HELP! Is it really anxiety??

I have been suffering from these HORRIFYING episodes for almost 2 years...after uncountable trips to the E.R. and various doctors/specialists, all my test have come back clean. HOWEVER, i am still in complete denial that I owe these episodes to nothing more than anxiety. I honestly feel I have some life threatening illness thats just not showing up on test. Ever since these episodes have began occuring, I have not been able to enjoy life and I have been in denial to the fact that I'm going through a point of depression (due to worrying about my "condition"). I live in fear of these attacks because at the moment of the attack, I simply feel as though I'm living in my last moments. My symtoms include: increased HR, chest/throat discomfort, shortness of breath, lightheadedness/dizziness, tremors, blurred vision, and tingling/burning of the arms, legs, and neck. For the life of me, I cannot accept that these horrific episodes are due to anxiety, mainly because they appear at the least expected times....times when I feel my calmest (for example; shopping in one of my favorite stores)....Theres a possibility that my mind would be put more at ease if there was someone who has also experienced similar symptoms and knows that this sounds like nothing more than anxiety...please HELP... I anxiously await the day that my life is back to "normal" again

I suffer from the same awful anxiety attacks, they are everything you describe and I have often felt like I was having a heart attack. they can be pure and simply paralyzing, they make you feel the way you feel about your health, your future, your whole world is turned upside down when you suffer with anxiety attacks. Have you seen a Therapist for specifically anxiety. You should be able to take a medication that can help with the anxiety. Sending hugs your way, it's an terrible thing to go through. Your life might not be back to normal soon, so lean on all the help you can get. Anxiety is a condition that needs treating just like you'd treat a cancer. If you don't get treatment for it, it will mount higher and become unbearable. Sounds like you are really fed up with it and want the right answers. please see a T.

Amanda's right. I have panic attacks and they are pretty much exactly like you described. Going to a psychiatrist may be a good idea. They can help you learn to cope and perhaps prescribe something for when the attacks are really bad.

I have had the same experiences. I've been on Celexa for almost a year now and they are much better. I had an attack last night...the first one in several months...but I've got a ton of things to be anxious about right now in my life. I'm also doing DBT which has helped tremendously. Good luck.

I would just like to say that I am in the same situation as you. I spent half of last night in the ER thinking that I was having a heart attack.As it turns out all of my vitals came back clean as yours. I'm not much for hospitals so when I tell you it was bad, it was bad. I honestly did not think that I was going to make it. I hope things get better for you.....Rob

No physical test in the world is going to show positive for panic attack....But you sound like your having classical ones......I know the feelings, and the dread, and have found relief through therapy and meds. I can control the horror now, but am sad to see you in the same crisis situation......See a therapist, get meds, talk it out......it will help....I promise....Good Luck.....

I have these same kind of panic attacks. Have you thought that maybe while you were in one of your favorite stores that maybe someone walked by, you smelled something, heard something, felt something, saw something, or thought something that could have provoked the anxiety attack? Small things like this can trigger anxiety. Good luck to you. I hate the panic attacks too. But now, sometimes I can start feeling them about to happen and I start to take deep breaths to try to calm down.

You didn't mention whether or not you have been prescribed medication for these episodes. I can honestly tell you that I've suffered with these for years, until I saw the right doc,(psychiatrist) and he prescribed a seizure drug that gave me my life back. I am very sorry to hear that it has been two years and nothing has been resolved for you. A tiny, but very significant point is, if you can control your breathing pattern, you can stop the attack from becoming "full-blown". If you go to my page, and look at the visitor messages, the message from TheByzantine explains a lot about how to prevent the panic attack from happening; it involves your breathing. Please try this. I pray that you find the right doc very quickly. Take Care. HUGS.............♥♥♥

I am so very sorry that you had to go to the ER. I have been there and done that so many times! I don't know if you are being treated with any specific meds but a seizure drug works wonders for me. I was spending many nights in the ER before I found the right doc, who prescribed the right meds. If I can be of any help, please let me know. I know how scary these feelings can be. Take Care. HUGS.......♥