So basically I've been having these chest pains on & off every since I first starting having bad anxiety about 4 months ago. The first time I got them I was really freaked out & went to the ER where they did EKG & other tests & found nothing wrong. I've had several EKGS since then & everything has always turned out normal but I've never been to a cardiologist. Does anyone else get these sharp shooting pains that lasts only a couple seconds? What worries me is that I'm experiencing these pains sometimes even when I'm not feeling particularly anxious. It will just come out of nowhere. I'm not *super* worried that it's a heart attack anymore since I know that a heart attack happens quickly & obviously I've been having this for a while now. But whenever I look it up, the results are always a bunch of really serious/ fatal heart conditions so I'm starting to worry I have a blood clot in my lungs or something like that. Does anyone else experience this? Or have any ideas about what it could be? I know we're not doctors on here but if you have any advice I'd really appreciate it. I'm trying to avoid going to the doctor constantly for every problem
Hello! Sorry to hear your going through this!
Sounds like typical anxiety symptoms! Even if your feel anxious you can still get the physical symptoms! I’ve been dealing with it now for over a year and have had multiple tests on my heart! Try and relax and do some breathing techniques! Hope you start to feel better!
Hello there. Looks as if I was reading about myself.... also had few ECGs so far, been to A&E, bloods taken, chest Xray - all good... I can understand why you are worried but if you had your tests done, then you have to believe and accept that it is "just" anxiety... I know it is easier said than done but if the tests come back clear we just have to come to terms that anxiety can give those symptoms. How long are you suffering from those pains? Have you ever had any problems with your heart in the past?
My chest is very often tight, in the middle, on the side, even in my back between my shoulder blades. And then there are days when there are no pains whatsoever. Then the next day I have this pinching pain in the heart area, which get way worse when I breath deeper, can be then for hours.... and I know it's "only" anxiety so I am trying to ignore it. I know I am not having a heart attack, simple as that! It's hard to igonre sometimes but I am just accepting it. I used to have this pinching pain for months when I was a teenager and my cardiologist told me at a time it was anxiety... I just grew out of it. Now it's back but I know it's the exact same pain... bear in mind anxiety symptoms may change as the time goes on, they may come and go, you may develop new pains. But at the end of the day it's harmless, esp when you did the checks at the doctor, the next step is to try to control anxiety levels, accept it, not let it drive your life. Try to embrace your condition when you are in pain, ignore it, tell yourself you are safe and that it will pass, be kind to yourself. And keep practising. That's the main thing. It will not go away overnight, but you will lesser its power over time. I am working hard on my anxiety and I can tell you I am already seeing results. My pannic attacks stopped weeks ago and I am much better on a daily basis. I sometimes have days with zero pain. And I used to suffer from tones of somatic pains. I still have worse days, i.e. when I don't get enough sleep. And one very important thing - it doesn't really matter if your pain was predecessed by worries or not - anxiety doesn't choose timr and date, it can kick in with no warning and no reason. That's the nature of it, but combating it counciously will lessen the lenght and frequency over time, you just need to be patient. You will get there, we all will one day, we just have to be strong and remember we are not sick, it is just temporary state of mind. Take care of yourself x