This past week has been trying for me, both physically and mentally. I have been having anxiety attacks, or small panic attacks really. I will get hot all over and my limbs will feel tingly, my chest starts to hurt and my throat seems to get tighter. I can't explain it and I don't know why it has to happen!
I got so freaked out Sunday at church I had to hide out in the bathroom for most the service, that's not embarrassing or anything. It will last for about an hour and then I'm extremely exhausted afterward. Monday morning I got up early and went to the doctor's office to see if they could shed some light on what was going on. My blood pressure was normal, and she drew some blood to check my liver/kidney function and my thyroid just to make sure. She did prescribe some low dose anxiety medicine that I take as needed, as I insisted I didn't want to take something everyday. There is no need to get hooked on something like that.
Well she called me today and said my blood tests came back normal and that I am perfectly healthy. That didn't help me much because now I"m wondering to myself, "Is it all in my head? Am I going crazy?" I sure felt like I was, and even today at one point I felt the urge to just break down! I don't know why and I can't explain it!
So here is my diagnose, if I can do that.... I have a wisdom tooth that is bothering me that really needs to come out but I haven't had to time to get it done, (and no, that is not just an excuse.) It may or may not be putting pressure on certain nerves in my jaw making my neck and jaw ache. (I have a bad habit of wondering what's wrong with me every time I have a twinge or little pain.) That's one possibility and I know the only way to fix it is to have the silly tooth removed (My worse nightmare)
Another possibility is that my.. (Please, I'm being very open here, if you don't want to read it then don't) My birth control pills are messing me up. I've been on them for a little over a year now and thinking back I have felt some of the side effects of it but I never put two and two together until earlier today.
So my solutions for my anxiety attacks? Here it goes; I don't really know if I want to change birth control pills, and the other options of contraceptives I don't necessarily agree with. I have been considering natural means of birth control, mainly because it would be healthier for me. And besides, if practicing natural b/c fails, its not that big of a deal ;)
I don't think I'm very healthy, (I'm going to tattle on myself) I try and only have one soda a day and I don't drink enough water. I"m going to start having three sodas a week, then eventually down to one a week. (I don't believe in quitting cold turkey because I've tried that and it makes the craving worse, and I like to reward myself sometimes) I do exercise but apparently two days of crossfit a week isn't enough, so I guess I'll start up walking/running again. That always seemed to make me feel better. I have also started doing some at home yoga exercises until I can find a yoga class to go too. I've also considered acupuncture, since that always helped me when I was younger.
So there it is, the changes I've made in the last couple of days. This has been hard on me guys, more than it probably should have but that's just how I'm wired I guess. Thanks to lots of support and the Good Lord by my side, I've been able to overcome it most of the way.
Ya'll have a good night, and sorry for the TMI!
My first thought upon reading this (before I got to the b/c part) was that it's your hormones! You might try visiting a chiropractor. Mine helped me out tremendously with my mood swings. I'd never really dealt with anxiety until after I had my 3rd baby and it was tornado season. I don't wish those feelings on anyone. Pinched nerves cause a lot of issues!
ReplyDeleteWe use Natural Family Planning methods and as long as you follow the rules (ahem) it works (says the girl with 3 kids four and under haha). No, really it does work! You just have to be very steadfast. If you're not done having kids, it's really no big deal, though. :P
Ask Jen if she has a copy of the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It's a great resource for NFP and fertility awareness methods!
Sorry to hear you have been struggling. Rely on God and I hope it gets all worked out.
ReplyDeleteI say hormones too. That happened to me when I was pregnant and post partum. Anxiety sucks! Now I will get it sometimes when I am on my period. Crazy hormones! Definitely never happened to me before having Hayes. I would try going off the birth control if I was you. And really what's the worst that could happen? Haha
ReplyDeleteThose teeth can make you sick. I kept a low grade infection until I had mine out. You need to do that.
ReplyDeleteHormones....they can cause a lot of problems. And B/C pills make a lot of people have problems. They won't tell you that but too many women have experienced side effects. For there to not be some problems there.
Chiropractors are wonderful...they can't cure everything but they can help a lot as you know. And a good massage can do wonders. As long as you don't get one that is into the new age healing touch garbage..stay far away from that.
Food allergies can cause problems as well as not eating well. Might take note of these problems and see what time of day they occur. I know you don't eat breakfast....(bad girl!) Just kidding. Some of the symptoms you describe sound like hypoglycemia to a point. Shakes, sweating pounding heart, not thinking clearly etc.
Caffeine and sugar combined...(soda) will not help...sorry...and things that have aspartame..splenda or any fake sugar can make some people really sick and have weird side effects...I can chew a piece of gum with it in it and get a headache instantly.
Spiritually....satan knows where he can hit us and with what weapons to use....he knows our weak spots. and what makes us upset and worried. He brings those things to our minds and if we don't realize what is going on and don't take every thought captive like the bible tells us he can have a real hay day in our minds. And that in turn effects our bodies.
I have found that when I am anxious if I will just sit down to pray and to grab the word and read in the Psalms it helps...Gods word will bring relief. And that may be a struggle at first because that is exactly what satan does not want you to do. But keep at it. God is faithful.
HAve been praying for you to find relief. I know this is no fun and not knowing the cause is scary. But take comfort in the fact that all your test were good! And take action, change the things you can change and pray over the ones you can't.
HAve a wonderful weekend.
Love you!
~M~
Ditto what your m-I-l says! Praying for you.
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