Anxiety and Stress Forum - Anxiety, Nausea When Going Out... Please Help

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Q: Anxiety, Nausea When Going Out... Please Help

asked by: 30kft on November 3rd, 2005

New User

I hope someone here can advise me, because i'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Since I have returned to college and work after the summer holidays, I have begun to experience intense feelings of sickness and lightheadedness when I venture out - usually on the way to college or work. I also find it hard to breathe properly and am scared of embarrassing myself in public and often have to find a place to sit down to try and compose myself.
I suffer from asthma and migraine and this has worsened both.
Thus I do not even want to leave the house and even thinking about it makes me feel ill.

I felt fine all summer. I've only been getting these symptoms since the return of a stressful schedule. I thought that as I got used to it, the episodes would die down in a couple of months.
They started to go away a bit but now they've started up again, just as I thought I was beginning to get better.

I usually feel ok once I have reached wherever I was going.
Just walking along the street is the worst time.

I really need help here, because i'm beginning to skip college and therefore have fallen behind with work because of it all.
I keep crying when i'm alone because I don't think i'm ever going to get over it. I'm beginning to break down.

I'm going to book an appointment with the doctor but i'm scared of actually travelling to the surgery in case I get another one of these episodes on the way.

Please help!

Replies(12)

jurplesman

replied on November 3rd, 2005

Experienced User

Contrary to popular beliefs anxiety attacks are usually caused by an overproduction of adrenaline which is a stress hormone.

This may be due to a hypoglycemic condition that can be treated by going on a hypoglycemic diet.

Please read:

beating anxiety

jurriaan plesman, ba (psych) post grad dip clin nutr
for more articles see
Hypoglycemia.Asn.Au

pinksalter

replied on November 4th, 2005

Experienced User

Hello

Hi there,

it definately sounds like anxiety that you are suffering from and every one of your symptoms can be explained and are perfectly normal. I suffer from the lightheadedness and many other symptoms the best thing to do is ignore them ( easier said than done)!

If you want any more info or advice please feel free to contact me as I would like to help and you shouldn`t have to pay to get that help! Also medicines are not always the best approach to this kind of problem.

Debs

30kft

replied on November 6th, 2005

New User

Jurplesman - thank you, but your link seems to be broken

pinksalter - many thanks! I really need to talk to someone about this who is going through it as well.

Crystal1111

replied on November 7th, 2005

Experienced User

I have been in the same boat you are in. There were times when I would go out with friends and feel so lightheaded, I would have to hang on to something so I wouldn't fall. I've also actually gotten physically sick (vomitted) as a result of anxiety. My anxiety makes me lose my appetite. I'm on medication now and haven't had anything to that extent for years. But, I know exactly what you mean. It's the scariest feeling in the world. I'm here if you need to talk.

canuck78

replied on November 7th, 2005

New User

Hey there,

if you would of asked me a few years ago how to describe my symptoms I would of written it word for word what you just did.

I felt fine for my oh... Some 21 years of my life then all of sudden I felt dizzy, etc... I thought I may have developed vertigo. Anyways the good news is these are (in my opinion) classic anxiety symptoms, you are fine.

However, I recommend you go see your doctor, you'll often see/read that when you do develop these types of symptoms is to first rule out anything else, such thyroid gland problems, anemia, etc.. If anything else it'll give you piece of mind.

I know it might seem tough at times, I remember stopping myself from going out, thinking to myself "what if I pass out?, what if I make a fool of myself?", I know alot of people can relate. If I can suggest anything is don't completely stop doing anything, but don't jump right back in either, take your time, you might want to talk about it to close friends or family, you'll find that what you have is more common than you think. If you're an active individual, there's nothing better than getting some exercise in, even just a good brisk walk.

You can always contact me if needed.

30kft

replied on November 7th, 2005

New User

Thank you for your replies everyone :)
knowing that i'm not alone and that the symptoms signify classic anxiety makes me feel a little better at least.

On the way to work today I began to feel the symptoms coming over me again, but I held my head high thinking "i will get through this" and managed to feel better after a few minutes of positive thinking.

If anyone wants to send me a pm sharing experiences that'd be great!

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. Wish me luck!

jurplesman

replied on November 8th, 2005

Experienced User

Quote:

finally managed to get the link to work. You typed it wrong - the 'h' in 'html' must not be capitalised.

the trouble is that I cannot get to write in bccode in this web site.

Most words that should be capitalized are not, and those that should be 'lower case' are capitalized at this site.

I cannot work out why this is so?

Jurriaan plesman, ba (psych) post grad dip clin nutr

30kft