Health Anxiety & Panic Symptoms

[Ohleaver]

Hi all

Ive been diagnosed With Health Anxiety & Panic Disorder, also mild depression due to these things. My health anxiety is related to my heart so im constantly monitoring and observing my heart. I had my first panic attack randomly probably due to anxiety\stress of my break up with my recent ex-girl friend. I thought i was having a heart attack and something was wrong with me, got sent to hospital and dis-charged after i calmed down with no issues. Ive been getting stabbing chest pain mostly in my left side on and off sometimes very intense sometimes very mild for about 2 years now since i broke up with her but just lately it has started to get to me thinking its a heart attack. Does anyone else get stabbing chest pain? Ive been to a cardioligist and my heart has been completely checked out and is working fine. Lately ive realised i spike in anxiety symptoms ( Chest pain in left side (stabbing) , skipped heart beats maybe 5-10 times a day and excessive worry that there is something wrong with my heart.

On the good side i have started doing alot of things i was scared of, such as physical activity and i have learnt to not fear my panic attacks anymore so they have declined. But the exsessive thoughts, skipped or extra heart beats and stabbing chest pain is still there. How am i supposed to stay calm and be happy when these symptoms occur and cause me more anxiety?

Right now i believe im close to coping with my anxiety but the stabbing chest pain is probably the one that still gets me and makes me think oh no what if something actually is wrong with my heart cause it shouldnt be stabbing pain like that? I find it hard to believe that stabbing chest pain in the left side thats on and off is a symptom of anxiety. Even though my heart has been checked out i still worry. Ive had these stabbing chest pains on and off for the past 2 years so surely if it was heart related id be dead by now?

Anyone experiencing the same or similar thing?

[Ohleaver]

Forgot to add that i dont really experience and chest pain or skipped heart beats if im heavily concentrated on something else ( work, out with friends etc )

[Guest_4643]

Hi Ohleaver. My name's Tayla and I'm 20.

Welcome to the forums. Good on you for coming here and posting, I'm recently new myself.

I'm sorry to hear about your heart issues and anxiety etc. And your ex-girlfriend.

Having heart problems and the stabbing feeling is quite normal for anxiety. Anxiety and panic attacks trigger that in stressful situations and with thoughts. For example if something quite stressful happened like let's say you had a nightmare and you thought it was true, that can cause this too. It's all natural, so I've been told by Doctors anyway. It's normal for everyone with anxiety, especially those diagnosed with it.

I hope there's nothing wrong with your heart though, I suppose on that side of things I'd suggest trying to see your Doctor and get more tests done, as scary as it is. I sincerely hope you have nothing wrong though!

In terms of what you can do, you could try and see your GP and a mental health professional if you're interested so a Psychiatrist (if you're on medication) and/or a Psychologist. I'm not sure if you've seen one or you currently are. Sometimes it can help - mental health, symptoms like you mentioned, therapists etc. is different for everyone as you may know.

You could also try some apps like Smiling Mind, or listening to some relaxing stuff on Youtube or something similar (I know it may not be your thing and it may sound boring but it can help sometimes, such as mellow music). The Smiling Mind app is free as far as I know. You can also try and talking on these forums and websites like this, SANE, Lifeline, etc. There's a lot to look at which is great, and you can do web chats on those just like Beyond Blue.

You could also try doing some exercise if you're up for it, even a short walk like 10 minutes, but that's entirely up to you. Sometimes just getting outside in the fresh air and seeing nature can help, or even just sitting outside.

Or you could try colouring in, there's stuff for guys too, just like on a free colour by numbers app I use on my iPad called Happy Colour, and you get rewards such as colour 5 pictures.

Or a punching bag to vent out anger or punch something soft like a pillow so you don't hurt anything, anyone and yourself.

I'm not sure what you like to do, but these are just some suggestions. I'm not forcing you of course because everyone is different like I said. Your choice. Sometimes some of these things make me feel a little better, it depends.

I'm sorry you're struggling. Please take care.

Tayla