Anxiety or Stress
 

Anyone else on here have any stress or anxiety issues?

I been having chest pains for 12 months now, nothing too bad, mostly when I exercise. I have done a stress test, ECG, echo cardio gram, and worn a Holter monitor and nothing is showing up with my heart ? My doc recons I am Anxious or stressed and gave me a little pill, 5 mg. this helps, but I am not perfect yet!

I did have high BP but that's ok now I am on a ACE and also my chrolestrol is down since I changed my diet

Any tips on reducing anxiety are welcome

The pain was worse after a big meal, so I have cut down on my food intake. I am not overweight as such, 195lbs and 6 foot 1 inch, bit of a belly that's all :@)

So how do you guys cope with stress ?

Just to add my job can get very stressful chasing after people all day, this over 25 years Maybe paying me back lol

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

I coped with stress by having a full on breakdown:(
I suffer from major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety.

I found that CBT helped to some degree. The antidepressant s also help a lot.

Do you have any idea as to what your triggers are for the anxiety? If you don't then counselling to identify them might help followed by the CBT to work through them

For me though, honestly one of the most helpful things was acceptance. I have anxiety and it doesn't make me a lesser person.

The two main things you need to work on are exercise and sleep.
Any exercise helps with mental disorders and good sleep patterns are essential.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

I'm hoping to be shot of a source of stress soon.

I've always been a laid back sort of bloke but the last three years have been a bit challenging what with my wife's worsening health (prior to her dying), wondering over the practicalities of getting to appointments in bad weather etc and then tenant problems at the rental causing financial issues, one after the other to the point that minor irritations were seen as more major than they should have been.

And still have been to an extent with "Oh what is it this time?" responses to a phone ringing.

Just hoping that the buyer completes and I can relax more...and worry only about one house being struck by lightning, having the roof blown away or flooded instead of two. :lol:

So there's your answer...sell your rental. :rofl:

What's that new cliché ;) something about not worrying about things you can't control?

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

Triggers are when things go wrong on a file, or I can't find a claimant and stress about locating some one, also trying to follow in a car can trigger my heart rate to rise, adrenaline boost I guess. I try breathing exercises and when it was really bad I took a Nitro spray which helped immediately.

Thing is I can walk for miles when I have a pain less day, I have a HR and step tracker and can walk 10-13 km, no issues. (Had to do that following a claimant at the CNE)

I only been on the new pills for a week, he says takes a month to increase my serotonin

I think my doc is pointing toward my stress increasing acid in my stomach and that is giving me the chest pains

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

Stress appears to be implicit in your job. Try and keep a log of when stress occurs and for how long.

Sleep is an essential component in managing stress. Swimming is a good form of exercise.

You posted about your jet skis etc, and it could be that your over-doing it a bit at your age (45+?) high energy/stress job, high energy recreation, maybe you just need to slow down one aspect?

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

Ha ha yeh, all my previous hobbies have been high energy, paragliding, flying, Mbike racing, gliding, and now I am older, 50+ seadooing.

Add to that working 10-15 hours a day

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

I think your body is trying to tell your very youthful brain something! Maybe you just need to pace things out a bit more.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

[QUOTE=Zoe Bell;12042047]
I found that CBT helped to some degree. The antidepressant s also help a lot.

QUOTE]

What is CBT? This is new to me

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

I've just gone through a major stress episode with tremors, paliotations, permanent butterflies in the stomach so I sympathies.

CBT helps, as does gentle exercise, doing something you enjoy and that is absorbing that stops you thinking about the problem. For me that's gardening, painting, reading once I'm concentrating I can block out the anxious thoughts,

I really recommend massage therapy too. I was getting chest, arm and jaw pains which turned out not to be cardiac but muscle tension. Get yourself booked in.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

i think we have a medical doctor posting at BE

maybe he or she can advise?

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

[QUOTE=xavier1955;12042080]Cognitive behavior therapy. Google can probably describe it better than me

I found it very effective in that a few sessions have given me the tools to talk myself through stressful situations.

One thing to be aware of. My SSRI tablets give me acid reflux
So that really might be an issue for you.

The SSRIs do take a while to kick in and you may have to try a couple before you find the right one for you.

Ditto with dosage.

Unfortunately this is a situation you have to invest some time in

Yeah and massage therapy is also pretty good. I find it's the only time I can switch my mind off

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

My anxiety symptoms sound very similar to yours; tremor (drives me mad!), palpitations, stomach flips, muscle tension. For the first couple of weeks after my son died I couldn't sleep past 3 am no matter what time I went to bed. Now I'm sleeping better, but feel exhausted all of the time.

