Panic attacks and chest pain
 

Hi everyone,


I am currently going through a difficult time and having regular panic attacks.
I wondered if anyone else has had this and what they have done to try and stop this.
I have been checked out by doctors who say I'm physically ok.


Randomly at any point in the day I will get sharp pain in the top of my chest as if someone is pushing down on you. Nothing can shift it. I have to try and ride it out.


From what I have read online it is linked with anxiety and when I panic. The pain builds and I cant get rid of it. Sometimes it can go on for about 10 minutes and comes and goes throughout the day.


It has been happening a lot more since my situation has changed and the hell I'm going through right now.


Anyone else had this or know good ways to get through this?


Thankyou.

Re: Panic attacks and chest pain
 

I have suffered similar for years. I try to deep breathe and run the same thing through my mind "everything is going to be ok" over and over and over before long I will calm down.

Knowing what is happening helps too. My panic is often triggered by a thought I know then the initial panic then releases adrenaline which leads to increased heart rate and exaggerated anxiety increasing the panic strangely enough knowing this kind of helps

Has your doctor offered you any meds? I hope you feel better soon

Re: Panic attacks and chest pain
 

I had this 30 years ago. The doc prescribed relaxation classes, but I felt they were only a short-term fix. What eventually cured it was I started going swimming. Exercise relieves stress.

Re: Panic attacks and chest pain
 

I have chronic panic-anxiety attacks. It's a brain chemistry thing. I have taken the minimum dose of citalopram for decades to keep it just about under control. They tried all sorts of mumbo-jumbo stuff with me at first, but blood tests showed I needed an SSRI.

When an attack appears out of the blue, I have found that reading steadies my breathing, meaning I recover a lot quicker.

I used to get referred pain around and above my left nipple that was caused by trapped gas in my stomach and upper gut. That could be a trigger for PA attacks.

But any chest pain could be something else, so see a doctor ASAP.

Re: Panic attacks and chest pain
 

Hi Halcyon. You could try the 4-7-8 breathing exercise.

1. Find somewhere comfortable to sit and if you can close your eyes.
2. Breathe in through your nose to the count of four.
3. Hold the breath to the count of seven.
4. Exhale through your mouth to the count of eight.

Concentrate hard on the counting and don't allow your thoughts to wander.

It's quite a well used exercise for anxiety and panic attacks, it can also help if you're finding it difficult to sleep.

The exercise did work for my son who was going through a very difficult time. It probably won't stop the attacks happening but it could give you control of how much they effect you and give you a chance to start to control them before they get so scary. <<<hugs>>> Jo.

Re: Panic attacks and chest pain
 

You were always such a positive poster and that kind of attitude will only help, the situation you're in and the panic attack you suffer in that moment won't last forever I'd say it's important to remember that, you could also keep a bottle of water and a flannel close and consider things like yoga or contacting the local college for some free/ cheaper therapy with the stooodents

All the best

Re: Panic attacks and chest pain
 

Thankyou everyone. Your posts are very helpful.


I am prepared to try anything.


I did collapse at work and got checked out at hospital but they did plenty of tests to check my heart, etc and all was declared as OK, no problems.
So I have to assume it is anxiety related. As some of you will have seen from a post I made a few weeks back but have now deleted, I am going through something I've never had to deal with before and it has caused my whole day to day life to change.


I find it it hard waking up each morning as reality sinks in and I begin to worry.
I will try some of those breathing exercises and will make a new appointment with the doctor to see if there is anything that could be prescribed to help.



I used to do an exercise class before everything kicked off so maybe I should get back into exercise. I feel very low at the moment so need to motivate myself but am going to try.
You are right TheDaddy, I have always been an optomistic person and as a guy I've always tried my best for my family. I feel that with Christmas coming up as well I am finding things really tricky. Like just seeing all those Christmas adverts really made me panic and start getting stressed out the other day.
I felt like it was the end. That I cant go on. I'm very on edge at the moment and this gets my heart racing. I am trying to continue but its hard.

Re: Panic attacks and chest pain
 

Does your employer have EAP or do you have private healthcare in your job?

I am sorry buddy.......

Are Panic attacks like when ya get hot flashes??

I am so sorry........

Re: Panic attacks and chest pain
 

When I first had collapses, by the time I got to hospital I was all clear so they knew it wasn't anything structural, they also did angiograms, scans, echo cardiograms etc. Eventually they got the data and I got a pacemaker. Your symptoms are different but it does show that the body is really complex.
I would also reckon that the two conditions you have could feed off each other, chest pain -> panic -> more chest pain -> greater panic. It really would be worth speaking to your GP about this in detail.

Re: Panic attacks and chest pain
 

Thankyou. My employer is arranging counselling for me so hopefully that will help.
It is now when I leave work, am on my own and start to over think things that it then gets even more out of control.

I used to wake up around my children, now I am no where near them. I am no longer in my home. Everything familiar to me has gone.


I am so tired and at the point where I question whether to keep going.
Maybe I need to man up but right now I don't have the strength.


I will try and get a doctors appoitnment as yesterday I got cut off after waiting half an hour.

Re: Panic attacks and chest pain
 

That's rubbish, you need a bit of help and there is no shame in that at all, that bs saying and the machismo behind it has led people to suicide, you're doing the right thing, help is out there for you and it will get easier

Re: Panic attacks and chest pain
 

I saw a video on Facebook, a mother was having a panic/anxiety attack her daughter who was under 10 was talking to her mum calmly and got her to blow on each of her fingers, lowering each one as it was blown.