Has anyone experienced chronic stress that manifest physically? I can’t believe this is happening to me…
About six months ago I started feeling a strange shaking/quivering/trembling sensation at night when before falling asleep. At first I thought there was construction work going on each night (not crazy in here in NYC) – until I realized it was me. I do not visibly shake but I feel jittery inside (like you do after too much coffee). Now I feel this way all day long (I had to stop drinking coffee altogether). A neurologist found nothing worrisome meriting more involved testing but offered to send me for an MRI which he was sure would come back negative (I declined it).
About a month ago I started experiencing heart palpitations. Not racing heartbeat but an odd (but not at all painful) sensation that you can “feel” your heart beating in your chest – but not just for a beat or two, for hours on end, daily.
I started experiencing GI issues and after lots of tests (including a colonoscopy) to rule out disease such as microscopic colitis – the GI issue remained unresolved.
H is a physician and thinks that all of these symptoms taken together constitute a physical manifestation of chronic stress (working full time + two kids, one with Aspergers + a spouse with a heavy travel schedule and work obligations).
I think of myself as a tough cookie and life doesn’t feel as stressful as periods in the past (e.g. initial autism diagnosis, when S1 was counseled out of school and the 2nd time that happened and the 3rd time…). I want to “snap out of it” and go back to normal but I don’t know how.
Anyone experience this? The jitters, the heart palpations, the GI issues…?
My daughter has anxiety disorder and has symptoms very much like you describe. She once went 48 hours without being able to sleep and has actually passed out from panic attacks. She is on two anxiety medications, one for every day and another to use when she is having sleep issues. You should talk to a psychiatrist if you haven’t already done so. There are many medications that can really help.
At various times, I’ve experienced all these things. I’ve described it as the following: stressful events have a direct line from my brain to my gut or heart. I’m sorry you’re experiencing these symptoms but I think it’s good that you have been checked out for possible causes other than anxiety and I encourage you to get treatment, either from a health-care provider or home based (e.g., meditation, mindfulness).
You sound like perhaps your chronic stress has led to developing an actual anxiety disorder. I would consult a mental health professional. Perhaps medications are indicated, or maybe a multifactoral approach could help if you don’t want to go that route. In other words, it may be that some talk therapy, combined with physical exercise or yoga, meditation, massage therapy, perhaps a change in diet, attention to sleep hygiene, cognitive behavioral therapy, etc. might all work in concert to help you. It sounds as though you’ve had a lot of challenges, and you’ve spent a lot of time taking care of your family throughout them. Maybe your body is telling you to pause and take care of yourself.
Good luck; I hope you feel better soon.
PS-I’ve dealt with periods of heart palpitations that I find quite disconcerting. Managing stress and limiting caffeine helps, but also I think I have issues with maintaining proper levels of electrolytes. Make sure you are well hydrated and getting enough sodium and other electrolytes. There are all kinds of electrolyte fluids you can buy. They MIGHT help.
How old are you? Heart palpitations could signal the beginning of peri-menopause - it can begin as early as late thirties or early forties. While most articles on approaching menopause focus on periods and issues related to the reproductive system, some point that fluctuations in hormone levels can do a number on the guts and the heart.
Agree it is likely stress related. No reason to tough it out. Go see your PCP. And while I understand you likely don’t have much time for yourself - try to carve out a bit for some yoga. You can do it at home - just search on YouTube if you don’t have the time to go to a class. There are dozens of of instructional classes for all levels on YouTube. It really helps with reducing stress.
Yes. I have an extremely fast heart rate (~150 bpm without meds), palpitations, chronic GI problems, etc. They started shortly after I got really sick. They cannot find a physical cause so their best guess is that it’s from stress.
You need to go check in with a PCP- and not one that is your H. You need to go have physical illnesses ruled out.
Definitely could be onset of menopause (obviously not the case if you are not female). I’ve had the weird heartbeat thing like a hesitation then big beat. Turns out I had a leaking valve- just minor. It got way worse leading up to menopause so now I take a beta blocker and it stopped. Also at time I was under terrible stress, cross country move, loss of parents, kid diagnosed with autism, job loss ugh it was an awful year. Had to do a test were they monitored my heartbeats over 24 hours. The beta blocker also works for anxiety. But that type of heartbeat issue is common in runners…worse with dehydration, coffee, alcohol. Get it checked out. The solution can be really simple like mine. I sleep better at night now…the weird heartbeats are pretty freaky…actually also had them when I was pregnant.
