Syncope and anxiety?

I have a question. Many discussions say that you don't actually pass out when you are anxious, that it is just a feeling that will pass. I have symptoms no doctor can explain, they say that it is my anxiety that is causing it. Nothing in particular starts these feelings in the order mentioned: Pounding heartbeat in head, flushed hot feeling face, sweaty palms, then a rush feeling, nausea with vomiting, feeling like life is being sucked out of me, then things go black... I wake up on the floor, shaking, cold sweats, with a racing heart and feeling very frightened. Sometimes I never pass out as I make it to somewhere to lie down, while I panic more while waiting for the symptoms to pass. I have been diagnosed with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in 1996 and have taken an SSRI and benzodiazapine and been in therapy since then. I have had tests done on my heart (I have Arrhythmia problems that can't be explained though I was put on a calcium channel blocker), and numerous other unexplained ailments that I have seen a number a specialists for and many tests later. For the most part I have learned to accept and adapt, knowing nothing of significance is found. BUT The most baffling is the syncope and I am becoming unable to cope with it... My doctors have seen nothing like this and have just added it as another symptom of anxiety. Nowhere have I seen literature on people actually passing out, or vomiting during anxiety or panic. Has anyone else experienced these oddities? or have heard of or know where there is more information on this? I fear passing out and vomiting. The more I fear the worse it gets. I just started doing the course on here and it does say that the feeling of passing out and nausea are real, yes, but not actually having it happen!

what is then cause of your metal disorders?

Hi all and thanks for sharing your experiences. I don't feel so alone in trying to understand why... I didn't have the best childhood either. A very cold, aloof Dad who was never around...and if he was he was rather abusive, to my Mom, Me and my Sister. I was a tough kid, but an anxious one. I remember my first day of school, I screamed and screamed for hours, they ended up sending me home, this went on thorough out my Kindergarten days. I had sense a fear of the unknown as a child. I would not be separated from my Mom. She was my caregiver and my protector! When I was 14 I spent the whole year with an odd sleep disturbance. If that is what you could call it... As I would have to go to bed with a bucket because of such severe nausea w/vomiting. It would hit me just as soon as I tried to lay down. I lost so much weight, the doctor thought it was bulimia. They did all sorts of tests and couldn't find anything wrong with my GI tract. But I never thought I was over weight, all I wanted was to just sleep and not spend my nights doing this. I particularly remember shaking uncontrollably. It got so bad that I was afraid of my bed and needed to try to sleep in a different place (sofa and etc.) each night just to try to ease the fear. Just as soon daylight hit it would all stop! I had a lot of social anxiety at school. I had trouble speaking in front of the class and I had a fear of being around people. I had only a few select friends at school. Even though I was told that I was a highly likable person. I chose to keep to myself. As a young adult (16-29), I would rather be around people, but not part of what they are doing. I guess I could say, I disliked being alone, but I didn't want people becoming too close... But needless to say my young adult years were my best years of my life when it came to anxiety. Then I was married and then came my daughter at 29. Pregnancy was rough, I discovered new things about my body that frightened me. And shortly after her birth I had major surgery that changed my life forever. I woke up from surgery with a very high heart rate and they told me they almost lost me, due to an allergy to an anesthetic. I stayed in the hospital for a month, I was so sick and I was so afraid. While I was there I had my first panic attacks so they say. I was diagnosed at 32 as having PSTD and DID due to abuse. I have since worked through the issues and no longer suffer with dissociation. But the panic attacks continue on... I am now 41. My daughter also suffers from panic attacks. She is also autistic. My daughter had her first panic attack, just after she woke up from a major 5 hour surgery in which they almost lost her. Then she was 10 years old then. My daughter has never seen abuse. Could this have just been a coincidence? Genetics? I guess I will never know...

Syncope and anxiety?

Hi sarita and Danielle thanks for posting, I have high blood pressure. My doctor does say that it is quite odd. As Danielle says that maybe it is caused by hyperventilating? The doctor has ruled that out too as she has seen me pass out in her office. No change it breathing, but my blood pressure got higher and so did my pulse until I passed out then blood pressure and pulse went too low. She said normally it is suppose to be the other way around. I guess I am an oddity... oh, well... sigh. [img]http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/209.gif[/img]

No Support

Hi sarita, I too am here to say that I know how difficult some days can be. But I want you to know that not all days will be difficult. I have had my down days if not even weeks or even months and then to have the next weeks and months go on being terrific. I am, currently, working on the cbt program on this sight and I think it is wonderful. I can say I am getting better...even though currently it doesn't seem like it to those around me. I have been six months without a panic attack (a record high for me!), just major anxiety (that I let get out of control), and out of the blue...wham the panic is back, but each time I am better equipped to deal with it. Don't give up... As sue has posted, "keep working on your coping and relaxing techniques and know you are not alone." This is a wonderful group... I was here a couple of years ago, during a very difficult time in my life, and it helped immensely. Let us know how it goes, we are here for you.

