Physical effects

[captain]

How do some of you deal with the physical effects of SP?
I start college in one week, and for about three weeks now my face has been breaking out, I have terrible headaches, I can't sleep and my muscles are so tense I just want to scream.
No matter how much tell myself to calm down or try to distract myself nothing seems to help.
What do you do to soothe yourselves?

 

[LA-girl]

Hey there!

I actually planned to start a thread about this subject today. There seems to be an invasion of people in here telling SA-sufferers to stop complaining and just start to think positive. And believe me, I'm not saying it is not important and necessary to remind people to think positive, and I have no problem imagining it might have tremendous effect on peoples anxiety. But for those who are severely affected with heavy physical symptoms and to tell them it is just a matter of thinking positive...I mean it is upsetting me, because I have had this disorder for many years and I have tried just about anything, but still someof my my physical symptoms remain. I mean telling a severely affected SA-sufferer to stop complaining and that it is just a matter of positive thinking is like telling a chronic cols-pasient to stop coughing....

I also suffer from fatigue, headaches etc, probably as a result from years of stress, anxiety and depression. The only thing that has helped me so far is to get an apropriate amount of sleep every single day and if you have trouble sleeping you might need sleeping pills (there are efficiant herbal ones too). My experience is that days where I sleep less and have fatigue, are the days where my anxiety are most noticable. Healthy principles regarding food, moderate excercise, limit stress where it is possible, fresh air etc are also vital.
Days where I feel rested and healthy, I feel so much more in control of myself and my anxiety.

And for the record; I am not encouraging people to complain either as complaining won't solve a thing. But sometimes it is necessary to empty yourself with personal problems you are struggeling with. I'm not talking about wining, but a sharing of personal struggles with an aim to get some good advices or simply just because it feels good to share your problems with people you know will understand...

 

[black_mamba]

Same here in that I've found the right amount of sleep helped tremendously, as well as some regular exercise and a good diet coupled with a busy daily routine (so less time to think and analyse). Oh and not everyone can do with just 7/8 hours, for some it is a lot more or less so its worth experimenting for a while until you find an appropriate sleep length that gives you energy for the day ahead. Boy that sounded cheesy. 8)

I used to be very fatigued too with a constant headache but good food (little caffiene!) light exercise and good sleep have helped.

To be honest I thought this thread was more concerned with [anticipation] anxiety symptoms - shaking, sweating, stuttering etc? The only way I've successfully dealt with those is to use beta blockers. :lol:

 

[dzerklis]

i got trembling from my meds

 

[cLavain]

And in addition I suffer from fatigue, severe headaches etc, probably as a result from years of stress, anxiety and depression.

LA-girl, I could have written this myself! I've found that weight lifting has a preventive effect on headaches (maybe by moving and heating up the muscles in the neck?), so I've gotten that part under control. But fatigue and lack of concentration are still great problems for me. It's weird, I'm in better shape than ever, but feel so tired all the time...

if you have trouble sleeping you might need sleeping pills (there are efficiant herbal ones too).

What kind of herbs? I usually lie awake for an hour or two before going to sleep, and could need some of that stuff you're pushing! :lol:

 

[LA-girl]

cLavain wrote:

But fatigue and lack of concentration are still great problems for me. It's weird, I'm in better shape than ever, but feel so tired all the time...

Hm...I'm not a doctor, but you could, like me, have developed adrenal fatigue (mild degree) due to emotinal stress. I think most anxiety-sufferers are at risk of developing this, but before any of you get discouraged you have to know that it is treatable and you are able to reverse the condition following a few guidelines.

Here are a few articles about Adrenal fatigue:

http://www.project-aware.org/Resource/articlearchives/adrenalfatigue.shtml
http://www.salivatest.com/store/rc_fatigue2_wilson2.html

You also requested an effective herbal sleeping aid. To be honest with you, I haven't tried these yet, but I have heard that there are effective ones, but you'll probably have to order some of them from the US.

Natural or over-the-counter sleeping aids:

* Revitalizing Sleep Formula (by Enzymatic Therapies and PhytoPharmica) – Valerian 200mg, Passion Flower 90mg, L-Theanine 50mg, Hops 30mg, Piscidia 12mg and Wild Lettuce 28mg. Take 2-4 capsules each night 30 to 90 minutes before bedtime. This is available in most health food stores and on my website at www.EndFatigue.com
* Take calcium and magnesium at bedtime. You may choose to take half a scoop of the daily energy Enfusion powder at bedtime (take the other half scoop in the morning with the B-complex) to get the magnesium.
* Eat some turkey at bedtime! This can prevent hypoglycemia during the night and also supplies Tryptophan which helps sleep.
* Melatonin, one-half to 1 mg at bedtime (or 5 mg taken five hours before you want to go to sleep if you are wide awake at bedtime).
* Doxylamine 25 milligrams (Unisom for sleep) -- make sure it is pure doxylamine with no other medications added. This is like Benadryl but more effective for sleep. It is not natural but it is over-the-counter.
* Taking 5-HTP 200-400 mg at bedtime (limit it to 200 mg if you are on antidepressants) can help sleep, pain, and induce weight loss. Where the other treatments will work the first night that you take them, it can take the5- HTP six to twelve weeks to see the full effect.

 

[kima]

I'm so glad someone brought this up! However, my physical symptoms are a little embarassing for me to talk about. I think i have some form of IBS (irritable bowel - for those of you who are lucky enough not to know about it!). When I'm anxious I get really bad cramps and have to run for the loo - and I'm not talking 'number one' either
Man, this is so hard to talk about! But it's really uncomfortable and gives me yet another reason to fear going out. I've even started to get hemeroids (can't spell either :roll: ) . Is this an issue for anyone else?

