Anxiety and Stress Forum - Help

Mental Health > Anxiety and Stress Forum > Help - Please (Page 1)

Learn how doctors clinically diagnose one of twelve kinds of anxiety disorders...and which doctors you should see for an anxiety diagnosis....

Q: Help - Please

asked by: Jamesab on July 9th, 2005

Experienced User

Hi, I am new to this and this is my first post.

Ok, I am 15 years old (today :d ) and have been quite ill for 6 months now and things are not getting any better here are the symptoms that I have been having( in order)

dizziness << quite severe now, and this is how it all started.

Headaches << very severe headaches, feels like my brain is going to
explode inside my head. I also have a nasty pain at the
same place all of the time (top left-back). I can also feel
pulse throbbing in my head which isn't very pleasant. The
headaches started about a week after dizziness.

Chest pain << the feeling in my chest can very, sometimes it is like a
tighness in my chest, a stabbing pain, or just feeling very
uncomfortable.

Depersonalisation << this is quite horrible, it feels like my mind is
detached from my body, or that my mind is inside
somebody else's body. Kinda like i'm unconscious,
unaware of my surroundings.

Numbness << I have this in my face, arms and legs. It feels like I have
never had any arms or legs, and am just getting used to
them, it feels really weird. Also I feel as though I can just
put my hand straight through my face.

The dizziness first started getting up quickly to go to school and it just hit me like a brick, as I am growing, I quite often feel dizzy when I get up quickly, but never this bad... I got on the bus to go to school after it subsided for about 20mins but then had to get back off and walk back home after another attack. I went up to the hospital that afternoon and there they did all of the checks, looked in my ears, and I also had a blood test to check for anemia. My blood test was perfectly normal and I was discharged at about 12:00pm.

After about 1 week I started to experience severe headaches, I mean severe as in my brain felt like it was going to explode inside my head. I then went to see my gp with the headaches and was again admitted to hospital immediatley. I was given a ct scan and normal neurological tests but both showed up again, perfectly normal. After spending 4 days in hospital, I was again disgharged to find that more symptoms were to come. This was when the chest pain started, it first started with the uncomfortable feeling in my chest that felt like my heart was going to stop. I did not go to the gp though, because my parents assured me that I was safe, and that I was not going to die.

6 months on from the scan, here I am with all of these symptoms and just do not know what to do. I have had several visits since to my gp, and rang nhs direct 2 times. They both turned to anxiety and mild panick attacks, because when I have these uncontrollabe attackes, I feel that I need to get out, and call an ambulance, or get medical help immidiatley.
This is annoying me significantly now because it interferes with normal life, I cannot play football anymore, like I used to, I just have to sit in the medical room at shool. Sometimes I cannot even go into lessons at school because I have these mild panick attacks. I have recently been referred to a paediatricion and also got a date for cams (counselling) on the 29th july. I have thoughts all of the time about tumours, aneurysms, and heart failure, thinking that I have got them. I am convinced that I have got a physical illness and cannot be re-assured enough that I havent.

I hope that I have explained everything enough for you to help me and your suggestions to what it might be (hopefully anxiety!) will be much appreciated. Hope you can be bothered to read all of it hehe, (apologies for the length, thats how much I have got wrong with me!) I would give anything right now to resume my normal life.

Thankyou all in advance,
james

Replies(20)

lynn74

replied on July 9th, 2005

Experienced User

Hi
it could be all from anxiety, panic attacks and derealisation are well described on the net and usually come from anxiety, read up on panic disorder and agoraphobia on the net
an antidepressant med may help a lot but at 15 you may be too young for one
any valium type med, taken as needed will help a lot but some docs are unreasonably against them, wrongly thinking that everyone beconmes addicted, anxiety sufferers seldom do
when anxious or panicky try to relax, dont tense up or fight and breathe deep and slow, you must avoid rapid shallow panting, a valium type med, disolved under the tongue, helps a lot
the fight or flight respons ( details on the net) reduces bloodflow to the body extremeties causing numbness or pins and needles
the chest pain can be from stress or perhaps heartburn, a type of indigestion, also look up gerd on the net, an anxiety related digestive problem

you need to learn new ways of relaxing and calming yourself, go for long walks and exercise more, but exercise in a relaxed way without forcing things
the panic attacks, although unpleasant, wont hurt you so dont fear them, you can tell people you are having a migrane :wink:

Hypochondriac1028

replied on July 9th, 2005

Experienced User

Sounds like maybe your a hypochondriac like me. Look up hypochondriasis on the net. Bet you fit alllll the symptoms

asdfjkl

replied on July 11th, 2005

New User

Buddy.. Ditto..

