Question: I have an anxiety disorder. It started with PTSD when I was in my 20's. I am now 42. Now when ever high stress things happen I will suffer with anxiety, panic and so on ever sence the PTSD. After my mother died 4 years ago my anxiety increased of course. But I developed new symtoms such as tinnitis issues when I am stressed. It fades when I am calm. I also have had episodes where I go numb on one side of my face and I feel like one of my ears is stuffed or clogged. After I calm down it goes away. The doctor said my ears were healthy. Yesterday my cat that I had for 15 years passed away. I have been careing for him for a week and its been a tough week. Today I was doing laundry and I started thinking about my ears and sure enough I started feeling numb and deaf on one side. I freaked out. I went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. It helped some but I am setting here feeling funny still with slight numb deaf feeling trying not to let it scare me. I almost feel like I am suggesting to myself for my ear to feel deaf and face to feel numb and it happens. "Power of suggestion" When calm down and my anxiety lowers these sensations go away. Why am I doing this and what is medically happening to me when I am stressed and anxious? AM I crazy????What can I do to prevent this or not panic if it does happens?

I am not sleeping well. I wake up every 2 to 3 hours. I dream a lot. Too much actually. My dreams at times creep me out. As far as my daily rountine---I live in a stressful home daily. My husband is controlling and so is my 21 year old son. They demand a lot from me. Its hard to deal with at times. I feel bullied not physically but mentally. I feel better when they are at work. They are all at home now because of being snowed in. I have a 13 yr old daughter who I have a great relationship with and I also have a very hyper 8 yr old son. I also teach 3rd grade to my 8 yr old daily. Its very challenging teaching an active little boy. The family I came from has totally fell apart after the death of my mother. They at times will call me or knock on my door and cause additonal stress. I have a person in my family that can be very aggressive, mean, and has been violent with other family members. This person talks crazy and inappropiate with me. I have cut this person off for over a year now but he recently caught up with me through my father just last week. I do feel hopeless about many of my relationships around me at this point in my life. I guess you can say I dont feel secure anymore. I have lost that at home and content feeling. I feel lost and alone a lot. I struggle finicially all the time as well. This is due to my husband spending issues. I have been married for 23 years. I have lost all hope of having a great future or even something to look forward too with my husband and the family I came from. All news is bad news with the family I came from and with my husband. I feel how I have to survive is I have to watch upliftng movies a lot and listen to good music just to raise my spirits and give me a sence that everything is going to okay. I pray and read devotionals trying to find hope and peace. I am just so scared that this is as good as it gets or what if it gets worse. This feeling did increased to a point after the death of my mother 4 years ago. She was my best friend and the one I knew loved me and my children. I have been though many traumas over the years as well. The trauma I went through when I was 23 yrs old is what started all this anxiety mess. The trauma was caused by my husband. I do struggle with a weight problem as well. I lose weight and then gain it right back. I do not drink, smoke or do any drugs. I am not on any medication at all. I just had a health screanig and they said I was in great health. They said I could lose some extra pounds and exercise more. But I already knew that. I am really tired of the anxiety reaction and now feeling of going deaf or numb. Its such a weird sensation. The sensation went away sense I wrote my question to you. The episode last as long as I stay scared of it. If I distract myself it fades faster. If I just say who cares about this sensation then it does not last long. I do feel fear and doom during the sensations. But it always fades when the anxiey or fear lowers and fades.



This is my last follow up and sorry my follow ups are so long. I need someone to talk to and I thought a doctor could give me some advice. Also to I thought dissociative disorder is Multi- Personality disorder???????

I meant to answer the question you asked "am I suicidle" and the answer is no.

As far as the question about other symptoms --- I have suffered from feeling light headed during an episode and after. I have had times where my legs have felt weak or I feel like I am walking sideways. I have had sensations of falling or moving when I am setting still or laying down. I have had muscle spasms and aches. Over the years I have had racing heart, upset stomach and vomiting due to feeling anxious. You name the symptom and I have had it over the years. I use to be so anxious that any little loud noise would make me shake and jump or bright lights would bother me. I use to have to wear sunglasses all the time just to go outside. But when the anxiety lowers and goes away so does all the symptoms.
Like I have mentioned before I have PTSD and it started when I was 23 yrs old after a terrible thing happened. I even developed Agoraphobia at 23 and couldnt drive a car or go shopping for a year. I had to get help from my family physician and a therapist to get me driving again and go out shopping and living again. Ever sence I was 23 when ever things happen that are very stressful I dont handle it well. I am not the same person sence 23. It frustrates me and saddens me. I use to be so happy, care free, and could go anywhere on the planet and have a blast before all this anxiety crap. But what I have noticed is my anxiety symptoms have evolved over the year. For example I use to have racoing heart and feel sick in my stomach but now I rearly have that. Now its just. "Oh my gosh I feel like I am going deaf and why do I feel numb? Maybe this is a panic attack with new sensations because the old sensations dont scare and disstract me enough from life stressors??? I do have tinnitis now. I will say though that developing tinnitis ( ringing ears) is enough to give anyone anxiety even if they did not have anxiety before. But God help me because I already have enough anxiety for 50 people before tinnitis.
I have not been anxious ever day sence I was 23 years old. I have waves of it from time to time. Some waves are bigger and last longer then others but its always there waiting to hit me when stressors comes along. Well thats it. That's my story. How do I stop reacting this way? I want this anxiety monster off my back for good. Have some advice or insight?