Hi. About 5 years ago one day at work I thought I was having a heart attack or a stroke. Sweaty, left arm tingly, racing heart, lightheaded, etc. I said to my supervisor I am going to my doctor's office to get myself looked at. But the symptons just got worse on the drive and there was a hospital nearby so I went to the emergecy room. When I got to the triage window the girl at the desk said she will be with me in about 5 minutes. I said I am having chest pains and she will help me now. She sure did jump. She sent me to a niurse who took vitals and hooked me up to an EKG machine. She then sent me to the waiting area where I sat for about a half hour until I was taken into a bed. Then there were tests and questions and they had me lay there. Someone came and gave me a pill and said to wait. Finally a doctor came over and gave me the good news that I was not having a heart attack or stroke. He explained anxiety to me and gave me a preseciption of what I cannot remember and told me to go see my doctor.

So the next day I go see my doctor who had the hospital records. She told me she has dealt with anxiety a lot and htere are two ways to deal with it. She suggested medication, which I hate and I told her so. She said then that lifestyle change can help. At that point in my life I drank, smoked and drank coffee. All three in massive quantities. She said nicotine and caffiene dehydrate the body which causes the heart to work harder thus bringing on the anxiety symptoms. Well, the first thing I did was give up caffiene. It sure was strange switching over to decaf everything. But I did it. I did cut down on my cigarette smoking. I gave up alcohol about two years ago. Next to go is cigarettes.

I still have mild anxiety attacks. Mostly when I have to deal with crowds. Maybe when I quit cigarettes they will go away. But I do try to always keep a small paper bag handy to breathe in and out of for when I get attacks. It seems to work.

Thanks for listening.