Thread: Anxiety problems?

Hello,
I'm 19 year old and studying at university. I was wondering if anyone could help me with my problems or if anyone is going through similar circumstances. I started feeling lightheaded and dizzy about 2 years ago after going shopping with my friend and I had some sort of attack where I was very dizzy with the room spinning and I had a fever and thought I was going to be sick. After this attack I still felt dizzy and lightheaded and 2 years on I still do but don't notice it as much. I also had other health issues at the time which remain such as psoriasis, tinnitus in my ears and general lack of hearing in them. I went to the doctors to ask about the symptoms who told me the dizziness was due to an ear infection called labyrinthitis that would get better. It didn't. I have visited the doctor many times after this because my symptoms progressed to visual problems such as visual snow kind of thing and feeling like I was in a dream world because of the vison and lightheadness. I also feel very tired all of the time.

So, I pretty much convinved myself I had everything from a brain tumour to having back ache and other symptoms I thought were associated with bowel cancer. Every time I get the slightest symptom I think I have a serious illness or Im dying. So yes, I believe I am suffering from some Hypochondria and I am aware of this.

There is another factor which is the main one at the moment which is why I have chosen to write on here. Since I was a little kid I sometimes got this horrible feeling of fear inside me that was unbearable, it would go only to return at a later point. I remember feeling this about night time when I was a child and being so afraid of going to sleep.

When i first got the dizzy symptoms I started to suffer with this feeling again, crying every night and depression. Then slowly after about 6 months I managed to return back to my old self and have done until a few days ago.

I was lying in bed and switched the lights off then suddenly the feeling of fear overcame me again. It was unbearable, I couldn't sleep and I wanted to cry. Three days on and the fear has remained constant. Its more the fear of feeling the fear than anything real. If that makes sense?! The feeling itself is so horrible. Everything appears to feel and look different and I feel constantly anxious and like i'm going to burst into tears. I just want it to stop, but I don't know how long it will be this time until it passes. It seems this time it's come on for no reason.

I can't talk to anyone, my friends or boyfriend because I think they will think I'm going insane.

Are all of these issues related to this anxious feeling and could I have an underlying anxiety disorder?
Any experiences or advice would help. I'm desperate to hear back.

Thanks
xxx