Does anyone else have a pain in the middle of their chest due to anxiety?
 

I keep getting this pain in the middle of my chest because of anxiety. It's not my heart,or any other physical condition.

I've had this pain off, and on for years. I've worn out t-shirts,and sweaters right in the middle of them,from rubbing the center of my chest.

Is this rare with anxiety? Am I the only one? What is this? BF

Oh me.
 

No one? BF

I've been getting a very sharp pain in my chest for years. For some reason it gives me the impression of a bubble of air where it shouldn't be, and if I take very small sips of water for about fifteen or twenty minutes, the pain will work away. Not sure if that's anything like what you feel. Good luck in finding the cause, and feeling better!

many
 

pains in the chest can be from gas.

As we age we don't digest milk products well, and they can cause gas.

Also, people who are anxious often swallow air, without realizing it. Then they get gas pains if the gas gets trapped.

Gas-X is a simple remedy and works well. Most places have it, commonly in groceries and drugstores, etc.

If you have been worked up by a doctor when you have the pains, and heart issues are ruled out, then think gas. You should always have chest pain evaluated to rule out heart issues.

Some people do get inflammation of the cartilage in the ribs.
This is called costochondritis. It often responds to anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. This type of pain does not go away with Gas-X treatment.

Thanks,this is different.
 

Thanks. This is different. The pain is in the middle of my chest,and goes to the left under my left ribs,and sometimes goes to the left part of my back. One time I thought I was having a heart attack,and the doctor gave me a very high dose of Xanax for several days,and that brought it under control.I sometimes pull those muscles around,and that relieves it a little. It's not from heart burn,though I do get heart burn from time,to time.

If I do something that causes anxiety,the pain will come,and sometimes get worse,and worse until I cease what I'm doing. To much reading causes it right now. But thanks for the possible cause. BF

when i have a panic attack its usually in 2 phases.
the pre-panic which is like really bad dizzying anxiety, and i start to hyperventilate, and then i get this feeling like ive been punched in the sternum, and its terrible it effects my breathing and motion, and then i just have a full out panic attack but that sternum pain stays until long after my panic attack is over.

I feel for you
 

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

....that helps alot.
 

Thank you Dorrie
 

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

Anxiety Stress related
 

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.

Hello
 

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:grouphug::hug:

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.

Thank you
 

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:hug:

question
 

Hello Brokenfriend.
I understand that you have serious problems. Id like to ask you if you can experience joy and feel it at will. I was in heavy state too, but Ive found way out.

Hi. I don't feel any joy. I cannot feel it at will. I feel grief,and sorrow,and fear. I've noticed that for years now,if anything good has happened,I don't experience excitement. I had those nice feelings when I was a kid,and a teenager. In the back of my mind is some sort of torment that is hard to explain. Brokenfriend

hello pain and emotional anatomy
 

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 :D 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

Thank you
 

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:grouphug:

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.

beathing
 

hi bf breathing slow and rhythmically heart chakra link




http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BGxM30zVOrE

yup got that all the time.. still do now and then.. its like right in my breast bone not a pressure pain inside my chest but an outer pain that feels like it is between the skin and bone as if someone was poking a pencil tip into my skin.. ( if that makes sense)

after being put on a low dose of xanax daily 3yrs ago its pretty rare i have the pain or even a panic or anxiety attack.. i guess i am one of the lucky ones that did not build up a tolerance to that med. but it was my last option since the ADs all made me feel like i wanted to die.. ( i am really med sensitive )

I know what you mean. I've had those feelings,and many more. They are hard to describe. I've had the pain part in this anxiety for about 20 years. When it first started,I thought that I was having a heart attack,and I called my doctor. He gave me a strong tranquilizer,and it disappeared. After a few days he lowered the dose. I've had it off,and on since then. The pain factor can be small,or excruciatingly bad. It's in the middle of all of the body,and it's hard to ignore when it starts. Then it seems to manifest in different parts of the body. It's been worse for me in the last 6 months,but especially in the last couple of months. I'm sorry that you have difficulties with this anxiety manifestations. Hang in there. Brokenfriend

Input
 

Brokenfriend,

it is excelent that you tried it.Some people wouldnt do even that. Your subconcious mind never sleeps , it responds all the time and we are not aware of that process. More aware we are, better.

Reading some books about experience and skills of other people is like opening new space before you. Theese two or three books will bring to you more information in short time.After pasting in google " rapid recall spiritual approach ", first result is book in pdf format. Great book about establishing neural pathways and great work of one man, too. " Anchoring " in google gives third result "nlp anchoring" . There is book titled "Mind mastery" on download page of the site. Crucial chapters are about anchoring , swish pattern and changing beliefs. My suggestion is to mark pages (or copy text) that are most interesting to you and to read it frequently.

Also , take care of your eyes. Reducing monitor contrast and brightness , changing background colour in pdf reader are protection of radiating white. Monitor frequency must be at 75mhz minimum.

