Misdiagnosed?

Hi people, nice forum you have here.

I’m a 22 year old male, in fairly good physical health.

Ok, my situation is complicated because I seem to suffer symptoms I can't seem to explain properly. I was diagnosed with anxiety about 15 months ago. My doctor prescribed me Celexa. From my first dose I started experiencing extreme anxiety and panic and I gave up taking it after a few months.

I’ll try and list my symptoms physical to mental.

Fluttering feeling in my chest, almost constantly.
Occasional Electric shock feeling in my head 99% of the time when I’m in bed.
Trembling, jerky muscle movements. Like when I sit up in bed I will kind of jerk in stages. Or if I’m stood up my legs will tremble badly even if I’m not feeling anxious.
Clammy hands.
Feeling out of breath.
Sleep Paralasys.

My anxiety seems to have different stages, these seem to be.

Anxious (This is normal everyday. I’ll stay indoors and sit at the computer putting off things that should be done.)

Very Anxious (I’ll lock my self away for days at a time, until my levels come down again.)

Beyond anxious (I lose my head all together, sometimes feels as though I’m lapsing in and out of consciousness, dizzy, sick, lots of pressure in my head, can’t sleep, bad dreams, unable to speak properly, can’t eat, short attention span, intense fear of visitors disturbing me. If somehow they come in, I am guaranteed to have a panic attack, unable to stop racing thoughts, unable to hear properly (sounds sometimes like I’m underwater) and very on edge, the slightest noise will make me jump. This will last for 2-10 days.

I have lost almost all interest to spend time with my friends but I force my self to go out. I have been drinking lots when I go out to ease the anxiety and basically be more out going. I have difficulty speaking to any one even my parents without the anxiety pounding my brain.

It’s like I have turned into an emotionless, boring freak and I hate it. I do think about suicide but never seriously considered it so that isn’t a worry. Life is just so boring when I’m like this. I used to be really outgoing and had heaps of fun.

I have tried Celexa and it made me panic, I’m now terrified of most medications especially SSRI’s. I have a draw full of tablets that I just refused to take. I have seen one psychologist; she made me feel better about my self but didn't really help in the long run.

I’m running out of ways to cope and I really don’t want medication which limits ways of getting help.

Do I sound like someone with an anxiety problem or could there be something else going on too? I can’t help but feel the doctor misdiagnosed me.


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Go back to your Doc and ask for somthing else.

Oh I feel for you! The first few months after I was diagnosed was the hardest for me. Even tho Im not hanging a PhD on my wall, I have had this disorder and some others, long enough to have done extensive research into anxiety disorder, and it definatly sounds like thats what your suffering from. And it sounds like your starting to show agaoraphobic tendancies, which in the long run will cause you MORE anxiety. When you describe yourself as being "beyond anxious" it sounds like you may b experiencing panic attacks. And before you recieve proper medication to help you calm yourself Im not sure that you will learn your own proper techniques to decrease some of this anxiety weather its thru breathing or some other sort of self soothing methods. I too went for periods of pure panic where I couldnt breath and was severely disabled. I had disassociation, which made me feel like I wasnt even here, I lived outside my body and watched my life move around me.
On a good note. You WILL get past this. You WILL get better and have much brighter days. It sounds to me like you may want your doc to perscribe not only a daily med, but something you can take in case of the severe panic type feelings. I have done well over coming the anxiety with cymbalta and an occasional dose of Xanax. But that again is something you and your doc have to deside on....there are MANY meds and many forms of therepy that is available to you. And remember, many family practice docs are not that intrested in giving out meds for phyc. probs, you may want to see another p-doc. I have been to 3 and they ALL had a different approach.
Many of us have been where you are and I know we all feel deeply for you. I hope all goes well, and make yourself that appointment! Good Luck to you

I've had all of those symptoms before that you have described except for sleep Paralasys. All the symptoms can be anxiety, I was diagnosed with GAD and I've had all those symptoms with this.

Are you on any medication, etc sometimes meds can cause symptoms like the shock, anxiety, as a side effect etc.