If it where a stroke,you would probably know by now. Are there any anxiety problems in your family tree?

It sounds like the onset of anxiety,and panic conditions. I've struggled with anxiety for years,and I get pains in the middle of my chest,going up to my left arm pit. Some of these phobia disorders make your heart pound,and make you feel cold,and make you immagine all kinds of things.

I'm not a doctor,so please get those check ups. I'm praying for you,as well as other people on the forum. BF

I don't know about anxiety but I know high blood pressure,strokes,diabetes,and heart attacks run up and down both sides of my family tree.It scares me cause my heart is beating really fast and I feel numbness in my face on the left side and a switching numbness in my arms and legs.I am crying cause I do not know what is wrong with me.

I'm so sorry. Can you go to another doctor? Hang on,and hang in there.

I wonder why aren't they taking this seriously! Please go to another doctor.

The other doctor has failed to help you. BF

This sounds like there are elements of a panic attack, which in itself can feel very dire. Do not feel bad if that is all it is, because it is not uncommon, and often sends folks to the ER or clinic. The following are some of the signs and symptoms of panic attack:

A discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which four (or more) of the following symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak within 10 minutes:
-Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
-Sweating
-Trembling or shaking
-Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
-Feeling of choking
-Chest pain or discomfort
-Nausea or abdominal distress
-Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
-Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
-Fear of losing control or going crazy
-Fear of dying
-Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)
-Chills or hot flashes

There are some things you can do to help, whether it is a panic attack or just an infection wreaking havoc with your body and mind:

• Breathe! Slow down your breaths and don't hold your breath. Deep breathing, like yoga breathing, can help tremendously in restoring the balance of gases in your bloodstream. If you are hyper-ventilating you are actually increasing the acidity of your blood by reducing the carbon dioxide in your bloodstream, and that is what causes some of your symptoms. Slowing your breathing can help get this balance back, especially the out-breath. Hum or count to extend your exhale . . .

• Avoid caffeine and smoking. Be careful with cold medicines, as these can stimulate and contribute to your intense feelings.

• If you can lie down, put on some music with a good, rocking or ocean-wave-type rhythm, and breathe to the tempo. Breathe in and breath out a couple of beats past where you normally do, and it may help you slow down your breathing. I do this for pain control, and now when I put on certain CD's I automatically find my breathing slowing down.

• Stay hydrated.



I am sorry your appointment is so far away. If it were me I would try to see if I could be seen sooner. I would also want some bloodwork to be done, as it can help find underlying causes of your symptoms. I am hoping you can get to the bottom of this soon. I have had panic attacks in conjunction with gall bladder attacks, intestinal blockages, and post-surgical medication issues. Even if it is not a panic attack, doing these things can help you be more comfortable until you find out what is causing your distressing symptoms.

I am in tears right now and I have no friends to talk to.I am scared that it maybe a heart problem.I pray every night but I am mad right now since my appointment is so far away (the 21st this month).I cry every night cause this is shattering my self esteem.

Thank you lefthanded. Good advice. Caramel chanel,I hope that you feel better soon. Try to stay calm,and see if you can see a doctor sooner then the 21st. BF

I understand how easy it is to live in fear . . . I am an expert at it. But I have learned that one must really focus on keeping yourself upright, and to prevent yourself from using up all the energy you need to heal your body in worrying.

This is not a reason to allow your self-esteem to suffer. This is a physical symptom, not a conscious decision you have made to feel poorly. But I bet your self-esteem would bloom if you worked hard to keep busy, keep your body active and mobilized, and focus on what IS possible instead of what SEEMS impossible right now.

I used to climb mountains. I still remember during my first climb on Mount Rainier when we came to a point in the snow trail that had collapsed, straight down the side of the mountain. The trail was gone for about 4 feet. I do not consider myself a courageous risk taker, and my first thought was that I couldn't do it. As my mind comprehended turning around because I felt I could not go on, I realized that I would never know if I could make it unless I tried. I still could not visualize how I could jump across this terrible abyss to the already crumbling trail on the other side . . . I mean, what if it collapsed too! I could have what iff'd myself back to Iowa at that point!

I jumped. I lived. We weren't even to the difficult or dangerous parts of the climb yet! But each moment I made the decision to press on made me stronger of mind.

Right now your body hurts. We need to work on your mind. Really. You need to gather some strength, even a tiny nugget of strength, and build on it. Find something you can do right now that is positive. It could be folding laundry or dusting a bookshelf, balancing your checking account or reading a magazine. It could be as simple as meditating while stretching your body gently to keep it limber. But whatever you do, you must stop any negative or fearful though the minute you think it . . . and remind yourself to jump. Give yourself a gold star for each jump you make, large or small . . . and in a day count your gold stars. Even one is cause to celebrate. Even just one will add to your self-esteem.

I didn't reach the summit. Honest. I was a way-too-slow hiker, inexperienced, and stopped about 2,000' below the 14,411' summit peak and turned around. Do I consider that a failure? Heck no! Six months before that day I weighed 60 lbs more and was totally out-of-shape . . . and with hard work that didn't give immediate results, but in good time yielded a stronger me, I had conquered something I feared I never would in all my life: It is called inertia, and it means not trying, not doing, because you are afraid you can't. This is where you are right now, and your body is the mountain. It is telling you that you can't . . . and every little step you take is showing it that you can.

When the tears come, tell yourself you can stop. Then do. Then take a jump. Brush your teeth. Or your hair. Or have some chicken noodle soup. But don't tell your body that you give up by letting it hold you there. And breathe.

I get overwhelmed easily, so I have had to learn to face one "mountain" at a time now. I have three surgeries pending sometime in the next year to two. I have a ton of dental work that I can't afford to do and I can't afford not to do. I am in the midst of tests that may end up determining my neuropathy is actually MS. I am a new grandmother. I am an artist but have not been able to paint because my hands go numb when I hold a brush for more than 5 minutes. But if I didn't force myself to jump over and over again throughout the day, I don't think I would survive.

One reason I decided to climb mountains all those years ago (15 to be exact) was to force myself to become tougher, so if in my life I faced difficulty, I could look back and see all the obstacles I had conquered. I thought that if I ever became disabled and couldn't "do," I would want to have "done" what I could before that time.

If you want to get where you are going, I think you are going to have to muster up some strength and courage and reach for it. Maybe each day will be like a broken-out snow trail for you . . . but what are your choices? Go forward, my friend. Even if you don't aim all the way to the top, a step forward is always a good step.


See these mountain rescuers? Photo link Imagine you are the climber in the rigging that they are moving . . . and imagine that we, here on the forum, in this thread, are the team carrying you. We are here for you, trying to help, but you have to keep positive . . . can you see that?

I gotta go now. Next time I log on I want to read about your first gusty leap over the first hurdle. Tell us all what you did to get through the night, or the next rough moment. Keep track of those gold stars.

I feel alittle bit better cause I laid down in bed and ate some ice cream.I am trying to get thru this the best way I can.I know that I am gonna cry but I am gonna try to stop it cause I am not gonna die.

Beautiful sharing of how to overcome the mental limitations of fear and worry. Really nice offering of support for CC. Great Job- inpirational and affirming but most of all empowering! Focusing on small steps. Thanks for this Best Wishes TT

I still do not feel right but I am juts gonna ignore it cause it is nothing I can do right now.