help

[mandyscott1974]

I suffer with costchondiritis fibromilga anxiety and depression last night I woke gasping for breath and scared to go back to sleep I've got constant pain in centre of chest took my morphine and did not help at all can this all be my anxiety playing up had pain in centre of chest a good while now keep trying to get app with my gp but never any appointments had ecg and chest x ray and also bloods which is all fine so is this my anxiety any advice would be fantastic xxx

[Hidden]

Hi MandyScott1974,

Anxiety really is a pain in the butt to live with isn't it?

Since beginning to suffer from it about 3 years ago, I needed to find out why it was happening to me and what to do about it.

If I may explain my understanding of it, hopefully it will help.

Those of us who live with chronic pain own a body that it constantly tensed up.

Pain = a signal that something is wrong. Those of us with Fibro get the added privilege of amplified pain (as if ordinary pain was not enough!)

Therefore our body thinks it is under attack. Fight or flight hormones flood our system, heightening awareness.

Other hormones in our brains kick in to make us anxious and also stop feel good hormones working.

Owing to the our being in pain all the time, it is no surprise that we feel anxious and depressed.

For me, finding the right medication helped (a combined anti anxiety and anti depressant.)

I also talked to a therapist in order to work out what I could do about anxiety.

Things that distracted me such as playing a computer game, reading or colouring are ideal.

Communicating to loved ones to bear with me as I am feeling anxious

You need to find what works for you.

I hope that this information is of use to you.

Best wishes,

Dave