Was this an anxiety attack? - Anxiety Message Board

earthward · 02-21-2005, 02:54 PM

I had a strange experience and I'm wondering if it was an anxiety attack:

I was at work and I started to feel some weird sensation in my chest around my heart. It was very faint but I started to kind of wonder what it was because I've never had that feeling before. And it seemed like the more activity I did the worse it got. Well the more I worried about it the worse it got until it turned into a considerable pain. My entire arm on the left side felt numb and I couldn't breathe in deeply for the pain. I got really panicked, I guess I thought it was a heart attack, and asked my boss to cover for me so I could go to the emergency room. Well when I got there they found nothing at all the matter with me and said it could have just been an inflamed nerve. Now I'm just wondering if this was an anxiety attack because I do have a lot of fear and anxiety mostly in social situations.

Anyone else had this kind of thing happen?

Thanks,
DC

worriedfemale29 · 02-22-2005, 01:34 AM

Hi Earthward
You may have had an anxiety attack, but I also think you may have GERD. This can cause gas to get in your chest and make you feel like your having a heart attack. I have this alot. It is very scarry and causes me to have anxiety attacks which in turn causes more problems like the numbness and tingling in my arms. I don't know for sure, but if I was you I would get it checked out.

stan · 02-23-2005, 08:12 AM

hi i have social anxiety and i get a sharp pain in my chest but does not numb my arm or anything its the same for me when i breath in the pain gets worse it only last a couple of minutes with me dont no if this is the same thing but its more than likely the anxiety that does it

sel83 · 02-23-2005, 11:24 AM

Hi there

It might be worth reading up on Angina, I have a little knowledge on it and what you described does ring some bells.

urbanviolet · 02-24-2005, 04:47 PM

My guess is an anxiety attack. Which can affect your heart. Typical angina symptoms, then neg. test results for heart attack. You probably had some acute coronary spasm. That would certainly reduce coronary blood flow and chest pain. The vessels quit spasming, so it looks like nothing's wrong now. Stress can cause coronary vessel spasm. I have especially noticed this in women. That's my guess. Try to control anxiety, because it can be very hard on your heart muscle.