Stranger Than Most

by SUSAN LAUTZ

Every year thousands of people end up in ERs across the country thinking they’re having a heart attack only to be told it’s “just” anxiety. I sometimes wonder where we came up with the term anxiety attack in the first place. Did some wise guy doctor bring by the test results and quip, “Your heart’s just fine. The only thing you were attacked by was anxiety!” Either way it sure feels like an assault—pounding heart, rapid breathing, chest pains, thinking you’re gonna die! Where does it come from? What sets it off? If I had the answers to those questions I’d have to charge a whole lot more than I do.

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