My dad is a doctor. M20 with anxiety.
Long story short, I was once a really confident guy in our university. Loved fitness, inspired lots of people, and a nursing student even. I’ve never had any diseases physical/mental hospitalizations except for a mild asthma in my youth.
My gym strength training routines are very high volume, as much as 3-4x full body programs and very high caffeine (5-7 small sachets). One weekend I started feeling chest awareness and like my body was tuning in more to my torso (introception)
And then Tuesday came, I had my first genuine panic attack in my life. Tachycardia, shortness of breath, tremors.
Thankfully my dad, is a family physician MD. He’s had (almost) 20+ years of clinical experience. And he’s put me through all the BASIC tests. I’ve revealed NORMAL Labs, Urine, Blood, Thyroid, ECG, Chest X-ray, vitals and physical assessment/auscultations.
My dad diagnosed me simply with Caffeine Withdrawal and mild Bronchitis
I took antibiotics and proper course. And stopped my gym and caffeine entirely. Limiting my workouts to just 10k steps a day.
But as a medical student under nursing, my “what-if” brain starts to link all the diseases I study with my own condition. This I think developed my health anxiety. I’d think that it’s cardio, neuro, or cancer or whatever!
It’s been 41 days ever since my first panic, I haven’t had any panic attacks anymore but the physical sensation are incredibly convincing. I’ve felt just about every sensation possible as well. Other days I’d feel perfectly fine and confident about myself, but then today I’d feel NAUSEA the whole day.
It sucks because before all this I felt practically on an awesome track of productivity. Maybe I did overdo my caffeine and workouts, and my body finally gave in.
I’m just asking for ASSURANCE. Because every time I’m in the moment of a physical sensation, my mind wanders off into thinking all the worst case catastrophizations. Which makes me doubt even my own father/doc, who keeps assuring me I’m normal. But I still keep asking what if something was medically missed? But simply my family can’t afford 2d ECHOs or CT scans and my dad really thinks they aren’t needed and just acknowledges I have anxiety.
I’ve done almost everything, same sleep times, electrolytes, VitD, Breathing techniques, VitB1-6-12s, DARE mental-exercises, warm showers and socialization. 10,000 steps.
Even my CONSCIOUS thought is alright, I’m practically not worrying consciously. But it seems to always be SUBCONSCIOUS or Physical anxiety symptom first before the worry.
It really feels like I’m losing a part of myself because of this.. at the same time I’m still standing I guess.
Pray for me guys. That this too shall pass. : (