Tightness in the chest: why our hearts get tight

George Alvarez 18-10-2023
George Alvarez

O tightness in the chest is, to the field of psychopathology, known as anguish Although it is often related to anxiety disorders, they are distinct symptoms, and attention must also be paid to the relationship with organic conditions, that is, when you have this symptom, you can't immediately rule out heart attacks.

First of all, you should know that the tightness in the chest is what is also known as anguish, but, as I said, one cannot leave aside possible pathology of the body. However, it is common that after the procedures to rule out these hypotheses, the patient is referred to a psychiatrist for a clinical analysis under another focus.

Tightness in the heart due to anxiety or anguish?

Anxiety is not synonymous with distress, although they are symptoms that often overlap in diseases of the mind, they differ from each other. Even these symptoms have different areas of brain activation.

For chest tightness it is important to pay attention to a different diagnostic approach than that related to anxiety disorders, although of course they can exist concomitantly. In that sense, not to be confused, anxiety and distress are thus differentiated:

  • tightness in the chest means anguish;
  • Distress and anxiety are different symptoms;
  • with mental triggers and without mental triggers

Tightness in the chest means anguish

In short, those who suffer from angst go through various moments of indecision. The individual has internal conflicts that prevent them from acting, they become immobile when faced with attitudes that must be taken in life.

In other words, the experience of anguish causes a lot of suffering, without there being a mental trigger for it. It is related to dilemmas that the individual goes through, in which he feels unable to make decisions in present moments.

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Difference between anxiety and distress

On the contrary, anxiety is caused by fear of the future, it brings a perspective of insecurity in relation to what is to come. On the other hand, anguish brings doubt for the resolution of present prolems.

The tightness in the chest, the anguish, that narrowing in the chest, mostly happens, without the identification a mental trigger Unlike anxiety, where recurrently there is an object, a trigger present.

Often, this chest tightness So this symptom can be related to your life environment, but this is not a trigger, as in the case of anxious conditions, where the triggers are clearer.

Tightness in the chest due to anxiety and symptoms of depression

Anxiety is closely linked to fear, but when it becomes excessive, it is often paralyzing. Fear, of course, is an emotion that everyone experiences in life, but what must be observed is its proportion and reasonableness.

Often the anxiety may also be related to depressive disorders It is common for the anguish, the tightness in the chest, to be within a depressive syndrome or even as the beginning of a major depressive disorder.

Where the person has a perception of indecision, of not knowing how to behave, it sometimes brings a dynamic of paralysis and those people begin to develop classic symptoms of depression, which can live together with anguish, with tightness in the chest, for example:

  • sadness;
  • apathy;
  • loss of pleasure;
  • insomnia;
  • loss of appetite.

What treatment for chest tightness?

Whoever suffers from chest tightness, from anguish, should seek psychiatric help, since the response to the prescribed medication can lead to an effective cure. Scientifically speaking, this happens because anguish is processed by a brain area, which the medication will act directly on.

In conjunction with psychiatric treatment, a psychological approach is important. Although there are possibly no triggers for the chest tightness / distress, it is quite possible for an individual to perceive its evolution when facing situations.

That is, with psychological treatment you will be able to know how to modify your actions, decision-making. Thus, allowing experience different results and rewards which relieve the anguish in a very interesting way, even if there is not such a clear kitten.

Feeling your heart squeezing

Leaving the scientific sphere of the human mind, the population's imagination - without scientific proof, highlights that feeling a heart squeezing can indicate an omen. That is, that something bad will or is happening, especially to a close one.

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Possibly you have heard someone say they have a bad feeling in their heart, and then start contacting their loved ones to see if everything is okay. This is commonly called a bad feeling. It comes on suddenly, accompanied by anguish.

In this sense, experts in the human mind explain that it can be the unconscious mind giving signals that something is not right and deserves your attention. In other words, it is an inner wisdom that goes beyond the analytical mind. It comes from the unconscious as a warning signal to move forward, or not, in the midst of a certain life situation.

Bad feeling of tightness in the heart: what does psychoanalysis say about intuition?

When we have the bad feeling of tightness in our heart, possibly it is our intuition that has come into play. For Psychoanalysis, intuition is a phenomenon of the human psyche Roughly speaking, it can be understood as an ability to anticipate, even without really understanding the reason for this behavior.

What we notice is that the intuition said to be an omen is only verified after the fact, as a validation of what was then a premonition. Psychoanalysis explains that, in general, this bad feeling of tightness in the heart comes from a range of information emerging from situations previously experienced.

At this point one must be vigilant, so that this was bad feeling becomes a paranoid mental disorder, while the person feels anguish all the time, in the face of everything he experiences in life, without a definite mental trigger.

Any person, in a serious condition or not, can have their behavior and thoughts influenced by unconscious issues, characterized by a misreading of life circumstances.

Therefore, keep vigil over your behaviors and emotions that may be out of touch with reality, especially the tightness in your chest that may be causing you immense suffering.

Here's the tip: don't be ashamed of your feelings, seek help, you don't have to suffer alone and you can avoid this chest tightness turn into serious mental illnesses.

Also, if you like to understand how the human mind works, get to know our Clinical Psychoanalysis Course. With this study you will be able to understand the deepest secrets of the conscious and unconscious mind. If you have any questions about the course, just leave your comment below and we will answer you shortly.

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George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.