I can relate to that. I use to get full blown panic attacks that where so bad that I would have to lie down on my bed. It was like a dark cloud would move over me when I was a teenager. These events frightened me out of my wits,and I would be incompasitated for a short time. They left for years,and then they came back,and then they left again.

Then I had these pains in my chest after they left. My doctors either don't know whats going on,or they keep silent about it. I'm going to see a new therapist within the next two weeks. I'm going to tell the therapist about these pains in my chest. The panic attacks are dormant,but the acute anxiety,and pain are still happening.

I get a tightness in my forehead,throat,and chest with a pain in my chest. The anxiety goes up,and down during the day. The pain comes,and goes according to how my anxiety level is.

Sometimes I have a strange feeling like I'm going to die,with a strange feeling in my chest. I think that's a mild panic attack. I don't have the full blown ones at this time.

I've had different anxiety manifestations that have frightened me out of my wits all my life.

I've told my doctors about these things,but I realize at this point in my life that they have never really known whats going on. Some sit there and act like they do. When they make a medicine mistake,I once again suffer the consequences.

I go in, and out of these upsetting worried states of mind. Sometimes I get depressed. Sometimes things last for months ,or years. Then I feel better after awhile. Then suddenly I'll take a nose dive out of the blue. Then my life is shaken up again.

I also have the OCD traits. I have them bad sometimes. These thoughts sort of explode in my head,and I cannot get these thoughts out of my head.

When people say things, they trigger some of my worse fears. They don't know what they have done to me. I think some people think it's a discipline situation. They don't know that I've just freaked out. They misinterpret whats happening in me.

People just don't understand whats going on,and sometimes they get angry. This causes rejection,and all kinds of pain. They have no clue that they are hurting,and damaging my life even more. Some people are sadistic,and they enjoy throwing me into a head trip. I never understood people like that. Some people have been very mean to me,knowing that I was somewhat fragile. Some people have been rude,and abrupt,and It's hurt me. They just cannot fathom whats going on. They think that I can just snap out of it. They have no clue what they are dealing with. I've been hurt deeply on top of all of this. BF

I get pain in my chest sometimes. I find that it hits fast when the anxiety producing situation occurs....not always but if the stress is bad it comes...I hate it. At times I experience anticipitory anxiety.....if I get that worked up the pain can be intense.....I belly breathe calmly for a while and stay focused on the breathing. I am aware now why I get the pain and that helps me to deal with it as I know it will pass.

I have not found to many people who have that pain. The breathing does help,and it does go away,but it comes back. I use to get very tense in my neck area,but it's gone to my chest. I don't know why. Thank you for your reply. Does it ever go to your back? I hope that you feel better,and I hope that your pain stops. Thank you for your input. BF

Back in June I had my first panic attack. It left me with gas in the chest and acid as well. I can't stop rubbing my chest as well. It's black and blue in the middle now and my shirts all have wrinkle marks in the middle. Have you found any info on how we can stop this habit or any info that has helped / relieved you? Please share your thoughts.

I have used a back electric massager in the middle of my chest,and massaged left under my rib cage. This pain goes through my chest to my back. Sometimes it works it's way up the left side of my body,and ends up as tension,and tightness in my throat,jaws,the back side of my head,ears,and neck.

Sometimes I have a bad headache,and no tension in my chest. When the headache starts to leave,and I start feeling it in my chest,and head at the same time. Then it ends up in my chest again,and repeats the cycle at this time.

The dentist says I grind my teeth in my sleep. I cannot help all of this. If you find out anything please let me know. I'm sorry that you are having the same problems. My heart goes out to you.

Many people will not know what your talking about,but I will know,and understand. This type of problem is very complicated. BF

BF,

I have had this type of chest pain before in relation to panic attacks. I am one with spinal disorders; especially of the cervical spine. Prior to any surgeries the pain was SEVERE! In retrospect I believe the panic attacks were brought on by my body's own response to the pain...vaso vagal. I would get the severe headaches (cervicogenic with variant migraines); two types at the same time AND every day! Anyway, the pain AND dizziness would set up a vicious cycle of FEARING I would pass out. Then my heart would start racing and I would feel that crushing pain although nothing was wrong at all with my heart. I have also had an esopageal spasm before that literally took the wind out of me. Additionally, I was also diagnosed with Gastritis and GERD but as you say, the pain or heartburn was NOT the same thing. What has helped me besides the surgeries and getting the severe pain under control was a low dose of Klonopin of which I am still on today. Anyway, the Gastritis and GERD has cleared up I no longer have to take any PPI's. And gone are the panic attacks. So, again, I think it was a combination of a lot of things but more importantly the vaso vagal response which can cause the chest pain you speak of. Since the Xanax helped you I would ask the doc for perhaps a milder anti-anxiety med...maybe Ativan or even Buspar. Xanax and then Klonopin are about the only meds that helped me get through the panic attacks and Klonopin definitely helps with the neuropathic pain. Dorrie is correct too. Many, many times I had to put my head down and breathe slowly. When this kind of thing happens it is real, and it seems to me everything goes into a spasm and yep, have had it go into my back before.

I've been on Ativan,and buspar before. I was on Valium before that. I've been on Klonopin also,but they had to put me back on Xanax. I've been struggling since I was about 13,or 14 years old. I've trembled in the back of my neck,and it wouldn't stop for awhile. My eye's have gone side, to side,in a trembling type of way. They never commented about this strange eye shaking. It was scary to me,not to mention the panic attacks. It seemed like a dark cloud,or a emotional eclipse would happen. I know this sounds strange. I don't know how to describe it. I've seen many doctors.

I'm on Luvox for the OCD part. Now I have gone into a depression. Ten years ago I was doing well,and felt like I was on the top of the world. Now I'm in the valley. I think maybe I've gone off topic. I just don't have anyone to talk to now.

Thank you for your input. I'm sorry that you have suffered from these things. Hang in there. Brokenfriend

hi BF I know how this feels and its as real as any pain we feel,we all have an emotional anatomy ? we feel sadness in our chest , confusion in our foreheads , inability to communicate in our throat , fear in our stomachs, sexual rejection in the groin and spiritual disconnection at the top of our heads we feel joy as a feeling of warmth or openness so its like these centers get blocked and I have found breathing to be the key and yogic breath work and yoga you probably know of the charkra system but if you think about were we feel these pains they pretty much correspond, and can be felt at the front or the back, I am not saying dash to some crystal wiggler but I have found the breathing and stretching to help open up the centers of my emotional anatomy and help with the pain hope this is some help

kind regards Vini

I thank you very much for your suggestions,and input. I need to get input because the doctors over the years have not told me very much. It's only in the past 5,or so years that I'm learning anything whatsoever about my condition. Still most people are very silent about the subject,except for the Cymbalta,and Abilify commercials. BF

Brokenfriend,

for five years you could become a doctor. Something is apparently wrong with input. When you put aside medical terms(5 year input) and focus on "fixing" yourself you will feel much better. Actually you will be cured and you will not be able to remember your current state. All information you need you will find on internet. For example, vini mentioned chakras. Googling "throat chakra" will show some excellent explanations though accusing, in this case saying that you are a liar.

When you gather all this great written knowledge next thing to realize is that it worths absolutely nothing. Unless you apply it. How? Simple. Doing it on yourself. Conditioning yourself over and over again until positive feeling in your body becomes a habit.

For the beginning please try to be aware of your physical response - feeling ! on different thoughts. Do you feel that something is changing inside when you think about fruits: apple , orange , lemon... tree, sky , river, sun , beach. If you notice that something is moving in you , you are becoming aware of your subconcious mind.