New neuralgia associated with anxiety?

[LurkingGrue]

My anxiety is giving me a bad time just now. I've suffered from bouts of mild to moderate anxiety and occasional panic attacks for over 20 years - I've come to terms with it over the years, know the signs and triggers, and generally avoid them wherever possible. However, just before Christmas last year I was given some rather earth shattering personal news, and I haven't quite been the same since. Unfortunately my biggest fear in life is having a heart attack & dying, and my anxiety has attuned itself precisely to progressively mimic all the symptoms of a heart attack. Starts off with a dull pain in the middle of the chest, radiating into the left shoulder and down the arm, and since Christmas it has developed into neck and jaw pain. This pushes my anxiety higher, and it becomes a self fulfilling circle jerk of bad symptoms.

In more recent times I have developed neuralgia in arms and legs, facial numbness and tingling, elevated blood pressure (circa 140/90) and headaches - obviously me being me, I concluded I was having a stroke or TIA. Blood test from the docs showed all was well with no blood markers of anything wrong, but it's deeply unpleasant when it happens. In addition my face has taken on a ruddy hue, like an old souk with an alcohol habit. When I'm having an episode my heart rate jumps to ~120bpm with no external influences, which heightens anxiety further. Heart function checks out fine, there are no structural defects according to the doc. I've never been formally diagnosed with anxiety or been medicated for it, but feel now like I really need to address this. It's really getting me down.

[LilyAnnepuppy]

Have you seen a therapist or psychiatrist? Has your primary care physician suggested you make an appointment? I needed a professional to make the diagnosis for me. All I knew was that I was anxious and depressed and my life was unmanageable.