Anxiety Chest Pains, Anxiety All Day

[OCDFriend]

Hi everyone,

I want to first off say I don’t want to trigger anyone, that’s not me intention. My intention is to get help and help people if I can.

I had a coffee today for the first time in 6 weeks since I knew it was not a good Idea to have coffee since I have panic attacks and have severe anxiety. I decided to make a coffee because I truly love coffee and I missed it. I have been dealing with high anxiety all day. I am tired and want sleep but my anxiety doesn’t let me. I know that it was a mistake to have coffee and especially because I was doing very well with my anxiety through our current situation, I am worried it’s going to take me a few days to get back to feeling more normal without the anxiety.

[Hidden]

If you like coffee, and cannot take ordinary, have you tried De-caff., the same applies to tea

BOB

[OCDFriend in reply to Hidden]

Hi, thank you for your response. I stopped drinking regular coffee, I have switched over to Decaf.

[Amber836]

I find that if I have caffeine or a sugary drink/sweeteners I feel way more anxious too. I cut out alcohol and really miss it, can totally relate to you missing coffee! How are you doing now? Don't know if this will help or not, but if you use coffee as a treat, change that to something non-stimulating that still feels like a treat. Maybe a loose leaf tea or taking the time to make yourself a smoothie. You're still doing an act of self care that way without risking a panic attack. Take care x

[OCDFriend in reply to Amber836]

Hi, thank you for your response. I am doing much better now. Thank you. I did not have a coffee since a couple days ago and the anxiety has passed. I am going to switch over to decaf. I should not have anxiety from decaf. I love the taste of coffee but I don't drink a lot of coffee but I like the idea as looking at it as a treat. Thanks once again for reaching out.

[Amber836 in reply to OCDFriend]

No problem, I am so glad you're feeling a bit better and well done for allowing yourself some self care! Take care x

[Hidden in reply to Amber836]

You can also get De Caffe Tea.

Give that a try, there are herbal teas some are supposed to be ok, Have you tried Green Tea

BOB

[OCDFriend in reply to Hidden]

Hi,

Thank you for your response, I have not of heard De Caffe Tea? Yes, I like herbal teas. yes, I also drink green tea.

Thanks for your response.

[Agora1 in reply to OCDFriend]

OCD, unless the green tea is decaf, there can be as much caffeine in that as coffee.

(or pretty close to it) I learned the hard way. I stick with decaf coffee/tea. xx

[Mary-intussuception]

I think that if you drink plenty of plain water today you will soon be feeling better.

Caffeine is also a diuretic. You may need to re-hydrate yourself. Problem is that anxiety can also cause dehydration.

So if you start drinking water you'll be in a win, win situation.

I wouldn't be too hard on yourself for having a coffee. Deal with it then forget about it.

When we have a coffee out I follow it with a glass of water.

It may help to also focus on something else just now. Do you read? Does it sometimes make you drowsy? If you're tired, - wrap yourself up warm & cosy in a comfy chair with the heating on. This should help you to drop off.

Hopefully you will feel better after a sleep.

We use decaf tea and decaf coffee at home, ask for decaf tea when out but do like my coffee out! That's not going to be happening again for a while though !

[OCDFriend in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Hi, thank you for your response. I made sure to drink a lot of water and I am sure it helped me a lot. The anxiety passed and I have not had coffee since. I did buy some decaf and I am going to drink that, I should not have anxiety from this. I also do the same, when I have a coffee, I also have a glass of water. I love reading and it helps me a lot when I focus on other things than my anxiety. Thank you once agin for your response.

[Mary-intussuception in reply to OCDFriend]

xXx

🐥

[Jeff1943]

Forget about the coffee, one coffee a day won't affect the way you feel, not in my experience. Not unless you dwell on it and the symptoms you expect it to bring.

Far more important to concentrate on your anxiety disorder and panic attacks which are caused by something more significant than a cup of coffee.

First, see a doctor if you haven't already for the reassurance that your chest pains are not heart related. Do it even though it's unlikely. Then acknowledge thst your chest pain is caused by muscular tension: a symptom of anxiety disorder.

