i have terrible anxiety, i keep thinking im having a heart attack, every time i go to the doctors they say im?

Question

fine. but i feel pain in my left arm and jaw, no other symptoms but they still scare me. im on ativan for my anxiety but it only makes me tired. i cant function at home and its caused me to lose my job. my theripist told me that im just in a vicious cycle. anyone have any suggestions/ or have expierienced this befor?

Answer 1

i know exactly where you are coming from. i have an anxiety disorder but i cant get over thinking im having a stroke or something. i have the same pains in my jaw and sometimes the side of my head. went to the ER and they said it's just muscle tension due to the anxiety. i also lost my job due to the fact that i developed agoraphobia and i can no longer function normally. i would definitely say get counseling if youre not already. it's made the biggest difference for me. best of luck. hope you get through this.

Answer 2

First, don't freak out. Acknowledge the fact that you get panic attacks, which is fine, but it's just a problem you need to deal with just like anything else.....it is definitely controllable. Tons of people are in the exact same boat as you.

Second, your therapist should be doing more for you than just tell you that you're in a vicious cycle. Find someone that puts your mind at ease.

Also, it depends if you're seeing a Psychologist or Psychiatrist. The former will focus on what is causing the problem, the latter looks at it as a chemical imbalance. I see a psychiatrist and that has worked fine. I'm all about medication first, then figure out how you got to where you are....but at least the attacks subside.

I've lived (fairly successfully) with panic attacks for over ten years, through medication --Prozac augmented by Lorazepam as needed -- I've pretty much gotten past them. I still get a bit more nervous that others, but its certainly a hell of a lot better that it was in the beginning.

The meds may slow you down a step or two, but there are things you can do to counter the effects, most notably exercise. You may also get used to the effects after a while....

Good luck.

Answer 3

If your doctors say your are fine it usually means that the pains are stress-induced. It doesn't mean that the pain is in your head, it's real pain, but it won't show up in an X-Ray or a blood test etc.

You might want to look into the new medication called Cymbalta. It is quite amazing. It will make you simply not care about all the stupid things that cause you anxienty and stress. Your perspective will be cleared and you will be able to function in ways you never could before. Also, Cymbalta helps to relieve the pains and aches that come with anxiety and stress.

If you drink Soda and or Coffee, you should cut it out completely. Caffiene is a very powerful drug. It actually makes my heart palpatate.

Start jogging too. Nothing beats jogging to clear your head.

Answer 4

Anxiety attacks can have the the same symptoms as panic attacks. Racing and pounding heartbeats, chest pains, diziness, lightheadeadness, nausea, difficulty breathing, thingling and numbness in hands, flushes or chills, the feeling that terrible things will happen, fear of loosing control, fear of dying. The good new is that nobody died of an axiety attack yet.
if you want to get more info. try:
www.TopinformationAbout.com/Anxiety
Dave Angel
Curing Anxiety
Information online
Po Box 789 Portsmouth
PO19DY United Kingdom
07981423108

his writing a book and asking people to e-mail him with their questions.
You need relaxation therapy. You don't have to pay big bucks. you can be your own therapist. buy a couple of self-help books and dig up the determination that is in you. im speaking from experience. you will get better. always think positive.

Answer 5

My girlfriend has been taking ativan all her life..., she too suffers from anxiety. Anxiety is a self induced fear that only therapy with a professional will subside it. My girlfriend is over weight and she is so tired that she doesn't want to go anywhere or do anything. You need to go see a psychiatrist as soon as possible and get off the pills. Ativan is addictive.
Ultimately there is nothing wrong with either one of you other than your own mental paranoia and your health is not in any danger, it's only your psyche. Don't worry, there will be no heart attacks or anything even close to it.
Good luck.

Answer 6

I never found ativan helpful, you might want to discuss xanax with your doctor. Also there are classes available in which you can learn skills to help you deal with panic attacks, I'm surprised your therapist hasn't suggested that. If your doctor is not comfortable with prescribing xanax, many are not because it's potential for abuse is supposedly higher than Ativan, then make an appointment with a psychiatrist, they tend to be more reasonable.

Answer 7

If the anti-anxiety medication is making you too drowsy you need either a lower dose or a new med. Are you a coffee drinker? People who drink a lot of coffee (tea, coka cola, etc.) - 8 cups a day or more - have the symptom of a heart attack, IE rapid heart beat, shortness of breath, etc. Cut out the caffeine and see what happens.

Answer 8

Oh yes, I've been there, done that, still getting out of it. I think the anxiety if it gets bad enough, starts to affect your physical body. I had TERRIBLE, AGONIZING, awful pain in my upper back and neck for the longest time because of anxiety. I couldn't get comfortable, I was always tensed up, I couldn't just relax even when I was relaxing. I hate to bust out with God talk if you aren't into that, but for me that's what did it. God told me the things I can do/not do to help with keeping calm, and to talk to Him when I get fearful (you don't have to be like, SCARED of something to be fearful or worrying, that's all anxiety is) and He healed my back of the pain. That sucker NEVER hurts now! My work however has been slow the past few weeks so I've gotten out of the busy work day schedule, and just recently they gave me a HUGE work day. My head started to hurt and my back even started to hurt after not hurting for over a couple months. That same yucky pain...so I just told myself to chill out, I prayed, asked God to help because I didn't need to get anxious or fearful. Neck stopped hurting. Hope something I said may help ya, feel better buddy ♥

Answer 9

Please speak to your therapist again. "You're JUST in a vicious cycle" isn't acceptable. There is a way to break the cycle. If your therapist doesn't know how to help you do this, requst that he/she get help themselves. The therapist may need to consult with someone more experienced. I hesitate to advise you to change therapists at this point. That takes time. Try to work with the one you have. And there are anxiolytics other than Ativan.

Answer 10

I have read some litterature about panic attacks. But they allways seem to have a more scientific approach and that is nothing I need in my struggle to survive those horrible panic attacks. This is a "hand on" and very practical book. I felt it was written to me. I am sure that you are going to feel the same.

Joe Barry writes exactly how I think. The examples are perfectly described. And the method is genius. I recommend this book and thanks Joe Barry for writing it. It changes your life