Question about the Heart...when is the pain real?

[Missy31]

Hey everyone, I know alot of us apparently have the anxiety turn into physical symptoms and we think we are having a massive heart attack that we will drop dead from, I personally have some kinda of chest discomfort daily and like others have had test done and been told everything is fine, but my question is when will we know when its anxiety and not something really wrong. I mean will the pain and discomfort be different? I am personally afraid that one day I will have some pain and try and tell myself its anxiety when really its something else, do you get what I'm saying? How do you draw that fine line between whats actually happening and whats in my head? I don't know I just really worry about that. I'm just scared that some day will come and I'll have pain and then not get checked out cause I'm telling myself its my anxiety and then come to find out I have had a hearrt attack and now have like massive damage to my heart or something, AHHHH I don't know does anyone else think about this??? Please any thoughts I would really appreciate!! Thanks Melissa

[br2509]

Oh hun i am with you so much you just never know everytime i am having a little chest pains i am thinking its going to be something bad instead of anxiety.But i have been checked and had blood work but it still makes you worry because you just never know and i think what scares me the most is that the symptoms of anxiety is close to the same of a heart attack.

[Missy31]

thanks guys, I 've  just been having all this pain in my back and then this cramping in my chest and it is scaring me half to death! I know that is probably the anxiety its just manifesting its self a little differrently cause I don't usually have any pain in my back, but I know thats what it is cause if I get up and start doing something it stops, ughhhh its just so frustrating Not to say I'm glad others have to go threw what I am, its just nice to know that I'm not alone. Thanks to all

[dreambrother]

There are a list of thing to look for if it's a heart attack,not being able to open your mouth,move your arm,ect I'm sure you can find it on line.I had the same problems when I first started getting anxiety.It was a little more difficult for me cause I've already had heart surgury.I would suggest a check up and then if evrything is ok don't think about it when your feeling anxiety. God bless!

[cj29]

I had really bad health anxiety in relation to worries about my heart health.  Like you I had tests telling me that I was fine.  I could not believe that anxiety could possible be the reason for these pains.  For months I would not believe it; only when I started to accept that it might be from anxiety did I start to understand this (which is much easier said than done).  First of all, take comfort in the fact that you are young and have been given a clean bill of health concerning your heart.  Next, go learn about this panic/anxiety cycle from a therapist; learning to confront this is the most beneficial way to conquer it in my opinion.  I also look at it like this...despite worrying about it so much, I am still alive and kicking; why trust your mind with these thoughts when it was wrong so many times before?  I know that is probably an oversimplification of the problem, but it is a start in the right direction in my experience.  Keep us posted!

[scaredjo]

oh i forgot someone told me a true heart attack will be a pain you have never experienced before a permenant pain and your breathing will change like you have never experienced before!!

[scaredjo]

this is one of my biggest fears cause i have chest pain more or less daily too, sometimes worse than others apparently you will just know!! if you ever do feel really bad though it wont hurt to get checked out but your only young and if the doc says your fine you have to trust him or her lol

[dmbfan07cb]

If I went to the doctor for every new pain I had I would go more than 5 times a day, lol

[dmbfan07cb]

I ask myself that a lot.  i think the real pain will be very different and you will just "know" it's not right.  You know what I mean?  

[goodeys]

I asked my doctor the same question. How will I knwo when there really is something wrong with me? He just said come and see me and I'll let you know if its real or anxiety! You just have to try and truct the doctors and get anything new checked out by them.