Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi there!
I'm 17, and I've been experiencing anxiety for about 5 months now. It started late in my junior year, when I went into the nurse's office and she told me I was having a very mild anxiety attack. Afterwards, I spent the summer with mild constant heart palpitations (since I had nothing else to focus on) before going to the Urgent Care to see what was going on. The doctor did an EKG/ECG and said that I was a healthy 17 year old and that I shouldn't worry about heart problems at all. I still experienced anxiety as well as a variety of symptoms, but I've gone to therapy and it's improved a lot.
Forward to a week ago. I was sitting doing school work when suddenly, a series of skipped heartbeats occurred. It was like my heart stopped for a second, then did a powerful thud in my chest, about 3 times. Over the following days, I've noticed it happen repeatedly. Because of this, I've had severe heightened anxiety for the past week, which is not helping the sudden missed beats at all.
But I don't have ANY worrying symptoms at all: I only feel a strong uncomfortable heart beat (maybe preceded by a dropping sensation in the stomach), but no chest pain whatsoever, no numb arms, I can breathe perfectly fine.
The worse thing that I worry about involves long term stuff. These are the thoughts that I have that won't escape my mind:
What if these palpitations are weakening my heart? When I get anxious, my left arm aches and tingles afterwards. This has to be heart related! What if I developed a heart condition from this? The only thing I got was an EKG--Maybe I should have gotten blood tests, holter tests, stress tests, etc. What if something changed in between the time I got the EKG and now? I just want to know for sure that I'm completely healthy.
Please, if you have any advice on how to stay calm when these happen, or any facts that can reassure me (my brain is very logical and rational, only really responding to hard facts and data when it comes to bring anxious), I would very much appreciate it.
0 likes, 5 replies
samantha85386 danielle58533
Posted
I just wanted to chime in and say I'm having really similar issues. For about 3 months I've been having some chest pain which has turned into anxiety over it, then I just got generalized anxiety and frequent panic attacks. I've been to the emergency room twice with ekg's and blood tests and everything was fine. Still though I worry constantly that they missed something. I was put on lorazepam until I can get in to see a GP (in a month) but it's only as an as need basis which sucks because I am constantly anxious. Sometimes I notice my chest like, gets butterflies? It's like if you go down a hill and your stomach flips but in the chest. I told the last ER doc that too. Usually that sends me into a panic where I do get tingling, sweating, etc but I know that part is probably anxiety.
Anyway, my advice is to see your GP. There's only so much an urgent care ER doc can do when you're seeing them just for the 1 visit. A GP can give you a place to start and recommend other tests or specialists and they're able to follow up with you. I know it's tough but make the appointment, even just knowing you've got an appointment can help you feel a little better.
Anxiety can do a lot to your body and even if you feel okay it can be in the background hovering and waiting to strike! Good luck <3
danielle58533 samantha85386
Posted
Thanks Samantha! I actually do have an appointment coming up very soon. When I told the doctor my symptoms over the phone, she seemed to already have a feeling that it's just anxiety related. Thank you for sharing, and I hope we can both get better together
eva98245 danielle58533
Posted
All i can say ,you are not alo e ,i ve been seeing psychiatrists now for 4 mo ths , tried anything possible and still the onlyy thing i can do is take benzos when panick comes and the worst is i never know when ,and it's every day i feel lime my life consist of good moments and those with pounding heart, which i also checked many times, one time i even called ambulance to my house csuse i thought heart attack for sure
brown45840 danielle58533
Posted
Hi danielle,
Hope you are doing okay today. You are not alone. Everybody tend to be anxious about what could happen to them in the future. Don't worry about what might happen in the future. Just think and stay positive. You'll be just fine! Best wishes to you!
danielle58533 brown45840
Posted
Thank you! This week has been sort of a low spot for me when it comes to anxiety but I know that sometimes it has to get worse before we can heal. I'll try my best to keep positive thoughts in my mind.
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