Bit the bullet

[Sandy1710]

So yesterday I finally bit the bullet and went to a&e for peace of mind after these nagging chest pains. Blood pressure and heart rate was fine. Ecg was fine and bloods was fine. So I should be happy right?? Woke up today and the niggling pains and itches and burning sensation continues. Whyyyyyyyyyy

[Hidden]

Anxiety!!!

[Eva24]

Anxiety can fuck u up in so many ways so try to relax!

[Jeff1943]

You know why, Sandy, the discomfort in your chest isn't physical or organic, it's anxiety. Pains and aches in the chest are quite a common symptom of anxiety so you are not alone.

You did right to get the reassurance of a medical check and right now you should be giving one big sigh of relief. Because heart disease is for ever, anxiety isn't because it can be cured.

Have you tried to identify why you're experiencing high anxiety? Often it can be due to problems at work (like being expected to do the work of two people), problems in the family, money worries, disappointment, all sorts of different things. If you can neutralise the problem, the cause of your anxiety, then do so even if it means making changes in your life, putting yourself first for a change and being ruthless.

Often the original cause of our anxiety has passed and we keep ourselves in a state of high anxiety by continuing to stress and worry about the symptoms. As you know sensitised nerves are extremely good at mimicingphysical illness like the pains in your chest. And because you continue to worry about them you continue to generate fear which continues to keep your nervous system over sensitive.

what I would suggest is first to accept the diagnosis of the doctors that you have nothing physically wrong. Don't think they've made a mistake or got it wrong because they haven't.

Next you need to stop obsessing about the pains in your chest as you now know that the cause is anxiety and although anxiety can make you feel bad it can't kill you. That's rather important don't you think. The more you think about a pain in some part of your body that's anxiety based the longer it remains. So don't try and just block it out of your mind but don't attach the importance to it that you have been until now. Just accept it for the time being, really accept it calmly and without generating more fear. Practice acceptance and be patient and let time pass and eventually you will wake up one morning and say to yourself: "What's happened to those pains and burning sensation I used to get? They've gone and come to think of it I haven't felt them for at least a week!" You see if I'm not right.

[Sandy1710 in reply to Jeff1943]

I think money and work and health are the main three. I gamble but I've stopped that for three weeks now and haven't seen much of an improvement. I think my boss may be trying to bully me out of my job. Maybe I'm overthinking but it's how it feels. I said to her I'll come back on Monday and she said there is no point if I'm here physically not mentally because that's not good for anyone. I really dislike her. I managed to just go for a 4 mile bike ride. Most I've done in ages exercise wise. It was hard I was scared but I completed it relitively easily for someone who's been so stagnant for the past year. Just really worried about heart as it feels hard soft fast slow all different. I need to sort my life out big time.

[Agora1 in reply to Sandy1710]

Sandy1710, please heed the words of Jeff1943. It is wise advice. I've always said to read each response with an open mind. Take what you need and discard the rest if it doesn't apply to you. This one applies to everyone Sandy. It's the basis of what anxiety is built on. The book by Dr. Claire Weekes is phenomenal and has been around for a long time, helping many like yourself. It was the only thing that kept me afloat long ago because there wasn't a forum to go to. You have the support of all of us on the forum now who will stand beside you and encourage you to go forward. It's not easy, no one ever implied that it was. But to find our goal in life, sometimes needs a helping hand. Ours are extended to you and others to help you go forward. Stay safe, stay positive .

[mysmugcat in reply to Sandy1710]

Well done on the bike ride!!

[Jeff1943]

Then you know what to do, you've stopped gambling, next maybe change your job. It could be easier than you think. Bike rides are good, you did well. If you think there's something wrong with your heart, see your doctor. If the result says your heart is fine then accept the diagnosis without question. Sounds like anxiety to me though. In that case there's a short book that contains the road plan for your recovery. Books can change your life, you know. This one can change yours: 'Self help with your nerves' by Claire Weekes (UK title) or 'Hope and help with your nerves' (US title) available from Amazon. Hope it does it for you.

