Thought it was a heart attack, it is anxiety/panic disorder

I was awful the day and night after, felt like I was gonna die. The fear of another attack sets me off. I've been given beta blockers which have stopped the tachycardia, but I still feel awful. I know I've always been a worrier and thinker and find it hard to switch off, have had a awful last 3 years. I hate this, will I be like this forever? I just want the old me back, depressed and worrying yes, but not this constant fear and the awful physical symptoms I get with it. I dread the evenings as them and night are worse. I hate this, some one help me please.

Thank you, it is consuming me. In the day I get out and can keep it at bay, mostly but evenings are so horrible. I dread them and going to bed. I hate how I've become this pathetic wreck. The physical symptoms scare me so much feel like my heart is going to give up. Even though I've had lots ECG's and bloods etc and told my heart is fine. I can't relax. Before the meds for 2 days I had constant smaller attacks, after the one massive one. Today I thought I was on top of it until the evening came. This is horrible :-( I'm sorry you are suffering this too, but it's nice to know others are out there and I'm not alone x

Listen to Larry, he's a wise man. :)

I also found out that I was having anxiety attacks after thinking I was having heart problems. My husband did, too, years ago. I was so shocked that I didn't recognize it myself, because I've been holding his hand through it for years.

These days, he rarely has an attack. Victory is out there - go after it!

We're here for you in the meantime! :)

Master the breathing exercises, it could lessen and even prevent panic attacks. Panic attacks will not kill you so don't suppress it, make your body go through it when it happens, in that way you can eliminate the fear, just remember "it won't kill you!". Switching your anxiety off is not an easy task, there will be days where you can get frustrated and wonder if there's really something serious going on with you, easy said than done but YOU HAVE TO ENDURE. Bring more positive thoughts and things in your life and try hard to get rid of the negative stuffs. Anxiety is not something you can just switch off in a day. There will be ups and downs for all of us but like what berock said "Victory is out there - go after it!"

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MOST anxiety happens at the subconscious level. JUST because you don't feel consciously anxious or had a day or two of calm doesn't mean your mind & body are relaxed. It can take months of reduced anxiety before a body goes back to a more non-reactive state.

Hi, that's what I try to tell myself, I say I'm not going to die, I've had lots if tests and my heart is healthy etc etc, but because I'm thinking of it. It gets worse. Last night I only felt better after had a attack ( that I spent all evening trying to suppress). Wasn't totally ok after but a lot better. So far I can cope better in the day, I go out, try keep busy but evening I can feel it brewing up. I'm not sure if I should try taking my tablet evening instead of in the day as its my worst time? I think I'll try get drs opinions on that. Don't really want to up the dose but if it's that or suffer. I'll take the meds!
I'm gonna try the breathing exercises etc, I try thinking of other things, trying divert my mind but so far it doesn't work. Tried film, music, cold fan blasts, thinking nice thoughts, telling myself I'm ok, won't kill me etc but didn't work. The outside calms me a bit but not once I get too worked up.
I do have so much negativity in my life, lots of grief and stress. People know they pushing me, have been for years but still carry on. What do I do, I've been begging for years I even said they were making me ill and I was right :-( what do I do? Bin the people I love.

Night times is truely worse for me too,my mom has this saying I told her I wish she stop saying&will google/research the dis order Ive had for 14years now,she says whats wrong now. Like I pick to be this way God knows I fight for my better and I want the last 14 years of my life Ive lost plus some back,Ill guvr anything to be normak¬ stuck to fear. Anxiety is fear matter if a fact that what they should call it&my fear started at 14&got worse at 28 and this yeae has been one of the worse. Thats why Ian up at 5:07 after about a hour cat nap oh how I woulf give anything for a normal night sleep,,Iam si lucky and blessed to have found this site. It has been a blessing&like Larry said in a posst eairler when you get to a point when ypu ate not scared to die,then you wikk have beat fear. Thats what holds us back so much in anxiety that feeling like we are about to die,mooji said it best to over come this we must face it&becime frienfs with it. I don't know if I will ever get that courage. But I have to try so tgat I can luve here with peace. Anxiety/fear is so evil&a evil sickness that can hit you anywhere at anytime,I wish it didn't live in millions of ppl like mysrlf&ypu. But we have to beat it so that it want win. It can't win I will have my life back even if I have to go in hospital longer then 4days to get more help. I wikk beat it&do will you.

i feel you , but sometimes when you think too much about how not to think about something you actually put more thought of the thing you wanna be distracted from , you getting it , you just need to find your own way of avoiding thinking about it ,i remember once i was home when i panic attack hit me i started to walk from the living room to kitchen back and forth for about 5 minutes ,cause walking let your body take over the breathing process , my point is everyone have a way that works for him and you need to find yours ,and i believe medicine isnt the answer its just something to help you get through it at first ,try to go out when its evening and see how it goes , once you control it the first time , the rest is easier

Yes adeel 1 that's the vicious cycle I am in. I try so hard not to think about it but that makes me think on it more! Trying to change my thoughts isn't working for me so far, so like you say, maybe I need to find the right distraction. Easier in the day, not night. I don't want to be stuck on meds, I just hate the fear and will do anything to make it go away. X

Hello Autumndaze and welcome to HealingWell. Glad you've found our online community. It’s a great place to connect with others traveling the same road...you'll find much support, encouragement and advice from others who understand.

What’s going to really fight the anxiety and depression more than anything is to change your attitude to a positive attitude and say I’m going to enjoy my life, the one I am living right now, as the old me is gone and the new me can be even better as long as I stay in the moment.

The two types of thinking that get in my way causing me to feel anxious are dwelling on things that happened in the past and obsessing over things that might happen in the future.

I have a mantra I tell myself when I start slipping away from now: “All that exists is what I can see.” Of course this isn’t true, but it heightens my sense of awareness within the present. The flowers look brighter. The birds sound prettier. My breakfast tastes sweeter. Then I remember nothing’s certain but this moment.

Breathe. The best way to get out of your head is to focus on your breathing and ground yourself back in your body. A simple method is to count breaths. As you inhale and exhale, think and one, then on your second breath think and two. Breathe in—and—breathe out—one. Breathe in—and—breathe out—two. The goal is to get through a set without letting your thoughts wander. Work in sets of 4, 6, 8, or even 10 if you’re able.

I have seen several therapists over the 31 years I have dealt with anxiety and depression; some were great one was not. I do have a great Psychiatrist and I do take medications.

"Health...is not so much a state, but a force: the power to resist and overcome threats to one's well-being."

I am here to support you so keep on talking with us.

Blessings,

Kitt