Read my post up near the top and see if you fit the same symptoms as me

lynn74

replied on July 11th, 2005

Experienced User

I dont think james is a hypochondraic, he has too much stress and anxiety, there is a difference

Hypochondriac1028

replied on July 11th, 2005

Experienced User

Nah he could be. If hes convinced he has a health problem and has been checked a bunch of times and hes fine then he porbably is a hypochondriac

Hypochondriac1028

replied on July 11th, 2005

Experienced User

Nah he could be. If hes convinced he has a health problem and has been checked a bunch of times and hes fine then he porbably is a hypochondriac

Jamesab

replied on July 11th, 2005

Experienced User

Man I could swear im having an aneurysm right now. I have a really bad headache and its throbbing, I have a pain also on the top left - back of my head. It is killing me, I am gagging to call an ambulance but I aint gonna. Ouuucccchhhhhhh!!!!!! :x

its really annoying me now, I need something to take my anger out on...

James

delancey

replied on July 15th, 2005

Experienced User

You sound like you're in the a similar situation to me...
I just wish I could go back to how I was and be able to do things I used to
i just feel weak, with constant anxiety, chest pains and palpitations.
I am convinced all the stress has given me heart disease or something similar.
Got an appointment booked with a paediatrition, but I can't wait till then...
I feel constantly as if i'm going to die any second.

san54

replied on July 15th, 2005

Experienced User

Please Help

Sometimes your mind can play tricks on your body and you can make yourself sick. Wait to see what the therapist says. If the tests show nothing that also does not mean there isn't something wrong. I suggest you ask for a child advocate that will speak for you if you are not satisfied with what they are saying. Hang in there and think good thoughts. Your mind and body are still growing.

san54

replied on July 15th, 2005

Experienced User

Please Help

Jamesab

replied on July 16th, 2005

Experienced User

Thanks for the reply guys, I am waiting to see a peaditricion some time this month, the best in this country might I add, but it seems so far away... :(

james

Jamesab

replied on July 19th, 2005

Experienced User

I want to go back up the hospital for my headaches but my mum or dad wont take me. I am thinking of calling a taxi and using some of my birthday money to pay for it without my parents knowing. I feel like they dont care anymore, since I have 3 brothers and a younger sister who is a spoilt brat. What could it mean to have headahes 24/7??

James

Epeira

replied on October 6th, 2005

New User

i had almost every one of these symptoms and sometimes felt like you where something was definitely wrong- it couldn't possibly be just anxiety. But it really is, and thinking about it constantly like you are doesn't help them go away.

The only thing I still have is indigestion, which 3 of my family members actually have gerd so i'm going to see the doctor tomorrow to see if he thinks that it's gerd or just anxiety, since I never had gerd symptoms before my anxiety attacks. But i've had a physical and all my blood tests were fine, my other symptoms come and go.

You just have to tell yourself you're fine. Actually hearing it from my doctor helped, but it also helped talking to my mom. Don't hold it in, but just know these symptoms won't hurt you. You're ok!

Jamesab

replied on October 8th, 2005

Experienced User

Thanks. So you had the headaches and everything? How long did they last for? Mine have now turned into pulsating in my head I dont get headaches any more, and this pulsating is the worst thing at the moment. I have been told loads of times that its just anxiety and dont know why I cant beleive it. Anyways, I am in my final year at high school now and not gonna let this bother me. I went to see the doctor yesterday and she gave me a sedative called diazepam. My mum is against this because she thinks that it will turn me into a zombie and I will start to rely on it. Should I take it or not? (its only 2mg btw)

thanks, james

Epeira

replied on October 8th, 2005

New User

If your doctor gave it to you, then it's fine. Only take the dosage he told you. I have xanax and I usually only need it in the morning when I wake up when my anxiety is at it's high. You just have to know the reason why you're so nervous and tell yourself that it's nothing and you'll be fine. Once you realize that and you feel better again, you shouldn't need the medication.
Yeah I had headaches, though my biggest thing is my stomache and indigestion. I actually just went to see my doctor too and he gave me an acid reducer to calm my stomache for the day so I can eat normally. It's all anxiety. With the symptoms being so real it's hard to not get over it, but just don't dwell on them.

Good luck!

Jamesab

replied on October 8th, 2005

Experienced User

I asked my doctor for xanax yesterday but was reluctant to prescribe it to me as I am only 15. She gave me diazepam instead but I dont know whether I should take this because im afraid of the side and withdrawal effects of them. I would much prefer to battle my anxiety naturally, using such things as acupuncture, relaxation and breathing techniques etc. To be honest I dont what is causing my anxiety and I know it has nothing to do wih school, (at least I dont think :roll: ). It just seemed to appear out of the blue, which is why I think it is something physical. What I do know though is that when I was first admitted to hospital and my blood test results came back fine the dr told me that it could be a viral infection (that was when I only had dizziness, no headaches) so I wonder if the anxiety could be a result of this??

Thanks! James

oceanblues

replied on October 18th, 2005

New User

Re: Help - Please

jamesab wrote:

hi, I am new to this and this is my first post.

Ok, I am 15 years old (today :d ) and have been quite ill for 6 months now and things are not getting any better here are the symptoms that I have been having( in order)

dizziness << quite severe now, and this is how it all started.

