Back to square one

so I’ve not had to bad of a day in regards to anxiety.. this afternoon I watched a film and the girl in it had heart problems, now this is my fear at the moment it’s my heart - had some tests and all ok. but I cant get out my head its my heart causing these chest pains, anyway I felt scared again watching the film and when it finished I had a sudden sharp shooting pain go through the left side of my chest, as if it had come from the armpit and across, it was gone in about 2 seconds but it was so quick and sharp it took my breath away for a second. would you say that was anxiety from worrying through the film? because now I keep feeling scared, started googling again and feel prickles on my chest and I keep checking my heart rate.. I looked at my watch and at about that time my heart rate went up to 140! it come straight back down but I’m so anxious again now :frowning:

That is definitely anxiety. If you have had checks and they didn’t show anything wrong, your heart is OK. If you had a problem it would definitely show up.

thank you. I always feel like the tests aren’t enough but I suppose I should just trust shouldn’t I. it’s so hard

Yes you really should. You can’t force anxiety to go away. The unpleasant feelings caused by anxiety are what is making you anxious. Its a vicious circle. You have to accept the unpleasant feelings and carry on regardless just like you would if you had, say, a muscle pain in your back. In other words don’t try to get rid of feeling but carry on in spite of them. They are not telling you the truth. It is only fear of the symptoms that keeps them going. If you accept them and don’t try to stop them, you stop caring whether they are there or not and they gradually fade away. Its a really sensible thing to get the tests but if they say your OK then believe it.

thank you, I really appreciate that advice. I’m going to give it my best shot! my latest one is feeling like I have to catch my breath and I didnt like it so now it feels like its constant, I wake up wondering if I can breath, but I just done a breathing exercise and it calmed down so I know its just anxiety but its very uncomfortable and scary.

Yes that feeling that you can’t breath in fully is just another of the many standard feelings caused by muscle tension. It isn’t pleasant but, again, it won’t do you any harm. Accept it and don’t try to fight it. You will always be able to breath.