How to overcome cardiophobia and panic attacks?

Hi doctor,

I am a 24-year-old male. My journey with cardiophobia began seven months ago when I started experiencing chest pain and a feeling of pressure on my chest. I saw a chest doctor who diagnosed me with allergies and assured me that everything was fine. However, while I was with him, I had a panic attack out of fear that something was wrong with my heart. He reassured me and prescribed inhalers for my allergies, but my chest pain persisted.

As my symptoms continued, I developed severe cardiophobia and started visiting the doctor weekly for reassurance. Each time, I was told that I was fine. Then, my blood pressure started rising, so I consulted another doctor, who attributed it to stress. She ran a full blood test, which came back normal except for low vitamin D levels, for which she prescribed shots and supplements.

Later, my chest doctor suggested that my high blood pressure might be due to eye pressure, especially since I was experiencing headaches. I visited an eye hospital for a thorough check-up, and everything, including my eyesight and eye pressure, was normal.

I then decided to try calming myself to see if my blood pressure would stabilize, and it did. However, my chest pain persisted, and I began experiencing full-blown panic attacks with chest tightness, shaking legs, and an overwhelming sense of fear. My anxiety worsened to the point where I was afraid to leave my bed, drive, or even be aware of my heartbeat. My family thought I was losing my mind. Seeking further reassurance, I visited a cardiologist, who performed an EKG and an echocardiogram.

Thankfully, both tests were normal. However, during the cardiogram, I was so anxious that I had a panic attack, making it difficult for the doctor to get an accurate reading. After calming down, the doctor confirmed that my heart was healthy and diagnosed me with anxiety and panic attacks, advising me to seek psychological help.

Following his advice, I started seeing a therapist who encouraged me to ignore my symptoms, including my rapid heartbeat. While I tried to follow this advice, the persistent chest pain made it difficult.

Two weeks ago, I caught a cold and visited a doctor who, after hearing my full history, reassured me that I was not imagining my symptoms. He diagnosed me with an intercostal muscle strain, a common condition that often causes fear due to its similarity to heart-related pain. He prescribed medication and a topical cream, and I began to improve. The pain is still there but has significantly lessened.

After completing my prescribed medications, the doctor advised me to continue using the cream until the pain fully subsides. Despite this progress, I remain fearful. I recently visited another therapist, who assured me that healing takes time and that my prolonged stress would not have long-term effects on my heart. He emphasized that even the strongest panic attack does not strain the heart as much as I imagined and that the heart is a strong and resilient muscle. I am still scared. What should I do?

Please help me.

Thanks.