Hi there, I have been going through roughly the same issue. Starting in december with a panic attack brought on from cannabis and high levels of stress from family and work etc which has lead to high anxiety. I first noticed one evening that i had a heavy and pressing pain in my sternum (below breasts) which panicked me into calling an ambulance, i've had 2 ecg's (ekg) and a blood test which showed an abnormal thyroid, the doctor doesn't believe this is related to my anxiety as i am only 18. I've had a whole list of symptoms with this dreadful disorder, chest discomfort like sensations with tingling and sharpness and pressing, throat felt like it was closing up and couldn't breathe. Shooting pain from my shoulder down my left arm (only once), headache, stomach issues like constipation and diarrhoea, and what i believe to be acid reflux or indigestion, the feeling that i need to belch but something is stopping it then i bring up a little acid. Mild heartburn, really weak and like jelly legs. Extreme fatigue, stiff muscles and as a result i have cricked my neck twice. Loss of appetite then i got it back again. Nervousness, worrying about anything, scared to go out some places. Seems to get worse at night, sleeplessness, scared of sleeping in case i die in my sleep. Feels like phlegm trapped in my throat. Feeling like Multiple Sclerosis like i cannot move and an urgency to get up and move around. Depersonalization and derealization, some days i walk around in what seems a dream world, nothing seems real and i feel trapped like in a glass room. Feel really down in the dumps, have put on weight, quit smoking which seems to have done me good, got my breath back. I know what anxiety is like having suffered with it in extreme for almost 3 months now and it's quite possibly the most frightening and horrible thing i have ever gone through in my life, i literally feel lost and that my life is over but i know that i can get through it! i urge anyone with anxiety, talk to a doctor, arrange counselling (i have!) take anxiety medication if you wish. I am really fortunate in that a good friend of mine suffered from anxiety for 7 months and came out the other side. Talk to people! It can be beat and you've just got to have faith and believe in yourself! take better care of your body, for example eat more healthy, quit smoking like i have, exercise and most of all, keep yourself busy with something like work or a hobby, get yourself out of the house and enjoy walking, cycling, swimming and all sorts of activities! I enjoy making music with my friend, we spend a lot of time having fun writing and recording beatiful music. Do something you enjoy! and read books, literature from doctors, read blogs and forums posted online by the millions of people who are like us, trust me it helps. I hope this has helped you because it's taken me long enough to realise that this silly disease is no.1 not life threatening and no.2 you WILL overcome it and no.3 you are not going insane! Good luck everyone and feel free to message me if you need someone to talk to.
