Severe stress due to loss of near one, feel vomiting on talking, have anxiety attacks. Any ideas?
Patient: I have a friend who is going thru a stressful time. His best friend was in an accident & may die. He has been visiting the hospital & spending time with the friend s parents. He says hes trying to be strong for them but that he is a mess & will go to therapy next week. What im curious about is that he says he cant talk without wanting to vomit . I have had anxiety attacks etc & I have never experienced this nore ever heard of it. Any idea what could cause it? He has told me that he used to be very anal. (His words) he has also said he has OCD . Doctor: Hello and welcome to Healthcare Magic. Thanks for your query.  I'm sorry to hear about your friend's difficult situation. I hope his therapy helps him to manage his stress. Now, regarding your question, anxiety can manifest itself as psychological as well as physical symptoms. The physical manifestations of anxiety can vary widely and can literally present with symptoms of any system in the body. Moreover, when the mind is anxious / in a state of arousal, there can be a heightened perception of sensations and stimuli, which would otherwise be ignored by a non-anxious person. So, it does make sense that your friend's nausea sensation could be anxiety -related. Please encourage him to see a psychiatrist for a detailed evaluation and management.   Wish you all the best.  - Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar Consultant Psychiatrist