Health Anxiety.Please help!

[johanni]

I have been suffering from heart anxiety since January when my father had a heart attack but fortunately survived.Ever since then I have had every test in the book for my heart even a cath which showed normal arteries.But I still get pain and even after all the testing and several thousand dollars later I am still not convinced that my heart is ok!!have seen 4 cardiologists and they all say its anxiety.So I went to see a psychiatrist who put me on Remeron.Took it for over 8 weeks but didnt see any major improvement.I still needed the valium that was prescribed earlier by my GP.This ongoing concern about my heart is driving me mad,but I cant shake the thoughts that something is wrong with me physically even though I have had a clean bill of health.I do follow these forums regularly and I hope someone can advise on what my condition can be classified as-anxiety,depression.ocd...Can someone please help me.Also,Ryan, can you please advise on medication.
Reards,
Dimi.

[problemmatic]

All antidepressants get prescribed for anxiety.  Everyone's experience varies with each med, so I wouldn't place any faith in what did or didn't work for someone else.  I continue to think pills are not going to be the principal answer to your issues, but in any case medication is a trial and error thing.

[johanni]

Thanks for your replies and comments.Does anyone have any experience with remeron to treat such conditions?
Regards,
Dimi.

[bip]

I went through the same thing years ago my dad has a massive heart attack he didnt survive it and I always had chest pains and went through so many test and they all came back normal the doctors kept telling me its anxiety but I didnt believe it.  From this day I still get chest pains but I know its just my anxiety.
You are fine  hang in there....

[problemmatic]

By the way I wouldn't worry too much about classification.  I would call it anxiety/hypochondriasis but does that really matter?  YOU are not a label, you are someone with disordered thinking who needs reorientation.

[problemmatic]

Chest pain is a common symptom of anxiety.  If you have had every test on earth, then the overwhelming likelihood is that it IS anxiety.  While drugs may help, I believe you need a goood cognitive behavioral therapist to help you find  some coping strategies.  Try this simple exercise -- write down on a piece of paper all the evidence suggesting you have a heart problem, and then on the same paper write down all the evidence suggesting you don't.  When the hypochondriacal thoughts come return to the paper and try to let it reassure you.  Basically you need to set up a competing message in your mind that you are really OK, and with enough repetition the hope is that you can internalize it.