't help, it just screams "diet" to me, and that's what got me feeling so awful in the first place! I HAVE to eat something that I like, want, a lot of it, and if I don't, the pain won't go away. Nothing else works, even waiting it out doesn't help me now.

I'm to the point where I feel intense anxiety type pains just THINKING about watching what I eat. Now I don't even start 'cause I know what lies ahead of me. I tell myself "why would I want to go through THAT again? I'd be crazy to! All that pain, and I just end up gaining more weight in the end!"

Is it really temporary, like others who have lost weight said? That if I just keep going, the pain will lesson and eventually go away? I want to lose weight, so why is my body so against it? Where is the pain coming from?

So many questions, sorry, but I really am confused, and very sad. This is one thing that I just can't get past. If hard work and determination alone were factors of how much weight I could lose, I'd weigh 10 pounds right now!

Heidi
175/175/145 5'4"

Heidi, I am NOT a DR, but I do have an anxiety disorder. I have to take Paxil for it or I have daily and nightly panic attacks. No one should have to live like that. A lot of women use food to calm their anxiety. I know I do. If I were you for your health, weight loss and sanity, I would see a family dr and get on something that is right for you. There are many meds that can help you and ARE affordable. good luck!

Thanks Princess, for responding. My doctor has prescibed me Xanax, but it hasn't helped so far. Just makes me sleepy. I wish it did work, though.

Heidi

Heidi, xanyx actually will make most people gain weight and make you constantly hungry. I used to take it, plus your body becomes addicted to it quickly and throws you into withdrawl. Now that may not be true for everyone, but I have researced benzos quite a bit. If you can i would switch to klonopin, it is still a benzo so it works very well and fast. But I lost weight on it.

ps....klonopin is still inexpensive just like the xanyx. it also stays in your sytem longer than x and will help keep you calm. good luck!

I have Anxiety and do not take meds for it. I am on a "behavioral" program which has lowered my anxiety by 85%!!! But, what you describe reminds me of what I use to do: always worrying about my next "attack." That's all I thought about. Now, I keep myself sooo busy, I don't have time to think about my next attack.

Now, severe stress brings one on..oh, how I hate that. My grandpa died 2 weeks ago and for 2 days, I had anxiety after anxiety attack. I started to go through my genealogy papers and worked on them for almost 2 hours. Ever since, I have been feeling so much better.

But, I do agree with the ladies; go seek some proffesional help. I was on Paxil but I gained weight and it made the panic attacks worse. Now, this doesn't happen to all people who take it. My neice takes it and she's doing well and she's still thin!! :) there's also alot of other meds for this.

I pray you ask for help from your doctor. You'll start to feel better once you get your attacks under control...I PROMISE!!!!!!! ;)

emerald draognfly

Heidi

I'm sorry you're having problems. It definetly sounds like panic attacks to me. I suffered from severe anxiety about a year ago and ended up quitting my job because of it. I would have constant anxiety and worry with a few full out panic attacks a day. My doctor switched me from prozac to Lexapro and klonopin. After a few months I stopped the klonopin which was very hard and I had increased anxiety while stopping.

I went to CBT (cognative behavorial therapy) which helped me immensly! I would highly recommend it.

Xanax and Valium are both short acting and you might want to consider taking something full time like klonopin. But if you can avoid the drugs that would be best! Do you think you could do a type of meditation? Or how about exercise? That seems to be a great stress reliever for me. Although just getting my heart rate up use to cause me some anxiety because it felt somewhat like a panic attack was coming on.

Just be aware that you aren't alone! Take care of yourself and get some treatment! With time you can overcome this! I'm not back 100% yet but I am so much better then I was a year ago this time.