 

[renegade]

Hi. Not sure if your talking about SP effects on the body or meds effects :? I guess the first.

Anyway, I get the tiredness feeling after a day at school, the anxiety drains all my supplies out, it's like I have ran several kms. And to think I still have to study and do other things.

The way I cope with it is taking energisers. And of course working out keeps me in shape, a minimum of 10 hours of sleep (if not i'm a zombie) and healthy food, but not a strict diet. :wink:

 

[LA-girl]

Kima and everyone else who is affected by these symptoms.

Think of the adrenals as your "batteries", and when you use a high amount of energy because of stress/anxieties, your batteries need to recharge more often and you need to keep other stressors at a minimum. The more you exhaust your batteries, the harder and longer it will take in order to sustain your energy levels.
Here is a list of symptoms suggesting adrenal fatigue caused by stress.
As you see Kima the symptoms you mentioned are a normal part of the picture for some. Remember it is not necessary to have all the symptoms...

Here they are:

generalized pain and fatigue, stiffness, headaches, facial pain, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, spaciness, memory lapses, digestive disturbances, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea (IBS), increased frequency of urination, neck/shoulder and general muscle tension, sore tendons and connective tissue, hypersensitivity to light/sound/touch/odors, skin complaints, swelling, depression, anxiety and others.

http://healingessences.com/indeximmunesystem.html

Stress and Fatigue

Many people experience high levels of mental and emotional stress on a regular basis, which puts a significant strain on adrenal function.

The adrenal glands are two triangle-shaped glands that sit over the kidneys, and are primarily responsible for governing the body’s adaptations to stress of any kind. When stress becomes excessive or is not well-managed, the ability of the adrenal glands to do their job becomes compromised. The adrenals normally secrete cortisol in response to stress, exercise and excitement, and in reaction to low blood sugar.

The body normally secretes the highest amount of cortisol in the morning to get us going, with levels decreasing throughout the day. People with adrenal imbalance will often have abnormally high or low cortisol levels throughout the day. If stress remains too high, the adrenals are forced to overproduce cortisol continuously. After a prolonged period of time, the adrenals can no longer keep up with demand and total cortisol output plummets leading to adrenal exhaustion.

The hallmark symptoms of adrenal dysfunction are stress and fatigue that is not alleviated with sleep—that tired all the time feeling. Other common symptoms include sleep disturbances and/or insomnia, anxiety, depression, increased susceptibility to infections, reduced tolerance for stress, craving for sweets, allergies, chemical sensitivities and a tendency to feel cold.

Saliva testing charts the extent to which cortisol levels are out of balance and test results can be used as part of a strategy that looks at the whole person and his or her lifestyle. It is helpful to work with a doctor who can design a complete program of hormone balance and then monitor your progress.

You can begin to support adrenal function on your own by avoiding hydrogenated fats, excess caffeine, refined carbohydrates, alcohol, and sugar. Get plenty of quality protein and eat regular meals of high nutritional value.

The key to success is to discover and practice stress management in whatever form works for you personally. Take time out, evaluate the stressors in your life, and find ways of expressing yourself creatively. Get enough rest and sleep. And last but not least, keep a sense of humor!

http://www.salivatest.com/store/rc_fatigue_stress.html

 

[cLavain]

@LA-girl:
Thanks for all the information! Well researched as always! :wink:

I have to say, many of the symptoms there sound very familiar, particularly the part about the middle of the day being the worst caught my attention. I'll be reading more about this, for sure. Thanks again!

 

[kima]

Yeah, thanks LA girl
I'm going to look into that adrenal thing. Last time I spoke to my doctor about IBS, he suggested a colonoscopy 8O and so I promptly left his office and avoided the topic ever since! But this sounds very interesting and for some reason makes me feel less embarrassed.

 

[LA-girl]

Your both very welcome!
Btw Kima, in case you are planing to tell your doc about this adrenal-thing, don't expect any applause, as most docs are still very narrow-minded about these disorders. But in case someones symptoms and fatigue should get more pronaunced, it is probably best to use the diagnosis: cfs (chronic fatigue) if someone plan on telling their doctors.

 

[LA-girl]

I just wanted to add one more article about this adrenal/chronic fatigue disorder from Dr. Poescnecker who has worked with and studied this disorder for 40 years.

There was especially the following in this article that caught my interest.

MY more than forty years' experience has led me to believe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a condition of the neurohormonal and immune mechanisms of the body that produces a weakening of the body's ability to respond to stress of all kinds. The most common symptoms produced by this condition are unexplained exhaustion sometimes alternating with spells of anxiety or panic, a tendency to be oversensitive and/or allergic to certain substances or environments, a lessening of the ability to reason rationally and to make decisions readily, a tendency toward low blood pressure, sensitivity to cold, poor circulation (cold hands and/or feet), and brain fag or other mental aberrations which can mimic a large variety of mental diseases. Individuals in the Countershock or Resistance stage of CFS (see Dr. Selye's chart in Chapter Five) may not suffer the fatigue, but will experience mostly the anxiety and/or panic symptoms until they enter the Exhaustion stage. Most patients with CFS have at least one of these symptoms, and some have all and many others besides.This condition, to a lesser or greater degree, affects 20 to 25 percent of the American population.

The term Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as we use it here refers to a state of depletion of the adrenal glands in the absence of atrophy or destruction.

CFS unmasked Chapter 1:http://www.chronicfatigue.org/chap 1 2000.html

Life Mastery: a Protocol for CFS + other related articles from Poescnecker:http://www.chronicfatigue.org/CFS Protocol.html