Non - stop heart palpitations.

Hello lorlee, You are definitely not alone. In fact this is one of the main symptoms of my anxiety and panic attacks. In fact I don't even know which comes first the palpitations or the anxiety. I may not be thinking about anything when out of the blue there it is skipped beats, added beats, fast beats, or too slow beats. Fluttering and jumping sensations in my chest with flushing of my face. They make me feel so out of breath and worn out. I have been to 5 cardiologists... who find nothing wrong but a sino atrial node that seems to get mixed messages from an overactive nervous system. I have had echo's, EKG's, holter monitor, that month long event monitor, and a stress test. The doctor's see my irregular rhythm. But it does me no harm... it is just a nuisance! They say my sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system wage war against each other. I more I am afraid the worse it gets... And it seems I get into loops of seemingly endless days this way. They told me that there is some treatment where they can go in and zap the cells that get overcharged by my nerves. But just thinking of them messing with my heart can even start an attack... so I won't go there!!! My heart symptoms are worse when I am ill or have my menses. Stomach bug and fevers really set it off. My doctor checks for dehydration and low potassium levels. Most usually she send me to ER for re-hydration through IV, IV potassium and ativan in just a short time things start too smooth out. Two weeks ago I just started getting better from pneumonia. I had it since Jan. 31. I struggled with a fast heart rate in excess of 138 bpm resting and 178 bpm when up. It didn't help that I was lacking for air, coughing continuously, 102 fever, and medications, such as prednisone wiped me out the rest of the way. The on top of it all I am so afraid of having to take new medications... I was anxious knowing I needed to take them and I was anxious thinking about what if I didn't take them. Through both the illness and my anxiety I had become totally worn out. Also, I have become so deconditioned, because I was unable to do anything for so long. Now, I feel fatigued, out of breath and a fast heart rate due to this. All symptoms that are normal, but I am not able to see it this way, so this is really making me more anxious which compounds the problem of me getting back into shape. I would rather much continue to stay in bed or sitting in a chair. Well, enough rambling...I wish you a speedy recovery as I am trying to do the same myself... you are not alone... it will get better as it always has...

vomiting

Hello everyone, I am afraid of this very same thing. I thought I was crazy in some way. I wonder why I am so afraid. When I was 14 I had a bout of vomiting that lasted months. Doctors never could figure out why, it seems that I had every test under the sun done on me. I survived this odd time in my life just fine. Though it wasn't pleasant, there where no harmful lasting effects. So why am I afraid? When I get sick to my stomach I break out in a sweat and feel like passing out. Now If it is a hot day and I break out in a sweat (just because it's hot), I think I am going to vomit and that in itself makes me feel nauseated. To me this seems like a never ending circle...anxious about getting sick makes me sick, and getting sick makes me anxious. Go figure...

This is unreal!

I am the kind of person that mainly panics or has very bad anxiety when I am ill or injured. I just injured my leg the other day (I had surgery in the past to keep it from dislocating), but my dog popped it out again. The doctor says that it is not likely that I will need surgery again, as the joint still seems pretty strong. Anyway the doctor is scheduling an MRI in the next week or so, just for my peace of mind! So here I go again...I am struggling to sleep, I feel neither awake or asleep, as nonsense thoughts roam my head. Then I wake up in the morning to vomiting and fighting to keep my meds. down. I shake violently as my blood pressure soars to the passing out point. So I am afraid to get out of bed. Starting my days seem impossible and once again I am afraid of my shower (who knows why!!!) My fingers and toes go numb from cold sweats. I just generally feel sick all over and I am not hardly in any pain at all, so it is not from that. ...and what does this all have to do with my knee?...I just went through all this in January when I was sick with pneumonia. Why when I am sick or injured? It's like my body and mind get all messed up. Does anyone else suffer with this?...I feel alone...which frightens me more. And being home alone is making it worse... How does one deal with such disturbing feelings in their body? I just stay in bed and then become more anxious that I am wasting my life away. Nothing seems to be helping... My therapist is trying to help me identify that which I am afraid of. All I have to tell her is the feelings in my body!!! :confuse: Another setback and I am fighting it! Sorry for my rambling and thanks all for listening.