Should I go to the ER...help!!

[Bones0013 43]

Cowboy, everything that has been posted is right on. I've been at the same spot you are at right now many many times. Now, they may not agree with me but I'm going to say it anyway. I'm older and I know that sometimes something could be wrong and I am having a panic attack because of it. Oh, how I can relate. If it would make you feel better to go to the ER, then go. They will check your heart and then you can let it go.  I've done it before. Know one could tell me any different. I was going regardless of what they were telling me. It is your choice. You want peace of mind. I get it. I've dealt with many mental issues for 15 years and there are still times I can't let it go. Just reading this is causing me to go into panic mode because I know how you feel. I really hate it for you.

[Nastasia 44]

6 hours ago, Mark G said:

 All you can do is feel what your feeling, sense it and be rational, ask yourself questions about your symptoms, trust what the doctors have told you, look at the evidence that this IS anxiety, read other peoples experiences on here.

I'm so tired of self-analysing, answering myself questions and therefore trying to convince myself.
I should accept and let go all my anxious thoughts. 

[Cowboymo 8]

I was trying to sleep and my left side in and around my ribs & lungs was hurting. I've never had this pain. It feels like someone is shocking me or sticking me with hundreds of needles & now I'm in pain, scared, and can't sleep!

[Mark G 1187]

Your nerves are super sensitised Cowboy after months of intense worry.   They are firing to the point that it's causing muscle spasms.   These spasms are being exaggerated by your anxiety tenfold.   I really would suggest that you try to seek a psychotherapist or councillor for this Cowboy. 

Nastasia, absolutely,  if you have come to terms that this is anxiety,  let it go,  it's had its shot at scaring you,  now it's time it moved on.   Youre making progress

[Cowboymo 8]

I've being seeing one for the last 3 months. And these aren't muscle spasms. Or I don't think. This is an intense feeling like someone is stabbing me with hundreds of needles & shocking me at the same time. Does that make sense? It's on my left side starting from my arm pit to my rib cage. And when I woke up today, the intense pain is still there. I got a fully body massage two days ago so I'm afraid they might've hurt a nerve or muscle or something or I'm afraid it's something far worse :/

[Mark G 1187]

You're looking for answers, analysing the sensation, catasphophising possible scenario's, self diagnosing.  All these things are proof of your anxious mind.  That, to me, sounds like pulled cartilage or simply just muscular tension. How's the tension in the shoulders? If your holding yourself tensely, you will experience these symptoms.  A tense neck and shoulders can indeed tweak nerves, it may well be that, but who knows.  Don't read in to it, drop your shoulders, try to relax, you are literally buzzing with fear up to the brim.  What treatment are you being given by your counselor? 

[Cowboymo 8]

I'm almost certain it's nerve pain because nerve pain tends to give that shock or stabbing feeling & my concern is when I got the massage, they did something wrong. She's got me on paraoxtine so far & the basic talking

[Mark G 1187]

If you're Googling Cowboy, you must stop.  Does your therapist have a timeline of what the course of action shall be with you?

[Cowboymo 8]

Oh no. I don't google. I used to but I stopped.  Idk about a timeline. It's more once a month Coke in, talk, and repeat the next month. Her focus seems to be the medication which I hate taking 

[Mark G 1187]

Thats a shame, her focus, in my opinion, should be finding the root cause of your anxiety.  You really could do with some CBT therapy.  Glad you don't Google, thats a positive move on your part.

[Nastasia 44]

Guys, I'm making progress indeed.
But the thought of "letting go" scares me so mush. is it normal that I feel more anxiety while letting go?

Hold on, Cowboy. Gradually you will understand the trick.

[Nastasia 44]

When I receive my anxious thoughts I no longer run or hide. I tell myself "it's my anxiety speaking. I'll go with it". And I go. And I live.
When "what-ifs" appear, I treat them in the same way.
I don't feel confident yet. But it feels better.
Think about it, Cowboy.

[Cowboymo 8]

What's CBT therapy? And the sharp stinging pains on my left side aren't anxiety. No way anxiety gives u those sharp pains. I get it'll give you rapid heart beats & such but this pain is on another level. 

[Mark G 1187]

But the thought of "letting go" scares me so mush. is it normal that I feel more anxiety while letting go?

Of course it scares you, you're new to this method.  That fact you feel fear will keep you in the cycle.  Trying to let go whilst fearing letting go will not work.  Being willing to accept the IDEA of letting go and practicing acceptance in general is a great first foot on the ladder, build your momentum, become more comfortable with the idea, notice how you mind is changing until you get to the stage where you feel that you are willing and able to let it go completely.  Remember, anxiety does not want you to let it go so fear is the result.  Dont listen to anxieties bluffs and lies.  You can let go, and you will feel better for it.