I try to remember my CBT and to concentrate on my breathing so I don't hyperventilate. I find that having something to look forward to - and having achievable goals that must be reached - has been helpful. My step daughter is getting married in 4 weeks and I'm making her cake, so I've got to make the fondant flowers, bake and freeze the cakes, etc. I'm also finding that keeping a journal of how I feel and when is helpful.

Will definitely look at massage therapy since it's covered by my private health fund.

Magnum, good luck with overcoming your anxiety. Hopefully it's a short term problem and you'll get through it and be able to come off the meds. I know when I've suffered in the past and had to take medication I hated how I felt and was very happy to come off. For myself, this episode is definitely situational and I know that medication would not be appropriate.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

If you google it, be very very careful of which results you pick. :eek:

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

This is very reassuring knowing that you have some of the same symptoms as me, thank you

I had convinced myself I had stable angina. (More stress lol)

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

Ocean fishing and not really giving a naff about anything. I suppose regularly working-out helps but that's mainly a combination of employment requirements and personal vanity. :lol:

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

I find smoking Marlboro Lites/Gold to be relaxing. They have the calming effect of a full on cigarette but, being light, allow one to bask in the slightly smug feeling that one has done the healthy thing.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

I have considered medical marijuana, but some say that may make it worse :(

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

Exercise and booze.

Other than that keep calm and carry on.

You don't really have any problems. You don't sit in your house terrified of a bomb landing on you, you aren't in a refugee camp and you have access to semi reasonable medical care.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

I have major stress and anxiety. So much so just being awake causes severe distress.

I've had the chest pains from it as well, and still do. Along with stomach issues.

I haven't found much that has helped other than sleeping. It's not the recommended route but the doctor has approved of it since it keeps the stress and anxiety at bay.

I also find walking in the woods help where there are no people.

People stress me so have to find placed to walk where people are not around.

The little stress balls help a bit as well when I am at home.


I did try the marijuana route once about a decade ago, it just made things worse for me, anxiety was way worse, some say it works but for me it was insanely bad.


Therapy likely would help you if you have access, sometimes just being able to talk to someone who won't judge you really helps.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

Just to say I don't actually feel stressed, or anxious. But my body is telling me I am by giving chest pains, maybe a warning. When my doc said this could be the issue i was like what !!! Are u serious. Lol

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

win the lottery :thumbsup:

Some thoughts...

dual income no kids (Dink) - get the kids to leave the house forever, no more hand outs or paying for their stuff - just the two of you.... nice & quiet

change your job, or do something to lessen the stress in the job, such as - stop going hell for leather, let the stuff that you cannot change just go out the window, dont be so quick to fix things, tell your boss 'OK, no problem, I'll get it done tomorrow or the day after' take a proper break during work, stop snacking & cut out the soda pop.

change your lifestyle, change your diet big time (cut out white bread, red meat, fried foods, the beer) each more fresh fruit & veg, quit the snacks, take time for yourself, one hour per day alone (not on a computer)

get off the computer (cut the time per day in half immediately - then half again 30 days from now), read a book- many books, you don't have to do physical exerting exercises or jogging - just walk & walk & keep on walking along the trails by the lake till you get to one hour each day, slowly work it up to 2 hrs/day. Sit on a park bench alone, take in the fresh air & do nothing

cut all the people out of your life that annoy you, family, acquaintances, whomever.

when someone or something annoys you - dont react immediately - take 10 seconds or more before you respond or react

Look back 20, 30 years ago - maybe something there, that can help live your life back then when you had less stress & you were at around 150 -160 Ibs, less the beer of course

look around & speak face to face to people that you know that don't appear to stress - find out what they do

Live long & healthy.... good luck to you

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

I had a chest pain episode that took me took Emerge for a few hours. The next day I saw a cardiologist and had various tests, stress test, isotope stress test. Bloods etc, etc. The conclusion was that it wasn't cardiac but as I'm high risk because my father had an early heart attack and I'm a lard arse I've been put on preventative meds. I've also had a sleep study and now have a CPAP machine which has made a huge difference to my energy levels, moods, sleep.

I would suggest that if you haven't seen a cardiologist that you do so. Also get a sleep study done especially if you snore. Though non snorers get sleep apnoea too.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

I have had all the heart tests and they keep coming back negative

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

Well that's what you want! Stress reduction right there.

Did you have a sleep study?

Definitely try the massage therapy. Funnily enough I had a facial on Tuesday, my MRT is also an aesthetician. It was the best relaxant ever, I slept so well that night!

