I feel a lot of anxiety. It is making me feel physically sick and nauseous?

Is this like a nervous breakdown? I am feeling somwhat numb all over. I almost feel like it has been disabling the last several days. Has anybody felt this way before? What should I do?
Answer:
It sounds like you might be having a panic attack. Here are some foolproof ways to reduce your anxiety and rid yourself of panic (these steps rid me of extreme anxiety after 15 years of suffering!).

1. Breathing properly will control your panic. As soon as you notice the signs of anxiety, check your breathing: breathe in slowly through your nose pushing your tummy out (to the count of 5 or so). Breathe out slowly and for a bit longer (to the count of 7 or so) through your mouth. Do not breathe rapidly or shallowly (in the chest area). This will soon restore the balance of oxygen and you will feel a lot better. Once you start practising, it鈥檒l become second nature.

2.Also I would really advise a course of Cognitive Behavioural therapy. CBT is proven to be the most effective thing for panic attacks and anxiety. It takes a bit of work, but if you put the effort in it鈥檚 super effective. You can speak to your doctor about doing a course, or you can take a course for free online at: http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/elear... I recommend you start this tonight.

3. I also do relaxation exercise tapes (progressive muscular relaxation). They really help if you practise often enough. This site has instructions on how to do it without the tapes (and other useful info): http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resource...

I hope this helps and you start feeling better asap. Good luck!

---

Sounds like you may be suffering from depression or something along that lines you should see a doctor to see what is wrong.

---

call a dr. before it gets any worse. good luck.

---

You need to see a doctor real soon. things like this can actually cause a nervous breakdown and worse. can lead to stroke.
I felt that way while going thru my divorce and my doc prescribed me ativan-its for anxiety and not a long term medication. its results are instant and taken when needed.
stress and anxiety can kill you. and depression doesn't have to be caused by anything in particular. if not taken care of, this can lead to other mental disorders.

---

Please read about Generalized Anxiety Disorder at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/general... Anxiety can have many causes, including physical ones. If you speak to a physician about your anxiety, he/she can help you. Counseling, combined with medication, can ease the crippling symptoms you're having. You can also, right now, find a phone book and look up "crisis hotline". Speak to someone about your anxiety and it may help.

---

all over body numbness can be a symptom of hyperventilating which can happen during anxiety. when a person hyperventilates, they take in too much oxygen and it causes them to feel numb/tingly. breathing into a paper bag (never a plastic one) can return your carbon dioxide levels and take away the numbness fairly quickly. the numbness could be due to the anxiety itself. some people feel numb because their emotions are so overwhelming that they sort of "space" out.

however, your symptom could be caused by a whole host of medical problems. many folks have non-convulsive seizures of which they are unaware, or an undiagnosed heart arrthymia. both can create feelings of numbness, disorientation, even anxiety such as you describe.

you should probably talk to your internist about it if it continues to bother you. best to get at the underlying etiology to know how to best treat this symptom.

---

Sounds like you had a panic attack. The challenge is to not let it develop into a full-blown disorder. The way to do this is to convince yourself that the sensations you are feeling are just that - sensations - and that they will not hurt or kill you. Also, DO NOT begin to avoid the situation in which you first experienced your attack. Otherwise you will begin to associate that situation with your panic, and thus begins the avoidance phase that is so characteristic of panic and anxiety disorder.

If you find that you cannot shake the sensations, and they're starting to guide your everyday decisions and living, then you will need to see your doctor for a referral to a mental health specialist. Medication and/or therapy (I recommend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) can give you your life back.

Some calming techniques and natural sedatives that can help you are chamomile tea, valerian root, meditation, prayer, walking (30 mins. a day), warm baths and diet elimination (no caffeine, etc.).

Some people are able to shake the frightening sensations they experience, but others (such as myself) need a little more help. You'll get through this - I know it's scary, but have faith :o)

---

Anxiety can lead to panic attacks. Your body senses fear and protects itself by going into fight or flight mode. Whenever you start to feel this way you need to take several deep breaths to restore oxygen to your body. I would suggest talking with someone about it. If it doesn't go away you should probably see a doctor. Sometimes medication is needed because of a chemical imbalance. Sometimes talking about it is enough to control it. Good luck to you!

---

See anxiety treatments, at http://www.ezy-build.net. (.net.nz/~shaneris) on page 6.

---