When I receive my anxious thoughts I no longer run or hide. I tell myself "it's my anxiety speaking. I'll go with it". And I go. And I live.

Spot on!  Never run ,never shrink, look it in the eye and say "do your worst".. anxiety hates this, it looses its empowerment and you gain empowerment. you start to see through it's lies.

When "what-ifs" appear, I treat them in the same way.

Don't forget, 'what if's' are anxious thoughts too, no need to separate them.

I don't feel confident yet. But it feels better.

Great stuff, the light has appeared at the end of the tunnel.  Give yourself time, don't rush, it's not a race.  Keep practicing and you will make great progress.

What's CBT therapy?

It's a form of therapy which teaches you to challenge your anxious thoughts, to recognize illogical and misplaced thoughts and replace this irrational mindset with your usual rational one.  Very powerful and very successful.  Mention this to your therapist if you like.

 And the sharp stinging pains on my left side aren't anxiety. No way anxiety gives u those sharp pains.

And how do you know this?  You must understand, anxiety has the power to reproduce any symptom imaginable and if it hasn't created it, it amplifies to massive magnitudes.  Is has access to your mind and nerves/pain receptors, your nervous system, every sensory piece of information your body can produce.  It has access to the chemical balances, the ability to change your chemical balances, your electrical impulses, in fact. your whole body is at the mercy of anxiety.  It has the power to misguide and control your bodies natural defenses, it can amplify pain signals, it can recreate pain signals, them amplify them.  It can change your response to pain signals, it can tense you muscles so they pull on tendons then amplify the pain they produce and on and on and on.  It's a bully, it will bully you whenever it can.  But the ONE thing it cannot do, is harm you!  It can do whatever it wants, it can make you feel the worst, it can make you feel terrible BUT, it cannot do any more than make you fear it, and thats what it wants because thats how it creates the symptoms you fear.  Can anxiety cause pain in your side? of course it can.  It can create or amplify.  Never underestimate it.

 

[Cowboymo 8]

So when I rub on my left forearm or move it, I feel the sharp pains on my left side of the body. I'd say that seems like nerve pains but my question is, are the nerves in the arm connected with the nerves on your side body & is it dangerous to have this pain?

[Mark G 1187]

All nerves are interconnected so touching one area could make another area react.   What's important is that,  if you have tweaked a nerve,  it will repair,  it's not dangerous,  you are not going to have it forever,  it will pass.   What you are doing is installing fear to these sensations which in turn sensitises and amplifies the signals.  If you could find a way to relax with it and leave it be,  it would go a lot quicker. 

[Cowboymo 8]

Mark, everytime I move, my left side (shoulder, armpit, & rib cage) feel like someone is stabbing me with knives attached to an electric plug. Does that skins like a tweeted nerve or more? I hope it's not heart related since it is on the left side

[Nastasia 44]

Why am I so weak?
Why can't i just do it?
How do I know that my temperature is just because of  anxiety?
I give in too often. Or maybe I just want everything at once. And quickly.

I'm in the cycle of what-ifs and instinctively trying to run from the unpleasant feelings anxiety gives me, envying other people in the street...

I must recognise anxious thought, accept them and go with my feelings. Let the thoughts go.
But I'm in fear because it keeps coming to me..

[Mark G 1187]

You got it Nastasia,  you know what you need to do.   These thoughts will continue,  of course they will,  but you can now practice acceptance on them.  You're getting there.

Cowboy, it's not heart related, absolutely not.   It's nerves and your mind is 100% locked on to it.   Don't fear it,  try to relax,  this is NOT dangerous

[Nastasia 44]

It looks easier for me to accept what my thoughts are telling - "it may be some organic desease". Then I'll say - "Idk maybe it is live with that". 

[Nastasia 44]

It looks easier for me to accept what my thoughts are telling - "it may be some organic desease". Then I'll say - "Idk maybe it is live with that".

[Nastasia 44]

On the other hand, I might want to rush to the doctors. 
I'm lost, oh my goodness.

[Mark G 1187]

If those thoughts come in,  challange them.   "What is the evidence to back up this thought" then "this thought iscreated by anxiet and I'm not scared of it"..  Don't just think it...  mean it. Practice. 

[Nastasia 44]

Mark, I'm tired of arguing with them and trying to prove something to myself. When I think about evidence, I'm trapped in the cycle of analysing...

[Mark G 1187]

You don't need to go into deep analysis. There is no evidence to back up your thoughts claims,  never has been.   It's rumination,  going over the same things in your mind again and again.   It's tiring.   Notice the thought,  accept the thought,  let it float by.