Panic attacks increasing HELP

[willrad]

I am 21 years old 76kg and 177cm tall and quite healthy i work full time. I have had anxiety for years now and it has recently gotten worse so i thought i would just list the issues im having. Firstly my anxiety is almost always related to how i feel physically, i have had a heart ablation for SVT and since then i have been very aware of my heart beat and anything abnormal (to me) makes me anxious and panic. I have had multiple tests since then and a halter monitor for 24 hours and everything is fine but still whenever I have a skip beat or chest pain i panic and this is happening daily now and affecting my work. Secondly I also cannot exercise due to the feeling of a racing heart even though i know its normal I always have a panic attack after exercise and now i have no motivation even though i really enjoy sports. Exercise feels like a panic attack. Thirdly I have also been getting anxiety from certain foods like if i eat a food i dont often eat such as spicy food or mushrooms i get anxiety from thinking im allergic for some reason!? And then this can lead to a panic attack it just feels like anything that happens to me gives me a panic attack. It is mainly related to heart and chest pain but even if i have sore back or leg my brain will find a way to link the pain to a heart attack. I just want 1000 tests and an MRI to give me closure that i am fine even though i know im fine. Even if i get tests i feel like the doctors missed something and ughh it just sucks. I was on meds but don't want to rely on meds forever but also dont want to feel like this? thanks and sorry for the grammar i wrote this after a panic attack.

So quick recap: Heart is the main cause, cannot exercise without panicking, allergy/food anxiety, chest pain/skipping beats anxiety

THANK YOU!

[Bethie]

Hi

Welcome to BB. I'll get to the point. Go back and see your doctor. Ask to be put on a mental health plan....that gives you 10 free visits to see a theropist.

See if yoga or meditation is something you like. If money is tight alot of YMCA have cheap yoga or meditation classes.

Good luck. You'll get through this. We are all here for you

[Quercus]

Hi Willrad and welcome,

Bethie has said the most important thing... Asking for help offline. Sometimes medication is necessary but there are also other options. Last year I took a class on learning skills to manage depression and anxiety. This was so helpful to learn about identifying unhelpful thoughts and techniques to help yourself.

Likewise if you look through the anxiety section of the forums you will see health anxiety is a common concern. You're not alone in this. If you read the other threads you may find what has worked for others in a similiar situation as yourself. And please join in the conversations if you feel able to. There is nothing better than talking to someone who understands how you are feeling.

I hope you are able to find some ideas which help you. And please do ask for support offline. Feeling anxiety like this is absolutely exhausting and the more tired you are the more overwhelming it all becomes.

Please take care of yourself Willrad.

Nat

[Steph2]

Hi WIllrad,

First things first. If you feel like something else may be wrong, seek a second opinion. Just keep in mind there may be costs involved to further investigating. At some point one has to give in to the fact that it 'may' be all related to mental health. I am not saying it is, but you are allowed to seek second opinions. I was someone who did not want to believe that anxiety was causing all my symptoms (mostly physical). I was in hospital a few times and have almost had all possible blood tests and scans. The end result was anxiety/panic attacks and depression. This made it harder to accept in the beginning BUT I knew as a fact that I was otherwise in good health.

I was also very focused on my heart rate and many times felt I was having a heart attack. It sounds like you have had all the relevant tests to check your hearts condition. If your GP advises it is safe to exercise, I would highly recommend it. Even if its just 20 steps from the house and back, doing this as many times as you feel comfortable.

I am happy to talk to you more about my experience if you want.

But I know with the right support you can get through this and focus on living your life.

[CJ_stuff_and_stuff]

Hi there,

I am sending you a virtual hug for two reasons, you need one and so do I! I live in constant fear of an instant and deadly heart attack.

when I waa about 16 I had a couple of tachycardia episodes and went through some tests, of course they all came back clear. About 12 years later (3 years ago) I had a massive panic attack and since then there hasn’t been a day where I don’t think I could have a heart attack any minute.

i have quite bad muscular issues in my back and subsequently my chest and of course when I am anxious there is more tension - the vicious circle of self torture! My brain is not only obsessed but is incredibly creative and manages to convince me that if I’m tired it’s bc my heart isn’t working properly or if I have a twinge in my back, chest, arm or jaw then it must be a heart attack... not just likely poor posture from an office job and specific injuries.

i don’t have a solution for myself or for you but I am going back to the dr tomorrow to ask for some recent tests - perhaps this will put my mind at ease... or perhaps I need to go back to a psych re my obsessive thoughts.

i am sorry you have the same self torture and I wish we could both get some reprieve.

how are you going now? It has been a couple of months since your post..

best of luck,

CJ