I get this symptom too. Try sleeping with a heating pad. It doesn't solve the problem, but it seems to help. Take whatever pain killers work for you (aspirin, tylenol, or ibuprofin) as long as you're not on another med that tells you specifically not to do so. As far as i've found out, the pain is a result of the tension of the deeper pectoral muscles. As i'm sure you've found out, massaging it doesn't really help all that much -- for me, it makes the pain worse. I'm learning to take it as my body's sign to slow down!

It could also be the result of an unsettled stomach, and be referred pain from that. So try antiacids or acid-reducers and see if that doesn't help.

Check some of the other threads for books on anxiety that might help you. The panic and anxiety workbook is great, and many people recommend "been there done that do this." cognitive behavioral therapy, whether in group or in private, is very effective for anxiety.

I wish you the best with your struggles -- this is never a fun journey to make, but know that we're all here, and have gond through what you are going through in some form or another. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Peace and blessings!
Paul

Thank you both for your replies. I have undergone chest x-rays, cat scans and am very happy to report that my lungs and heart are healthy. I felt like I was having a heart attack. They problem was similar to what paul had mentioned in his reply. The chest muscles were stressed causing them to become inflammed and tense. This caused me to have very short breath and constant pain, especially in my left side. I was given an overall healthy report and an anti-inflammatory medication, ibuprofen 600mg with xantax for the anxiety. I feel wonderful! I thank god for the ability to breathe, laugh, talk and cry again!
as far as excercising, I am going to commit myself to walking off the stress and drink de-caff! I promised god I would be good to myself and I plan on upholding that promise. I am thankful for my health and am glad to be alive. Thank you for your prayers, paul.

Look at your breathing my friend. Usually, people with anxiety display shallow, rapid breathing.

How many times do you breathe in a minute. If it is more than 12, slow it down. You will see, that most of your symptoms, from light headedness, to palpitations will dissappear.

Is there anything else other than monetring your breathing that can help with anxiety and stress ?And does anybody suffer dizziness as a result of stress

I have had chest pain for the last 1 1/2 yrs. I have been diagnosed with anxiety prior to that, but I just can't understand how having anxiety and stress will cause a person to have chest pain practically all day, every day.

Plus, my chest pain is different each time and i'm really at a loss about what it is. It doesn't ever actually 'hurt' like a sharp pain, more like an ache or a cramp that is in different areas of my chest. But then sometimes, most recently, i've had the squeezing chest pain that makes me immediately think 'heart attack'. It's very frightening. Today hasn't been a very good day for me since i'm having the squeezing chest pain. I am a female and only 30 and I had a clean stress test last year. But still yet, when I have this chest pain, it is hard to accept that it could be caused from anxiety.

Does anyone know if anxiety chest pain could be exactly like the squeezing chest pain of a heart attack? The cardio doctor says i'm fine, no leaky valves, ultrasound was fine, passed stress test with flying colors. So why hasn't the pain gone away? Do I stress about it so much (everyday) that it won't go away until I stop it?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!

Dianna

Dianna,
sorry to hear about your condition. You said that you passed the stress
test with flying colors, but we have to remmember the old saying
about "it sounds too good to be true...". You need to understand that
there are no "bad" stress test results. This is part of the medical
profession and your cardiologist is just doing his job lying to you (no
leaky valves, normal echo, etc).
If there was something wrong physically with you, how would they
justify that you have a chemical dysfunction in your brain (the usual
explanation of the psychiatrists for the so called "anxiety")?
I suggest that you start writing a journal with your symptoms and
share them with a supportive group of friends that believe that you do
have physical symptoms. If they don't believe you, go and test
your c-reactive protein (crp) and show your results. Good luck!

Ps: you don't have to go back confronting your cardio b/c they work
with a double set of medical records.

Vsokolov,

i might have misunderstood your post, so correct me if I am wrong, but are you saying my cardiologist is lying to me? And what do you mean -- they have a double set of medical records?

Also, I had my crp levels checked and they are at the lowest risk. What do you suppose this means?

Dianna

Who tested you for crp? The same cardiologist that you talked about?
I would suggest you to repeat the test in a family practice office of a
doctor that you've never been before and that is not biased by your
previous and current symptoms.
Mention that you heard about the test in the media that you are otherwise
healthy (don't mention anxiety) and you would like to make sure that you
are within normal limits.
After that I would request copies after both result reports and compare
them alone.

I did my crp test with a completely different doctor who had no idea about my anxiety. Why would you say that a doctor would tell me I was within normal limits if indeed I wasn't?

Are you deliberately trying to be mean -- why would any doctor mislead someone like that?!

Dianna

I don't want to make you even more anxious, but did you see the
official report with the crp test results?
I can give you doctor names and hospital names that would lie to you
regarding your echo-cardiograms and crp test results, so this is
a fact. When you are asking why would anybody not tell you
the truth, ask yourself: did anybody recently suggested to you to
see a psychiatrist? Maybe they just want to send you away to see
a psychiatrist.
If they would acknowledge that you do have a physical problem they will
have to admit that they cannot fix the problem.
If this bussiness, there is nobody mean: not me, not the nurse telling
you to see a psychiatrist (who can help for a while, but don't forget that
they also have some legal powers that can exercise) nor the doctor.
This is a phylosophical issue about life and some medico-legal protocols
that everybody involved has to obey (until somebody will change them). You can be part of the system or out of it.

Have you been checked for a hiatal hernia? You can have the chest pain without the usual heartburn. I am having the same type of symptoms you are describing and my Dr. Feels that it is a hernia due to my family history (mother, aunts, uncle) with hiatal hernias. My family practice Dr. Has referred me to a gastroenterologist for further testing. Hope this helps. Unfortunately, once your Dr. Gets it in his/her head that your problems are from anxiety - they lose sight of other possibilities.

I do not beleive that cardioligists lie - and there is such thing as a bad result from a stress test - I have had freiends that have had the bad news!

Believe what he has told you and get on with you life. When you get the pain in your chest try and move around, roll your neck, lift your arms etc. This could help. I find if I move positions it helps

i have been to 3 cardioligists - now I beleive that there in nothing wrong with my heart - when I do have an anxiety attack, I tell myself this. My attacks are getting further apart but when I do have one they still scare me! I try to remain positive and regularly assess my life. Remembering when the attacks where at there worst, so that when I am having one I can think to myself - this is not as bad as some I have had previously and I made it through them o.K.

Hello there! To start off me(20) and my husband(22) just got married last sept. Then the beging of december my mom and 17 yr old sister had to moved in with us!! there was problems with her landlord and she had no where else to go. The whole situation has not been great, me and my husband have been fighting like crazy, actually everybody in the house has been fighting non stop!! A few days ago i was in the shower and all of a sudden i felt like i couldn't breath and my chest was hurting terribly. It passed and now as i speak my heart is killing me! It's like someones squuzing it and my lungs..I'm defidently convinced it's from the stress in the house, but wondering what do u do to cope with it. I love my mom and sister very much but I'm scared by the time they do find a house were all going to hate eachother..