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I'm scared. Pressure in my chest once again. It hurts.

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 2/3/2014 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, again.

I hope everyone is safe and well.

I just wondered if you can be so tense that your muscles can hurt?
For example, my chest and back hurts but could that be because anxiety is making me so tense that it hurts?
I was just lying down and I've had to sit up because my chest started to sting.

I've done 25 minutes of exercise and I'm worried that it's put too much pressure on my heart because my body isn't use to it. However, I've been doing this now for a few weeks so I'm hoping I'm wrong here.

I'm going to the doctor's this saturday to try and get my mind and thoughts sorted out because it's scary thinking that every day I'm going to have a heart attack and die. I'm barely able to live a life because I'm scared all the time.

Just now I got this pressure in the centre of my chest as though something was pushing on it... That was really scary and now I'm really worried. I just want to go to bed but now my mind is racing with all these scary thoughts. :<

Does anyone else's anxiety ever cause them to feel as though something is pushing against their chest?
Is this a regular symptom of anxiety? As well as the shortness of breath and tingling/shooting pains in left arm?
:< Just reading that has made me want to go to the hospital right now... I'm so scared.

(NOTE: I don't have the tingling/shooting pains at the moment but I do get them from time-to-time throughout the day as well as the shortness of breath but then they just stop) :S
Posted 2/3/2014 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Just to add - Sometimes when I get out of breath I tend to yawn a lot and cough.
I remember when I was having an ECG test before Christmas and the paramedic asked if I was coughing at all which I wasn't doing all the time but now I've noticed it more.

I had 5 ECGs that day and they found nothing but I'm worried that there IS something because all these symptoms... It just frightens me.
Posted 2/3/2014 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, your muscles can be painful due to the tension. My upper back, chest and muscles are so tight they burn sometimes. I have had sharp pains in my chest and sharp burning or stinging pain behind the breastbone. I also get sharp pains in both arms, but not at the same time. It's good that you're going to the doctor for help and piece of mind. I feel like you are often and I also get very uptight and fearful of a heart attack and dying. Keep us posted on how you're doing and hang in there.
Posted 2/3/2014 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Some thoughts to ponder for consideration,....often when we're tired, breathing shallow, anxious,...we aren't fully utilizing our lung's total capacity. (This is where those deep breathing exercises really do come in quite handy!)

When this happens, one reaction the body can have is to try and "force you" to breathe more or a bit deeper, and a way to do this can be yawning and even a cough here and there.

It's all part of your body trying to maintain homeostasis.




M.
Posted 2/4/2014 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Good Evening,

I am sorry to hear of your anxiety troubles, however, the symptoms of this disorder can change, keeping us constantly guessing. The physical sensations that you describe are very familiar. Many of our members have had issues similar to you.

Anxiety can be silent. A lot of people don't realize they have it. Anxiety is not only feeling sad, or down, it has genuine physical problems  that  should be assessed if this is your first panic/anxiety episode.

Write down all of your sx and what you were doing when you noticed the sx as well as what makes you feel better. Share this with your Dr. and be sure to be your own best advocate.

In our Resources you will find numerous suggestions that may help you.

Kindly,

Kitt

 

 

 

 

Posted 2/4/2014 8:53 AM (GMT 0)
Good morning and thank you everyone for your posts.

@ Merrida: I didn't realise that but it's a comfort to know and another thing I can convince myself the next time I feel breathless so thank you so much for that!

@ skitt: Thank you for your post. This isn't my first panic episode but whenever I feel this way I always write down how I'm feeling, too! I'm getting all this info sorted for the doctor's on Saturday.

@ mysweetpanda: Thank you for your post. It's amazing how our symptoms are the same! I honestly thought that something was really wrong with me because of how physical everything is but to think it's probably all in my mind... It's scary and hard to believe. That's why I think going to the doctor's is the right thing to do and then maybe therapy.

Thank you all so much for your input. I know I post on here a lot and for that I'm sorry but it's the only place I feel people understand. I think me being this way makes my family sad sometimes so I just don't feel like I can tell them any more.

Thanks again! x
Posted 2/4/2014 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Anxiety can cause gastric reflux which becomes worse on lying down. Gastric reflux can imitate a heart attack with severe pain in chest & epigastric area, it can make you cough as acids rise up into your throat & it certainly causes anxiety. The vicious circle. The acid reflux can cause tingling in your moth & tongue & perhaps a bad taste. The burning & heaviness in chest is certainly typical. You should be checked out by your Doc for sure but also try Gaviscon. It works quickly....you may need 2 or 3 in a row with lots of water. If this helps you may need a medication for GERD....gastric esophageal reflux disease. It often accompanies anxiety. Good luck!

Post Edited (SusieQ5555) : 2/4/2014 3:36:33 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/5/2014 5:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

My full anxiety issues are based around tention,chest pain ect.. my problem is that i dont tend to notice im getting anxious untill im in pain, then when i take a second to think about how im feeling i realise my shoulders are hunched i have pain in my back chest and that horrible pressure feeling you describe.

Streaching definetly help i try to streach my back chest and neck through out the day as well as breathing excercises they really do help try and get in the habbit of doing them.

Physical symtoms of anxiety can be very painful its definetly not all based on worry and panic

I hope you feel better soon

Jenna x

 

Posted 2/5/2014 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi - I seem to have the same issues...I get sharp pains in my chest and at times have trouble breathing when lying down. I have been told that it's GERD/heartburn but the Prilosec doesn't seem to get rid of the symptoms. I have had an EKG/Echo/Holter Monitor done and all have been normal. If I take a Xanax it seems to alleviate the pain, it's just scary to me to think that I can be doing this to myself? It's stressful when you think something I wrong with your heart. Hopefully reducing the stress and tension will lessen our symptoms!
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