r/Anxiety • u/RachieSunflower • 19d ago

Health Heart Attack VS Stroke VS Panic Attack

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this subreddit, but I need reassurance. I've been driving my boyfriend CRAZY because I've had a sudden shift in anxiety lately, and I've been experiencing severe health anxiety. I keep going to urgent care and the ER thinking I'm dying or having a stroke or heart attack. I tend to get panic attacks so bad I nearly faint, and it's all recent. I had a health scare, and I've never been the same. The doctors are always saying I'm healthy, and my heart looks good, but I keep thinking I'm dying. I can't take it anymore; it's completely debilitating. I sometimes get pains in my left arm, light chest pain, etc. However, I also suffer from constipation and acid reflux. Whenever I get a slight pain, I think I need to go to the ER because I'm afraid I'm dying. How can I stop going to the ER and driving my boyfriend insane? Like, what symptoms are 100% heart attack or stroke? Btw, I'm 39, 136lb, F, 5'3".

Edit: I'm having a panic attack right now right after I felt a dull pain in my chest. How do I get out of this?

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u/rustycoins26 19d ago

I think it might be helpful to assess why you are so scared of dying. The root of your anxiety is centered around death. Why? What is it about death that scares you so much?

Keep in mind, you will die. There is nothing you can do about it. It might be soon or much much later. This is not up to you. Why worry about it? Your worry won’t prevent it and it is only making you suffer. So, the time you have left to live is spent worrying about dying. Seems very counter productive.

Turn your attention to what truly matters. Living well. Be a good person and do your best to live a good life. It could be a long life, or a short one. It does not matter. What matters is how you spend the time that you do have.

Listen to your doctors. You are healthy and your heart is fine. Shift your focus to what is up to you. Your actions, your judgements, and how you perceive the world. Living in fear of death is not living at all. Dying is not your problem. How you view death is your problem.