why do i always think I am going to have a heart attack

[contrarymary]

I am 60 years and always think I am going to have a heart attack.  I do not have any problems with my heart had plenty tests - GP says the chest pains I keep having are anxiety/stress of course as soom as i have a pain in chest i panic which of course doesnt help.  GP says learn to accept nothing wrong with heart - easier said than done.  I can get a pain in morning after some stress and during the course of day gets worse end up at doctors he does ecg nothing shows i then feel better for a while.  Any advice re this anxiety

[Bulldogbobby73]

Hi Midean,

Do you still feel this way as it sounds similar to me - I mainly get the Palpitations and rapid heartbeat, it’s all I think about.

[contrarymary]

Another update from me, getting better and more accepting of my anxiety and chest pain. I wore a 48 hour heart monitor and nothing was picked up that was unusual, had another stress test all ok.

Last month my chest was really sore, but no other symptoms so went to emergency, i arrived in the packed emergency at 1.30pm I was still in the waiting room at 8.30pm waiting to see doctor, it was then I realised that there was nothing wrong it was anxiety and stress, doctor confirmed that not having a heart attack his suggestion find something to occupy my mind and keep active so we adopted a greyhound and now if I get the usual pains we take the dog out, must be working have not been to emergency for 3 months

[bluemoonbluesky]

Hi contrarymary, I am so sorry. I am younger than you (early 30s) but have been dealing with chest pain on and off for almost 3 years. However the other physical symptoms I get are textbook anxiety and feed off each other. Since my first panic attack in late 2018 I have been to the ER 4-5 times and had a heap of tests. Holter, x-ray, bone scan, stress tests, numerous blood tests etc. My GP and numerous ER doctors had no real answers. At one point, I had benign ectopic beats for about 3 months until one day they just stopped.

Like you, once I also went to ER and sat there for hours, before realising that once again I would get the same answers so I just left. It is exhausting. I used to be an avid gym goer and my health anxiety has destroyed my fitness routine. I cannot lift weights anymore due to a rapid heartbeat and some weird chest sensations I get. Plus the shakes after any rigorous physical exercise. At one point, I did research and thought I had costochondritis (rib cartilage inflammation). I ended up going to a chiro that was also into mindfulness and he didn't necessarily think I had costochondritis but rather it was all anxiety. I tend to agree.

I've had months where I've been fine but the pains/sensations return when I feel more anxious. There was a great post I read on here once about just accepting your fate and not caring what will happen. To some extent I have moved on but I still get times when it is all-consuming and unfortunately I am going through one of those patches. I find walking helps and a nice routine at night helps, whether it's some relaxing music and a cup of tea or something to engage with. I cannot count the amount of times I laid there in pain (especially lockdown) and just hoped for the best, and yet I am still here after all those years of pain. Surely, surely, if something was really wrong, it would have got you after 5 years? Lastly, I cannot underestimate acceptance. Accept that for better or worse, it's part of you and you have nothing to fear. Only then can you move on.

It sucks and I'm so sorry that after 5 years you experience the same. Sending you my wishes.

[Glenncoco88]

I’m in the same boat as you. I get the tingling electric shock feelings and rapid heartbeats. It’s hard to accept it’s just health anxiety. Especially when your heart wants to do that.

I think it’s great we have a community like this where we can bounce off each other.