So, everytime I go through a serious issue related to my marriage and I finally find the resolve to do something about it for my long-term happiness and well-being, it eventually turns into physical discomfort.

I feel unstoppable at first, I self-encourage and give myself pep talks, “no more of this nonsense!” “this isn’t working” and suddenly my resolve turns to tightness in my chest, I can’t eat without really forcing myself (gagging issues), and I just feel an intense level of loneliness and dread. It feels almost like heartburn, or what I suspect a heart attack may feel like. 

I will say I usually get into a bout of having too much nicotine in my system during these conflicts, so I am not sure if it’s anxiety or tightness induced by the nicotine. 

Not sure how to cope. If I brush things off and not do what I need to do in order to resolve the issue, this physical discomfort almost goes away but the feeling of overall dread and unhappiness is still there (as well as the underlying problem and knowing it will resurface a few months or a year down the line in some other way.)

Really not sure if I should look into an anti-anxiety medication or seek therapy. Not sure if medication is warranted if its a nicotine induced physical reaction.

Is anyone willing to share their experience with medication and their feeling of anxiety?

Thanks.