Hi DS, Good to hear from you. You have come to the right place, there are many people on this site who understand what you are going through. If the physical aches and pains are really getting to you then I would suggest you visit with your family doctor. If you would like, take the anxiety test on the left of your screen, that way you can take the results with you to the Psychiatrist, it will tell them exactly how you have been feeling. Keep posting, we're here for you. Susanne

What you are experiencing is very common. A lot of us tend to feel like every ache and pain means there is something seriously wrong with us. Have you been to a physician to rule out the fact that there may actually be something physically wrong with you? If you have and they didn't find anything, then you are taking the right step in seeing a psychiatrist. He/She should be very familiar with Panic Disorder and will be able to answer alot of your questions. Why don't you write a list of things you want to ask him. Sometimes I go to my doc only to get home and remember there was something I forgot to ask about. You can also use the tools on the left side of the screen to get tons of information on this disorder. You are not alone and we are all here to help in any way that we can. Cheryl

I am curious how many others go through what I seem to go through with this... My anxieties surround my health... first it was high blood pressure, then it was the thought of having a heart attack. For as long as I can remember, I have always experienced odd pains. My attitude in my twenties was, "the pain will only last a minute or two and go away" and sure enough they would... from splitting headaches to pains in the chest.... Now it seems like, what I could brush off before, now seems to be an impending heart attack, stroke, cancer, organ falure, disease, incurable virus... the list goes on.... Since coming to the conclusion that I must have panic disorder, the major things like heart attacks and stroke seem less likely... I am a little overweight, 31, and my cholesterol levels are ok... so chances are i am not gonna drop dead tomorrow of my worst fears... So now... it seems like little aches, are now my focus... a little pain takes my focus and my mind goes into overdrive at what the newest ache could be.... It's so frustrating... it seems like when I get fed up with one ache or pain, it goes away, then a new one comes along.... Today, my focus was on my cheek muscles...I woke up this morning and noticed I was clenching my teeth and that one side of my face was hurting... My mind was already in tune with this latest pain, and waking up clenching my teeth on one side only intensified my fears... I am getting sick of this one now.... the funny part is, tonight on the bus, i nailed my knee on a seat real good, got a nice little bruise as a reminder... I was in pain, but at the same time, I was happy... the pain in my cheek...gone... the pain in my knee.... very real and front and centre in my mind !! Now, the bruise is really getting big, but the pain in my cheek is front and centre again.... It's really ticking me off... Cuz I am no longer sure, what is real pain and what is just something for me to worry about... I am not the type to run to the doctor over everything, if I went everytime I felt odd, I would have a daily appointment with my doctor.... Does anyone else feel the same, does your pain shift after a few days ??? The one constant, is that I am going to feel something that has my attention and anxiety firmly in it's grip... what i