Things in your life have conspired to give you anxiety overload: your nervous system has had enough and the copious amounts of adrenaline you have been swamping it with have caused it to become over sensitive - causing panic attacks and other symptoms such as muscular tension in your chest.

This anxiety overload can be caused by over work, disappointment, loss, toxic relationships, guilt, money worry, a job you hate: only you knows which applies to you. The important thing is to neutralise the cause even though it may mean drastic action and ruthlessness on your part.

Chances are your anxiety will remain: now it is feeding off the fear you are flooding your nerves with. The solution is to stop feeding your nerves with fear and you do that by recognising that none of the symptoms of anxiety have the power to kill you, disable you or make you lose your mind. Anxiety does not have the power to do that.

Instead of hiding from your anxiety symptoms and panic attacks in distraction you must face them and pass through panic. You must in fact agree to accept them fearlessly for the moment knowing full well they are only the products of a tired mind depleted of nervous energy.

Anxiety disorder makes us exaggerate ten-fold all the tiny worries that come our way. If you frame your mind to accept them for the time being without constantly checking to see if they've gone then you will stop flooding your nerves with fear hormones - and eventually your over sensitive nerves will resolve and you will recover your quiet mind.

So stop fighting your anxiety (that only causes more stress and tension) and agree to coexist with the symptoms for the time being. Then let time pass, ask not how long recovery takes but be assured that through the persistent practice of true acceptance your recovery will be won.

[OCDFriend in reply to Jeff1943]

Hi Jeff, thank you for your response. I agree with you, I tend to think too much about how I will feel after having coffee.

I am trying to find the cause of my anxiety, I wish it was that easy but I dont know what caused this. I really liked what you said that anxiety does not have the power over me, I agree, it doesn't, when I look at it that way, I change my response to my anxiety. I am trying to face them and accept them, I know this is scary but it seems to be the only way.

I appreciate your response, it is very helpful, thank you for the kind words. I am glad I have joined this site, people on here have been nothing but helpful.

[Jeff1943 in reply to OCDFriend]

There is a book, if all on this forum read it at least half would not still be here tomorrow.

It is the definitive self help book published more than 50 years ago, truly it has withstood the test of time. Those who have recovered from anxiety disorder by reading this book is measured in millions so some New York Psychiatrist has claimed. I do not know if that is true but those who have recovered through reading it are legion.

In this book Claire Weekes launched her Acceptance method on an unsuspecting world: six words that are life changing: Face, Accept, Float. Let time pass.

Weekes book is available new or used on Amazon and Ebay, it's title is 'Hope and help for your nerves, or if you are lucky enough to be British then the U.K. title is "Self help for your nerves".

If you only read one more book in your life this is that book.

[OCDFriend in reply to Jeff1943]

Hi Jeff, sounds good. I will buy this book, I am looking forward to reading it. Were you struggling with anxiety and this book helped you?

[Jeff1943 in reply to OCDFriend]

This book transformed my life 45 years ago. On the uk and U.S. versions of Amazon there have been 1600 reader reviews in the last few years alone on all Doctor Claire Weekes' books. 90% found her Acceptance method either Very Good or Excellent.

[OCDFriend in reply to Jeff1943]

Hi Jeff, I wanted to let you know that I have downloaded the audiobook and it is incredible. I have already listened to it 3 times. I really love the ways things are explained and I really like all of the material. Thank you once again for the great recommendation.

[Jeff1943 in reply to OCDFriend]

Now you have the understsnding and the reassurance, you know where the road to recovery lies. Now comes the hard part to make recovery a reality: to slowly begin to practice Acceptance and Floating even if to begin with you only achieve a 'glimpse' of those things. Great things are not easily won. I wish you good luck and God's speed in your journey to respite and recovery.

[OCDFriend in reply to Jeff1943]

Thank you very much Jeff. I really appreciate all of your help. I am very glad I met you. You are awesome. I am going to put what I have learned into practice.