Escargotage
16-11-13, 20:33
So, I have always struggled with anxiety and agoraphobia to the point where I had not left the house in close to 5 years. (Yeah, that's a loooong time, I know.) Around two weeks ago, I think on November 1st, I finally bit the bullet and went to my doctor for a check up due to fear of abdominal pains. He checked me out and told me that my only issue was that I was underweight. Blood pressure and heart rate were normal, no lumps in my abdomen that would signify a serious issue. Since then, I've been making strides in going out and keeping my panic under relative control.
Until last night, that is. As I was sitting on the computer, I started getting a sharp pain in my chest, just under my right breast. (Pec? I'm not sure what men call it.) It went away soon enough, but it caused my anxiety to kick into overdrive. I started getting pins and needles in my hands that refused to quit and my heart began to race. It got to the point where my hands began shaking and I started crying thinking that I was going to die of heart failure. (Thanks, google!) I got up and walked around a few times, talked to my mom and took a small dose of anxiety medication (don't know the name, but I can get it if it's needed) to help calm down. My chest felt tight at times and my breathing felt strained, but I'm not sure if that was just anxiety or not.
Afterward, I laid in bed for a few hours until I was tired enough to fall asleep. I didn't sleep well, only managing 2 hours at a time before I was up and worrying again. As I am now, I'm still worrying about this and still about 30 seconds away from calling 911 to rush myself to the hospital. I have tried breathing exercises and still only get my heart rate down to about 85 or so at lowest.
I mean, if I did have a heart issue, my doctor would have picked up on it and sent me for tests, correct? They don't just pop up out of nowhere? Any help or advice is greatly appreciated, I'm 23 and way too young to be worrying about my death. Thank you in advance.
EDIT: My apologies, I did not see the sticky about not asking for medical advice. I should have clarified, I am merely asking if these are typical symptoms of health anxiety and if I should perhaps tell my doctor about them the next time I go in.
Until last night, that is. As I was sitting on the computer, I started getting a sharp pain in my chest, just under my right breast. (Pec? I'm not sure what men call it.) It went away soon enough, but it caused my anxiety to kick into overdrive. I started getting pins and needles in my hands that refused to quit and my heart began to race. It got to the point where my hands began shaking and I started crying thinking that I was going to die of heart failure. (Thanks, google!) I got up and walked around a few times, talked to my mom and took a small dose of anxiety medication (don't know the name, but I can get it if it's needed) to help calm down. My chest felt tight at times and my breathing felt strained, but I'm not sure if that was just anxiety or not.
Afterward, I laid in bed for a few hours until I was tired enough to fall asleep. I didn't sleep well, only managing 2 hours at a time before I was up and worrying again. As I am now, I'm still worrying about this and still about 30 seconds away from calling 911 to rush myself to the hospital. I have tried breathing exercises and still only get my heart rate down to about 85 or so at lowest.
I mean, if I did have a heart issue, my doctor would have picked up on it and sent me for tests, correct? They don't just pop up out of nowhere? Any help or advice is greatly appreciated, I'm 23 and way too young to be worrying about my death. Thank you in advance.
EDIT: My apologies, I did not see the sticky about not asking for medical advice. I should have clarified, I am merely asking if these are typical symptoms of health anxiety and if I should perhaps tell my doctor about them the next time I go in.