Constant Chest Tightness From Anxiety
Constant chest tightness from anxiety is a common symptom for people who suffer mood disorders. A discomforting feeling that adds pressure on his ch...
Constant chest tightness from anxiety is a common symptom for people who suffer mood disorders. A discomforting feeling that adds pressure on his chest, the sufferer is misled to believe that he is experiencing a heart attack. The cause of chest tightness is due to artery construction, which leads to a deficiency of oxygen supply in the heart muscle.
Chest pains are not to be taken lightly and anyone who suffers from them should seek medical advice from a trained doctor immediately. The doctor will then come up with a diagnosis and determine if the pains are cardiac related. Chest pains are a common symptom amongst many medical conditions.
How It Happens
Constant chest tightness from anxiety can cause someone to feel lightheaded and dizzy, and the victim begins to feel as if he is about to faint. He is also prone to a shortness of breath, dry mouth and excessive sweating. A victim with heightened senses can inadvertently trigger the fight or flight response.
This sense of fear is often exaggerated and it renders the sufferer hysterical and highly afraid of his predicament. His cognitive thinking becomes irrational and he is unable to think clearly. This may overpower the victim. As a result of the high amount of stress, excessive amounts of epinephrine and norepinephrine are released in the brain.
For people who are plagued by anxiety disorders, relaxation techniques are the panacea to their problem. Relaxation techniques serve as a form of distraction, and they pull the sufferer’s attention away from their perceived predicament. In most cases, the sufferer thinks that he is in trouble; this is however not acknowledged by others around him.
Epinephrine and norepinephrine are chemicals that regulate the speed at which the brain works. An excess amount of these chemicals can cause the brain to overwork at an increased speed. As a result, the person becomes disoriented and confused with his situation. In some reported cases, the person bursts into a paroxysm of agitation and has no control over his actions. The victim feels as if he is in grave danger and that he is going to die. This triggers his panic attack.
Practicing Crisis Management
Anxiety attacks normally last around 10-15 minutes although some have lasted for hours and once they subside the victim is physically fine if not mentally drained. Once recovered the person realizes that their fears were unfounded but they are powerless to stop it, but the possibilities of these kinds of attacks are constant. Chest tightness from anxiety is not dangerous in itself but the conditions it ushers in are terrifying to the afflicted person. The heart begins to function again normally and a normal state of well being is once again achieved.
Crisis management is essential in keeping constant chest tightness from anxiety and the resulting symptoms at bay. Talk with your health care provider and devise a plan to keep these episodes to a minimum. These can range from medication to behaviour modification to natural remedies.
Try to identify the situations that are triggers for you and avoid them whenever possible. Seek the advice and solace of support groups in your area. Anxiety can be controlled to a point where living life can be a normal, less stressful activity again.
Trevor Mosley was once a chronic sufferer of anxiety and severe panic attacks. in order to discover how you can overcome your anxiety for good and live without the constant fear. By taking action today you will be able to live a much better quality life.