"Anxiety Pain" (new member)

I have “anxiety pain”. This is what I call it, but I’ve never talked to a therapist who seems to recognize it, so I’m posting a description to see if others have had the same experience. It feels like an “adrenaline rush” except at about 5% of the intensity you get if suddenly frightened, but constant. The pain is located primarily in my upper arms, but when severe can move into my chest area and even legs. The intensity varies and even though it hasn’t affected me throughout my life, I’ve had periods of it lasting a month or two every 5-10 years of my life since a serious depression/anxiety episode 40 years ago. I’m currently experiencing the longest lasting episode I’ve had – about 6 months. This began because of anxiety over a physical problem, but as often is the case, the concern that initiates the pain goes away and I’m left with this constant “aching”. I refer to it only as a pain because I’m not “anxious” about much of anything on a conscious level, nor am I depressed. I feel it is related to anxiety though for two reasons - the only two things that can relieve the pain are a good nights sleep or the drug clonazepam (Klonopin). I’ve tried and am trying other medicines designed to be taken regularly for depression/anxiety like Wellbutrin and Mirtazapine. It’s hard to tell whether these help or not because they are long-term, slow acting things, unlike Klonopin, which acts within a half hour and I can definitely associate the pain relief with the drug. So what I’d like to know to begin with, is there anyone else out there that has suffers from
anxiety pain" and, of course, what, if anything, have you found to help relieve the it. Thanks. Body chemistry is a strange thing and there may only be a few others out there who even know what I'm talking about, but just maybe, someone else has discovered something to relieve the pain that I haven't.

Hello Terry: Thank you for bringing your concern here to PC. I'm afraid I'm one of those people who wouldn't know what to say about what you're experiencing. So I can't really offer anything with regard to it. However I noticed this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to Psych Central.

Two additional forums, here on PC, that may be of interest to you would be the health support forum & the chronic pain forum. Here are links to these forums:

https://forums.psychcentral.com/health-support/

https://forums.psychcentral.com/chronic-pain-support/

I hope you find PC to be of benefit.

I'm so sorry you're hurting so much, Terry Dyroff I have never experienced this, so unfortunately I don't have a lot of advice to give to you. I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. I hope other people here on PC will be able to help you. Have you already talked to your doctor about this? I'd suggest to talk to him about this and see how it goes from there if you haven't already. Hopefully he/she will be able to help you. I hope things will get better soon for you! Remember that we're here for you if you need it. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. I'm so sorry you have to deal with all of this, Terry Dyroff. Please don't give up. Try to hang on. You're a strong, wonderful person. I'm sure you'll be able to get through all of this. Keep fighting! You're awesome! You're strong! You're a warrior! I believe in you! We all believe in you! We're all rooting for you! I'm sos orry you're going through all of this! Keep fighting! You're a warrior! Please don't give up! Try to hang on!

I feel like this all the time!

That is great advice! I wish that I had thought about that myself!

I do get pain but I think with me it is like my muscles are cramping up.For instance the past week I have had severe lower back pain.I do have arthritis.I do know that depression can cause pain.I am sorry that you are suffering so much.I hope you can come back and talk with us more.You can always talk to me.