physical sickness thanks to anxiety

[ash_2001]

Prior to a social event, even if its just going out or going to work does anyone's anxiety actually make them feel physically sick (i.e. feeling nauseous, stomach aches, etc)? A bit of a catch 22, because staying in does not resolve that sickness per se, only escalates it the next time around one needs to go out. :roll:

How do you guys deal without resorting to pills? Or do SP meds help deter those symptoms?

Help would be much appreciated.

 

[YankeeBob]

connection between our thoughts and our feelings

there is a lot of evidence that anxiety about doing something causes an emotional distress.

in your case its the nausea.....a violent reaction.

in my case I have had to work on visualising "everything being ok".

you know like a golfer before they go up to the tee says to himself/herself "well i will swing , hit the ball just right, and it will go down the fairway and land in the middle."

as they rehearse this mental picture ( visualising the outcome in their head ) it helps them deal with the anxiety.

other people I know ask a friend to come by and pick them up.

so there are two toos to try. if they work for you "put them in your tool box". and pass them on to others who might be struggling with the same issues you and I have .

take care . be well.

 

[TAMPA-BAY]

they call it performance anxiety

Wow I alwayse thought it was just me who delt with those physical symptons caused by Performance Anxiety. I hate holidays and restruants for that very reason. I never eat anything before I go out or during the situation unless I am really hungry.

Half the time I involuntary avoid the situation which makes it worst but the other half of the time I usualy just push through and try not to eat anything because I am so worried about vomiting or urinating or just doing something that would draw attention to me.

Interestingly enough I have noticed that once I am in the dreaded situation I settle down once I realized that no one is judgeing me and is preocupied with their own life.

So basicaly what I am trying to point out is that we need to take a look at whats called performance anxiety.

 

[ash_2001]

Re: connection between our thoughts and our feelings

there is a lot of evidence that anxiety about doing something causes an emotional distress.

in your case its the nausea.....

Isn't nausea a physical reaction though?

When it comes to asking a friend to come by and pick me up, I actually find it easier to get about amongst strangers on my own as opposed to around people I know. Strangers need no explanation for your off-beat behaviour, while friends get concerned, consequently making the matters worse for you (though good-naturedly, of course).

Visualizations could help in the long run, I suppose. Although it is tough to visualize oneself NOT throwing up. It's a little akin to closing one's eyes and NOT thinking of pink elephants, in turn leading one to think of just that. Hence they have to be affirmative as in "everything is going to be OK". Thanks for your input, Yankee.


TAMPA:

*high-five* for having similar symptoms! (not that those are anything to take pride in, but hey I just felt like being dorky about it.) :lol:

I suppose with me its not so much the idea of people in general, judging me or paying attention to me, as the fear of completely losing control of myself caused by being so nervous. Perhaps it is performance anxiety, because I am completely fine around random people who don't have any expectations for me.

At the core of it all, I think it boils down to fear of disappointing those whom I want to stick around. Is this what it's like for you as well?

 

[Foxglove]

Oh yes, anxiety definitely makes me feel bad physically. I get headaches when I am forced to be social. I also get stomach cramps when I know I have to go out somewhere, and end up having diarrhea :x .

 

[rado31]

Right now i have stomach aches almost whole day. I m not doing anything social. But i t seems that worry causes them . I have to go the dentist and i m obsessed with it. I really hope that this stomach ache is psychological because the least thing i could stand now is real physcial problem ( I have already problems related to the SP stress, buzziing in my ear is surely a sign of a hi blood pressure , who i m not going to treat). I m already weakened enough.