physical symptoms of excessive stress, depression, and health anxiety?

Question

i am a 21 year old male. for the last year i have been dealing with extreme stress and bouts with depression. to make matters worse i have recurring bodily aches, dull pain that lasts for a few seconds anywhere in the body. my GP dismissed this as anything serious and i have convinced myself that i have a deadly disease. in addition to this, for the last 2 weeks i've been experiencing possible IBS. i always feel bloated, my stools alternate from tarry to pasty, and from loose and frequent ones to boarderline constipation. what could possibly be wrong with me or is this all stem from a mental disorder?

Answer 1

The part that stands out to me is you have convinced yourself you have a deadly condition and is typical of an anxiety issue. If your doctor has ruled out physical issues and you still feel like this it strikes me as some type of anxiety. All the symptoms are common for it. Have him run additional test to ease your mind and then if they come back normal accept it. A psychiatrist will run several test to make sure there is not really an underlying cause before calling it an anxiety disorder if they are worth anything. One who just writes up a script without test is one to run from.

I have on many many occasion tried to figure how my illness that is mental is actually so physical. But alas anxiety can cause a long list of aches and pains, muscle spasms, and sadly IBS is a very normal unpleasant one too. Good luck and I hope you rest easy.

Answer 2

I would say you have malnutrition. You might be eating well but I doesn't mean your body is absorbing it. Malnutrition can cause every single symptom you just mentioned and more. And if it is malnutions then the question is what is causing it. This can be caused from everything from a virus to a parasite.
I had bad problems with drepression and anxiety and I started reading about how different foods like Milk and Wheat can trigger bouts of anxiety and depression in some people.

Some foods are just not good for all poeple. I also noticed that I had mineral problems. my gums were receding and this was becuae I needed calcium. Being deficient in any mineral like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium can make you feel anxious, have depression, and give you muscle aches and pains. If the doctor has ruled out anything serious then you know it has to do with your diet.
so look heavily into nutrition if you have insurance then have your doctor check your magneriusm calciuma nd sodiuma nd potassium levels because I found out that these were what affected me.

Answer 3

Depression, and especially stress, definitely do have physical symptoms. IBS type symptoms are common, as well as sleep disturbances, rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, shakiness, lightheadedness, headache, the list goes on and on. You should talk to a mental health professional, they are familiar with the kinds of symtoms associated with depression and anxiety. Maybe you need some antidepressant or antianxiety medication, or some therapy sessions where you can learn some relaxation techniques.

Answer 4

for info about the link between Depression and pain or physical discomfort, go to this webpage from the Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pain-and-depression/AN01449

Unfortunately, you could really have another separate diagnosis like IBS, nobody can really tell you except a doctor. Your doctor doesn't seem to be very attentive or compassionate -- can you get a new one?

I think you should see a new general practitioner and describe what you are experiencing, including mood symptoms and exactly the physical sensations you are describing. Diagnosis isn't easy, but you need a better doc.

Good luck!

Answer 5

You may not have a mental disorder,all your symptoms are likely due to the stress you say you've been dealing with,stress and depression can cause physiological changes in your body, you need to go to counseling so they can evaluate you and help you with what is causing the stress.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

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Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?