I am a 17 year old girl, I have suffered from anxiety for four years now. It is something I have dealt with and had gotten comfortable with enough to live my life.
For the last 6 months I have been extremely sick, all of the time. I mean literally ALL of the time. I have constant severe headaches and dizziness and naseua. My hands and body shake continuously, my vision is usually blurred and I find it hard to keep my eyes open for an extended period, im always weak and constantly have hot flashes.
I understand that, yes, all of the above are symptoms of anxiety. I find that when I go to a doctor they take one look at my records and classify me as a girl with anxiety and then neglect giving me any tests or taking me seriously.
BUT, I have dealt with it for so long and this is not anything I have ver experienced with anxiety, this is a constant all of the time thing, it's almost impossible for me to live my daily life. I don't leave my house, all of my relationships are gone down the drain and I need serious help. What can I say to my doctor to get some real help! And can anyone give me some suggesstions on what might be wrong?? Please, I am so desperate at this point, no one else in my life take me seriously given the fact that I have anxiety. I'm scared..

Can you find another doctor?

What kind of foods do you eat?
You might be intolerant to some foods. You could be lacking some vitamins and minerals.
You might want to try taking a vitamin B complex and sublingual B12.

Cut out any junk food and fast foods and artificial sweeteners.
Make sure you don't eat anything with MSG either. I sometimes end up with anxiety attacks and feel paralyzed when I eat anything with MSG

Jennifer,
What medications are you taking for your anxiety? Have you stopped or changed anything recently? It's possible some of this is side effects or withdrawal from some medication.

I would check on that first. So often doctors don't really consider the effects of the medications they themselves prescribed.

I also agree you should check with a new doctor. Have you seen a neurologist or other specialist? Or just family practice doctors?

Headaches, blurred vision, and nausea are a worrisome set of symptoms.

Know that you are not alone in this,many others suffer as you do and the willingness to find the 'cure' has to come from within.

The longer you stay in the chaos of anxiety,the harder it will be to get the relief you need so badly.

Finding a new doctor in Canada,I hear,can be tough,I realize that,but for your own well being,start looking,, as soon as you can,Monday looks like a good morning to start!

How long do you want to be like this?I'd bet as short a time as possible,go with that idea and take the initiative to find the help you need,there is a great big world out there waiting for you to reacquaint yourself to.

Are you eating regularly?Liquids(water)intake is another to look into,the body needs care as much as the mind.

Maybe this will help?I hope so.

Ken

I take effixor, I did 75mg a day for about a year and a half, a month or so ago, I got my prescription moved up to 150mg a day

Also, I have tremors. My body shakes constantly, from when I wake up to when I go to sleep.

Dear Jennifer,

I'm very concerned for you. The symptoms you have listed are all known side effects of Effexor.

The shaking is known as tardive dyskinesia and is a serious but rare side effect. Of course, from here, I can't be sure that any of your symptoms are a result of the Effexor. I am not a doctor at all. But truly somebody needs to check you out and take you seriously. If there is any chance the Effexor is causing the shaking (not to mention all the other symptoms), you should be weaned from it and moved to another medication as soon as possible.

You say you are 17. Is there an adult in your life who can help you with this--parents, other relatives? Who is your guardian? If you cannot see a new doctor go to your regular one and ask to see a neurologist because you want to be checked for tardive dyskinesia, which you know can be a side effect of Effexor. If that doesn't get a reaction, you need to find a new doctor no matter what.

Here is the entry at Wikipedia that lists all the side effects.
Venlafaxine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Most people have only a couple of these or none. You may be very sensitive to Effexor. Alternatively, in the first year of taking it you suffered some liver damage, so that the effective dose is higher because your body is unable to break it down. If this does not make sense to you, tell me and I'll try to explain it better.

Are you taking any other medications or supplements, say for weight loss, migraines, anything even occasionally? Do you smoke? Also, if you were taking something before the Effexor, what was it?

Hang in there. I know this is incredibly hard right now. But things will get better if you can persist in asking for help and getting the help you deserve. You probably know that antidepressants sometimes cause people to feel desperate or have thoughts of suicide. If you are feeling anything like that, realize that it's the drug making you feel that way, not you.

I hope to hear back from you soon.
Asking

I have to agree wholeheartedly with Asking. What you describe are all side effects of Effexor. Did these symptoms begin with the increase of the med?

I am not a doctor or medical person. I do sympathize with you. It seems you have some good comments. I like the one about the B12 supplements and drinking more water. If your diet is like most you probably have too much sugar intake and meat intake. I would suggest looking at a phase one diet plan. It is available on the net in different places. Cutting out carbs such as breads and pastas and sugars. I pray you do not smoke or use other drugs or drink. These things are most horrible. Effexor is also a powerful drug.which I did not see you say you were taking it.

Please do not let any problems like this turn you into a hobbit. You are young with your whole life ahead of you. It would be my prayer for you to start to church. Make some good friends who will understand what you are going through. That means so much.

It is good you have sought the answer to your problems. Don't stop trying. If things get too crazy and you fear for your sanity please don't hesitate to talk with a specialist. Suicide Hotlines - Suicide.org! Suicide Hotlines - Suicide.org! Suicide Hotlines - Suicide.org!

Remember that God loves you and you are experiencing this for a reason which seems to be unknown now. Revelation 4:11 states " Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

You said you have severe headaches. I had this condition and was bedridden for almost two months. The blurred vision should be checked. I was also told I was stressed. In fact I was told many things but it turned out to be Fluid of the Brain or psydeudo tumor cerebri This was what was causing my pain. It can be checked during an eye exam with an optometrist Ask them or your doctor to check for your optic disks. Also I was losing my peripheral vision. I now check it by holding my arms straight out and moving them in together to see the angle of my side vision. You must focus on a point in front of you.
I hope you are not having problems with this because I went through three spinal taps and was on a diuretic for a year.
Maybe you are the reason I suffered through this. I do hope you find your relief and answer. I hope my post has encouraged you in some way. I will keep you in my prayers and hope to hear from you soon that you have found your peace. God bless.


Psalms 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God.

1 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.