Headaches << very severe headaches, feels like my brain is going to
explode inside my head. I also have a nasty pain at the
same place all of the time (top left-back). I can also feel
pulse throbbing in my head which isn't very pleasant. The
headaches started about a week after dizziness.

Chest pain << the feeling in my chest can very, sometimes it is like a
tighness in my chest, a stabbing pain, or just feeling very
uncomfortable.

Depersonalisation << this is quite horrible, it feels like my mind is
detached from my body, or that my mind is inside
somebody else's body. Kinda like i'm unconscious,
unaware of my surroundings.

Numbness << I have this in my face, arms and legs. It feels like I have
never had any arms or legs, and am just getting used to
them, it feels really weird. Also I feel as though I can just
put my hand straight through my face.

The dizziness first started getting up quickly to go to school and it just hit me like a brick, as I am growing, I quite often feel dizzy when I get up quickly, but never this bad... I got on the bus to go to school after it subsided for about 20mins but then had to get back off and walk back home after another attack. I went up to the hospital that afternoon and there they did all of the checks, looked in my ears, and I also had a blood test to check for anemia. My blood test was perfectly normal and I was discharged at about 12:00pm.

After about 1 week I started to experience severe headaches, I mean severe as in my brain felt like it was going to explode inside my head. I then went to see my gp with the headaches and was again admitted to hospital immediatley. I was given a ct scan and normal neurological tests but both showed up again, perfectly normal. After spending 4 days in hospital, I was again disgharged to find that more symptoms were to come. This was when the chest pain started, it first started with the uncomfortable feeling in my chest that felt like my heart was going to stop. I did not go to the gp though, because my parents assured me that I was safe, and that I was not going to die.

6 months on from the scan, here I am with all of these symptoms and just do not know what to do. I have had several visits since to my gp, and rang nhs direct 2 times. They both turned to anxiety and mild panick attacks, because when I have these uncontrollabe attackes, I feel that I need to get out, and call an ambulance, or get medical help immidiatley.

This is annoying me significantly now because it interferes with normal life, I cannot play football anymore, like I used to, I just have to sit in the medical room at shool. Sometimes I cannot even go into lessons at school because I have these mild panick attacks. I have recently been referred to a paediatricion and also got a date for cams (counselling) on the 29th july. I have thoughts all of the time about tumours, aneurysms, and heart failure, thinking that I have got them. I am convinced that I have got a physical illness and cannot be re-assured enough that I havent.

I hope that I have explained everything enough for you to help me and your suggestions to what it might be (hopefully anxiety!) will be much appreciated. Hope you can be bothered to read all of it hehe, (apologies for the length, thats how much I have got wrong with me!) I would give anything right now to resume my normal life.

Thankyou all in advance,

james

james, if you are 15 and went to all the trouble of writing this long letter, then something is wrong. Please keep asking for help. I know you must be very scared.

pinksalter

replied on October 19th, 2005

Experienced User

Hi james

i thought i`d send you a message and hopefully reassure you! I have had every one of your symptoms and more. They are all normal and can be explained its just your body reacting to a situation that it finds fearful but there is nothing really to fear.

When I was your age I also suffered severe headaches which kept me off school and I felt like my head was going to explode. It turned out it was just puberty taking its toll and it went away eventually.

All the symptoms you seem to have are classic of anxiety, the symptoms are so scary at one point my whole face was drooping to the one side, I had severe headaches and like yourself I went back and forth to hospital in an ambulance but still there was no answers. I paid for a neurologist to do tests, I had a mri scan of my neck and brain, several blood tests, a lumbar puncture, and muscle and nerve tests. All came back clear so please don`t worry yourself that you have a serious illness. It is really hard but anyone who has had anxiety will tell you they have diagnosed themselves with brain tumors, strokes, heart attacks! Of course it`s nothing of the sort. It feels horrible but can`t hurt you. If a doctor tells you its panic attacks believe him.

I have some information that you may find useful so please send me your e-mail or send an instant message and I will try to help you. If you can get through it without any sort of medication all the better but even the strongest person needs some help sometimes.

Hope to hear from you soon

debs

bmunoz

replied on November 15th, 2005

New User

Re: Help - Please

Hello james,
this is a very personal question but is up to you if you want to answer me or not, but, have you ever done any drugs like mariguana or other street drugs.
The reason why I ask is because sometimes if you do any kind of street drugs will cause you to start having anxiety and alot of stress. But if thats not the reason you should go see a specialist.

Good luck

brenda

12 >>

Learn About Us

Get Help

Join In

Do More

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health
information:
verify here.

The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written by any author on this site. No health questions and information on eHealth Forum is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor. Posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author, and not the administrators, moderators, or editorial staff and hence eHealth Forum and its principals will accept no liabilities or responsibilities for the statements made. Schizophrenia health sitemap.
This page was last updated on January 1, 2009.
© 2008 eForums, Inc