Am I suffering from GAD?

[ohnoes]

Hello everyone, let me start by explaining what has happened to me in the last two months. I had a bad virus early October and was coughing severely, now I guess what happen was that I pulled a muscle in the left side of my chest from the cough. Because of that intercostal injury I began to feel a tight pressure type feeling on the left side of my chest, right over my heart, since at the time I was unaware I had even injured myself I began to become very paranoid about my heart. Then one night after coughing very hard, the pain became chronic, I began to believe I was having a heart attack. I am pretty sure what I experienced that night was a severe panic attack, or a complete breakdown where I pretty much thought I was going to die. I of course went to the hospital and they assured me my heart was fine and healthy and that I had simply fractured a rib or pulled a muscle. Alright I thought, so they gave me some pain killers and sent me on my way. Within the next few days I noticed a severe shortness of breath, or lack of oxygen. It was like no matter where I was, or how deep a breath I took i just couldn't get enough air. Then I started to have trouble sleeping because of this, and the chest pains and constant wincing didn't help. Even though the doctor had assured me my heart was healthy I couldn't shake the thought that my heart was somehow flawed. I have always been a very nervous person and it's not easy for me to just relax, I worry quit a bit. Then after about a week of this my symptoms remained, one night when I was having trouble falling asleep I had just dozed off and I woke up instantly, panicking, my heart was racing and I was drenched in sweat, I felt a sudden sense of dread for no reason, since then I have been cautious about sleeping. It's almost as if I dread the thought of sleeping, because I never want to have to experience anything like that again. I began to read about my symptoms and was led to GAD, I noticed that I had been having shortness of breath, feelings of dread, insomnia, fatigue, twitching and trembling, headaches, hot flashes, dizziness, easy to startle, all of these things had been happening to me. Now, I'm only nineteen and male, so I informed my parents of everything that had happened and they thought it would be best if I saw a heart doctor. They ran a stress test and a EKG, and noticed that it was almost impossible for me to relax. My heart rate was a constantly a little higher than it used to be. So now they have me on this heart monitor thing that records and racing or irregularly beating while they get those test results in. Now obviously this doesn't help my anxiety problems, which I am personally beginning to believe is the source of all my recent problems. This pain, shortness of breath, and sense of dread or depression has really affected my social life and my schooling, I really don't know how much longer I can take this. I have seen a few doctors and been prescribed some Xanax, which really does help me feel better, but I constantly worry about habits forming, and I can tell that if I continue with it a habit will form. I figured you guys and gals would know first hand about this type of symptoms and GAD. Do you believe this is what I am suffering from? I have considered seeing and therapist or something, is this a good idea?

Any input is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[GADST]

Ohnoes,
This definitely sounds like Anxiety.  Once something gets in your head, it will make you think it is much worse than it actually is.  I was having stomach issues for at least 3 months, then i went to get some tests run, had an upper endoscopy and they couldn't find anything wrong.  The next day my stomach stopped hurting and hasn't hurt since then, over a year a half. 
I have other issues w/ anxiety, but as far as headaches and thinking you have something seriously wrong w/ you, just try to be mentally strong and tell yourself that it's just anxiety.  If you get a headache, try not to think about it.  I've also had a headache on and off for a month at a time, but once I stopped thinking about it, GONE! 
I know it's hard to say that, but it really helps.
Make sure you get blood work done and general health tests to make sure nothing is wrong there, then try to focus on other things. 
Also, see a psychiatrist/psychologist, it helps.  You won't believe how normal all of this stuff is when people suffer from GAD.  It may not solve it all together, but it does help mentally.

[Ebbie08]

oh definetely it is GAD, I had the same thing happen to me, about 2 years ago, I also felt out of the blue really ill, my heart was racing, my palms were sweaty, I was very nauseaous I thought I was having a heart attack so I went to the emergency room, they ran tests, ekg blood work everything and didn't find anything, it happened two more times and I went two more times to the emergency room and still didn't have anything, so I said wait a minute something is defintetely wrong even though they said no, so i did my own research and I found out all the symptoms I had were panic attacks so i went to the doctor with the symptoms and I was diagnosed with panic disorder and now I have severe anxiety attacks, all day nervous, thought in my mind about me and my kids and husband, I can't breathe my heart is pumping really hard, it is awfull you definetely have gad there's help and there's also medicine give that a try.  good luck.

[Anxiously_Yours]

As I was reading this post, it made me think of how with GAD & HA, 1 set of symptoms replaces another.  I have had this recurring pain on the left side of my chest, arm & neck for months  I'm always scared of heart problems.  2 months ago, I had a tooth that became absessed and the pain was incredible.  I had to take anti-biotics for a few days before I could get the tooth removed.  Now that i think of it, the whole time I was focused on the pain in my mouth...all the chest & neck pains were non existant.  Tooth is fine now...chest, neck & arm pains are back.  I wish I could focus on something else.

These boards are a Godsend because it is comforting to know there are others out there like me.