Is this a panic attack?

[rmjuarez12]

Well, sometimes I feel tightness in the chest, shortness of breathe, sweating hands, palpitations, lightheadedness, and sometimes pain the chest. It lasts for about 20 min, sometimes a bit more, but then symptoms start to disappear, usually when I am around with my mom and dad. I have taken a couple of trips to the E.R. a couple of times. Last time I went to the E.R. was in 2008 and they did every test possible and everything came back normal. They said it was panic attacks and anxiety attacks where my symptoms were coming from. On April this year, I went to the Doctor because I had a pretty severe panic attack, which I was convinced it was something wrong with me. The doctor checked my heart, ran an EKG, made some blood tests, and everything was good and ok. He said it was anxiety and panic disorder as well. A couple of months before that, I went to the doctor as well and she said the same thing. right now I am feeling the same symptoms, but I am not sure if it is panic attacks or what. So basically my question is, do you guys think I should go to the doc again to get checked and make sure, or do you think it is anxiety still?

Cheers and thank you

[Rachhxo303]

I know exactly how you are feeling. I get those exact symptoms usually on a daily basis. I have been in and out of so many doctor offices, cardiologists, ER trips just like you MULTIPLE times.. everything normal. I get so paranoid cuz i constantly feel like the doctors are missing something because the symptoms we feel are so REAL. Its hard to just be like oh yup its just anxiety. But after seeing a great therapist im slowly starting to learn anxiety sure can cause our bodies to do crazy things. Doctors are amazingly smart and all those tests they do, if something was wrong even a little bit, something would most definitely pop up trust me. The thing me and you need to focus on is training our brain. You need to use some self talk. Something that sometimes helps me is saying, ive had so many tests done, seen so many doctors and everything is normal. If it was something terribly bad it wouldnt come and go, and something would have definitely been found especially at the ER because those nurses and doctors know what they are doing believe me. Sometimes when i get the symptoms i still freak out though. Actually usually everytime i get them i flip to be honest. BUT, it passes. Every time. You gotta remember that. If you have any questions or want to message me feel free!! I love talking with people who can relate its so comforting. Id love to help. We need to take care of ourselves!! God bless.

[ireneo]

I'm glad you went in and had it checked out. If all your tests show your heart is in OK shape, then it's probably a panic attack. My husband had one once, ended up in ER and they even treated him as if he was having a heart attack because of his age. After more testing they realized his heart was OK. But it was still pretty miserable for him and a big concern for the doctors. Not something to ignore.

There are ways to deal with anxiety problems but it takes time: to find the cause and learn how to deal with them. Many people say they don't feel anxious or stressed at the moment they hit but later find out that there is an ongoing list of stress items in their life that have taken a toll on them.

I do hope you find out what's causing these attacks and can get some relief. It's not always easy to find out but you can't go on like this either.