[kaulitzfenty]

I'm 19 and I've been really anxiety for about 4 years now. When I was 15 it was really bad for a while but it eventually eased up. It's been constant but not too life altering until recently. I've always had little heart palpitations since I've been dealing with anxiety. I have 'health anxiety' so it really messes me up. Recently in the last 2 or 3 months every couple of weeks I'll have really bad heart palpitations. My doctor when I was 16 or 17 basically laughed at me and told me to lose weight. I'm so afraid of doctors and I feel like I NEED to go just to make sure it's only anxiety and not some underlying illness.
Last night I was in bed listening to music when I had a really strong heart palpitation. I jumped up, instantly terrified and on the verge of tears. (This is embarrassing.) I ran to my mom's room and sat up in her bed all night. If I layed down I was afraid I would have another one. So I just sat up shaking, freaking out, tensed up, running to the bathroom, puking, etc. ALL NIGHT. I didn't sleep until 8 or 9 am when I basically was too tired to worry too badly. I made myself so sick. I do these things where I'll say if I tap on my leg (click something, rub something, whatever) a certain amount of times before a minute passes then I'm okay and I'm not going to die. My mom says I'm crazy and need to be put on medicine. The last time I was on medicine it really sped up my heart and I had the worst anxiety attacks I've ever dealt with. I'm just so shaky and I can't stop worrying about my heart. 24/7 I'm freaking out. I don't know what to do. I can't feel like this anymore. I just want to be calm and not so afraid that I'm dying every single day. I'm so scared.

[kaliope]

maybe a different med would affect you differently. it is worth a try...

my anxiety makes me feel like I am having a heart attack too. I am terrified of drs though. I console myself with the thought that if it truly was a heart problem, I would be dead by now as often as it happens so it really only is anxiety. I don't need to look stupid in front of a doctor to tell me that. so when the chest pains come on and I am certain I am going to die and feel like I need to go to the emergency room I just remember all the other times it happened and I didn't die then so I know it isn't my heart and it will go away eventually.

[THE16THDOCTOR]

This was me when Mine started. What I did was finally admit I needed to go to the dr. I got prescribed Xanax for the panic and then lexapro. Now every reacts differently but it sounds to me that this panic is excruciatingly intense and Xanax it Klonipin would help for those times. I know the feeling and that's the exact reason these meds exist. Then maybe you can find a daily med and learn some coping skills to decrease the panic. You've described all my symptoms. It was rough. I'm 32 but at the time I was 21 and shaking crying restlessness gagging tense. I found a psychiatrist. First I went to my primary dr and he was a prick told me he wouldn't help w mental and had no recommendation or direction for me. (Never went back to him). Try and find yourself a psychiatrist. It can get better I promise you. I've been there.

[lovelyj123]

This is exactly what happens to me...ive even been hospitalized because i thought i was having a heart attack. Anxiety sucks and it causes so many physical things that seem like there really is a serious medical condition other than anxiety. Just drink lots of water and take deep breaths . Breathing in deeply slows down your heart rate dramatically . and if you are uncomfortable taking meds sleepy time and quiet time chamomile teas are amazing!

[FreeBird98]

I have an anxiety disorder but I'm not on meds. A year and a half ago, I had a panic attack and it felt like a heart attack....I had meds temporarily at that time. I try to work through it in my head...I just had a baby so I'm constantly worried about SIDS and checking to make sure the baby is breathing. I also picture catastrophic things happening..irrational fears of my husband and I dying at the same time in a car wreck so who would take care of my baby? It really takes over your life...I have a postpartum hemmorhoid (sorry if tmi) and I was convinced (still worry) that I had colon cancer and will die leaving my husband with the baby which would be so hard....the worry makes you crazy...at least it does to me. I try to take my mind off of it by watching a funny movie, or smoking a lot of cigarettes. The emotional stress messes with your bowels too...gives me ibs symptoms. Try to find a vice and someone to confide in...

On an interesting note, when I was pregnant (aside from the worry that I would die during childbirth) I didn't have anxiety. It didn't return until about 2months postpartum.