Suggest Treatment For Severe Anxiety And PTSD

Posted on Sun, 24 Jul 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 24 Jul 2016 Answered on

Wed, 10 Aug 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello. I am a 20 year old female, around 170lbs, 5'2. In the past year, I have had two EKGs, both of which were perfect and showed nothing to be concerned about. I have also had bloodwork done - everything came back perfect. Weekly monitoring of my blood pressure has shown that my BP is also consistently perfect. In the past year I have began working out more, cut soda out of my diet, and improved my diet overall and have lost a significant amount of weight.

Now, I have severe anxiety and PTSD. My father died of a massive heart attack unexpectedly in the car next to me one year ago. We thought he was having a panic attack. I've tried just about everything to make my brain calm down, but the slightest bit of panic sends me head over heels into a meltdown because I'm terrified of dying. I frequently get arm and/or chest pain with my anxiety - these aren't new symptoms, but they are big triggers for my PTSD.

In your opinion, do I have ANY thing to worry about in regards to my health? In your opinion, am I in any danger of dying without some major new symptom showing up?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.

First of all I would like to give my condolences for the lost of your father. Although he died unexpected one year ago he must have had some warning signs that has been misunderstood as panic attacks.

Secondly you should know that with a healthy lifestyle and diet, with regular health and cardiac check up you haven't an increased risk for unexpected cardiac events (including heart attack).

Thirdly I would recommend to do complete cardiac check up once a year (including ecg, cardiac echo and stress test) to help you relieve your concerns and to reassure that everything is ok.

At last I would suggest to discuss with your physician about CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) to deal with anxiety and other PSTD symptoms.

Hope this will be of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (10 hours later)

So if I have already had a complete cardiac work up this year, and it showed there was nothing to worry about - I wouldn't just suddenly have a cardiac event, correct? Not without some major new symptom showing up well in advance?

It's just very hard to remain calm when my anxiety or panic attacks comes with chest pains and shooting pains down my arm. Doctors are pretty sure that the shooting pains are psychosomatic based on my work up, but again. That 'pretty sure' is enough to keep me up at night.

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Yes you are right as long as cardiac check up was normal there's no risk of cardiac events without any warning signs.

My advice is to go for CBT to manage your behaviour during attacks and to do cardiac check up once a year.

Hope this will be of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar