My Pathetic Story - Anxiety Message Board

Heartzexplode · 12-10-2006, 05:18 PM

I feel like i suffer from one of the most extreme cases of panic disorder. Every night I feel like i am having a heart attack or going through acute respiratory distress syndrome. Symptoms are extreme shortness of breath, elephant on the chest, sweaty, nausea. I have had all of my symptoms checked out by a cardio and i was diagnosed with anxiety which I feel is extremely insulting.
I have discovered that the only thing that really helps me is alcohol in large amounts.
Anyone ever go though this or have any advice, because obviously the medical establishment had stamped me with a big crazy label.

dollymadison · 12-10-2006, 05:29 PM

I think that you should re-think your feelings of insult at the cardiologist's diagnosis. I'm assuming that he/she checked you out from a cardiac standpoint and didn't find anything related to your heart.....?

Most people with anxiety feel certain that there is a physiological cause for their symptoms and don't like it when they are diagnosed with anxiety. Unfortunately, anxiety fits into a "mental" health mode and there's a stigma attached to that.

How about taking a deep breath, stepping back and looking at your situation from a "what if" point of view....what if it IS anxiety? How can you help yourself feel better? Maybe a check-up with your primary care physician is a good place to start.

Heartzexplode · 12-10-2006, 05:36 PM

All cardio causes were ruled out. I saw a gp one time (no insurance) and he got me worried sick mentioning, Venticular tachycardia, MI, and all kinds of crazy sounding terrible drop dead diseases. He wanted me to go to the hospital anytime i felt symptoms which would strap me financhially because of the insurance thing. Obviously I am not having a heart attack every day.

Steve1 · 12-11-2006, 05:24 AM

First off, You are not "crazy"... You have anxiety... Sometimes we don't want to admit it, but the sooner you do, the better off you will be! Like the Nice Lady in the post above me said, Go see your Dr and have them help you through this!

Peace
Steve

seaMich · 12-11-2006, 11:48 AM

I also found that alcohol helped me to feel better- it is basically self medicating. That you feel better with drinks in itself is an indicator that it is anxiety. See your Dr about it, they can help you. Try not to take it as insulting, but I know how you feel and it's hard. But once you start to see inprovements working with someone on it- you will just be like 'Oh...it was anxiety'. Good luck!