Hi friends! 

Just joined, but I’ve been dealing with anxiety for about 5 years now. Just recently started medication and it has been working well, I also was just diagnosed with chronic pain and “sun scapular tendinitis” which basically means my muscles under my shoulder are pretty messed up and I may need surgery in the long run to fix the chronic pain. As a result of this I also have a lot of pain in my ribs, all those muscles are apparently connected according to my doctor and my physiotherapist. I will note the pain is on the left side of my back and side/chest so you probably know where this is going. 

Despite the diagnosis, and despite the medication, I still constantly think I’m dying. It fucking sucks. I can’t go to sleep without thinking I won’t wake up, I can’t just sit on the couch with my partner without thinking my heart is just going to give out any minute, I have panic attacks while driving because my side starts to hurt and I think I’m about to die and need to pull over to collect myself. I probably have some kind of hypochondria as well because of these thoughts, but I know it’s just related to my anxiety. 

Anyway, if anyone actually read this thank you, and if anyone has any advice on how to calm myself down when I logically know my muscles are fucked up, I logically know I have been diagnosed with anxiety, and I logically know I’m not about to die (I’m 29, perfectly healthy otherwise), but my brain automatically tells me I’m going to collapse onto the floor and die. 

Thanks for listening.