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...
We've all heard of people going to the ER thinking they're having a heart attack when really it's anxiety.
Well, I have some risk factors for heart disease. I also have a heart murmur....and I'm in peri-menopause...and I have anxiety.
I've had all the stuff done - the EKG, the halter monitor, the stress test. I indulge myself every 10 years or so and go to a cardiologist to get checked out. Everything is always normal.
So the other day I read an article on how to tell the difference between heart attack and anxiety and it was NOT very helpful. You know, the symptoms pretty much match up...especially for women. I won't list them as I don't want to trigger anyone.
I can't run to the ER every time I get the symptoms of a heart attack because I have them pretty much every night (intense dreams) for weeks at a time. Then I'm fine for months.
I do not always get the panicky feeling with my anxiety - often it's largely physical. That's what really throws me. I used to be able to say - if I'm freaking out and I feel like I'm having a heart attack, it's probably anxiety. Well, now my mind doesn't freak out but my body sure does.
Has anyone else dealt with this? What do you do?
Well, I have some risk factors for heart disease. I also have a heart murmur....and I'm in peri-menopause...and I have anxiety.
I've had all the stuff done - the EKG, the halter monitor, the stress test. I indulge myself every 10 years or so and go to a cardiologist to get checked out. Everything is always normal.
So the other day I read an article on how to tell the difference between heart attack and anxiety and it was NOT very helpful. You know, the symptoms pretty much match up...especially for women. I won't list them as I don't want to trigger anyone.
I can't run to the ER every time I get the symptoms of a heart attack because I have them pretty much every night (intense dreams) for weeks at a time. Then I'm fine for months.
I do not always get the panicky feeling with my anxiety - often it's largely physical. That's what really throws me. I used to be able to say - if I'm freaking out and I feel like I'm having a heart attack, it's probably anxiety. Well, now my mind doesn't freak out but my body sure does.
Has anyone else dealt with this? What do you do?
I think that's the thing...I don't want to run to the dr. all the time thinking I'm having a heart attack but I don't want to NOT go if something is seriously wrong.
I hate those shows where people don't realize they're pregnant or they find out at a physical that they had a heart attack or stroke and never knew. I tell myself that that is INCREDIBLY rare and would never happen to someone with the degree of body awareness I have.
Hugs all. I truly appreciate you listening and sharing ideas.
I have run to the ER 3 times in the past 2 years and I too can not afford to keep running there every time I feel a symptom.
Here is what I did. I talked to a few women who DID have heart attacks.....some also have had anxiety.
Here is what they told me.........there is NO mistake when you are having a heart attack. The chest pain is a thousand times more intense and it feels like a huge elephant is sitting on your chest.
The big indicator is all of this is accompanied with profuse sweating and difficulty catching your breath.
Everyone experiences different symptoms for heart attacks that it is difficult to know exactly which ones fit an individual for certain.
I think there is way too much conflicting and confusing info out there IMO.