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

Not tried massage yet, I do walk the dog every night, after work, that helps to wind me down, it's just that chest pain that had me so confuzzled I did not link it with stress until my doc said so and now u guys say u had it too, as I said, that really helps.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

A bi-monthly visit to your local rub-n-tug should help, apparently.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

Hmmm...

Chest pain >>> Stress >>> more chest pain >>> even more stress >>> etc etc.

Best to break the cycle by accepting the fact that some people just have pain for little or no reason, as all the tests that you've had done confirm. There will be many who'd envy you.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

Strange!

You get 8 hours sleep a night?

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

Funny you should say that, but when my doc said yet another test showed no Iregular issues and my blood test was also showing no issues and he said Anxiety. I thought, hope he is right as it would almost feel like a lottery win !!!

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

thanks

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

I have had a similar issue, extreme chest pain which starts in my upper abdomen and then radiates - coming out of the blue with no reason behind it. I can be sitting, I can be walking, I can do be doing nothing - and bam!

I've also had all the tests - including a nuclear stress test - as my mother (41), grandmother (50's) and great grandmother (50's) all dropped dead (literally) from heart attacks. The tests showed nothing. Previously my doctor in the UK thought I suffered from angina. I have nitro spray for these events, plus take 2 baby aspirin as soon as it starts.

The pain in my chest, back and jaw was so bad a couple of months ago (complete with nausea, sweating, agitation, thirst and dizziness) which kept on going despite taking the meds, I had to call an ambulance. The ecg showed nothing.

Having done some research, I've a mind to think that what I actually suffer from is Nutcracker / Jackhammer Oesophageal spasms. Nitro is known to relieve it.

With regards to your tests coming back negative (and mine, lol). A cautionary tale.

My estranged husband had been to see several cardiologists over the past 10 years, all of whome said there was nothing wrong - and said he was suffering from anxiety.

About 2 years ago he went to his GP for something and she noticed that his bottom lip had a purple tinge. She sent him for tests (stress test, ecg, cat scan etc) - all of which showed nothing wrong. Not being convinced, his GP sent him (via a cardiologist) for an angiogram - which revealed 4 blockages - one was 97% and is called 'the widow maker'. He was seen by a cardiac surgeon who told him not to do any exercise at all - not even cut the grass - and to stop working immediately. He was put to the top of the list and 2 months later had a quadruple bypass. They told him he would have been dead within a year without it.

I would recommend asking to see a cardiologist, regardless of whether your current GP thinks it's anxiety. Better safe than sorry.

I understand how scary it is when it happens!

:)

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

I didn't even think so many would have the same or similar issues, fingers crossed I can work thru this period and the pills will make a difference

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

[QUOTE=magnumpi;12042324]I didn't even think so many would have the same or similar issues, fingers crossed I can work thru this period and the pills will make a difference[/QzUOTE]

A vacation might help!

I found that walking causes the pain but cycling 20km doesn't. It's the way I walk, my arms and shoulders are tense. Another thing to consider is your jaw, are you grinding your teeth or clench in your jaw?

Def see a cardiologist, and get a sleep study done.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

[QUOTE=bats;12042340]Lol yeh I grind teeth. And walking is worse than cycling.

And yes I saw a cardiologist Feb after my stress test and echo cardiogram he said all was clear, but I didn't believe him :@(

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

Thanks for sharing that. It must indeed be incredibly scary, especially with the family history. It's also shocking that, with all this technology, severe heart conditions (as with your ex) can go undiagnosed.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

[QUOTE=magnumpi;12042343]So see your dentist! Get checked out for apnoea and stop worrying.

For the walking vs cycling thing I'm wondering about getting some orthotics, maybe changing how I walk will help with that.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

I clench my jaw and grind my teeth in my sleep. My jaw clicks now because of it.

I had a mouth guard for a while because of it. But it fell out one night and the dog got it. So now back to no guard.


[QUOTE=magnumpi;12042343]

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

[QUOTE=Jsmth321;12042350]I clench my jaw and grind my teeth in my sleep. My jaw clicks now because of it.

I had a mouth guard for a while because of it. But it fell out one night and the dog got it. So now back to no guard.



At least Charlee's teeth will be fine.

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

[QUOTE=bats;12042349]Thanks :@)

The new pill he gave me has made a difference already, I'm into second week and the pains are minimal now, plus I am on a chicken plain rice and fruit diet to stop acid build up.

2 weeks ago I had a fried rice meal while working late, then went to walk past my subjects house, my god that triggered the worse pain ever, I didn't think I was guna get back to my car. When I did the nitro took the pain away, since then nothing fried at all eaten and on a new pill, I have improved

Re: Anxiety or Stress
 

Lol. Her insurance actually provides better dental coverage than what we have....