Anxiety

[Kimberley]

Hello Everyone,

It has been a very long time since I Posted anything. I have Pots and have been trying to fight it for a long time. I was always a very busy person. A happy person. Now seems like I'm just getting weaker. I'm learing more to listen to my body instead od always pushing through. I do not really talk to anyone about my Pots like friends co workers. I do not like having this condition I felt who wants to hear it? Seams wierd that I look normal and not sick but Oh My Gosh If people only knew. Anyways, My sisters friend was just in the Hospital because she felt dizzy neauseated (sp) and juust passed out. My sister called me to let me know they let her out and told her it was Anxiety, like what you have. I could just scream!!!!! I always thought Anxiety was something you could control. To me Pots is Not. Can someone please clear this up with me? Am I wrong about this? I just started Physical Therapy and Any Doctor who sees me always says "You have a great attitude about this" My Pots that is. Do I think Pots Stinks YES But I really try hard to overcome. It is getting harder and harder. I know someone out there understands this. Just needed to say all this.

Kimberley

[taylortotmom]

Uggh... I think we can all related to the frustration of people not getting it. No, POTS and other dysautonomias are not "anxiety" even though anxiety can make them worse. I'm sorry about your family disregarding your problems. It would be wonderful if our problems could be fixed by anti-anxiety drugs. Many of us do take things for anxiety, many see therapists, and still here we are just as sick as ever. I think many people misunderstand that because ANS sxs are often triggerred by "stressors" (biological and mental) that if we could control our anxiety we could control our ANS. Boy, don't we wish that were true!

Carmen

[KathyP]

Hi Kimberly;

I used to come to this forum everyday when I was first diagnosed with Dysautonomia. Now I come back every now and then to see what is new or to catch up with what is happening with other members.

I have to tell you that I know exactly how you feel. I have severe anxiety attacks...or should say had. That is one of the aspects of my Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia and Vasovagal Depressor Syndrome. You should be very proud of your attitude. It took me a very long time to get back a possitive attitude. I became home bound and my symptoms made me feel like I hit rock bottom.

I can also relate to not sharing any of your symptoms or diagnosis with family, friends or co-workers. I have 2 sisters who are nurses and don't understand dysautonomia AT ALL. They have told me before that it is just all in my head. But it doesn't matter what others think. You have a syndrome that can be extremely debilitating. You should never torture yourself by putting on a happy face and forcing yourself to do things when you feel terrible. Being honest and open will help others understand. Remember when it comes to excuses "your friends don't need it and your enemies won't believe it". What is important is that you and your doctor know what you are going through and so do all of us here.

Please, don't ever give up hope. I thought I was at my end. I was very depressed. I couldn't go anywhere. But now, I learned to over come the anxiety. I know what I can handle and what I can't handle. I know that what I have isn't going to kill me. It is just going to be an obstacle to overcome. And believe me, you will find a way through it. You are on the right track. Keep up the physical therapy. Listen to everything your doctors say. Before you know it you will notice that you will have really good days and then those good days are going to out number the bad ones. I don't feel cured, but right now I feel better than I have in years. Sometimes I am too busy to worry about my symptoms. I read what my body tells me and go from there. You will get there too. This dysautonomia sure is a test of patience and will.

Take care,

KathyP

[Poohbear]

Kimberly,

If you haven't yet had a chance take a look at this post and follow the link to the article written by Dr. Grubb.

http://dinet.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=4919

Maybe you could share this with your family and friends and it would help them understand (it specifically mentions how we are often misdiagnosed as having psychiatric or anxiety disorders).

While there is some overlap in symptoms and you can have both of these disorders at the same time they are clearly very different and to the appropriate trained eye it's not hard to distinguish the two.

Hang in there and know you aren't alone. I think most of us on this site do understand!

[Guest Belinda]

Kimberely...just last night the tech. that drew my blood said wow your taking this illness so well...if he only knew..

Belinda

[Guest tearose]

Kimberly,

Welcome home.

I too come and go as the tide of this syndrome seems to do this to us.

I think a sure sign of relapse is me being here! It means I can't be "out there" and be "bouncy and happy"...and so I reach inward and quietly sit here and reach "e"wardly to you! (hopefully still cheerful but definitely not bouncy!)

Yes, I and others here really do understand.

Someday you'll be able to respond right away to someone like your sister with"oh, I don't have an anxiety problem, I have a Lack of Oxygen to the Brain problem, it is called dysautonomia...I only wish it was just anxiety!"

hang in there sister!

hugs, tearose

[Millie Halp]

Dear Kimberly;

I have to agree with Kathy. I recently was seen by a Autonomic Function Specialist in Denver, Dr. Khingh. (I hope I spelled that right) I have POTS and get really bad rentinal migraines to the point that my vision goes completely black. The lack of oxygen to my brain affects my vision. He told me that when our body senses a problem, no matter what the change in the normal rhythm, our body automatically sends a signal to our brain that something is going wrong. This is where the flight or fight kicks in.

He also told me that panic attacks or anxiety, in more times then not, can take the place of passing out or losing conscienceness. So anxiety is an aspect of POTS and Dysautonomia. Anxiety is a symptom and a well respected doctor will know the difference and not just leave it at being just an anxiety problem. He told me that when someone has anxiety issues it usually means that there is a more complex underlying condition that needs to be addressed. I get anxiety all the time. It is my bodies way of telling me that I am either doing too much or my POTS is starting to act up full force. Accepting my anxiety as a signal is a way for me to accept my POTS and to deal with it better. I know I am not crazy or this is not "all in my head". Those people who criticize don't understand or see the entire picture.

I have tried to explain all of this to my family and they don't understand everything. But, they are extremely supportive and helpful. I guess I am very lucky in that department.

Wow, there are so many different opinions here. It is hard to know which is best, but then again we are all different and so are our conditions. The best thing is to talk to your doctor. Thanks for listening.

Millie

[gdomaracki]

Kimberly~

I'm sorry that your having a rough time right now. The doctors find it so easy to just "blame" unexplainable symptoms on anxiety because the brain is a powerful thing. That is what they did to me about six years ago. They blamed it all on anxiety~ through me on a bunch of pills, which actually helped because one was an SSR. Sometimes used to help treat pot symptoms. After a bad virus in the fall, I went over the edge and am now stuck in this "remission" period.

We understand what you are going through and are here for you.

In my thoughts and prayers.

Nicole