Anxiety?

[Liz D.]

I know I have asked this question before but as a true Sjoggie, I forget the answer.  Is anxiety a symptom of this disease or am I anxious because I have the disease?  I have needed my Xanax more than usual lately, but for no apparent reason.

Liz D.

[Alwaysblue]

I've had anxiety my whole life. I think this just makes it worse

[stillinshockwithsjogrens]

I have not had real anxiety until last year, when my Sjogren's flare reared it's ugly dry head.  All my doctors say it's not a symptom of Sjogren's, but I know my body and I believe it is indeed a part of it.

[cargillwitch]

anxiety attacks were one of the main " out of the deep blue sky" symptoms that I took real note of. I truly believe they are physiological in origin and as " real" a symptom as dry eyes and a positive SSA!

However, I think being chronically ill can bring on a different kind of anxiety that is emotional in origin. Coping with deteriorating health, financial  and social stressors related to this roller coaster would make anyone anxious.

The two can and do often mutually co-exist.

[jazzlover]

I know that my body can't handle stress like it used to. I try to do deep breathing and relaxation techniques to help. It's hard!!!

Someone mentioned tremors or shaking. When I get excited or overly anxious I start shaking. What's up with that?

[lostone]

Just having this dam disease can make the anxiety go  through the roof, in 1989 I had my first panic attack, no clue what it was but was sure I was dying, many years and many attacks later, I just learned that i;m not going to die, I may think i am, but i wont, if anything this disease will do me in first, hang in there Liz, but your right, it prob is a symptom, how can it not be

[Myshkin]

It's both I guess... I have had anxiety before, but a new version has popped up now.

[MaryBee7]

We are used to going about the daily business of life, then must adapt to  functioning with a foggy brain... I think anxiety finds its way into the mix. 

[Liz D.]

Thanks for all your responses!!!  It makes me feel that I am not alone.  And yes, I think this whole anxiety with Sjogren's is a Catch 22.  I just have to learn to live with it and if it means I have to take meds for the rest of my life, I need to accept that.

I find that I go through moments where I want to stop taking ALL meds and see what happens.  Then I panic I will go into a huge flare that will put me on steroids so I don't.  But what if I don't really need these all?  I hate the way my mind just keeps fluttering all over the place.  Again, I know it is all part of the Sjogrens!!

Thanks again.

Liz D.

[eija]

I'm timing the activation of my sjs right after the piggy flu shot. That's when I got the humongous exhaustion and after that I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. I've been depressed before but never have had any anxiety.


Today I had an appontment with a psychiatrist. He obviously didn't know a lot about sjs. His opinion was that I'm clinically depressed and my dry mouth, dry eyes and all aches too are caused by the depression, not sjs - because he had am advisory opinion from my rheumy saying that my "sjs is mild and thus probably not the reason for the symptoms". Only in that she was answering my gp's question about my fatique and memory issues, not the pains and dryness. Ah, well... At least I got to educate him a little of the basics of sjs

[chrisr]

I know most won't believe me or want to hear this, but I had severe anxiety and depression trying to cope with this disease.   I also had a history of OCD like anxiety.  I am not sure why but about 2 weeks after  starting the Paleo diet all my anxiety was gone.  I mean totally gone.  I think this partly because the diet made me feel so much better even in such a short time and it gave me hope that i could improve my condition, but I also think there is something about wheat, dairy, and grains that exacerbates anxiety.   I was able to come off Effexor and Xanax within 2 weeks of starting the diet.  Have not looked back since.

You can throw stones at me now.