I have a buddy who is exactly the same way. He has had so many tests on his heart and all that. The doctor tells him everytime that his heart is as healthy as a horse. I have finally convinced his it is the anxiety causing physical symptoms and he has to treat the anxiety. It is very rare he will take a xanax. mostly he runs to try to control it. I see him fighting it all the time though and he gets frustrated and worn out from it and yells at his kids.

Benzodiazapines are very very effective with no real side effects. If you take them daily for a long time and then want to stop they can have very bad withdrawal effects. They can be addictive if you are prone to that. If you take them just as needed for panic attacks or when things are real bad then the risk is low I think.

Some people get lucky and a SSRI or SSNRI will work for anxiety. They all have sexual side effects though.