Chest Pain

[P_Scar]

Hi i have suffered from anxiety and OCD for many years yet still havn't had the confidence to go to my GP about it, this is one of my new years resolutions but it's just building up the courage to go! I constantly get chest pain in the center of my chest slightly to the left, the sharp pain goes though to my back i feel it in my neck and shoulder, i have had this for 2 years and i initally went to the hospital thinking i was having a heart attack, i had a number of medical tests done including ECG's (one being a 24 hour one), running on a treadmill while having an ECG and also an echocardiogram, they couldn't find anything and said my heart was fine. Two years on i still suffer from chest pain and it still continually scares me incase they had a misdiagnosis or maybe its a problem with my respiratory system all i really need to know is if my chest pain is caused by anxiety and panic attacks? and what am i to expect when i do eventually go to my GP about my OCD and anxiety?

[RubyWitch]

If you have had these same pains for two years, (or longer) I think we can safely rule out heart attack. And yes, these pains can be caused by anxiety/panic! Most of us with anxiety focus on our hearts and most of us eventually accept the fact our hearts are fine, it's the dx of anxiety we have difficulty accepting. These pains are so real, we KNOW the doctors must be wrong to keep insisting it "just anxiety." It's scary and very frustrating.
Did a doctor diagnose you with anxiety and OCD? If so, why did he/she not treat you? Not recommend therapy? Why are you STILL suffering needlessly with these issues!
You have made a huge step forward by writing to us. You know what your issues are, you know you need help and now you just need some encouragement to GET that help.
People here will have differing opinions on how you should go about seeking the help you want. Some will tell you to see your PCP and follow what they tell you to do and what meds may be of value to you. There are some of us who tell you to avoid most PCPs as they simply do not have the training to deal with psychological issues and will hand out the latest and greatest meds the drug reps have just dropped off. There are some who will recommend you begin with a psychiatrist who is highly trained in these psychological issues and is far more savvy about the meds you might need. In the end, that decision must lie with you. I am in the camp of seeing either a psychiatrist or a psychologist.
What will happen is they will ask you to tell them how you are feeling and what your symptoms are. They will probably ask if you know why you are feeling the way you are. Your OCD symptoms will be pretty self-explanitory............but they can manifest itself in hundreds of ways..........so lots of talk will happen FIRST before the meds are discussed. And when (and if) they are, you will have the opportunity to ask lots of questions, which we all urge you to do. But that takes getting educated about what meds are out there and what people have to say about them. And here you will also find a very wide variety of opinions on which are good, which are bad and which some folks believe you should avoid at all cost. Knowledge about meds and trusting your doctor are two of the most important things you need. Trusting your doctor will be up to you, but here you will get a real education about meds. In the end, if you do decide to go with medication, it will, ultimately be YOUR choice of which one you want to try, but at least you will be more aware of what's out there.
We all understand your anxiety about talking to someone about these things, but these conditions are highly treatable and you've lost so much time already. Don't let them rob you of any more!
We are always here if you need to talk.
Peace
Greenlydia    

[P_Scar]

Thank you for such a quick reply, I've decided i'm going to go to my GP in the next few weeks, all the information above was much appreciated here goes the long road to recovery! Once again thankyou

[nursegirl6572]

Welcome to the forum.  Chest pain is one of the more common symptoms related to anxiety...it takes many people to the ER each year fearing a heart attack.

The answer is VERY simple here.  You need to seek help. You've suffered for FAR too long with anxiety and panic.  There are MANY treatments out there for anxiety...from medications, therapy, natural approaches, you name it.  There simply is NO reason you need to be suffering needlessly!

Make an appt with your PCP and explain what's been going on...just be very honest.  Anxiety disorders are VERY common....trust me that your doctor deals with this probably on a daily basis.  Personally, I always recommend that treatment be sought from a psychiatrist, simply b/c I feel they are better equipped to take care of the whole process a bit more thoroughly...from diagnosis to treatment.  They are usually a bit more up on the meds, especially the newer ones.  They also are aware of a lot of therapy resources (which is crucial).  Simply ask your PCP for a referral to a psychiatrist and make an appt to start addressing your anxiety so you can finally get some relief.

You will need to be assessed and properly diagnosed (a very important part of the process as so many disorders are very similar)...then a treatment plan will be formulated based on your symptomatology....and other aspects of your life that will benefit from certain kinds of therapies.

You are so far from alone in this battle...and while having anxiety stinks.....it IS treatable.  There is simply NO reason in this day and age when anxiety is so prevalent for someone to have to suffer, or be scared of seeking help. It is nothing to be ashamed of.

Best of luck to you.