Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
I know one of the many symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks is chest pains, but I was wondering how long it's normal to have these pains and when I should worry.
I've had them on and off on both sides of my chest, sometimes in my arms, for about two or three days now. They're dull, sometimes kind of sharp pains most of the time, and other times I just feel like my entire chest is sore and it feels really heavy (if that makes sense). I don't want to go back to the hospital (I went two weeks ago for a really severe panic attack) unless I absolutely have to because I don't have the money to pay for it, but I also happen to be a hypochondriac and, even though I'm 99.99% sure it's just anxiety, I find myself panicking thinking it's something much worse a lot of the time. I feel like I'd be dead or really sick by now if it really were a heart problem, but that doesn't stop me from freaking out occasionally.
I would feel a lot better knowing that other people have experienced this symptom, and advice on how to make it stop would be greatly appreciated.
I've had them on and off on both sides of my chest, sometimes in my arms, for about two or three days now. They're dull, sometimes kind of sharp pains most of the time, and other times I just feel like my entire chest is sore and it feels really heavy (if that makes sense). I don't want to go back to the hospital (I went two weeks ago for a really severe panic attack) unless I absolutely have to because I don't have the money to pay for it, but I also happen to be a hypochondriac and, even though I'm 99.99% sure it's just anxiety, I find myself panicking thinking it's something much worse a lot of the time. I feel like I'd be dead or really sick by now if it really were a heart problem, but that doesn't stop me from freaking out occasionally.
I would feel a lot better knowing that other people have experienced this symptom, and advice on how to make it stop would be greatly appreciated.
I actually posted about this very thing a couple weeks ago and someone told me not to worry, I'd KNOW when I was having a heart attack. That helped.
I also asked my doctor about it and they said that "same is good." So if I have anxiety chest pains they pretty much feel like what you're describing. The intensity, duration and pain feel pretty much the same each time.
Anxious people DO tend to get chest pains - as well as other pains because our muscles are always so tight. The muscles around our ribs and abdomen and back/neck especially and that can result in chest pain.
The doctor also told me that a heart attack or heart problem tends to be severe and acute and it gets worse over time. So when I have my anxiety chest pains, it's achey with spikes of stabby pain for days. That's not likely to be a severe heart problem.
That said, if you do have insurance or can go to a health fair they can check the basics for you to give you greater peace of mind.
I have been on meds now since last fall. I have good and bad days as does everyone with this condition.
Best of luck to you!
Over the years I have learned to tolerate it. I try to get up and do things when my chest hurts so I can get in the habit of being productive while I'm in pain. I got dizzy a couple of times and saw spots and had to sit down for a moment. I never passed out so I figure it's all good.
I'm really trying to build up a tolerance for my symptoms lately. It's working well for me. Sometimes I just take Advil for the chest pain if it doesn't go away after an hour or so.
Reed31, I have to echo what you said, I massage very gently, sometimes i use vicks vapor rub so it heats up the area and sooths it.
My doctor had me take xantac (heartburn medicine) daily for one month because she believed that my anxiety had caused my upper digestive tract to mess up. She also told me to start taking probiotics. I did both of these and the pains were alleviated for about 2 months. Now that I am a bit stressed again they are coming back, but I know it is anxiety. You can try the probiotic and xantac and see if that helps you. It took a week before I started noticing a difference,
I just remind myself that the ER doesn't find any problems when I do go in, so unless it feels different than usual, I try not to worry. (Also, my mother goes in EVERY time she has an anxiety attack and they never find any problems with her either.)
Is there a good med to take care of the panic attack?