:rolleyes:
Anyone else suffer with really tight chest, shoulders and back? Feels tight constantly although sometimes it's worse than others (often when I'm just sitting in a chair).
I'm 26 and have had numerous heart and lung tests. Other symptoms include racing heart when I stand or do any activity (though not usually at rest), shortness of breath, head, neck presure, vision disturbances etc.
Docs think it's anxiety - anyone suffer with this, could it be muscle tension?

Yes...very very common.
I get Jittery in the morning...and back and neck pain at night..I've also had shortness of breath before too.Did the doc give you meds?
Hang in there :)

:rolleyes:
Anyone else suffer with really tight chest, shoulders and back? Feels tight constantly although sometimes it's worse than others (often when I'm just sitting in a chair).
I'm 26 and have had numerous heart and lung tests. Other symptoms include racing heart when I stand or do any activity (though not usually at rest), shortness of breath, head, neck presure, vision disturbances etc.
Docs think it's anxiety - anyone suffer with this, could it be muscle tension?
yes i also suffer from the same thing you are going through, my doc said it was also stress and anxiety. it mostly feels like the mussels in the center of my chest are really tight when i sit down in a chair and watch tv , and especally when i get nervous say if i am planning on going out some where to do somthing ill get nervous and it will get very tight, i take ativan for it ,it works wonders for me ask ur doc about ativan im only 21 years old and i have way too many stress problems

Will ask my doc for some meds. It's like you said, really tight muscles in the middle of your chest and also my shoulder ache (when I sneeze they seem to ache for a few seconds). I know I'm only 26, have no risk factors and my tests have all come back normal but it's hard to convince yourself that this isn't some kind of heart disease - once you've assumed the worst it's easy to attribute all your symptoms to heart disease or whatever you are frightened you may have. In some ways, I wish I had the panick attacks, or at least felt really panicky cos then I would at least know that it was anxiety. My psychologist says that anxiety can be very subconcious (I have always been a worrier and quite highly strung/short tempered etc) but it's hard to accept you have anxiety when you don't feel acutely anxious and your symptoms are constant (it's not like they only come on when I'm under stress and leave when I'm not). Like other people on this board, I allow myself to think "this can't be anxiety cos I feel so ill, it must be something serious." The trouble is, this website has all kind of sections where you can convince yourself that you've got many terrible diseases.
:confused:
All the best - get well soon.

Hey Soodle,
I'm sorry you're still in the same boat. I still have chest tightness/pressure, as well (along with my many other symptoms :rolleyes: ). My worst symptom lately has been shortness of breath...even at rest. After all of my unnecessary testing, I am finally starting to realize that there is nothing serious causing these symptoms. :)

How is your move going? I hope things start to look up for you soon.
Take care,
Hilery

Hey Hillery, how are you? Any better?

You're probably right, but it is hard to convince yourself that anxiety can make you feel so bad. It's hard not to look on the net and try to match your symptoms to all manner of nasty diseases - but then again is that not one of the symptoms of anxiety and stress. Have you ever heard of people suffering with stress but not having the classic panick attack? I don't have them, just constant symptoms.

It's the chest tightness that gets me down, although I do feel my chest muscles spasming and cramping when I laugh hard and tenderness sometimes when I turn, so I guess it probably is muscular. Do you find beta blockers help with the chets tightness at all?

I just wish I could overcome this - it's not helpful when trying to move to another country. I have trouble remembering what it's like to feel well.

I don't know about you but I continually keep trying to reasure myself in my head:

You've had a range of tests and they've all come back perfectly normal - the specialist and several other doctors have concluded that it's stress.
You're only 26, you don't smoke, you're not overweight, have no family history, eat healthily and have normal blood cholesterol.
Your BP is always fine in the surgery.
Your symptoms are all common ones associated with stress and anxiety.
You are highly strung and have suffered with depression, insomnia etc in the past.

Of course when you're at your lowest the doubts creep in:

You are young but it's not impossible to have heart disease at your age.
Your stress test was fine but they are not 100% What if you are one of those that slipped through the net?
Doctors do get it wrong, what if you're one of the unlucky ones?

This is a regular see-saw affect which just takes you further down the spiral.
I am seeing a pyscologist at present so maybe he can help. Maybe moving abroad to a different country will help me?

Sorry for the length of the post 'like I'm the only one here with problems' but it's good to get things off your chest (like the elphant that seems to be sat on it now).

Take care and all the best.

Hi again Soodle
I am 26 too.. ;)
For the tighness in your sholders and neck try this exercise...
Tense every muscle in your body...count to 5 then release.
I find it helps alot...and you realize that your not as tense as you thought you were.Do this several times...I may help.
Take care ;)
P.S. yes GAD would be anxiety without panic attacks...they don't always go together.