Anxiety Chest Pain?

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tryingtorelax

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I have a minor, but annoying kind of chest pain. I'm wondering if it sounRAB anxiety-related to anyone. I am anxious at times. I have refused to take an anti-depressant even though my doc has suggested it. I prefer taking Xanax .25 mg (or half of that) when I feel nervous, which isn't everyday.

I had acid reflux/heartburn in Feb that lasted 6 months, so I figured the chest pain was a result of that. 4 months after no symptoms the chest pain is back - I assumed again it was hearburn but I'm not sure. Tums don't always help.

It feels like a pinching pain in the center of my chest, near the sternum but feels more like it's in the bone or like a pinched nerve than in my esophagus. I don't seem particularly nervous about anything when it happens and it can last for hours. When I get really mad it feels better! It is more distracting than painful. I will note that I had a barium swallow and heart tests which were all normal.

Sometimes if I take a Xanax it goes away but I'm not sure if it's a coincidence. I hate self-diagnosing but I don't want to just start taking Paxil if I don't need to! Please share your opinions. Thanks!
 
Definitely consult your doctor on this feeling your having. It could be a pill getting caught in your esophagus causing an irritation (not drinking enough water with a pill), possibly a stricture caused by acid reflux or just plain stress. Tums will stop acid for a very short period of time, but will cause a rebound of acid. Mylanta or Gaviscon would be better choices for a short term relief. An H2 blocker (Zantac) or a PPI (Prilosec) would be better for the long term.

Xanax is an anxiolytic and will relax your body as well as the mind.
 
That may not be anxiety as you should consult doctor for this for this may be an ordinary muscle pain due to stomach upset. Depression can be difficult to understand and discuss, especially with friends and family. You might worry about judgment from your peers and whether society will treat you differently. Your condition might cause you to feel lost or isolated. Because of your fears and sense of being alone, you might not know how to confront and overcome the symptoms of your specific condition.
 
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