Sometimes a psychiatrist or NP will recommend a beta blocker for the chest pains, rapid heart beat. Feeling you can’t catch your breath can be panic/anxiety,
I agree with BunsenBurner. If you are in perimenopause or menopause, then those are actually very common symptoms. I started having the exact same “internal vibration” symptom about 8 or 9 years ago when I started perimenopause (always when lying down). It was such a strange symptom, I went from Dr. to Dr. trying to figure out what was causing it. None of them had a clue except to suggest anxiety. Finally last year I googled the correct key word combination and found out about the hormonal connection to the “vibrations” and am now a member of a FB page for women who have this symptom. It is such a strange feeling and I had a very hard time sleeping when it was at its worst. It has waxed and waned over the years, and now I feel it only occasionally. Supposedly it is an effect of fluctuating hormones on the nervous system. And very few doctors are familiar with it.
I have a mild heart condition also, and boy, did my symptoms sky rocket also during this time. Palpitations, tachycardia, pounding heart at night (I have to use a little fan to make noise to drown out the sound).
As for the GI issues, I had the opposite experience. I had them as a PMS symptom for years. But luckily, that was one problem that went away (along with PMS migraines) after I started perimenopause.
If you think this might be the answer - I suggest googling “symptoms of menopause” in case some other strange symptoms pop up.
If you don’t feel that could be a possibility, during my online research, I also found out that “internal tremors/vibrations” were also symptoms of Lyme Disease, Essential Tremor, and Parkinson’s disease (before the external tremors become evident for the latter two). I got tested for Lyme disease, and the other two didn’t fit, so I feel comfortable that hormonal fluctuations were indeed the cause of my symptoms.
I will do some research. I had a therapist for acute stress related to losing my mother to alcoholism (a lifelong battle) but when S1 and S2 stopped attending the same local school the after school schedule logistics precluded appointment time. I know about the oxygen mask analogy but it was critical for me to be very involved in their lives directly since they were both starting new schools - and S1 had a lot of therapy appts, I had to interface with the clinicians.
I can’t tell if this is depression on top of it all, but the only thing that makes me happy now are when the kids are happy. My life has kind of collapsed around their care, particularly S1. And for better or for worse, H and I cannot modify how we each contribute to family life, with H being breadwinner and caregiver M-F 6:30am-8:30am (when not traveling) and a co-caregiver on weekends (when not traveling), with me doing all afternoons, evenings, weekends and solo care when he travels. I do get some help (picking up a kid) from his mother and my father when he travels.
H is very busy and very absorbed with his work. S1 takes a tremendous amount of care, attention, planning, and emotional support (I call myself his emotional ICU). And then of course S2 has needs, though mercifully he’s an “easy kid” (at least for now).
Oh, absolutely you can have physical manifestations of stress. Earlier this year, my doctor told me my hormone levels measured unusually low, and said that could definitely be because of stress. She remeasured them after the stressful situation was resolved, and they had gone back to normal. It’s amazing how terrible your hormone levels being off can make you feel.
Can you take some time off until this is all resolved…like months, perhaps, or at least go part time? You can’t change the other things, kids, husband’s job, but can you change your work situation? Number one priority is to stay healthy.
“A mother is only as happy as her unhappiest child.”: source unknown. But there’s also, “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” So maybe think about the fact that doing stuff for yourself will help your children, too.
Just be careful about researching online. You can find information out there that can confirm the worst of fears.
I really suggest starting at a PCP. Just my opinion, but I think when the heart is involved, that is a time to go in and get checked. It’s probably nothing but better safe than sorry.
Can you afford to farm out some of your domestic duties (cleaning, shopping, cooking) or have someone come in to help with the childcare even if for just a few hours here and there to give you a break?
I think I’m one of the luckiest psychologists. Early today my patient was describing the chest pains, etc. the NP happened to be available and joined the session. Given the symptoms, she recommended a certain beta blocker rather than a benzo. ( I may add she’s been president of NP organization, and our psychiatrist was head of state association , so I am surrounded by wonderful professionals).