Diabetes and Anxiety

belyro · #1 (**permalink**) 11-06-2006, 06:22 AM

I'm just wondering if any other diabetics out there suffer from anxiety?

Because of my diabetes, I'm completely scared of getting sick and throwing up. I'd probably go so far as to call it a phobia. When the stomach flu is going around I wash my hands obsessively. I do everything possible to avoid food poisoning including picking restaurants (and the food I eat at them) very carefully. But if I do start to feel sick at all....it often leads to an anxiety attack.

I used to be fine because I didn't used to throw up often at all, but then I got food poisoning once, couldn't keep anything down, took too little insulin, and ended up in the hospital with DKA. That was a few years ago. Since then, I ended up in the hospital one other time - not with DKA, but needing an anti-nauseant by IV as well as a saline drip to rehydrate me. It's just so complicated with diabetes, that I've become completely scared of it.

Now if I start to feel sick I get worried and antsy and my breathing gets shallow and I start to feel nauseous (even if I'm just over-tired sometimes) and in bad cases I end up with uncontrollable shakes and even throwing up. (Ironic, I know.)

I'm on medication for the anxiety, and it really doesn't happen very often anymore, but it's still something that's always in the back of my mind.

Can anyone else relate?

right2fight · #2 (**permalink**) 11-06-2006, 06:27 AM

Do I ever and I am not the D. My son is, no medication in the world could help me. It's maddening.

Eri's mom · #3 (**permalink**) 11-06-2006, 07:51 AM

Eri has panic anxiety disorder. They haven't put her on anything for it yet, bc she is only 13, she has BEGGED me for my medicine for it, but I can't give her my script. They tried her on zoloft, she didn't like it. I'm going to ask about celexa instead.
Thing w/ Eri is she is so used to throwing up now, it's just her heart racing and the dizziness and nausea that gets to her.

grace girl · #4 (**permalink**) 11-06-2006, 08:45 AM

I've had to deal with some pretty serious anxiety with lows. I've had some really bad ones...not so much being too low (never below 40) but having a hard time getting them to come back up....and then the hangover effect that I get for the rest of the day.
At a point this summer every time I got near low (65 would do it) I practically would have an anxiety attack...couldn't breath, heart racing....and I would do ANYTHING to avoid a low, even staying too high.
I'm trying to deal with it, because I've realized that my reactions are really abnormal. No one likes them, but getting obessive is beyond reason.
I've never had problems like this in any other area of life.

BriOnH · #5 (**permalink**) 11-06-2006, 10:16 AM

I have hypoglycemaphobia. On Paxil.

xMenace · #6 (**permalink**) 11-06-2006, 10:37 AM

None, zero, zip.

sofaraway · #7 (**permalink**) 11-06-2006, 10:39 AM

I can relate I've have anxiety attacks, not in relation to any specific phobia, or diabetes. but they can be really scary. the worst is when they lead to disassociation, which luckly hasn't happened for a while.

JasonJayhawk · #8 (**permalink**) 11-06-2006, 10:59 AM

When I was dx'ed with Type 1, I had all sorts of anxiety. For example, when I was in a store, I used to look around and think that I was being followed for stealing something -- the anxiety was so high that I was feeling guilty for doing something I didn't do! It was as though I was afraid a "pre-cog" would find and charge me with a crime.

As it turns out, it was really severe, severe hyperthyroidism. (TSH was not measurable.) After getting that under control, my anxiety is back to "normal levels."

Just thought I'd mention that story for anyone who hasn't already heard it and hasn't had a thyorid test!

am1977 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-06-2006, 07:05 PM

Honestly, I tend to be a pretty anxious person in general

... But I have noticed since being dxed as T1 that it's become worse which is just great

... I'm not on medication, but I'm not against it if it has the potential to help people.

Injecto · #10 (**permalink**) 12-08-2006, 11:36 AM

Sorry, I didn't know there was thread already dedicated to this.

Man, I think I have anxiety overload. I've always been a great worrier, so for me that is not unusual, but unfortunately it was never good either. However, after being diagnosed with Diabetes I think I have fallen off a hopeless edge. I feel I am swimming in anxiety. I can't stop thinking the worst things, I can't handle the kids (they stress me out bless their little hearts), I'm worried about how this is affecting my marriage (bless my loving but stressed wife), I have lots of chest pressure (I've been to the hospital twice thinking I'm having a heart attack, which I wasn't), I get worried about going out in public, and worst of all hands down is the $#!#$%*^ dizziness that just doesn't ever go away. I have it 24/7 and have so for the last 8 weeks.

It's so bad that I sometimes loose balance. I've felt nauseas at a variety of times and been very close to throwing up. The dizziness is driving me crazy and I tell ya it makes dealing with the diabetes harder. I feel as if I'm doubly screwed. I need to get over the anxiety just to handle the diabetes, but it's the diabetes that is causing me to be excessively anxious. There are times when I'm just to anxious that I'm not functional at all.

And I'm too darn scared to go on meds for a variety of reasons.

Somehow the diagnosis has pushed me into anxiety overload and I don't know what to do. I've found so far that the best thing is to meet other Type 1's and here their stories, to see that they actually LIVE. But then even that hasn't gotten me out of this vicious circle.

Sorry, I guess just another vent. I have lots to let out.

belyro · #11 (**permalink**) 12-08-2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Injecto

Sorry, I guess just another vent. I have lots to let out.

Don't feel bad about all this. You have just gone through a HUGE life change. It's scary. There's no way to get around that.

I think you'll find your anxiety will decrease as you get used to the diabetes though. It's so great that you have your family to help you get through the transition....and now your DF family too.

Gangrel · #12 (**permalink**) 12-08-2006, 12:01 PM

Ok, I am just curious about something that i thought of while reading these posts again....

While I, myself do not suffer from anxiety, I know others who do (for the sake of their privacy, i won't publicy say even thought they may never come on here).

If this offends anybody somehow, the i truly and deeply apologize in advance and will immediately shut up....

But, for those of you with anxiety, who perhaps can remember life before they developed the disorder, would you say you had a somewhat anxious personality to begin with? I.E tending to be a worryer, etc.?

I am just wondering strictly for curiosities sake, as I am a pretty laid back guy (some say too laid back!) and was just wondering if a person with my type of personality would have a much harder time becoming anxious.... (if that makes sense)

I will also say that knowing people who have anxiety disorders, you guys have all my love and help you ever want, as I see what it can do to a person, and those around them.......

belyro · #13 (**permalink**) 12-08-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gangrel

Ok, I am just curious about something that i thought of while reading these posts again....

While I, myself do not suffer from anxiety, I know others who do (for the sake of their privacy, i won't publicy say even thought they may never come on here).

If this offends anybody somehow, the i truly and deeply apologize in advance and will immediately shut up....

But, for those of you with anxiety, who perhaps can remember life before they developed the disorder, would you say you had a somewhat anxious personality to begin with? I.E tending to be a worryer, etc.?

I am just wondering strictly for curiosities sake, as I am a pretty laid back guy (some say too laid back!) and was just wondering if a person with my type of personality would have a much harder time becoming anxious.... (if that makes sense)

I will also say that knowing people who have anxiety disorders, you guys have all my love and help you ever want, as I see what it can do to a person, and those around them.......

Very nice of you Aaron.

Yes, I've always been a worrier. It's in my genes.

Gangrel · #14 (**permalink**) 12-08-2006, 03:12 PM

You're welcome beth. I just know, dealing from a 3rd hand perspective, what it's like on the outside, and how it can affect those around you. I can't even begin to imagine what goes on inisde the head of a sufferer.....

I can only think that a disease like ours that causes so many ups and downs would only make one prone to it. Maybe it will happen to me one day......

Cyborg · #15 (**permalink**) 12-08-2006, 04:44 PM

I've also mostly been a laid back person and I try not to worry. Since I've only had the big D for about 8 years, I do occasionally have a little anxiety due to the Diabetes. Times that are stressful only tend to be those where I don't have total control, such as when I forget my glucose, or my meter, etc. Since I check my bg about every 2 hours, I have a good idea of where I'm at most of the time.

With regards to medication for anxiety, it can help. If you are to the point where you can't function a normal life due to an anxiety disorder, perhaps a psychologist would be an alternative to medication...