Help! I don't know what to do!
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi there,
I have been reading some of the forums on here and have decided to ask my own question.
I am a 20-year-old male that is suffering with Health Anxeity.
I have been living with constant chest pain and arm pain now for last couple of weeks and have visited the A and E a couple of times for the pain. Each time I have an ECG and a Blood Test to see if my Heart is all okay, each time is clear. I just don't believe the results though. I am still in the pain and am unsure. I just think that it must be my Heart. I cannot break the cycle.
the Dr's have said that it is Muscle strain mixed with Health Anxiety.
I have avoided going to A and E in the last couple of weeks since last visiting and have been going to my DRs instead. The Dr listens to my heart and tests my movement along with looking at my previous tests, and tries to reassure me that nothing is showing up as being wrong.
My Blood pressure seems to be normal, but my pulse is always high. High being above 80, around 100.
Can anxiety really cause the pain and in my experience the anxiety is caused by the pain which then causes the spiral to increase the pain? I have CBT booked in for September and am currently on no Anxiety meds.
is this all really caused by Anxeity?
1 like, 12 replies
Psyched_Out_Kim SamIsaacs
Posted
Anxiety can make absolutely everything worse. It's also the best trickster around, because it can mimic so many other health conditions. Anxiety will tense your muscles up, so if you already had an issues with muscle tension, anxiety will make it worse. There's also a chance that you had anxiety before you even knew it, and it laid dormant until physical problems activated it. Once you can get the anxiety under control, your muscles will begin to relax and heal much faster.
Nobody wants to hear that they have anxiety, because it comes off making us feel like our physical symptoms aren't believed. The truth is that doctors do believe the physical symptoms, so they run every test they feel is required. The tests come back clear, but the symptoms linger. Unfortunately, there's not much a gp or most hospital staff, can do about it. The biggest step towards helping yourself feel even a little better, is accepting that you have anxiety problems. They might not be there forever, but they're there now, so it has to be dealt with just like any other medical condition. It definitely sucks, so it's great that you're looking into help for it.
helen20833 SamIsaacs
Posted
The simple answer is yes. Muscle strain is painful but you are adding to the problem by being tense and anxious. Tension causes muscles to bunch or spasm. Quite why you don't believe the tests is beyond me but it is a common occuring fear, with AD sufferers, that the doctors have missed something and that the tests are faulty.
Put aside your worries over your heart. All you are doing is making yourself worse. Trawl through the Forum. You will see many similarities between your own worries and symptoms
helen20833
Posted
I apologize here. It should have read " Quite why we don't believe tests is beyond me " as opposed to you. Initially I too, as do most AD sufferers, was convinced I had some overlooked serious illness. Only when I faced up to the fact that it was anxiety did I start to cope and begin to heal.
Anxiety is truly horrendous. It hurls the most abysmal symptoms at us with all the strength of a 100 mile an hour gale! But you too will learn coping methods
tess33005 SamIsaacs
Posted
Hi there and welcome.
Yes, anxiety CAN cause all the pain.
You've had plenty of tests on your heart which were fine. That's good.
I am so glad to see that you've had the good judgement to have some CBT.
Stay with us - we'll help you.
love Tess xx
helen20833 tess33005
Posted
tess33005 helen20833
Posted
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
When I glanced at yours I thought it said "Quite why any of us believe Tess etc" which puzzled me, till I put my glasses on.
helen20833 tess33005
Posted
SamIsaacs helen20833
Posted
Yes is such a lovely post. It's so hard to believe but I think I'm ready to accept it.
helen20833 SamIsaacs
Posted
We will all be here for you! Hugs
nichola39441 SamIsaacs
Posted
Hi
Definitely yes I have suffered from anxiety for 5 years various physical symptom apear ... chest symptoms was one of mine.. I have upper tense body all the time which makes it worse. A few years back I was getting stabbing pains now I suffer with ibs symptoms. I'm getting through it though you will just try your best not to focus in it.. you will notice that if you are busy and kept focused on something else they may appear not to be as bad x
Purpledobermann SamIsaacs
Posted
Hi Chris.
Welcome. Nothing unusual in your story - no worries!
You can ask your doctor for a full heart work up to settle this once and for all. Not because I think you need it, but because it may be the best way to give yourself a break. As a start. They can run a colour doppler/echo and stress test. They will scan your arteries to ensure no blockages or anomalies. Then, when that is done you will know what you already ...know Heart failure does not happen just like that. Heart pain is progressive and very quickly becomes unbearable. And then you have a heart attack or die. But you are not having a heart attack and are not dead.
Check your pulse when you are relaxed. And let's call that one your resting pulse. Because i would not rely on that pulse taken at A&E or at the doctors for a health anxiety patient!
"Can anxiety really cause the pain and in my experience the anxiety is caused by the pain which then causes the spiral to increase the pain? " It can. Do you know how much more you clench your muscles as an anxious person? I have a 6-pack without ever doing a sit-up... You tax every muscle in your body and pains are inevitable. Even if the pain you have is just a simple muscle sprain from some unfortunate movement, the pain alone is enough to send you spiralling off into anxiety. Because it is your left arm. So your mind goes - u-huh! Heart attack!
Hang in there. You are young and this is fixable. I wish you to feel relaxed and at ease really soon.
All the best.
borderriever SamIsaacs
Posted
Yes both make good bedfellows
BOB