Vforvisitor (not verified) on June 13, 2006 - 17:54.
Wow you just described me. Unlike the above poster I don't think you necessarily have an anxiety disorder, just a high awareness of what's going on in your body and the body can do frightening things. I hate that feeling of not being able to distinguish between anxiety sensations and physical symptoms like reactions to medical drugs and treatments. I always worry that I'm dying. If I feel sick or have strange bodily sensations especially if I'm having medical treatments, I can't differentiate. How would I know if that erratic pounding in my chest is my heart struggling to beat or just my heart racing because I'm scared? Thinking about it only makes the anxiety worse, hence making the symptoms worse. Try hyperventilating some time, that's just about as bad as fainting.
Maybe we could be helped some by learning to recognize our own particular symptoms of anxiety so when we notice them we can just go 'oh that's the anxiety' but continue being aware of our other symptoms. I am sort of familiar with my own quirks, but I never tried to compile a list of them or anything. One is feeling light headed and tingly in the limbs, which may be because I breathe faster (hyperventilating) when I'm anxious. Another is noticing my heart skipping beats and then pounding really hard on the next beat. I know that the mind controls the body, even functions we're not conscious of, and I know that there are swimmers who can slow the rate of their heart so that they can dive for longer, but I don't know if I could be making my own heart do that unconsciously.
Hah I just realized I rarely post here and now I'm writing a book in response to an off topic. I assure you I usually I come here for your thoughts on gaming :^).
Re: -1 Wisdom
Wow you just described me. Unlike the above poster I don't think you necessarily have an anxiety disorder, just a high awareness of what's going on in your body and the body can do frightening things. I hate that feeling of not being able to distinguish between anxiety sensations and physical symptoms like reactions to medical drugs and treatments. I always worry that I'm dying. If I feel sick or have strange bodily sensations especially if I'm having medical treatments, I can't differentiate. How would I know if that erratic pounding in my chest is my heart struggling to beat or just my heart racing because I'm scared? Thinking about it only makes the anxiety worse, hence making the symptoms worse. Try hyperventilating some time, that's just about as bad as fainting.
Maybe we could be helped some by learning to recognize our own particular symptoms of anxiety so when we notice them we can just go 'oh that's the anxiety' but continue being aware of our other symptoms. I am sort of familiar with my own quirks, but I never tried to compile a list of them or anything. One is feeling light headed and tingly in the limbs, which may be because I breathe faster (hyperventilating) when I'm anxious. Another is noticing my heart skipping beats and then pounding really hard on the next beat. I know that the mind controls the body, even functions we're not conscious of, and I know that there are swimmers who can slow the rate of their heart so that they can dive for longer, but I don't know if I could be making my own heart do that unconsciously.
Hah I just realized I rarely post here and now I'm writing a book in response to an off topic. I assure you I usually I come here for your thoughts on gaming :^).