Health Anxiety and excersise.

[noideabob]

Hi guys,

I'm completely new to the site, but I would like to share my story. Hopefully I'll find some people going through the same thing as me, or maybe I can help put someone else's mind to ease.

3 months ago, I was on top of my game. I mean on FIRE! Never had I felt that good, then suddenly, my best friend had to spend the night in the hospital. When the doctor told her the news, for which I was present, I had a panic attack and passed out. Since, then, I have been wrecked.

I spent the next 2 months with a constant dizziness, troubles breathing, and the un-ability to sit still. At the same time, I had financial troubles, (still do) and developped a fear of entering any store. This gave me trouble doing groceries or any other ordinary task in any store. I spent these 2 months with a constant fear of passing out, and therefore spent most of the time on the sofa, or in bed distracting my mind with tv and movies, the only thing that kept me sane.

A couple weeks ago, i was finally able to shake the dizziness. I learnt that my blood pressure was high and was probably the cause of the dizziness. This alowed me to calm down and now, I'm able to go into stores and my life is coming back to where it was. The only thing is that now I'm experiancing all sorts of chest pain and am now afraid of my heart.

Fear is irrational, There is no history of heart problems in my finally, I've never smoked, drank excessively, or done drugs, and at 24, I'm in pretty good shape. I have not had a good diet over the years and this puts fears of cholesterol and high salt in my head, and makes me think I have heart issues.

I finally cracked and have an appointment with the doctor this week, but I am pretty nervous about what the results could be.

The point of all this is simple. In the past, my anxiety has been cured with excersise and better diet. However, with the chest pain this time, I am afraid of excersising, or pushing myself. Can anyone relate to this? I quit hockey temporarily along with other activities such as poker or anything that gets the flow going. I want to get my life back to normal, any advice?

[sixpack]

welcome to the zone.

Well yep lots of folks who have chest pains or palps etc start fearing heart issues.  Often these things are caused by anxiety.  And exercise is a very good way to relieve stress and anxiety BUT folks with heart fears fear exercise.  It can get a bit circular in thinking and just  .  It sounds to me like you are reacting physically to stress--chest pains and palps, high BP etc can all be caused by anxiety.  I suggest seeing the GP for a good once over.  Once he/she clears you, then exercise and live your life.  Don't let anxiety make your life choices for you.  Once you cross that bridge, anxiety gets worse.  Anxiety feeds on fear.