Pain even when I'm not anxious?

Posted , 10 users are following.

Usually the pain I get in my chest is caused when my anxiety is playing up. Only lately, I get chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness and extremely light headed even when I don't feel anxious. Is this normal? Surely my anxiety can't cause these symptoms when the anxiety itself isn't bothering me at the time?

3 likes, 24 replies

24 Replies

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  • Posted

    Why do you say "it's getting frustrating that the docs just put everything down to anxiety."? Really you should be pleased it's nothing more serious! I think perhaps people would prefer a diagnosis of something physical because it's easier to deal with – take medication or surgery. Anxiety is notoriously difficult to deal with because it's something we have to tackle ourselves rather than rely on medics. Our brains are the most important organ in the body – they run everything else – so it's hardly surprising they go wrong from time to time. Probably the first step is to fully understand the link between brain and body which gives you the clues as to why we get these physical symptoms – pain, shortness of breath, dizziness etc. – which feed back into your anxiety. Then you can start to undo the link. You can start to tell yourself "it's not your heart, it's your muscles tensing up" or (in a supermarket) "you don't feel faint, it's just these horrid fluorescent lights." It's a long road, and personally I found CBT very helpful, but you can get there.
    • Posted

      It's just as soon as they find out I have anxiety they don't take me seriously. They look at me like I'm crazy and stupid and start patronising me. They don't understand how scary it is or the fact that the chest pains etc are all very much real and painful whether caused by anxiety or not.
    • Posted

      I don't want to excuse the professionals, but I think it's almost impossible for anyone who hasn't experienced panic attacks or chronic anxiety to understand what it feels like. I have never found a GP or consultant who understands. But therapists and counsellors do, it's their speciality if you like, so they're the ones to go to if you want to be taken seriously.
    • Posted

      My GP is referring me to a counsellor but because I'm 16, and need the adolescent mental health service, it's taking a while. The doc admitted the whole waiting process is ridiculous. Had I been a year or two older I could've been referred to the adult mental health. Instead I have to wait God knows how long.
  • Posted

    I had terrible anxiety and panic attacks for years to the point that I or they were making me physically ill.  Haven't had an attack for six months or so now.  I don't take any meds. for it.  This might sound simplistic but concentrating on my breathing really helped me, ie. controlled, gentle breaths in and out, in through your nose and out through your mouth.  Also if the feeling of a panic attack is coming on I distract myself, talking to someone, watching tv, listening to music, going outside, whatever works.  Thinking back I was totally fixated on the panic and anxiety and either overbreathing to the point of hyperventilating or holding my breath, both of which are not good.  I wish you luck with it.  Take care.
    • Posted

      Thank you, I'll try breathing like that when I feel anxious smile
  • Posted

    I've suffered with health anxiety for over 12 years. I've always been convinced my heart is failing, I've had multiple tests over the years and nothing has ever been wrong. Not to mention if I had a weak heart 12 years ago, I'm sure the excessive drinking, smoking and drug taking in my teens would've pushed me over the edge and something would happen. I still get twinges in my chest and left arm, dizziness etc. But I've learned that even when I'm not having a panic attack, my anxiety is still there, it's just laying in the back of my mind and it'll never truly go. The thing with anxiety is that you don't defeat it, you learn to live alongside it and realise that it's not going to hurt you.
  • Posted

    I was thinking the same thing. I still don't know if to believe it is just anxiety. I feel some kind of ache or pain all of the time..

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