Thoughts produce positive feelings in your body. Every morning think about something that makes you feel pleasure in your body. That is a skill that will come to you through the time. During the day I swim 200m without getting wet because I do it in my mind. Touch of water and movements that I make are massage for my brain. Beating anxiety is primarily physical process of wrestling with pain in your body. You have to be aware of it and fight with it until it disapeares. Not in a day but you will be surprised how fast.

See you soon.

I've read it fast and replied on PunkDizzle's post by mistake. Anyway, I would like to propose to anyone who suffers of anxiety to read books from my previous post. They will serve just to give orientation how mind works . They will help to understand and not to get lost during process of curing yourself. Speaking from my experience, no one has to carry that burden. Anxiety wont go by itself so I will be here to give short advice and explain difficulties for everyone who wants to end it.

My experiences with Anxiety
 

well I actually just got home from the ER from having a full blown panick attack, which is what I thought it could have been, but wasn't positive...I get mild panick attacks daily, but have only had a few bad ones. I think tonight was my worst, I felt numb & tingly all over mainly my hands and chest, chest tightness and some discomfort in the right side of chest and in the middle, my whole body felt really weak, I felt dizzy, heavy breathing, felt heart palpitating & was shaking all over, I felt like electricity was flowing through me, as I still feel that way now & I am very tired & week now but not so panicky & shakey. I came home and took an Ativan, which I had prescribed previously for panick attacks. I need to get on a daily anxiety med. as well since I get them daily, plus I also had what appeared to be a seziure about a month ago, which was unexplained & I will find out more when I go to the Nuerologist on the 15th. I can relate to the chest pains & all these other symptoms rubbing your chest & feeling that your going to dye, it is probably the worst thing I have ever gone through, it is terrible! I am sorry to every one who goes through these & I hope you can get your attacks under controll & not have to continue to live this way, because I don't know how much longer I can take this myself! Well wishes to you all :)

Thank you JJacobs
 

I'm sorry that you are going through some of the same things. When you mentioned the electricity,I feel a spike of a electricity feeling going through me from time,to time. That happens when I'm not having a panic attack also.

Yes it seems to make me feel numb in the arms,and hands,and sometimes my face. I can relate to the symptoms that you mentioned. Both Ativan,and Xanax are good for panic attacks.

There's always more to it then people think,and I've never read a book that covers the subject well.

Hang in there. BF:hug::hug:

I used to get it all the time. I would get it from worrying or stress because of work. Or I was in a stressful environment and I can not relax.

I hope this helps

Hi Yellowfever
 

That cute cat with a pink nose,and white hair looks like my cute cat. Thank you.

Still having problems with that pain in the middle of my chest. I had a anxiety attack this afternoon,and it caused that pain to set in early. I don't know what to do about it. It's been happening for many years.

Thank you for your kindness. BF:hug:

Do you do anything that has to do with relaxations methods or exercises? Yoga? Meditation? lavender oil or peppermint oil. If you mix those two together and just the smell is very good. And it usually calms you down. Aroma therapy???
Have you tried exercising?

I have had panic disorder for years with out treatment and I have benefited from these things.
Cognitive relaxation works wonders.
When you have the attack do not fight it. Just talk to it. Tell it to come on in and tell it you are going to allow it to pass through your body. Time the attack to see if it leaves faster. WElcome the attack like a guest. Tell it you open the doors to let it pass through.

I know this sounds funny but when I do it and actually talk to it out loud it does something that makes it go away faster.

I hope this helps I am so sorry you are in pain. I was there once but now I do not have that issue. It comes and goes however. I also get the "I can not breath feeling like my trachea is closing up for no apparent reason and I would freak because I thought I was suffocating.
I get that when have had too much caffine LOL

When I get it I laugh at it. I have to have a argument with my brain sometimes come to think of it.

well take care :) and Relax. breath through your nose :):hug:

I've tried just about everything that's legal. LOL It comes,and goes like the tide. It has a way of fooling me too. Sometimes It changes in a way that I didn't expect,and sometimes I have a bad year now,and then,and then I get better for a number of years. Then It comes back,and everyone around me,and I wonder whats going on. It's hard to explain the way it afflicts me. BF:hug:

I know what you mean. I will be in the same boat as soon as I start medication up again. :( I am sorry you have this happen. Do not ever resort to illegal drugs lol That is not going to make things better that is for sure. :) I have watch some friends do pot. And they feel terrible afterward. They also feel paranoid. I have never done an illegal drug in my life because I am afraid of them! hahaah Aren't I a panzy? LOL But take care. I wonder if this pain has do with an environment?

I wish I can fix and help people. just poof

all better :o

I use to drink to help it,but it made things worse. I stoped drinking years ago. I don't drink,smoke,or use illegal drugs. I just take those medicines that they proscribe me.

