New anxiety sufferer

Hi all,

New to this and thought this may help with my anxiety stuff, or more what I've put down to anxiety anyway as I've not yet been to see the Dr's yet (unable to get an appointment that doesn't involve me waiting a millennia to see someone, I keep meaning to ring in the morning but by the time I get to sleep I miss my alarm...!).

I pride myself in being quite independent, strong and can get through most things. As everyone knows, there's always someone else out there in a worse situation than you are so I like to look at things half full. Last year I split up with my fella of 5 years, although I was upset at the time I got through it and thought well I've got my own house and a job so all's well. A few years ago I had a spate, around a year, of having itchy skin, mostly the legs, horrible rashes all up and down them and on my sides. After much to-ing and fro-ing from the skin specialist they put it down to stress and told me "not to scratch if I felt the urge". Absolutely useless. Anyway needless to say that disappeared eventually but I do scratch every now and then when I get too hot in bed.
After this, shortly before Christmas I was then hit with the news of having to have quite a major operation even though the dr's don't quite know what's wrong with me, sounds more like a "cover their backside" option instead of going through the processes. This hit me for 6 and finally dawned on me I had no-one any more to go home to and discuss this with and I was quite alone. I have friends but they live quite a distance away. I had 2 weeks off work over the Christmas period, as soon as I relaxed I was hit by an almighty anxiety attack in the early hours of Boxing day. I felt like I was having a heart attack - heart racing and missing a beat, pain in left side of my chest, dizziness, metallic taste in my mouth, short shallow breathing and weird pains in my left leg which lead to it going numb every now and then and tingling in my skin with going hot and cold. It was only when I touched my face and thought it was falling off did I finally realise it was a HUGE anxiety attack (this was only from friends having the same thing). After what seemed like eternity I managed to get back to sleep but it wiped me out for about a week. Just when I thought I was over it and clearly not dying I had another one, again when in bed and going to sleep but I managed to control this although it felt like someone was sitting on my chest and throat, my tongue was swelling up and again I had these weird pains in my legs (like a growth spurt or pulled muscle feeling) along with the usual chest pains. With controlled breathing I got over this and went to sleep.
Lo-and behold a week later I have yet another one and I'm still feeling it now, woke me up again at 2am, same symptoms heart stopping, racing, cold and hot flushes, tingling sensations etc. I still don't feel right now and feel quite tight chested but I have managed to get to the gym today and do stuff as per "normal". I have put down last nights event due to a glass of wine, I haven't had alcohol for a week now and have cut down my caffeine to one tea / coffee a day. I have resisted the urge to go to A&E to get myself checked out so far but I'm terrified of going to sleep this evening in case I have another one. My main fear is that I am having a heart attack and I'm going to die alone and no-one is going to find me immediately or be able to help me.
I start my counselling session tomorrow to see if that works / helps and WILL be ringing the dr's to get booked in to see if it is just anxiety and nothing else, although I'm sure it is as bit of a coincidence as soon as I relax with time off work I have these fits though they are still continuing...

Thanks for reading :)

Hi Padfoot and welcome,

I am sorry to hear of your current unpleasant symptoms and concerns.

Do definitely get checked out thoroughly by your doctor as soon as you can get in. Since you have already been told that your physical symptoms have been caused by anxiety (the skin condition) this is really a formality...but an important step nonetheless.

It is great that you are going to see a counselor tomorrow! Good job on getting that set up. I hope that you find it helpful and productive. I benefitted from therapy very much.

I invite you to post often...both to receive and give support and understanding. Check out our Resources for great self-help ideas, and post anytime with concerns or questions.:)

Talk to you soon!

Scaredy Cat

Resource link:https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

Panic attacks are very vicious and they do mimic heart issues and believe me I totally understand what you are talking about. Great you have an appointment set up and sending healing thoughts. Post often--we all get it!!!!