Even though you have talked to your doctor about this symptom, don't rule out heart pain. Panic disorder can increase breathing and heart rate, and cause your heart a bit of extra work. Even if there is nothing wrong with your heart so far, it can't be completely ruled out. This goes for all the muscles surrounding that area.

As we get older our bodies change and sometimes things can develop that are not harmful but feel as if they should be. Younger people don't get heartburn as much as those who are older. Weight gain can sometimes make heartburn symptoms worse. Those who are not on a controlled diet when they are older have more pains such as these than children whose mothers make sure they are on a healthy diet. A pain under your ribcage might be gas trapped within, which can feel extremely painful, especially if it is compressed by a panic attack.

Check your diet to see if there is anything that might cause you to have heartburn. Once you have ruled out this possibility, then maybe you can begin to blame it on a muscular/skeletal problem, which a chiropractor might be able to solve.

It's totally anxiety! That's how I found out I was having attacks. I was at work one day and (alot had happened in the last 6 months) but I had awful chest pains! I then couldn't catch my breath. I let it go for awhile then they just kept getting worse. I started losing weight because of no desire to eat, I was starting to fall in to depression which I found out can happen if you don't treat your anxiety. My husband started to really get worried. I was put on lexapro which is what my sister (who has had troubles for a long time) and my mom were on. I now have been off my meds for about a year and am doing very well. I just needed the medacine to calm my body down. I still have a prescription just in case. I do still have my chest pains at times but not like I did. I really encourage you to go talk to your dr. They may just tell you ways to handle it or try medication. Make sure you continue to talk to your dr or your pharmacist if you start medication to make sure it is what is right for you. Some medications don't work for some and does for others. Take care and if you need to talk let me know!

Yes, see a doctor as soon as you can to get a hold of this.

I have been recently been diagnosed with Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia (PDA) after putting up with it for over a year. I too suffer from chest pains once in a while when I get extremely panicky or anxious (usually when I'm really upset about something). Try breathing from your stomach instead of your chest to calm all symptoms of panic.

I agree, everyone should be checked out by their family doctor to rule out any physical problems. This includes blood tests (which I had done) to make sure you don't have anything which could be affecting/making the panic worse.

Once everything physical is ruled out, try to consult a psychologist (someone who specifically deals with Panic Disorders) who can treat you using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I'm in therapy right now and it's working SO well. I'm VERY impressed with the results thus far and I look forward to finally overcoming my panic. I have been to 4 sessions, I believe, and I am already noticing a huge change.

I suggest this book: "10 Simple Solutions to Panic". It's a wonderful resource and it gives you a lot of information as to why you're experiencing so many physical symptoms from something psychological. It really helps to understand why your body reacts the way it does, plus it's a short read so it won't take up too much of your time.

The above stated resources have helped me a great deal and I am on my way to recovering. Panic Disorder is more common than you think and these physical symptoms are controlable with the right treatment, trust me. But definitely rule out all physical symptoms (including chest pain) before just putting it off to your Panic Disorder.

my chest hurts every morning when I start thinking about money and bills. I really think it's going to kill me.

I am currently experiencing pains accross my chest, back, shoulder and arms. I know it is all to do with anxiety and stress related to work. My doctor wants me to try anti depressants, but this has made me more anxious as I see them as a sign of failure to manage/cope. WHat would you do?

SNRI's or most anit-depressants often make the problems worse before they get better. It's up to you and your doctor to keep you on the same meds at the same dossage.

Personally, I get the chest pains after a stressful situation, and am calmly replaying it in my mind. I was told my my thearapist to meditate... which has yet to work for me. My friends tell me medication is the next step (and to see a doctor who can perscribe).

My sister is on a small pharmacy of drugs for her anxiey, including anti depressants. She is carefree and irresponsible now, and every couple of months is increasing her dossages. I don't want to be like her, without a care in the world, on a million different pills, but thearpy isn't working either.

I've shut myself in my room so my friends and roommates will stop asking me if I'm ok, but living like this isn't a life.

