anxiety with heart palpitations

[angelic09]

Hi. I suffer with anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I was having heart palpitations without panic so I had all tests I could to check my heart which is apparently good. Then the other morning out of 'somewhere' I had tachycardia. It was scary & I had no idea what was happening to me. A visit to the Dr & was told your hearts fine it has to be your anxiety. Had a blood test to check thyroid which cane back ok & he prescribed beta blockers to slow my heart rate. That was it...had the tabs that left me with a spaced out feeling & have been too scared to go back to work incase I have another 'episide'. I don't know what to do now. I don't want to stay on these tablets everyday..anyone else been through this or have any suggestions? I've also been seeing a counselor for months & have been practising ctb.

[white knight]

Hi angelic welcome

I had beta blockers for 8 years. Essentially they are blood pressure medication that are quite safe. Any more info about them talk to your Dr as we are limited here about such topics.

Once my blood pressure and heart rate lowered I was taken off them. How did I do that?

My BP was stress and anxiety related. I did relaxation classes, nightly prior to sleeping did muscle tensioning exercises (in the long term these are great) and carried out other ideas like removing toxic people from my life and sought more stable financial position.

Think yourself lucky. Your heart is good. I did the same tests and for 3 months believed I had a heart attack. To be told otherwise was fab.

Good luck

Tony WK

[caitie0]

Hi Angelic

I am experiencing similar problems with the palpitations, I just keep trying to tell myself I am fine, but it is driving me a bit nutso they are very annoying and I don't feel like I am anxious ( but guess I am ) My anxiety has only started recently last few months has been a struggle, I just try to accept what is happening and breath and move on, as it has been going on for few months now.

[angelic09]

Well at this moment you have been my white knight shining brightly. Thank you so much for your words. I found them very comforting & I will heed your advice. To not know about your heart for three months is just cruel. Happy to know its good. I now feel more confident in fighting this 'intrusion' in my life knowing you have come through it. I will be seeing the GP tomorow & hope to have some kind of plan made out & questions answered. Thank you

[angelic09]

Hello and thank you for your input. You sound like a strong person which is great as you need to be when these situations occur. I will try to gather some courage as well. I have a tendency to overthink everything which I realise is not the thing to do but I will be working on thinking positive.

[white knight]

Hi angelic

Nice of you ..thanks

To gauge if one has had a heart attack or not I needed to be placed on a treadmill with the sensors on my chest and wall inclined for around 20 minutes. At around 15 minutes my blood pressure drops and my heart responds and blood pressure ruses again. If this occurs normally then no heart attack occurred as no damage was done and panic attack or pulpitations were the diagnosis.

Many years later I still do muscle tensioning exercises. It involves finding a quiet place, begin with tensioning your toes for 15 seconds release then your calves all the way up to your head and face. Then tension all body muscles for 30 seconds. The whole process lasts say 20 minutes. Do it prior to bed time and you'll sleep better.

Other ideas to get you to relax are lifestyle changes, a move to the country, financial stability, physical fitness and diet.

Best of luck

Tony WK

[angelic09]

Will try the muscle tension from tonight.

I am going to ensure I eat healthier and get exercise in as well.

I am thankful for your replies. It dropped my anxiety levels enough to actually feel I was resting. That IS a very nice feeling.

[Neil_1]

Hi there angelic

Awesome name by the way. :)

I read your post at the top and then have read through and seen your most recent response and I must say that I’m proud of you for your turn-around and the outlook you’re now taking.

Tony has a wealth of amazing knowledge and it’s fantastic that he’s been able to provide some really quality responses for you, to get you relaxed and not so pent-up.

He’s named some great options for how we need to tackle our days and mechanisms for approaching this.

Another thing I’d like to just mention is that I’ve seen your name appear elsewhere on these forums, and I think that is awesome of you. To be struggling and dealing with your own issues, but then to be able to reach out to others yourself – well done and I hope you’re able to continue to do this.

For me, it helps my inner person that I’m able to do this – kind of one of those mechanisms we need to have installed to give ourselves a little win.

Hope to see your name popping up a lot more in different areas.

Neil

[Berribliss]

I have this all the time. I am having one now. My body aches from the stress. My jaw throbs. I keep forgetting to breath and get dizzy. And when I read stuff about it it makes it worse. I have no quality of life. I don't sleep. I am stressed all the time. Chest pains the whole lot. None stop for two years.

[white knight]

Hi Berribliss

We have to take the view that treating mental illness needs several approaches with short medium and long range plans. There us no "quick fix"

Your GP visit and subsequent psych visits are the first step. But you'll only see a psych every 6 weeks....what do you do in the meantime?

Lifestyle changes and a positive attitude is crutial.

Get physically fit

Eat healthy foods

Relaxation classes and muscle tensioning exercises

Motivation lectures

Inspiring books

Cheap hobbies like a jigsaw

People you socialise with....are they hood for you? Are any causing you to be nervous?

If you are on holiday...change your location, go to nature

Seek financial security

These ideas don't seem apparent to us.

Tony WK