Anxiety during withdrawal - physical, mental or both?

[[Be...]]

Hi,

 

My anxiety has always manifested itself in my body before benzos, during, and in withdrawal. My gut specifically, hang wringing, wobbly legs, shaky hands. I've never experienced it related to worry thoughts. When it gets severe I'm a crying mess. It can even be triggered by a fast heart rate.

 

So I'm curious when people say something like, their symptoms are all physical except for anxiety. Am I that different? Am I just calling this anxiety but it's something else? Curious.

 

Bennie

[[me...]]

Hi,  severe anxiety has many physical symptoms, but for many of us it's mostly "mental" because of the dire, catastrophic thoughts that go with it.  Thoughts that are believed such as "I'm dying," "I'm going crazy," or, "I must have some dreadful disease..." and so on.  If you don't have these thoughts, you are in a sense "lucky."  Also, if you didn't have the physical anxiety symptoms before withdrawal, they'll almost certainly go away as you heal.

 

[[Be...]]

I did have the physical anxiety symptoms before benzos, during and now in withdrawal. Benzos took it away.

 

....I know this is a stated anxiety issue and belongs in this area, but I'm sad it had to be moved because the anxiety thread is so slow.

 

The question really is, are these symptoms really anxiety if they don't come with a mental component until the physical symptoms are severe. Only then am I thinking, oh my god, I wish this would stop. The fear is not irrational or blown out of proportion. It's body-based.

[[be...]]

I did have the physical anxiety symptoms before benzos, during and now in withdrawal. Benzos took it away.

 

....I know this is a stated anxiety issue and belongs in this area, but I'm sad it had to be moved because the anxiety thread is so slow.

 

The question really is, are these symptoms really anxiety if they don't come with a mental component until the physical symptoms are severe. Only then am I thinking, oh my god, I wish this would stop. The fear is not irrational or blown out of proportion. It's body-based.

 

Anxiety is considered to be a mental illness, and in fact, it is. But I think the mental symptoms turn into psychical ones as well.

[[me...]]

I did have the physical anxiety symptoms before benzos, during and now in withdrawal. Benzos took it away.

 

....I know this is a stated anxiety issue and belongs in this area, but I'm sad it had to be moved because the anxiety thread is so slow.

 

The question really is, are these symptoms really anxiety if they don't come with a mental component until the physical symptoms are severe. Only then am I thinking, oh my god, I wish this would stop. The fear is not irrational or blown out of proportion. It's body-based.

 

Hi Benniejets,

 

Just a clarification--you originally posted this in "General Taper Plans," and I moved it here.  This is the "Withdrawal Support (during your taper) Board," it's one of our two busiest support boards.  This thread was never on the "Anxiety" board as far as I know...

 

[[Be...]]

Sorry. I see now where this post is. 

 

I'm trying to decipher if I am misidentifying body sensations for anxiety. It's the closest words I can find. Yet most friends and others here seem to have anxiety manifest as mental issues and worries. They don't understand that I don't get the mental anguish they equate with anxiety. When the sensations are at their worst my mind is not a runaway freight train. I don't fear the worst, I just feel so physically bad I wish I could disappear. I am looking at possible underlying issues such as known PTSD and hormones.

[[Tr...]]

Bennie,

 

My anxiety manifest from mental anguish, and then I get the same physical symptoms that you referred to.  The physical symptoms in turn trigger more anxiety for me, and the cycle continues. 

 

Try

[[Je...]]

I get mostly mental pain, anguish, anxiety, restlessness, feeling like I am going crazy.

 

I do get some physical sx like fatigue and leg pain.

[[Be...]]

All,

 

Thanks for letting me know how it goes.

Sorry we are all suffering in these really awful ways.

 

Wishing everyone windows and healing. 

 

Bennie

[[la...]]

I have more physical that I blame on anxiety, its which came first chicken or the egg?

 

All I know is I feel like crap all the time everyday and its really exhausting to live like this

[[wi...]]

Bennie,

 

Pre-benzos and during acute withdrawal, I experienced anxiety as primarily mental symptoms associated with worry or concern about something. Post acute withdrawal and now approx., 1 year post any benzo, I experience anxiety as primarily physical symptoms. It is more like nervousness or a jittery feeling as if I have had too much caffeine. It does not seem to be associated with any particular thoughts or worries. I find this really interesting! I don't know what accounts for this difference. For the most part, I find the nervous, jittery feeling to be easier to cope with. It is, however, really bothersome at night and contributes to difficulty returning to sleep when I wake up frequently. I hope this answers your question and that you find some relief from your symptoms soon.

 

WW

 

 

[[Cl...]]

Bennie,

 

My anxiety manifest from mental anguish, and then I get the same physical symptoms that you referred to.  The physical symptoms in turn trigger more anxiety for me, and the cycle continues. 

 

Try

 

Try described exactly my anxiety, after reading all these posts in this thread I think anxiety is different depending on the drug we are tapering from. I Did have anxiety before taking Rivotril, but nothing like this. 

[[gr...]]

My anxiety has always been very physical, coming from thoughts or my environment. Chest. sternum pain, arms in wringing pain and tightness, shoulders tight, legs every morning like RLS only x 1000. Now with the CNS almost having no defense...its just unbearable. I wish i had my old anxiety back and never took a pill.

[[Be...]]

Bennie,

 

Pre-benzos and during acute withdrawal, I experienced anxiety as primarily mental symptoms associated with worry or concern about something. Post acute withdrawal and now approx., 1 year post any benzo, I experience anxiety as primarily physical symptoms. It is more like nervousness or a jittery feeling as if I have had too much caffeine. It does not seem to be associated with any particular thoughts or worries. I find this really interesting! I don't know what accounts for this difference. For the most part, I find the nervous, jittery feeling to be easier to cope with. It is, however, really bothersome at night and contributes to difficulty returning to sleep when I wake up frequently. I hope this answers your question and that you find some relief from your symptoms soon.

 

WW

 

WW, I appreciate knowing this.

 

Everyone, I'm thinking out loud here, for the sake of trying to gather my thoughts when I see doctors this week. I'm guessing the anxiety is possibly rooted in hormonal shifts. Maybe my blood test results will reveal something. They were quite extensive. I guess I may be lucky thus far to deal mostly with physical anxiety symptoms. Lucky yes, lucky no.

 

Jerryk, groovejuice, I feel for you. I really do. We all suffer too damn much.

 

Keep the faith,

Bennie

 

 

[[Ao...]]

Hi Bennie

 

For me, before benzos my anxiety manifested in mental symptoms. I worried a lot , couldnt sleep, racing thoughts etc.

Now , my anxiety is mostly physical pain with some mental symptoms thrown in . I honestly don't know which is worse but having both mental and physical symptoms scares the hell out of me. I never had an issue with my physical health but now...... ever pain or ache sends me into overdrive.  :'(

It is frightening .

I do hope you get good results on your blood tests .