Literally feel like I'm going to die

[Marc0133]

This anxiety is really getting to me now. I don't know how it keeps increasing but now I really feel like crap, like my days are going to be numbered and all that does is cause me to panic.

As of now I spend most of my time unemployed. I've started to get volunteering but I don't when I'll get it. I don't get enough exercise and I tend to eat a lot (like crisps at night). I also drink a lot during the weekend so maybe that's it.

Either way it seems like every new week my health anxiety increases and I get extra vigilant on my beating heart. Its now hard for me to get some sleep because I feel my heart stopping which wakes me up and makes me panic. I've heard that's normal for people with anxiety but it still freaks me out. I don't know what to do anymore. I REALLY don't want to die! Any advice? Thanks.

[Hidden]

I have the same trouble at night while sleeping as I sleep on my left side. All I can hear is my heart beating and the muscles around it spasm and it feed like it’s not beating properly and freaks me out every night. I just think about something or put music in and fall asleep fine.

[Jeff1943]

No, Marc0133, you are definitely NOT going to die, you are going through a tough time finding a job and this is causing you stress and worry. Now it's taken its toll on your nervous system which has become over sensitised - as a result your nerves are playing tricks on you giving you strange thoughts and feelings of panic. Anybody in your shoes would react exactly the same and many people have visited this forum convinced their hearts are about to stop beating. Well, Marc0133, their hearts never do stop beating and we haven't lost anybody yet.

In your case the stress in your life has given you health anxiety, every missed heart beat becomes heart failure and every ache or pain must be some kind of a tumour. Often, when people undergo scans and other tests and are told everything is o.k. they continue to insist the doctors have got it wrong and have missed some life-threatening illness and continue to stress despite their clean bill of health.

Such is the ability of over sensitive nerves to frighten us half to death. But the power of anxiety is limited: it can't kill us, disable us or make us lose our minds. Anxiety is a toothless tiger whose roar is worse than its bite.

If your bad feelings become overwhelming it is only right to speak to your doctor and if offered medication to give you a break from anguish then to take it. But whether you do or not you will find it most helpful to explore the self-help solutions that are available and can bring about complete recovery in time. The best of these in my opinion is one that suggests that instead of fighting and fearing the bad feelings we shoild simply accept them calmly and without fear. Fighting only causes more stress which keeps your nerves in their sensitive state whilst accepting the bad feelings knowing them to be fraudulent threats gives our nerves a rest from fear and they/we start to recover.

The book that advocates this acceptance method is 'Self help for your nerves' by Claire Weekes: it's available new or used on Amazon for just a couple of pounds or dollars plus postage. It will re-set your compass and give immediate reassurance and an end to bewilderment. It will give you a plan, simple to understand but requiring practice and persistance, which in the fullness of time will give you back your peace of mind.

I commend this book to you as the answer to your present problem.