Hey Redemption! I had a problem for quite some time, and still do now and again, with numbness, tingling and pain going down my shoulder, left arm and neck. I went to the doctor's thinking I was having a stroke or heart attack or something. She did all the tests, of course. But, what it turned out to be is a pinched nerve in my back. I found out that the most common reason for tingling and that prickly feeling is a pinched nerve. What helps me is to stretch and stretch and stretch. The nerves in you back are actually quite large in comparison with other nerves in your body and one nerve will control a fairly large portion of your body. My pinched nerve is in the middle of my shoulder blades and caused pain, tingling and that prickly sensation down my neck, shoulder, arm, fingers, head, and face. All from one nerve. But, seriously, stretching helps. I work at a computer all day and get this often. But, when I feel it coming on, I stop and do a lot of neck rolls and shoulder stretches and it really helps. The dizziness, light headed and derealization feelings are from the anxiety. I can get a symtpom that has nothing to do with anxiety and the dizziness, light headed and derealization will kick in because my subconcious kicks in the anxiety without me even thinking about it. So, although it seems like the physical symptom and the anxiety symptoms are coming from the same problem, it's usually the physical symptom causing the anxiety symptoms to kick in at the same time. Like a domino effect. Anyway..... hope that makes sense and helps out - even if only a little. :) Remember - You are stronger than you feel.

Hi Redemption, The symptoms you have described I have had to some degree myself. I am certain that it is my anxiety causing them. Thats not to say it makes it any less scarier when they happen though. It is our constant struggle to look at the physical sensations and to become aware that anxiety is usually the culprit and to have to self-talk ourselves out of thinking it is something worse. As you read through the discussion boards you will find so many different symptoms that we experience. Even though the can be quite different the level of fear is the same. Try to work the program and you will find things will get easier.

Hello :) First I would like to say hello and welcome to the forums :) Second, I would like to say that many of the symptoms you have named I have experienced at one point or another sionce I have started living with this disorder. I know those symptoms are scary. But it does get easier :)So hang in there. I really think the program here could help you with this. I know it has helped me a lot. Anyway, I hope this site helps you as much as it helps me :) -Diva

Redemption, Welcome to the boards! Much of the symptoms you are describing are common among those with panic. You're not alone and if you browse through our discussion forums, you'll find that many have felt overwhelmed by them also. We encourage you to begin working through the tools of the program. It will teach you many skills you'll be able to use everyday to challenge your anxiety. If you have any questions or other concerns, please feel free to post. We hope to hear from you again soon. Danielle, Bilingual Support Specialist

Hi, I'm new to this board and just signed up to this site. I just wanted to describe a couple of symptoms of mine that I find quite unusual and see if anyone here can relate. I'm sorry this post is long but I'd really appreciate it if some people could read it and respond as this is causing me much distress. First of all I should mention that I am a 21 year old male who has been on and off medication (Fluoxetine 30mg daily) for about 5 years. Recently I had tried to stop taking my medication once again but after about 90 days started feeling anxiety/panic on a daily basis. So with much reluctance I began taking 20mg of Fluoxetine daily and have been doing that now as well as taking a magnesium and Vitamin B supplement for about the past 2 weeks. My anxiety/panic are still very prominent and I still get panic attacks on an almost daily basis as well as various panic symptoms throughout the day, not neccesarily amounting to a full blown attack, but none the less very uncomfortable. It's these constant symptoms that worry me and I want to share with everyone. One symptom that worries me I suppose could be described as tingling, but it's not quite the same as the type of tingling you get when your foot falls asleep for instance. It feels more like a sharp prick, like being poked with a needle, followed by a feeling of coldness on the point of the prick. It doesn't happen all over a certain area but rather a very sharp pinpoint area, usually in the back of my hands, forearms, side torso, neck or my head. These pricks are then often immediately followed by light headedness and a feeling of unreality/depersonalization. This symptom is currently the most common trigger for my anxiety/panic attacks. One other feeling that worries me that happens sometimes during periods of anxiety, is I feel as if parts of my head are numb and/or cold and/or hot, usually occuring on the right side of my head. Also sometimes I can't feel/imagine the contours of my head. I know this sounds strange, but what I mean is... you know how you generally have a concious idea of the contours of your body? Like for instance you know approximately how far you have to duck under something in order to not bump your head. Well I sometimes feel like a lose this body perception, specifically in my head. And finally, the last main symptom that concerns me, is very sudden onsets of dizziness/light headedness often requiring me to sit down, but they come on with no obvious anxious feelings preceding them. They generally lead to a feeling of anxiety and/or panic, but it worries me since normally I can feel my anxiety building in steps, but this dizziness I sometimes experience is so sudden and unprovoked! If anyone has experienced any of these feelings please let me know, and possibly share your experiences with me. Did you ever find out a specific cause and/or explanation for these feelings? I know your supposed to try and tough it through your panic and anxiety symptoms and learn that they won't hurt you in order to get better, but when these things happen I feel so overwhelmed with fear, and I feel like I could faint, or worse, possibly never wake up. Any help, advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.