Dear Jane,
I'm having a problem with anxiety, but what's worse is the physical symptoms. I can't explain it. It's like my skin is crawling, but in one general area. It moves. Sometimes it's in my shoulder, other times my legs. Sometimes my heart even beats irregularly. I can't stand it anymore. I could handle being upset or anxious about one thing or another if it wasn't for this. What is wrong???
Windy
Dear Windy,
You don’t say whether you’ve always had bouts of anxiety and these symptoms are new. I’m sure you can see the importance of that.
But it may help to understand the physical effects of anxiety. Basically you are flooded with adrenalin. Your body gets ready for fight or flight. -- panic or anger. You may get odd skin sensations as little tiny hairs tried to stand up on end, in a very old response from the days when we had fur. And the blood flow to the skin alters. Your heart beats faster, to get more oxygen quickly to your muscles. Your arms and legs may feel strange, even shaky, as blood floods into them, ready for running or fighting.
But there are other things that can make your skin feel funny. If you are sure these sensations are only associated with anxiety, then of course that’s the end of the story. You simply need to accept that they are part and parcel of your personal anxiety response, and look instead for ways to lower your anxiety proneness generally. (Daily Calm -- http://www.northstarnutritionals.com/p/Daily_Calm.htm -- or Theanine Serene can help support your mood while you tackle the causes of your anxiety.)
However, lack of certain B vitamins can certainly cause skin sensations. Vitamin B1 deficiency can cause odd patches of super-sensitivity or numbness or tingling, usually on the legs. Lack of vitamin B5 -- pantothenic acid -- can cause burning sensations especially on the soles of the feet. Since these are also very involved in helping with anxiety, it would make excellent sense to take a B-50 pill daily. It can only improve your state of mind and body. If your skin is dry, then add a couple of capsules daily of omega-3. If you have white spots on your nails and poor skin, take 15 mg. of zinc per day.
What you feel could be something to do with an eczema-like reaction. If so this is most likely caused by food or chemical sensitivity, and these sensitivities can also often cause feelings of anxiety. Only detective work will tell you whether drinking too many fizzy drinks, or eating too much wheat or dairy, or similar, is associated with the skin sensations and the anxiety. However this can be a very fruitful area to investigate.
Very occasionally strange skin sensations seem to be associated with some kind of skin infection. I suggest that when you are feeling calm you Google Morgellons. From your description it doesn’t sound like it, and obviously it can do no good to start thinking that you have something that you don’t. However for the sake of completeness it’s just there to check out. I would try everything else before you even begin to contemplate whether this is relevant for you.
Remember, I’m not a doctor or nutritionist, and any skin sensations or other concerns need to be checked out by a health care professional.
Best wishes,
Jane
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