I don't know if I have anxiety. And I'm scared. Please help!

I'm 24 this year and before I knew I had anxiety issues (just a guess on my part), I was having really bad chest pains and I couldn't sleep much. This happened just a few months back. It felt like something was pressing my chest all of a sudden, this happened in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep. It slowly progressed to hearing my heart palpitate and it got quicker and quicker and I felt like I was going to explode. It was a combination of fear and anxiety and nerves all rolled into one. Other symptoms such as me not being able to swallow my saliva?? or like me having to take deep breaths because I can't take shallow ones.. I questioned everything my body was doing and it almost feels like my mind is trying to kill my body? It doesn't make sense when I put it like that.

I've spoken to my sister about having a bit of these issues and I shared with her that I always think of the worst-case scenario in almost any situation, whether its crossing the road (a car will hit me), taking a plane (it will crash), going overseas (bad things will happen cause i'm a tourist), eating a sweet (thinking that i may choke), on an escalator (i will fall back and die), sitting underneath a ceiling fan (it will drop from the ceiling). It happens even when I'm not in a dangerous situation. I just think like that and I don't know why. 

I'm scared to find out what's wrong with me but I know there is something not quite right. What should I do next?

Hi, if it’s got to the stage where anxiety is affecting everyday life, then you need to talk to your doctor. Thinking of worst case scenarios is something most of us anxiety sufferers do. Talking to a therapist aswell would allow you to talk through your fears and begin to rationalise them. Glad to hear you’ve confided in your sister, talking openly about our anxieties helps.

Lolalove

The sensation you describe is a well known problem, they call it Old Hag

When we go to sleep our bodies become unresponsive in REM SLEEP. This is generally thought  to prevent damage to our body from thrashing around in our own sleep.

The problems of hearing or feeling your Heartbeat, again is normal especially in a peaceful environment. Again this is normal

Regards your problems with travel and Agoraphobia can be treated discuss a course of Aversion Therapy where

where they try and introduce coping Techniques. Breathing Techniques may help you, you will find an explanation on site.

Relaxation Technique may help, try Mindfulness, Explanations on the Internet

BOB