Your smart. It's wise to stay away from that illegal stuff. I stay away from those things,and people that do. LOL:)

LOL I think it is part of my OCD that keeps me away from those things. I just get flat out horrified. Have you ever read about what these horrible illegal drugs can do to your brain. THAT IS THE MOST SCARIEST THING TO READ ABOUT. And yet people do it. If I am afraid of it. I am not going to do it.

:D

Me too
 

I'm terrified of those illegal drugs,and scared of the web of pushers. LOL

If someone shows a drug,I'm out of there. I'm also scared of alcohol. I drank alcohol,and got hooked on it. I got off of it many years ago,but the thought of a alcoholic beverage scares me,or the thought of me drinking one. LOL

That alcoholic trait is definitely in the family tree. My Dad was a alcoholic. He sure fussed allot too. He got so angry when he drank. Gosh! BF

my aniety pain used me be in my chest but not its in my back, but not like on the outside. i feel like it moved through my chest and is sitting on the inside pressing up against my back...i move a bit nd itll go away but if i stay still it gets worse and worse and worse:/

Megveg
 

Mine gets worse too if I am still. Do you ever get pressure in you head,neck,and jaws. The anxiety seems to travel. If I've been freaked out,my body becomes stiff from the top of my head down to my feet.

Sometimes I've been so nerve racked at meeting's,that when I stand up my legs are stiff,and it's hard to stand up straight.

What kind of medicine do they give you for the pain in your back area. My doctors give me Luvox,Xanax,and seroquel. The luvox is for the OCD. The Xanax is for the Panic Disorder,and the Seroquel is for all of the above,and depression,and racing thoughts.

That pain in my chest,goes through to the inside on my back. It's not on the outside of my back. It's on the inside also. It's not a backache from lifting something heavy. It's on the other side. Sometimes the pain moves slowly up the left side of my body. No fun! BF

hi i know what your talking about. i get a pain in the middle of my chest when i got a panic attack from Anxiety. the only way i got it to temperarly stop was pushing my chest out and shoulders back. ive had some bad bad panic attacks.. where my very first one i thought i was having a heart attack or my heart was going to explode cuz it felt like it was going 200 beats a min!. but ever since then ive reaseached it out alot. the feeling of dieing is part of the panic attack and Anxiety.

how did i get rid of my panic attacks u say? well ill tell u ^_^. while i was haing a full out panic attack i was searching the net and found a site to ask people for help so i sent a frantic message thinking i was going to die, asking for help. luckily for me he was an author of this AMAZING book. its called "Panic Away". seriously thats the best book ive ever read in my whole life.

if you want your anxity to go away well u have to face the fear. u have to fight it. when u get a panic attack( ya i know it sounds crazy and super scarey) you have to ask for more! be like " come on now i dont have time give me more now!!!! stay strong and keep going with it. i know its scarey but it works. its the fight or flight method. also excersize, diet, and drinking water helps. its all in that book .. detailed to.
if you have any questions or need more help.. its what im good at. hope i helped =)

I end up sometimes with gas,and intestinal problems,as well with these anxiety,and panic attacks. I take Zantac from Sam's Club. You can get two bottles of them for much less money then at a supermarket for stomach acid. That's one of the affects that anxiety also creates. You can get the same thing as Imodium there also for a good price.

I sympathize with you. I don't know how to get rid of the pain in the middle of the chest. This may relieve it some. If you put a back massager on your chest at a low speed,sometimes that will help. If the middle of the chest pain goes through your body to your back,put the back massager around that area of the back,and keep it at a low speed,and you can turn on the heat. You can buy these Back massagers at Wal-Mart for about 29 dollars.

Some stretching will help it also. Drink cold water. My doctor prescribes me Xanax for the anxiety/panic part of my illness. I take Luvox for my OCD. I take Seroquel for both of them,and the depression that comes with all of these emotional pains.

I hope that this helps. If you find any other help,please let me know. I'm sorry that you are having the same problems. I hope that this helps.

Laughter sometimes helps.

With me, reading some of the Psalms in the Bible helps unburden me some. BF:hug::hug:

Downfall24 Thank you for that. I never heard of the book,and thank you for bringing it to my attention. Have a nice weekend. BF:grouphug:

I get chest pains everytime I have a panic attack. I worry so much about the next time that my chest always seems to bother me in some aspect. It doesn't always bother me in the same place though. Sometimes it's in the middle of my chest and then sometimes it's on the left side almost under my arm. I have a bad shoulder which causes numbness and tingling on my left arm anyway so that makes it even worse. I constantly worry about having a heart attack even though I've had ekg's and a stress test and they tell me everything is fine!

Hi. Welcome to Neurotalk.

I know what you mean. Sometimes the pain moves around,and up under the arm in that muscle under the arm pit area.

Sometimes I feel like I'm going to die from a heart attack. My head feels like a heart attack is going to happen. Then after a period of time I feel better.

I'm sorry that you have the same thing. Hang in there. Brokenfriend:hug: