MusoniusRufusfan
A Disturbance in the Force
I would like to get your thoughts on an anxiety type issue which I experience. I’m not sure what the underlining cause is. I suspect that it is genetic, but would like to hear your thoughts. The primary symptom that I experience is that my hands are always wet (often to a degree where they prune). The degree of moisture is dependent on the amount of interaction I have with people or situations. When I’m at work just sitting at my desk, the issue is a mild dampness. When I’m in a meeting or talking to someone (It doesn’t matter who that person is, it can be my mother), it cranks up to wet or soaked. Even though I don’t necessarily feel stressed. Any interaction with a person or situation causes sweating in the hands. More intense emotional situations will cause my back to sweat as well. But that seems more “normal”. My hands are always wet. Social situations are not the only thing that sets it off though. It is an emotional response of some kind. I want to understand it but I'm having trouble doing so. It can be very bad while reading or watching intense movies or books (even if alone). I oddly can’t watch drama’s, they just make me too uncomfortable, I always need to change the channel or walk into another room.
The only time I do not experience the dampness to some degree is just before or after I go to sleep. Or during a deep state of thought or meditation. And when I’m thoroughly drunk (I generally do not like to drink, but I do notice it goes away if I’m really in the bag).
I also experience regular digestive distress (usually diarrhea but it varies). I was diagnosed with IBS as a child. But stopped taking medication or seeing a doctor around age 20 (I’m 29). Since it never seemed to help. These digestive symptoms also seem to be emotionally triggered. I also experience general discomfort around people or social situations. That often presents itself as my stomach growling or rumbling. This is in addition to the moisture in the hands and back. None of these symptoms are debilitating. But they often influence me from seeking social situations.
For a little history, I’ve had these issue’s (symptoms?) for as long as I can remember. Generally, I’ve always been very “shy”. And I blush to some degree just about when ever I talk with anyone I don’t know (and always have). I can’t control it. And it is definitely connected to the sweating and discomfort. One of my earliest memory’s is of hiding behind my mother at the market, reaching for a slice of cheese being offered. And I vividly remember my first day of school. I had such bad diarrhea that I almost missed the bus (I was 7). As an infant I was not popular, I’m told I would bite anyone I didn’t know who tried to pick me up.
I also have a family history of anxiety. My sister has a similar issue and is medicated for it. I take no medication. I do not want to live tranquilized. My younger cousin also experiences something similar. But I would describe his issue as being debilitating. He dropped out of school early, because of the discomfort and has trouble leaving his house. He also has similar digestive issues and was recently diagnosed with crohn's disease.
I’ve always assumed the underlining issue to be genetic. Since it seems common on my fathers’ side of the family (Irish). I have rejected the hypothesis of the anxiety being a social construct, due to it’s early development and the fact that I’m not a member of any online social networks and never have been ( I read an article about modern anxiety being caused by social networks and being online too much. I don’t think this relates to my situation. Since I don’t spend much time online and have no interest in Facebook). I’ve also done some research into my family history and found that my family name is described as coming from a location in southern Ireland, where they have resided in generally the same location for thousands of years (at least 2). Unlike many other family’s we seemed to stay in the same place under the same lords for most of written history. The book also notes that most of the people who still have the name in Ireland today overwhelmingly reside in this same traditional county (a sign of genetic anxiety??).
In conclusion, thank you for reading this far. I know that was long winded and I apologize. I like to be thorough in presenting facts. I have greatly enjoyed the unique perspectives presented on this web site. And I’m presenting this anxiety issue to you in the hope that this uniqueness will aid me in finding out what this issue is and how to get rid of it. Is it genetic in nature and can I reverse it? Meditation and reflection does help ease the symptoms to a degree but not consistently. I have a working theory of it being genetic in nature, however I’m very open to a different explanation or perspective.
Thanks for the thoughts
The only time I do not experience the dampness to some degree is just before or after I go to sleep. Or during a deep state of thought or meditation. And when I’m thoroughly drunk (I generally do not like to drink, but I do notice it goes away if I’m really in the bag).
I also experience regular digestive distress (usually diarrhea but it varies). I was diagnosed with IBS as a child. But stopped taking medication or seeing a doctor around age 20 (I’m 29). Since it never seemed to help. These digestive symptoms also seem to be emotionally triggered. I also experience general discomfort around people or social situations. That often presents itself as my stomach growling or rumbling. This is in addition to the moisture in the hands and back. None of these symptoms are debilitating. But they often influence me from seeking social situations.
For a little history, I’ve had these issue’s (symptoms?) for as long as I can remember. Generally, I’ve always been very “shy”. And I blush to some degree just about when ever I talk with anyone I don’t know (and always have). I can’t control it. And it is definitely connected to the sweating and discomfort. One of my earliest memory’s is of hiding behind my mother at the market, reaching for a slice of cheese being offered. And I vividly remember my first day of school. I had such bad diarrhea that I almost missed the bus (I was 7). As an infant I was not popular, I’m told I would bite anyone I didn’t know who tried to pick me up.
I also have a family history of anxiety. My sister has a similar issue and is medicated for it. I take no medication. I do not want to live tranquilized. My younger cousin also experiences something similar. But I would describe his issue as being debilitating. He dropped out of school early, because of the discomfort and has trouble leaving his house. He also has similar digestive issues and was recently diagnosed with crohn's disease.
I’ve always assumed the underlining issue to be genetic. Since it seems common on my fathers’ side of the family (Irish). I have rejected the hypothesis of the anxiety being a social construct, due to it’s early development and the fact that I’m not a member of any online social networks and never have been ( I read an article about modern anxiety being caused by social networks and being online too much. I don’t think this relates to my situation. Since I don’t spend much time online and have no interest in Facebook). I’ve also done some research into my family history and found that my family name is described as coming from a location in southern Ireland, where they have resided in generally the same location for thousands of years (at least 2). Unlike many other family’s we seemed to stay in the same place under the same lords for most of written history. The book also notes that most of the people who still have the name in Ireland today overwhelmingly reside in this same traditional county (a sign of genetic anxiety??).
In conclusion, thank you for reading this far. I know that was long winded and I apologize. I like to be thorough in presenting facts. I have greatly enjoyed the unique perspectives presented on this web site. And I’m presenting this anxiety issue to you in the hope that this uniqueness will aid me in finding out what this issue is and how to get rid of it. Is it genetic in nature and can I reverse it? Meditation and reflection does help ease the symptoms to a degree but not consistently. I have a working theory of it being genetic in nature, however I’m very open to a different explanation or perspective.
Thanks for the thoughts