Now bettybug, of everyone I know on antidepressants, the ones who stayed on them for prolonged periods of times (years) are still on them, and their lives are chaotic. I do know some people who were on them, figured themselves out and got off them and are awesome people, free of serious mental health issues. I too am scared to even try any medication, but am getting desperate to overcome my problems.

If you decide to go that route.... just don't make the meds your crutch, use them as a tool to sort out, manage and overcome! We have the power!

Meds aren't supposed to be a symbol of failure, they are supossed to be an aid- not a solution. Money problems, realationship problems, social stigmas and behaviours etc are the issues, the drugs are supposed to subdue the crippling symptoms to deal with the problems. Conqure them, and learn how to manage them and you won't need the meds and you're in the clear!

Hi houseelf
I did go and see my doctor yesterday about the pain I am experiencing due to work related stress, and he was in agreement with me, that I will be ok once I leave my current job. I handed in my notice at the end of july and it was rejected, and me being a soft touch accepted this. My doctor has told me to go back and tell them catagorically that I am serious about my notice and to leave / or if they try and persuade me otherwise to seek adice from CAB. I have been given some diazepam for the pains in my back etc, to help me relax a little, and I found them a great help last night. I can't take them by day however as I have to be able to function properly and be able to drive.
So, I now have to overcome my anxiety, toughen up and tell work they have to accept my notice. A small part of it makes me happy as that means I only have 2 weeks left
Thanks for your advice on the anti depressants, I knew deep down they weren't for me

The way I see it is that I didn't have any problems before but now all of the sudden I do. So why can't they all of the sudden just disappear? This is really hard for me to cope with and I don't understand why if I tell myself it's not that bad but my body acts like it is killing me. I don't like meds and reading material for this is barely working. Why me. It has been six months now that I hav ebeen dealing with this anxiety crap and it is making me feel like my life is going out of control. My wife is getting agrivated with the situation and that is only naking it worse on me. I'm not depressed by any means. I am just anxious when I get up because of my job and I have started getting really nervous easily. Is there anything I can take just to calm down and get mu life back on track besides anti - depressants? Or just can I just take a few steps?????

Hi Rreid
I found the diazepam very good to help relax me, and maybe ask your doctor for some counselling. I go back to see my doctor on Friday and I'm going to ask for some. I've only got a few days of my notice left now, and although I am scared about leaving my job, I'm also a little excited. I've been signed off work for work related stress and anxiety, so I don't actually have to go back to work. They have been harrassing me by email, letter, mobile and landline to attend a meeting to discuss the reasons why I'm leaving, so you knwo what I've done, blocked all their numbers and emails. So much for them giving me time out to relax and get better.
My advice to you, get out of your job, and think about number 1. I have always worried about what other people think of me, and put others first, but I have all of a sudden realised, no one at work actually gives a damn about you and what your going through........so my thoughts of them now are; you didn't appreciate me when I was there, but I bet you do now!
Don't go down the anti depressant route, my doctor has told me to sort out the problem and then re evaluate my life.
I'm sure your wife is just getting worried about you. My parents do the same to me and they do not realise that their attitude towards my anxiety really does not help.
My friends have been useless (I may as well say it) Their way of helping me is to ignore me.
But my boyfriend, he has been my saviour, I genuinely think that I would not be here now if it wasn't for him.

Take care and let us know how you get on

Anxiety does that to you. If you want reassurance ask your doctor for a physical. Chances are you're heart and general health are fine. but holding in your anger can cause problems for you in the future and your doc can send you to someone who can help with that.
It affects the body, too. Worry, nervous tension, mental stress, or anxiety can cause muscular contraction and vascular constriction restricting energy and blood flow and affecting nerve conduction to parts of the body. Different people have different "hot spots" depending up their physical makeup, past injuries, etc. Some people may be prone to back pain under stress, while others may develop tight and aching neck and shoulder muscles. Other people may have problems with internal systems or organs developing diarrhea under stress, for instance. Some people have chest pains.