Panic attacks, Sore Muscles, Tightening of the Chest and Lump in the Throat

[Alfie7]

Lately I have found it hard to get comfortable sitting down and also when I lay down to go to sleep. I been getting a sore left shoulder with a burning feeling in the joint, then I overthink things and my heart starts racing and it feels like my chest is tightening at night time. During the day I sometimes get a lump in my throat and feel sick in the stomach.

I have only been experiencing this since New Years day when I had my first Panic attack thinking I needed to go to hospital. I have since gone to the Doctor and they just think my Blood Pressure was high because of the recent stress I have had.

These panic attacks leave be anxious thinking I have a serious health issue except the doctors don't think I do and I am only young.

I believe my triggers are when my shoulder gets sore and when I feel sick in the stomach is their any quick tips to minimise muscle tension and Nausea?

I am currently exercising and started clean eating but is there anything else that will help as I hate this horrible feeling I have been experiencing.

Alfie

[blondguy]

Hello Alfie7

Welcome to the forums and good on you for posting too!

I understand how awful anxiety is as I used to have it....chronically for around 13 years and yes...its a bad place to be in for sure

When we have our first panic attack(s) we often think that we have a serious physiological issue as the symptoms are usually strong and unpleasant. You are a very proactive person by going to hospital and having a check up.

Just my opinion with your shoulder pain.....I have also had bad pain in my right shoulder too....If we are very stressed/anxious our neck muscles will become very hard and then the pain is referred to our shoulder

No one on the forums will judge you Alfie in any way. The forums are a wonderful source of support and advice from people that have suffering similar to yourself.

The anxiety symptoms you mention are very common. Exercise and eating well are also proactive too as you have been doing. If you have been diagnosed with anxiety it can take a long time to heal (unfortunately)

I wasnt smart and left my counseling/GP visits for years as I thought I could self heal. I was wrong.

If you wish can you let us know if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder? (Just so we can help support you more effectively) 🙂

About your shoulder Alfie...Try Bexters Soda Crystals in a bath. I use it to take the pain away from inflamed joints. Its in your chemist and costs about $6-00 a bag

I nearly forgot...the earlier any anxiety condition is treated (GP) the better your recovery will be

I hope you can post back Alfie and thankyou for being a part of the Beyond Blue forum family too!

My Kind thoughts for you

Paul

[Hope_for_the_best]

I also suffer from a lump in my throat when I am nervous. It sucks! I have been to my psychologist about that, and she gave me good advice. Unfortunately, anxiety manifests in its own way in different people, so stopping that from happening is not that possible. Somehow you are sensitive to body sensations, so you show a tendency to magnify things, e.g. "My heart is beating fast and my chest is tight. Oh no! I must be having a heart attack!" This makes you catastrophise these normal body sensations to stress. The way to cope with that is try not to scare yourself. I know it is easier said than done, but perhaps reassure yourself that you are okay; these are just normal anxiety symptoms and they will pass. Another strategy is to tell yourself to get more anxious and produce more physical symptoms (You read that right!). The trick here is telling yourself to stop being anxious is often unhelpful. It's like you can't stop thinking about the pink elephant when you are told not to do that. I am still working on the lumpy throat feeling, but these have helped me to cool things down more quickly. The idea is to accept your feelings and not to fight them.