I’m a recovering addict (over 3 years sober) and 25 M. I had a health “scare” where I had strange symptoms I had never experienced before come up a few months ago that prompted an ER visit, and when they told me after some blood tests and CT scans that nothing appeared to be wrong I was pretty baffled and I think that led to me over analyzing and starting to do my own research online about the symptoms. Over the next month I went to the ER twice more, once via ambulance, and still they couldn’t find anything wrong with me. I had quickly developed severe anxiety about my health and of course Googling my symptoms and reading up on rare illnesses and diseases didn’t help, but I felt like the doctors had failed me. I was never concerned with my health before these symptoms arose, and I work out 5-6 days a week and eat quite healthy, so I assumed I was a healthy person. However, my primary care doctor and the ER doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with me. They said it could potentially be a hormonal issue but that they weren’t qualified to diagnose for those types of issues (honestly it’s better than being misdiagnosed by an unqualified physician) but nonetheless, I continued to worry. Some days I would even have an anxiety or panic attack (I’m not sure which one it would be, but it was an instant feeling of severe anxiety, tunnel vision, rapid pounding heart, shortness of breath, etc) often while driving (driving has never made me nervous, never gotten in a wreck, but I do tend to think the most while driving). 

Anyway, fast forward a few more months to now. The panic/anxiety attacks stopped but I still have general anxiety about my health that could potentially be creating symptoms. Every day at work starting about 30 minutes after I arrive the symptoms start (pressure behind my face, sometimes very slight lightheadedness/disequilibrium, minor heart palpitations and headaches) and last most of the day. However, I have noticed that when I go out of my normal routine (vacation or unusual change to routine) the symptoms don’t bother me or aren’t there. I hardly noticed any symptoms this last week on vacation. This gives me hope that I actually am okay and that the symptoms are a side effect of my anxiety and over analysis of my body, but it would help to hear if any of you have experienced anything similar. Thankfully, the panic/anxiety attacks went away after a few episodes. Those were the scariest for sure. Thanks for reading. 



Side note, this all started during a pretty stressful part of my life - I work full time, go to school full time, and have a business I started that I spend a solid 6-8 hours a week on right now.