I've been struggling with work/food-related anxiety for a few months now. When it comes on, it's paralyzing (metaphorically speaking). The triggers are typical stress (work/crazy personalities) and food (particularly heavy/fatty food, caffeine, sugar, etc.).
The symptoms use to be localized around my chest (shortness of breath, sensation of heart flutter, some chest tightness, etc.) but have moved into my head lately (headaches, cluster headaches, sudden headaches, and most disturbingly, the sensation that I'll totally spin out, the feeling like you're totally going nuts from the stress - no pain, just a sensation of being stretched/craziness for seconds at the most).
I've had every test in the book - I'm fine. Brain is fine. Head is fine. Heart is fine. Health is fine.
It's all just goddamned anxiety. I can actively make all the symptoms worse just by concentrating on them and picturing worst case scenarios. It's really scary what the mind is capable of.
Lorazepam (Ativan) helps, and was prescribed to me on an as-needed basis. It really knocks out the insane worry that builds into panic attacks and these 'head' events.
It's definitely not a long term solution, though. I'm on a quest to change my life through CBT, more exercise, relaxation techniques, and a big change to my work world. All is helping so far, but I still fall prey to this shit at least once a day. Sometimes mildly, sometimes severely (requiring a Lorazepam to calm the fuck down).
I wonder if I'll make it with occasional Ativans and CBT/etc. alone, or if I just need the help of something more significant like an SSRI to handle life/work/everything. If it's a pill a day to just think/behave like I used to (or better, without worry constantly crippling my confidence and productivity), man, that's a small price to pay. I'd love to do it all naturally and without medical aid, but don't know if that's possible anymore.
Blargh.