My name is Eddie , I am 21 years old, i been suffering with panic disorder/GAD for about 3 years now . I just want to know what people like me feel ? Does it get better ? I been on a ssri called citalopram 10mg and 20mg for about 2 years now . Bare with me I want to rant and get much off my Chest and hope to hear some support/similar stories . Sometimes i feel like I’m losing my mind , unfortunately for me my panic /anxiety most affects my chest area thus causing me to believe I’m having a heart attack . I’m sure i have health anxiety and constantly look for symptoms and diagnose myself . I been to the ER about 6-7 times since 2015 for the same panic attacks . Countless ekgs and blood work and X-rays but to my dismay any doctor i have come across has told me i am free of “heart problems” . But why do i feel like I’m going to have a heart attack everyday ? I mean i know it can be a mental game , but i can absolutely feel the pain and chest discomfort , i feel my heart beat ,i feel my heart gurgle and growl , i feel it swooshing and make sounds , i have a chest tightness all the time always causing hyperventilation episodes .. also sharp pains .. but only on the left side of my chest , i never have pain radiate to other parts of my body , i can honestly say my panic attacks for the last 3 years all centralize Around my heart . But i am still here , working , going to school and working out . Anyone have similar story suffer the same fear of cardiac problems everyday ? Believe it isn’t just the heart either that is just what i feel “most” of my anxiety
Hi Eddie I really did not realise till recently what anxiety can do to you REAL pains REAL numbness REAL lump in my throat .i havevnoticed since joining this site couple of months ago that a lot of people’s and young people worry is mainly their heart (my main one is cancer ).maybe cbt would be good for you help while your young .ive suffered with depression anxiety ocd as long as I can remember I’m 55 and I wonder if I’d been helpedvearlier my life would have been different .I really do think your anxiety is causing all this for you ,vicious circle .good luck
Hi Eddie, sounds like you are remaining fit and active and getting on with life, that’s great in itself. The issues you are having are down to anxiety. If your hyperventilating you will be breathing rapidly, so it’s no wonder your chest feels painful from all the effort over time. I’ve been suffering with extreme anxiety for a while now and today is the first day I’ve ever felt chest pain with this. My heart was slowing down and speeding up all over the place. What is hard, but you need to tell yourself is, it’s a physical reaction to anxiety. Let it flow over you and don’t fight it. Take deep breaths until it passes. I think CBT could work well for you and like Denise says get on top of this while you are young, you have a good chance of combating it. All the best.
Anxiety can make you feel like your gonna die but you are stronger then your anxiety...you have to show anxiety you are the boss not it
Hello Eddie
I had the same and ended up being extreme over active Thyroid.
Hopefully Eddie as you get older you will less anxious and you will move on
BOB