Please Help - Am I normal? 24/7 Anxiety Symptoms

I have been reading different posts on here for some time. And I think some reassurance that I am not alone would be amazing. For background I am an 18yo male. I am not the most physically active but I was a runner for 4 years and have taken a year off now. I walk or bike every morning. I don't suffer from any other health issues (high bp, diabetes, asthma, etc.)

I have been suffering from depression for years, but GAD is new to me. Diagnosed a little over two months ago. Recently it has gotten very bad. I constantly feel either an uneasiness in my chest (the feeling you get when and elevator comes to a stop quickly as you're going down) or a sharp shooting pain, and usually both are accompanied by a strong pressure feeling like somebody has a 50 pound weight on my chest. I feel very short of breath and everytime I inhale it feels like my lungs are full of air already. 

I also have almost constant dizziness and a numbness feeling in my fingers, and sometimes in my toes. I will get pain in both arms, but I notice it more in my left obviously because I'm worried about my heart. Almost all the time I feel as though I am going to faint at any moment. 

It has been a month of feeling like this, as my doctor says, it has been a month long heart attack. Clearly not possible and therefore somewhat reassuring. I have had multiple EKG's, blood tests, chest X-rays have been done to look at lungs and heart. I am finishing up a 14 day heart study to look for abnormalities tomorrow, but it will be 7-10 days for results. Which will feel like a year.

I am just looking for some reassurance and hope. Am I alone in this? I feel so down and depressed, there is no fun in living like this and the things I used to enjoy I just can't do anymore. 

Also I was taking Fluoxetine 40mg once daily, since that was not effective for my anxiety we have switched to 40 mg cymbalta daily. I also have alprazolam for attacks. That numbs me up and does ease a lot of my symptoms.

You're certainly not alone bud. Sorry to hear you are going through this, it's like hell on earth I know. For about 8 yrs now I have had same symptoms. Pain in left arm jaw neck chest pains and so on. Every doctor or test I've taken says I'm totally fine but I can never get my mind to believe it. You don't realise it at time but anxiety totally changes your breathing, so alot of the pain in chest is from that. Your mind is so powerful it will convince you of symptoms. Email me at and I can give you my number, would be happy to talk with you.

Hi. You are normal - whatever that is. I am much older than you and have been dealing with GAD and depression for a number of years now. I have had all kinds of crazy symptoms and do have some physical issues. But anxiety and depression can do crazy things to you. I am glad you are getting things checked out physically to rule out any problems besides the anxiety.  I suggest you have your hormones tested too, but most traditional doctors don’t really recognize these issues unless they are extreme. You may want to see an Osteopath or Functional medicine doctor.  Check the adrenals and thyroid. You may want to check out the “stop the thyroid madness “ web site. Please keep us posted. 

Sending prayers and hope your way. 

Deb nyc 

I had blood work, and a thyroid study. Everything looked fine in docs eyes.

I've now convinced myself that I have serotonin syndrome being on this new medicine. This disorder is going to drive me crazy.