Tight chest & throat , heart rate not elevated.

[Iti]

Hello, this is my first time on this forum.
I am experiencing anxiety that comes in waves and them also a tight chest and throat that makes breathibg difficult. This also comes in waves. Does anyone experience a tight chest with a usual heart rate?

[Doolhof]

Hi Iti,

Welcome to the community here. From what I have read here, it seems that anxiety can cause a vast amount of symptoms in people.

If you are concerned about your health, could you telephone a hospital to ask for advice?

For information about anxiety you could call Life Line or the support people at Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. There is also information on anxiety on the Beyond Blue web site that may be beneficial for you to read.

Have you been able to talk to a Dr about what you are experiencing? Sometimes knowing how anxiety affects our bodies can release some of the stress we are feeling.

Hope you can find some answers.

Cheers from Dools

[music_man]

Hi Iti,

What you are describing are fairly common anxiety symptoms. It's amazing how the body can react to anxiety. Before I understood my anxiety I had gone to the ER of the hospital several times in so much pain and discomfort I was convinced I was having a heart attack.

Dools has given you some good advice. I'd add that breathing correctly can be a big help when you're having an anxiety attack. You can look up breathing techniques to help anxiety on the net.

Jez

[music_man]

Hi Iti,

My advice of breathing correctly might seem a bit strange given that you're struggling to breathe with the anxiety. Anxiety can affect your breathing. On the other hand, your breathing can affect feelings of anxiety.

When we get anxious we tend to breathe short and shallow, everything tightens up and we don't get enough oxygen. Breathing properly will help ease the anxiety symptoms.

Jez

[Doolhof]

Hi Iti and Jez,

I'd just like to add to the helpful advice that Jez has shared about breathing. I had an experience with this last week.

I was at an appointment when I felt triggered and started to have anxiety and a panic attack. The person with me told me to take deep slow breathes in and out and to also tell myself that I was safe and in control. It helped.

It is amazing how something as simple as slowing down our breathing, concentrating on it and telling ourselves we are safe helps!

Cheers to you both from Dools

[therising]

Hi Iti

I've heard it said before that whilst having a panic attack, it's important to focus on the out breath during breathing exercises, even focusing on making the out breath longer than the in breath. Some suggest starting the exercise on a long out breath, if possible. This may seem a little crazy as you're gasping for air but it's based on the idea that an anxiety attack is an overwhelming (over surging) intense build up of energy. So, you want to exhaust the energy (release it). It's the build up of energy that leads to the tightness. If exhausting the energy leads to a feeling of exhaustion/tiredness, this is good; it means the objective has been achieved. Instead of feeling tired, it might pay to see it as relaxed - everything inside you is finally relaxed regarding mind and body.

Hope this works 🙂