Short, stabbing chest pain can be brought on by panic?

Hello everyone.
I've been a bit of a wreck in the past few weeks. Every time I eat food I get rapid heart beats which causes me to feel like I can't breathe. I'm having a terrible time falling and staying asleep. I panic every day and I also get this awful sudden stabbing pain under my left breast bone which will "fade in" and "fade out" in a matter of seconds. Is this something to be concerned about? I had breakfast about 3 hours ago so I can't see it being indigestion or heart burn. It's not here now. It's just a random, out-of-the-blue stabby pain that comes on every day. That's usually when I start to feel ill and scared and panicked. I'm trying my darnedest to stay positive but I feel like everything is going wrong in my life and that I'm a complete mess up.
Thank you for your time.

Hi Janghwa. Those short stabbing pains under the breast bone can definitely be a symptom of anxiety, especially when they fade in and out quickly as you said. I've had anxiety for years and have had those happen enough to send me to the ER, scared I was having a heart attack. A stress test, blood work, and numerous EKGs later, everything was fine. I also had them when I first woke up, when I was sitting at my desk at work, when I was just standing and talking to someone, so they're very random and can happen with or without food. When I talked to my doctor, she did say that heart trouble is usually a chest tightness or pressure, may radiate to the neck, jaw, shoulder, or arm, and maybe sweating. In other words, sharp pains that come and go aren't typical of heart attack or heart trouble. That said, I'm not a doctor and am only telling you my experiences, but your symptoms are very common with anxiety.

Couple of thoughts. As Larry pointed out, those types of pains do not generally present if you're having a heart attack. Plus, here you are! And,...the fact that the symptoms repeat over time,....strongly suggests something else. But always, always, when in doubt, when you need answers and assurance, consult your doctor.
I also quite easily ^^echo^^ what our pal Larry said about gas. I can't tell you the (extraordinary!) number of times I've found out that,....I had gas! The sharp pains from gas and bloating can be quite intense, they can appear right out of the blue, and they surely can knock the wind out of you.
Also of interest is where you said you were feeling the pains. Right in the area where your stomach is located. So, a few things come to mind. When gas/pressure/food builds up (and your body tries to process it), the pressure pushes up, right beneath the area where part of your heart and left lung are. Just having any foreign/unfamiliar sensations in that region can be scary,....
Must emphasize how sharp gas pains are. I think they make products, like Gas-X for after the fact, or Beano for before the fact. Perhaps they may help?
I am hyper sensitive to food/meals. By that I mean, when I eat, it's fuel for my body (as it is everybody), and I'm sensitive to that process. Our metabolisms are started, just like a car, and it goes through the gears, just like a car, of digesting and providing nutrients to our bodies. My temperature rises, I get energy, I feel hot and flushed, sometimes sweat, and I become hyper-aware.
Finally, a thought about your diet, as certain foods can trigger digestive issues.
Anxiety can exacerbate any or all of these symptoms.

M.

If you have anxiety, stomach pain may occur at any time – even when no anxiety is present. However, many people experience stomach pain during panic attacks.

The exact link between an anxiety attack and stomach pain is not exactly clear, other than the fact that during a panic attack your body is under a considerable amount of stress and your hormones are often on overdrive. In addition, those with anxiety attacks are prone to hyperventilation, which may lead to bloating which can cause its own stomach pain.