posted
Hey I have a question for all those that have suffered severe anxiety from neuro lyme.
I have been wondering alot lately as I sit around my house if my anxiety is still from lyme disease, or from PTSD from all the horrific things it has done to me,
It has taken my brain to places that have scarred me for life.
I mean once you have felt the severe panic attacks, thoughts of going crazy, heart racing, feeling like your going to die, you never forget them.
Is this just me or do others wonder this.
I have made tons of progress with my physical symptoms, but the anxiety and mental symptoms just aren't going anywhere for the most part.
This really makes me wonder if I am suffering from emotional trauma from all the lyme has done to me, and maybe it isn't really lyme anymore.
Why would physical problems be clearing up, and not the mental issues? Are they the last to go?
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks, Noelle Posts: 16 | From PA | Registered: Oct 2007
| IP: Logged |
At one point, for me, my mind was constantly RACING and I mean all the way through sleep.
And the pain I slept through or wasn't sleeping through, for real, made things impossible.
I don't remember quite a bit.
At the time of my diagnosis I was entirely beside myself. Anxiety felt physical.
I think a lot of my anxiety comes because visually, I can't figure things out or process.
I think the stress and technical post traumatic stress are not the same as the anxiety but can be rooted in the anxiety.
My physical symptoms were minima during diagnosis time but increased dramatically with treatment.
Now, I have begun taking valerian root tincture at night. So far so good!
In my case, I really don't know if what I've got left is active infection or permanent damage or residual aftermath. (aside from the babesia) Maybe it is a bit of both.
Beverly
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 1271
posted
Hi noelle
You are not alone, I had severe anxiety also, that symptom is really hard to deal with.
I also had anxiety from not being able to figure things out, not wanting to be humiliated again..etc.
Once I started lyme treatment and was put on doxy/mino the anxiety got much much worse before it got better. I didn't know at the time that this was Babesia rearing it's ugly head for me.
The combo of Zithromax, Plaquenil, Malarone and Bactrim has really help my anxiety levels, but just like you, I don't think I will ever forget what the anxiety has done to me.
I think the physical symptoms clear up first and the mental ones do last, but ask your LLMD to be sure. I still have some mental stuff, but it's much better than ever before in my whole life. So hang in there, it does get better.
I do not know if your anxiety is Babesia, I am just sharing my personal experience with what has helped my anxiety levels.
I hope you find something that helps you.
Posts: 6641 | From Michigan | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged |
tailz
Unregistered
posted
You just described my life to the 't'. Please consider electrical sensitivities or microwave sickness as the root cause of your continued anxiety:
I never would have believed it myself except I noticed that every Friday and Saturday my anxiety would pick up speed, even though my life is pretty much the same all week.
Then when a new neighbor happened to move in - one that smokes on his deck - I began to notice a pattern - if he was smoking and talking on his cell phone, I'd experience teeth-clenching anxiety, palpitations, shortness of breath - almost like an allergy to electricity - and everything bad that had ever happened to me in my life suddenly mattered.
I think possibly babs is a factor, too - the two of these working together to produce the anxiety, since some forms of bacteria have been proven to have a 'magnetic sense'.
But my home is located between his house and the nearest tower, so whenever he makes a call, the microwaves travel through me. I honestly think that when I get zapped, my digestion stops, then yeast grows, then toxins are released, and then I experience anxiety and pain. You might want to check your tongue - mine often turns white when I'm anxious.
You can purchase a gaussmeter/RF meter to measure these fields though - the one I have is not sensitive enough to pick up his microwaves, but it does work nicely on magnetic fields. It will only pick up microwaves if you are within a certain distance of a cell phone in use. Apparently, I am more sensitive than the meter.
But my personal belief is that even if one did experience a troubled past, a healthy brain processes the information and releases it. We are not all that different from computers in that regard. I think this is why it often takes women many decades to suddenly become excessively troubled over something that happened to them when they were 8 or 12 or 16 - their brains have been poisoned long enough by the microwaves by then.
If you have a cell phone, maybe pick a day when you are less anxious and then fire that phone up. My hunch is that your anxiety is responding to the microwaves, and not necessarily your cell phone. In my case, it's my neighbor's - though my daughter's may have sensitized me to these fields initially, but I can't remember when she got her phone.
Hang in there though. If you'd like more info on electrical sensitivities, PM me.
IP: Logged |
Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
There are a couple of things that you might find really helpful; an antidepressant if you aren't already taking one (works great to keep anxiety at bay), therapy to release some of the stress, and EMDR, which is a specialized form of therapy.
EMDR reprocesses traumatic memories and you end up feeling much better. It is a great tool to deal with disease related anxiety and even pain control.
You can go to www.emdr.com and locate an EMDR trained therapist in your area.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Noelle,
Are you working with a therapist? If not, maybe that would help. Somebody who specializes in treating people with chronic illnesses.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
bettyg
Unregistered
posted
i have severe panic attacks//anxiety everytime i go to drs. SMALL OFFICE WITH NO AIR FLOW!
wed. and today, i had a heck of a time; had to have them get small desk fans o help me! just hate this.