[Sandy1710 in reply to Jeff1943]

I keep reading that exercise is good. I'm afraid for me it isn't. Where is all the endorphins at?? Woke up and done 5k on the bike and I feel terrible. Got a massive chest pain whilst doing it. My life is officially over. There is no way past this. If there is nothing wrong with my heart then it doesn't seem I'll ever be able to expect that becauee I'm laying here now worried about the heart. So if I don't die, looks like I'll end up being a 40 stone jobless loser all because of anxiety. Laying on my bed now I have pain in throat, no endorphins. Tinny taste in mouth. I give up

[Hidden in reply to Sandy1710]

Exercise is extremely good.

[Sandy1710 in reply to Hidden]

Not for me it isn't

[Hidden in reply to Sandy1710]

Why not? How often do you exercise and how long have you been doing it. You mention exercise bike maybe you need to try another form of exercise.

[Sandy1710 in reply to Hidden]

I haven't exercised in over a year. Last night and today I cycled. Just feel like I'm

Having a heart attack

[Hidden in reply to Sandy1710]

Do you aren't used to it, give yourself time to get used to it. If you are on the exercise bike don't set a time and don't set a distance to hit, just cycle and let yourself get used to it. After a week or so you can set times or distance on it. Set yourself goals and try to achieve them. When you do achieve them set more goals but make them slightly harder each time.

happyhormonesforlife.com/be...

Look at the link, not sure it's for you or not but it might give you some advice.

I hope it works out for you, just never give up on yourself and you will get there. I used today be like you and now I'm free of it all. It just takes time, patience and energy.

[mysmugcat in reply to Sandy1710]

Please don't.

[Agora1 in reply to Sandy1710]

Sandy1710 exercise is good BUT...more than that is mind change. Our brain is an amazing chemical plant that produces these "feel good" feelings. Endorphins are chemicals that relieve both pain and anxiety. However, it needs some help from us in producing that high feeling of contentment and pain relief. It happens when we are happy, when we laugh, when we love etc. Giving up is never an option. Your life is far from over. If medication cannot help bridge the gap for you right now then you need to become more active in your mental health status. You can't possibly be getting anything out of this kind of life every day.

It is bringing you down to such low depths making you feel worthless. You aren't Sandy and never were. It's the anxiety demon within you taking over and you need to get back control before it destroys you completely. Medication and therapy are usually the way to go when people get stuck in this rut of despair and symptoms. Once that is used and hasn't worked then it is up to you to change your way of thinking. Whatever it takes, whether talking therapy, CBT, hypnosis, acupuncture (for the muscle pains)..the rest is going to have to come from you. I think you are more than ready. Lying in bed day after day worrying and experiencing more and more pain, you are seeing is not the way to go. Neither is jumping on a bike and trying to conquer this with intense exercise.

Everything should be done in moderation Sandy. Don't forget your body is wound up as tight as a top. To exert it to the max (probably w/o stretching before hand) is asking for a kickback of pain and fear.

Get your hands on some reading material (not Google) and start accepting what medical literature and doctors have said about anxiety. It's not an easy disorder to overcome but it can be done. First thing is don't give up hope..Then you are defeated before you even start.

Continue talking with people on the forum until you are blue in the face from being bombarded with others like yourself who are experiencing the same thing. It's not only about not feeling alone but hopefully confirming for you that this is what anxiety can and will do to people when they get stuck.

Put exercise on the back burner for a moment. Start with a healthy and positive mind that you will beat this. You have it in you, we all do. Just about taking the correct route to get moving again. Take it easy...

[Jeff1943]

Just read the Claire Weekes book, Sandy, it will transform your life, bring immediate reassurance and start you on the road to pain free recovery. Just as it did for Agora1, me and untold thousands of others.