Does anyone’s anxiety mimic a heart attack? Been going on months now...

[eternalsunsh1ne]

Hey, this is my first post so please bear with me!

My anxiety has really escalated over the last 2 months to the point where I was having several panic attacks a day. I even went to the hospital to get checked out due to the chest pains but after 2 blood tests, an ecg and chest x-ray all was fine. I am a 20 year old female with good blood pressure and heart rate, no history of heart problems that I know of, balanced(ish) diet but little exercise recently. The hospital visit was over a month ago now and despite 4 separate doctors telling me I am fine and the physical symptoms I am feeling are the result of anxiety I just can’t stop worrying about having heart problems or a heart attack. I have ALL the symptoms of a heart attack (chest pain, nausea, arm pain, neck/shoulder pain, feeling like I can’t breathe, weakness etc) but I can’t convince myself that I. AM. FINE. I am so scared to sleep and then I’m relieved waking up in the morning that I’ve made it another day. I am terrified and things are starting to feel unreal and strange?

Are all these physical symptoms really anxiety? Do I go back to the doctor? I tried anti-anxiety meds and I didn’t react well so turned to therapy which helped for a few weeks and now it’s happening all over again.

Can anyone reassure me in any way or have any advice?

[Amarie84]

Yes anxiety can do that to you, I thought I had some kinda of heart problem and also what shocked and relieved that I woke each morning. I even went to a cardiologist Who did every test that could be done on my heart and even showed me my heart from the ultrasound I suffer from health anxiety and the Cardiologist explain to me that my heart was fine and that I needed to treat the anxiety. Anxiety is horrible and can do all kinda of evil stuff to ones body and mind. Please keep strong and know your heart is working just fine and that it’s okay even when it feels like it’s not

[eternalsunsh1ne in reply to Amarie84]

Thank you for the reassurance, anxiety really does affect you in ways you don’t expect but I’ll try to keep your words in mind

[Rubykaia14]

I had this. Ask for an ultrasound to check your heart so you can see that everything is working properly that's what I did now I don't have heart attack anxiety because everything looked fine. I had the exact same symptoms as you ❤️

[eternalsunsh1ne in reply to Rubykaia14]

The last doctor I saw was very dismissive unfortunately but thank you for the advice!

[Cat33]

Obviously I'm not a doctor but you have been told you are fine and I really think this is anxiety it can cause all sorts of horrible symptoms

You are tuning in to your body and how you are feeling and adding fear to fear

Please listen to Dr Claire Weekes on You Tube she has a couple of videos on there Self Help For Your Nerves etc she will take the fear away and I know it will help you If you listen every day her words will gradually get into your head and make loads of sense to get you well

Sending a big hug and best wishes x

[eternalsunsh1ne]

Thank you, I’ll try it out x

[Frankiesdad]

Completely sympathise with you!! I began suffering from anxiety, completely out of the blue, at the beginning of the year... 3 trips to A&E thinking my time was up, referral to a cardiologist for further tests and nothing ever showed up... I had been fine all summer and then bang, it returned with a vengeance a few weeks ago... I’m now getting chest pains of varying levels pretty much all day every day, it’s horrible!! The biggest problem is, once you’ve sown that seed in your head it’s VERY difficult to move it, no matter what the experts say!! I’ve now developed health anxiety because I stupidly started googling my symptoms, trying to find a reason for my symptoms that wasn’t heart related!!

The most reassuring technique I have found for dealing with it is, find someone you trust implicitly and tell them everything and when you’re struggling, call them or sit with them and just talk, talk about anything and everything, it helps me a lot. Also try meditation and breathing apps, they can help too but, most of all, focus on what the experts tell you, repeat it over and over in your head... I hope you sort this out and find relief 🤞🏼

[eternalsunsh1ne in reply to Frankiesdad]

Thank you so much!

[tweety88888]

youtube.com/watch?v=REOdAWC...(Not working as expected?)

Give this a listen. It really helped me.

[eternalsunsh1ne in reply to tweety88888]

Thank you so much, I will

[Chrisbo]

Yes, I had sharp stabbing pains over my heart. I have tingling down my left arm and into my hand. This would happen out of the blue couple times a day and went on for about 3 years. Ask your doctor if you can wear a Holter monitor. It will record the chest pains and see if there's any activity of the heart. This should convince you that you're not having a heart attack.

I will say, if you don't deal with anxiety it may turn into an anxiety disorder. Try to find an antidepressant that will work. The only thing that works for me was a benzodiazepine. Small dose twice a day.

Take it for a week or two and you'll notice you won't have any chest pains and then you'll know it's just anxiety.

When you go off the benzo your chest pains might come back but at least you'll know it has nothing to do with your heart.

[eternalsunsh1ne in reply to Chrisbo]

Thank you for your reply, I tried fluoxetine medication before but I had a bad reaction to it and haven't tried any other medication.

[Lwatson67]

I’m having all these symptoms know and just wounds red if you checked your hear a lot and dry mouth and had it for most of the day I’m so scared just feel a bit better some one else has the same symptoms 🤯