1 yr. ago this month the regular panic ttacks started! yuk
IP: Logged |
daise
Unregistered
posted
Noelle,
From the neck down, I have recovered much faster than from the neck up.
EMDR, I agree, is a wonderful thing. It is specifically for PTSD. I had about 5 EMDR sessions and that helped me a lot. (Look for a phsychologist who specializes in EMDR II.)
Also, Dr. Esty in Maryland has been working with severe PTSD issues. She uses a tiny amount of electricity. See www.neurotherapycenters.com.
Her sessions (I called but haven't gone) take time, so there is the expense of travel and hotel, if you don't live there.
Or, you can go for one visit and she fits you with a device that you wear that emits a tiny amount of electricity. But that costs (as of two years ago) $2,000.00.
She works with a lot of brain injury, with fibromyalgia patients and with PTSD.
Maybe it will be like VCR's and computers--the price will drop on these devices as more are in demand.
Anxiety: Maybe ... possibly ... a cortisol problem. See my post, "PCOS and Lyme Disease."
Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Hi Noelle,
I have been told by two of the most well-respected llmds in the country that the neuro symptoms like anxiety are the last to go while in treatment. Resolution of physical symptoms comes first.
I have the same experience as you -- I have made tons of progress also with physical symptoms like energy level, but some neuro symptoms are only now being budged after more than 15 months of lyme and babs treatment!
You have great advice above, I agree with the folks who recommend working with a therapist. Certainly the persistence of these anxiety effects can be a combination of lyme/TBDs and PSTD, or maybe just caused by lyme or co-infections. Hang in there and keep treating!
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks everyone for your input. I appreciate it!!
Unfortunately the only therapy I can afford right now is EFT, because I can do it for free at home!
I have worked with a therapist, psychologist, EFT practitioner, and a therapy called neurofeedback.
Nothing worked, and I ran out of money!
Well I shouldn't say nothing, EFT works sometimes
but it does make me wonder if maybe these therapies are not working because it's still the lyme disease or a co infection!
Also thanks tailz for the info on EMF. There was a crystal my herbal practitioner wanted me to buy that would protect me from EMF, but it was also too expensive.
But I agree, that might be playing a part in my anxiety because I too noticed for awhile that everyday at the same time I had a panic attack.
I know when I'm on the computer too long my head feels like it's going to explode and I can't see straight!
I have been treating for a year, so I guess I'll give it awhile longer and see if things improve!!
Noelle
Posts: 16 | From PA | Registered: Oct 2007
| IP: Logged |
hardynaka
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8099
posted
Noelle, I got similar attacks during herxes. These were my herxes, most of the time. Have you checked blood pressure? For me, it went up together with anxiety, breathing problems, palpitations, insomnia etc.
Only thing that helped were cleansers. Of course, these could be also lyme, babesia symptoms too, and who knows what more...
the only way to know is to take cleansers and check if the symptoms fade. If they do, it means herxes...
You can also dimish EMF influence cutting the circuit breaker of your bedroom. It also caused anxiety for me, but not to the extent herxes did.
Selma
Posts: 1086 | From Switzerland | Registered: Oct 2005
| IP: Logged |
Peacesoul
Unregistered
posted
quote:Originally posted by Vermont_Lymie: Hi Noelle,
I have been told by two of the most well-respected llmds in the country that the neuro symptoms like anxiety are the last to go while in treatment. Resolution of physical symptoms comes first.
I have the same experience as you -- I have made tons of progress also with physical symptoms like energy level, but some neuro symptoms are only now being budged after more than 15 months of lyme and babs treatment!
You have great advice above, I agree with the folks who recommend working with a therapist. Certainly the persistence of these anxiety effects can be a combination of lyme/TBDs and PSTD, or maybe just caused by lyme or co-infections. Hang in there and keep treating!
These symptoms are the last to go b/c once you've experience panic, it becomes a learned behavior.
Noelle, I'm in the same situation as you right now. Though I've suffered servere anxiety and pa's since I was 19 (am 41 now), they have become worse since being ill. I've been sick for 13 yrs (only dx last Aug) and since being on meds, my mind races, my heart races i get sweaty and my anxiety is right up there. The trick is to push through it. I had over 6 yrs of anxiety therapy and though it helped A LOT, what helped the most was just facing it and realizing it was not going to kill me. Not saying you should not get therapy, but it only cures 50% of the problem I was housebound when I was 21 b/c of severe anxiety and then made a conscience decision that I was not going to do this anymore. Every aspect of my life was affected. I became a productive person. I got a great job, have been working out at the gym for 9 yrs and live alone. I did it all with panic and will have to continue. The only way to get over it is to face it. Here is a saying that helps me when I fear something "If you hear a voice within you saying, "You are not a painter," then by all means paint - and that voice will be silenced" Vincent Van Gogh In other words, if you fear it, face it and the voice goes away. I hope this helps, I know how you're feeling. Hang in there :-)
IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[confused]](graemlins/confused.gif)
![[cussing]](graemlins/cussing.gif)
![[hi]](graemlins/hi.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic