Im a 20, african american male, who suffers from an anxiety disorder. I tend to worry ALOT about things, and I tend to repeat things that bother me, over and over in my head. It really ticks me off and makes me feel alienated from everyone, else and inferior. and to top things off, I went to the clinic to get my blood pressure checked and they said it was a little high. I of course took that to the head and didnt like that at all. I then a few weeks later went to check my blood pressure myself on one of those do it yourself machines, and it showed me being at 155/77. So I went to the phamacist and showed her my reading and she told me to sit down and relax for a few minutes and try it again. So I did and this time it showed it being 134/76 which I guess is in the normal range. I showed it to her and she told me that im fine, and that its probably what they call "white coat" syndrome. The next day I went it was 153/76, and then I waited and then checked again and it was 127/56.
2006-12-13 10:27:01 · 11 answers · asked by Yahoo 3 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Im 5'10 and weigh about 155lbs. Im not overweight, and I hardly eat enough if anything to eat too many salty foods. And as I said I tend to go over things over and over in my head, so this has my really worried. Am I blowing things out of proportion? And is this just all in my head? Also if you have gone through this tell me what you did, cuz im just not likin the idea of all of takin pills, it just doesnt seem natural. I think my anxiety is the problem.
2006-12-13 10:29:25 · update #1
I just read this. "Systolic hypertension is that which allows any increase in systolic pressure. This may be due to a variety of causes, a simple case being extreme anxiety. In this case, a few hours of rest will bring the blood pressure down to normal." and if you looked at my numbers its my systolic that is the number that seems to keep being outta line. while my diastolic seems to be in normal range.
2006-12-13 11:39:58 · update #2
I concur. GAD is the likely diagnosis. Your blood pressure being up at times is a natual symptom of anxiety creation by your mind. You wind yourself up in so much prethought and probably negative prognosing that you actually drive your blood pressure up a little. You are able to bring it back down because your thought process changes just enough to affect it. Drugs are not the answer, unless you are unable to do the cognitive exercises required to learn the stop-think method. Go see a therapist trained in CBT(cognitive behavioral therapy). It has the best evidence of a high success rate with anxiety disorders. Easily treatable if you do the work. Good luck...
2006-12-13 10:40:44 · answer #1 · answered by Therapist King 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You sound like a normal, rational person to me.
"White coat syndrome" seems like it yes.
I empathize.You are always trying to solve the puzzle in your mind in order to arrive at the correct conclusion.
Be of good cheer,you sound like a dependable person.
Cut back some caffeine if you imbibe more than two
cups of coffee per day & realize that you can't control what others see, feel ,think or do.This may help to alleviate some of the inferiority complex you have
been experiencing.Good call on no pills! It's the most overprescribed excuse for not facing the problem head on,which is,stress management in my opinion.
2006-12-13 10:46:39 · answer #2 · answered by moebiusfox 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could try Paxil.. It is an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medication. It has some side effects but it does work the way its intended, at least it did for me. It does force you to relax more and can help to give you a more clear head for thinking. You get less overheated about things that you don't have any control over, which in turn helps you to sort out things in a more rational way. and it is an anti depressant that might be able to help you work through the inferiority complex part of your problem too.
The doctors at my last hospital, who actually were good and have a good reputation in our state, prescribed paxil commonly for these types of problems and said they had good feedback from patients.
2006-12-13 14:37:48 · answer #3 · answered by days_o_work 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Welcome to the club my friend... :)
The anxiety is likely the cause of your HBP. (Although it could be a condition unrelated... only dr can tell for certain)
Unless you can learn to control your anxiety, you will likely need some sort of meds to keep the HBP down, BUT... the BIG issue really is the Anxiety.
That will lead to a major negative impact on your life.
If you are going to take a medication, consider it for your anxiety.. .AND possibly consider meditation, yoga, and reassessment of how you live life ... job, bills, unnecessary stresses.
I struggle with the same issues, and it is tough, but... if you can, SIMPLIFY your life, remove unnecessary, self-induced pressures (career, money, possessions, etc.)
Seek out what makes you happy, at ease, and content... why live life in the rat race, when we all just end up in the same place on the same footings.
Good luck...
2006-12-13 10:42:32 · answer #4 · answered by kiltboi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Salt causes an increase in blood pressure, as does anxiety. Your blood pressure probably goes up just from frekaing out about getting it measured.
You need to get some counseling and try and anti-anxiety medication. This is no way to go through life.
2006-12-13 10:56:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would not rely on those machines. i live in Canad and went to 4 different b p machines. i tried to stay calm and relaxed when i used these machines and everyone was different they all said my blood pressure was high i went to my doctor, and low and behold, i actually had low to normal blood pressure. anxiety can increase your blood pressure, but i think u may be adding undo stress to yourself, by having your blood pressure checked that often. just see your GP and have him or her take your bp and hopefully his advice will alleviate some of this distress. also, you may need to be on some medication for you anxiety. do not think of yourself as inferior, lots of people have anxiety, and you deserve to be happy just like anybody else. you are way to young to worry about these things that much. please try to get some help for yourself. i hope this helps you. good luck
2006-12-13 12:42:24 · answer #6 · answered by zeek 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
any kind of anxiety/panic disorder can cause your pressure to rise. i have anxiety/panic disorder and let me tell you, my pressure is like a roller coaster! you need to find something that works for you, breathing techniques, meds, anything. you have to put your mind to it and think positive, i know, easier said than done. but you CAN do it. good luck!
2006-12-13 11:14:40 · answer #7 · answered by mom*2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's probably anxiety. Try to be calm and understand that the doctors know what they are talking about.
2006-12-13 10:34:58 · answer #8 · answered by * 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, you might have GAD Generalixzed anxiety disorder.
2006-12-13 10:32:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need this course... it will change your life.
http://www.attackanxiety.com
Have the courage to invest in your own wellbeing.
2006-12-13 11:27:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