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Anxiety pain or heart attack?
Hi, today I got diagnosed with anxiety, and I've been under ALOT of stress. My shoulders have been killing me, And now on my left side it's like my houlder cramps up for about thirty seconds? I was afraid I was having a heart attack, but I'm sixteen and healthy so I don't think that likley... No chest pain at all or numbness. Just my shoulders! Also I cry a lot due to m anxiety And stress. I am very emotional right now. Does it seem like a heart attack or just pain with the anxiety?
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Want to answer more questions in the Health & Fitness category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Mental health?
Anxiety can really fuck up a personal both mentally and physically.
I, A lifetime sufferer of both anxiety and depression know all to well what kind of pains it can cause. When my anxiety kicks in, It's in my lower back, neck, shoulders and at times even my eyes are strained. You are much too young for a heart attack, These like Rainhorse said are all classic symptoms of Anxiety.
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We are not doctors so we can't make a diagnoses. Even if we could we couldn't do so over the web as we need to be able to examine you.
Since I am now a retired first responder I will advise you of this; It is possible for anyone including someone your age to have a heart attack. In general for someone your age to have a heart attack it is generally because of an undiagnosed birth defect or other ailment. So my advice is never ignore the symptoms if you have them. Let a doctor decide what the problem is.
You say you were diagnosed with anxiety today. Did the doctor prescribe medication to relieve the anxiety. If not I suggest you either go back to the doctor and ask for medication or see another doctor for a second opinion. If your symptoms are as I believe them to be, the result of your anxiety. Medication will calm you down and relieve symptoms you are telling us about.
The next thing you should do is contact a clinical psychologist for talk therapy. Clinical therapy is a place where you can talk openly and freely with the clinician, in this case a psychologist, about anything in total confidentiality. Like the ad for Vegas say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. The same is true in therapy. Whatever is discussed stays there unless you give permission for the therapist to discuss it with someone else and you have to specifically name that individual. Husband boyfriend, mother, father even you medical doctor cannot know what you and your therapist discuss unless you say so.
The goal in therapy is to find out what is causing the anxiety and finding a better way to deal with it rather than how it is presently manifesting. You may think work or school is the cause and with therapy you find something altogether different is the cause. Something you have tried to bury deep within you.
You may go through one or two or even three therapist until you find one you're comfortable with. This is okay as you must be comfortable with your therapist in order for therapy to work well.
My suggestion is to see your doctor again if you are not on medication. If you are take the medication as prescribed. It will take a dose or two to really have an effect. Then find a psychologist and arrange for therapy sessions to get at the root cause of the anxiety.
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Yep. The shoulder pains are a classic stress/anxiety symptom. It's not likely, as you point out, that you're continually having 30 second heart attacks. Just one's usually pretty profound. The symptoms can be distressingly similar. Your chest can indeed go very 'tight' and feel like there's maybe a heavy weight pressing on it. Your breathing can indeed become laboured and eratic under extreme anxiety and stress. And because we're stressed, don't we assume the worst? God...I'm having a heart attack! Indigestion, another bad pointer regarding cardiac arrest, also goes hand-in-hand with the frayed nerves of anxiety. We might think about the term 'heartache' much-beloved of songwriters and authors. Indeed, you heart does 'ache' under emotional duress...maybe they know a thing or two, eh? A healthy 16 year-old will rarely have a heart attack, barring some underlying (genetic) weakness or existing medical condition. If you can undertake vigorous physical activity without any problems I wouldn't worry too much. If you coped with school physical education without worrying the teachers that's a real giveaway that your normally fit. Maybe give dancing, cycling, jogging, some gym or aerobic exercises a go just to put your mind at rest? They're also pretty theraputic with regard to depression and anxiety...releases lots of good chemicals...and you might start looking like a catwalk diva...Bonus! Actually, you might already for all I know...but fit's good whatever! I'm considerably older than 16. And I smoke. Too many. And emotional/anxiety attacks frighten the life out of me...I'm a bigger potential victim mate! Hope we can lay the cardiac arrest ghost to rest...because that nagging thought will be raising your already high anxiety/stress levels. Vicious circle, eh? A big off-shoot of that black dog of depression/anxiety is imagined illnesses, by the way. The mind dwells in darker places and naturally latches on to thought of our own demise. Be on your guard. Monitor you health and well-being of course, but watch for the old mind playing tricks on you. Best wishes.
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