i have a sharp chest pain a weight on my chest shortness of breath hot flashes lightheadedness sometimes my body feels numb . is this anxiety

Hi Mystery girl,

All of these are possible symptoms of anxiety or more specifically, a panic attack (especially if they occur at the same time). However, without more information I can't say whether or not they are due to anxiety.

Sharp chest pains should never be ignored. That, combined with the shortness of breath and lightheadedness could also be due to something cardiovascular in nature. Since I don't know how old you are or anything about your personal or family medical history, I am very reluctant to say it's anxiety.

I strongly recommend that you see your doctor as soon as possible to rule out a medical condition that could be causing these symptoms. Your doctor can examine you and, if a medical condition is ruled out, give you a better idea if it sounds like anxiety.

If it is anxiety, I encourage you to set up an appointment with a mental health professional and consider psychotherapy. Your doctor may be quick to prescribe medication, which (by itself) is not usually the best approach to treating anxiety as it won't address the underlying cause and will merely treat the symptoms. Often, the symptoms return once the medication is discontinued.

If it is anxiety, other things you can do to help reduce symptoms is to exercise regularly (aerobic exercise like running, brisk walking, biking, etc - and only with your doctor's okay); meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, and / or relaxation exercises.

I hope this helps and I wish you the best!