Question:
I've suffered with
panic attacks since I was 16 (am now 48). For the past 15 years the
panic attacks have been pretty much non-existent due to taking daily
Prozac, but every once in a while I'll feel one trying to attack, and
then can feel the Prozac kick in and squelch it (thank goodness).
But last night I got hit with something HARD, and it felt like a virus
or flu that came on like gangbusters, but even though I kept taking my
temperature, I was LOW rather than high. After a few hours I came to
realize that a big part of my feeling lousy was due to anxiety/panic.
So of course I then start to panic that maybe this isn't a virus at all
and maybe my panic attacks are returning, and the vicious cycle starts.
I really want to get physically ill so I can relax and be convinced
that my panic attacks are not returning, as stupid as that would sound
to a non-panic attack victim.
I seem to remember years ago reading that when the body is getting
physically sick with a virus or flu that it DOES trigger the panic
attacks, and there was some physiological reason for it, but I can't
find anything like that now.
Does anyone know of or relate to feeling "panicky" when they are truly,
physically getting sick?
Answer:
I've known for years that when I get hit with a flu or something nasty like
that, the depression gets really bad because there's no fight in me. My
anxiety gets bad, too -- I haven't actually had a panic attack while sick,
but anything's possible with this stuff.
Lots of fluids, bed rest, funny things on tv - all the usual advice for
viruses. See your doctor if you don't feel better in a day or two.
When I get sick, I get tired and the fatigue increases the possibility of
anxiety or panic. My panic episodes come on so quickly that I don't have a
chance to feel sick until afterwards. Luckily, they are becoming rare events
and much less severe probably because I don't get as tired as I used to. I
can however, understand anxiety/panic being triggered by becoming sick.
I hope that you find a method to deal with these episodes that works well
for you. The tips that Jackie posts are very good and are well worth the
trouble to look them up.
as others have mentioned many people with anxiety do have an increase
in it when feeling ill-so you are in good company if that is any
consolation. If your temp is sub normal this is a good indication of a
recovery from a GI bug usually viral-if your temp remains sub normal
for more then a day please call your doc as other medical conditions
may be causing it
Quite often, before I get sick or get a migraine, I get
anxious. Of course.... at the time, I just see it as anxiety and panic. Once the
illness or migraine sets in, it`s "ah-ha", so that`s why I was so anxious. This
happened to me a few days ago. At first I just thought it was anxiety rearing
it`s ugly head but then some symptoms showed up that definitely pointed to
physical illness. It can be hard to differentiate between anxiety/panic and a
physical illness being they share so many of the same symptoms. I hope you are
feeling much better today!
