can anxiety cause sharp chest pains? Part 1

These chest pains have been affecting me pretty seriously over the past months. I have had these pains before but lately they have been getting to me. I do believe I have some kind of anxiety disorder, which would make sense (my mother has chemical imbalances in her brain). As a lot of you mentioned you fear the idea of heart attack or death which is what plagues me during these pains. It is very scary and over the last couple days i have become very worked up about it I feel as if my anxiety level has gone through the roof. Once I came across this forum I felt a sense of ease and it has helped me calm down.

Right now im on my way to the pharmacy in town ( they claim to have some natural medicines that can help my anxiety ) so I'll let you all know how that goes. I havn't ended up in the ER yet but I know it could happen and has come close simply due to me freaking out. I have been to the doctor but I would like to go back for Xrays or whatever I think will give me some peace of mind!!

Post edited per rules...............

1. No discussion of any illegal activity or threats of violence. (ie. illicit drug use, including medical marijuana use, threats of suicide or self-injury, or threatened or intended physical harm).  Discussions of suicide or self-harm that are deemed negative and therefore potentially injurious to others are also not permitted.

God bless you all and good luck!

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 2/7/2008 12:39:40 PM (GMT-7)

I know I'm basically reiterating what everyone else has said, but each post gave me some comfort, so I figured I'd put in my two cents.

I'm a 21 year old female and have been experiencing almost ALL of the symptoms put on here. I've been off and on depressed since a completely unrelated illness was diagnosed about three years ago but never experienced anxiety till about a year ago. I'm not even sure exactly how it started but first I was unable to sleep at night, then it was heart palpitations...I was a wreck. I went home from college from two months and the conditions practically disappeared.

Went back to school, and within a month or two different symptoms came back. Chest pain on both sides of my chest, sometimes my arms, sometimes my heart felt like it skipped a beat, pain in my neck, shoulders etc. I got an EKG done and results said I had slight thickening of an artery, but not enough to be dangerous, in fact many people are like that. After experiencing some other symptoms I eventually did a 24 hour heart monitor--everything was normal.


I'm pretty sure I've had iatrophobia (fear of doctors) ever since that original diagnosis. I was never really unhealthy growing up, and since then I believe I've just convinced myself that I am unhealthy, that something has gone wrong or that something will go wrong. I DREAD the doctor (and I have to see different specialists every six months or so) and am usually dishonest about how I'm feeling with family and doctors for fear of another diagnosis that I don't believe I could deal with.

Like other people on here, these feelings usually (but not always) when I'm relaxed and not busy. When I'm busy doing stuff, I usually don't notice anything.
I know I'm going to have to go to the doctor eventually to really make sure there's nothing wrong, but it helps TREMENDOUSLY to read all these other posts. It's a scary thing to deal with all alone and I know when I try to self-diagnose, I come up with the worst outcomes possible.

So thanks for sharing.

HI Clash and Jay 07 nice to meet you guys!!! I have been having P/A for about 11 years now and have experienced much of what you guys are saying! The chest pain i dont get that often but i have waken up in the middle of the night with cold sweats and heart palps.It is a very scary feeling! It's funny when i read your thread clash i remember thinking that sounds like gas and then someone else said it.There are many times when you have gas and it will cause those intense sharp pains.Gas can set up just about anywhere including your lower back,I had that problem last year! I thought it was something worse because of the way it felt and was relieved to find out it was only gas! Sounds like you have had a good work up as far as having your heart checked out! I dont think it is your heart being that you've had so many test, it sound like anxiety! Like brittain said up above with P/A you can feel a pain and you will over react and make it into more than what it is and can sometimes make the situation worse! The key thing for me is when you said one time you were having the pain and went to the ER and when you got there the pain stopped. That happened probably because it was anxiety and the thought of knowing that you were now at the ER eased your mind and your nerves. Because if it was something else no matter if you were at the ER or not you probably would have still been in pain! If it is P/A like brittain said you have to talk to yourself and assure yourself that you are not in danger and everything will be ok because it usually is. I really think that is what it is being that i have been dealing with it for so long! But i'm not an expert, so like everyone has said keep getting checked until you think everything is ok!GOOD LUCK I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER AND EVERYONE ELSE TOO!!!

Good Evening all............I have started a Part 2 so you will find your posts in the new thread.  I think you have all been extremely supportive in this thread. Thanks, Kitt

******************Please Post in Part 2******************

Is Clash and Jay 07 still around????

I could not believe how much are symptoms are so alike. With the exception that I have began to sometimes feel like I am not breathing as soon as I fall asleep. I am really scared I may have angina. I am an obese male (29 yrs old, 5'9, 250 lbs at one point but am down to 240 lbs now), smoked pot ALOT for the past 2 years, have been inactive at work and home for the past 2 years.....now I suffer from chest pains and I quit smoking back in mid-may. I've noticed the pains came on a few days after quitting smoking.

I have undergone the following tests:

3 resting EKG's
Blood test
Chest X-ray
Stress test
Holtor Monitor

All test have came up normal. However, I am still getting major sharp, shocking, spasm, dull & achy chest pains. They seem to come on more intense at night, at times waking me up, but can also feel them throughtout the day only not as intense. The weird thing is I can run on a treadmill for 40 mins or play 4 games of basketball full court and not feel any pain, yet when I have sex I can sometimes feel minimal pain upon completion. I have recently been referred to a cardiologist for possible further testing.

My Nurse practioner says she is daiognosing me with anxiety as all test have came back normal.

This thread is so comforting to read. I have chest pains (that I have had checked out by many different doctors who say there is nothing wrong with my heart) that I think develp because of my generalized anxiety. Then after I have a pain I start to been my panic. Sometimes I can stop the panic using relaxation techniques, and other times not so much. It is just reassuring to know that others experience the same thing from anxiety and it isn't something worse such as heart disease. Just if I could get over my "trigger" the chest pain.

CC