Newbie

[Koala12]

Hi everyone, I'm 58 and new to this site and looking forward to getting to know some of you and finding some useful tips. I've suffered with anxiety for many years, I can mostly cope with it but major triggers are anything medical and flying. I've just found out I have something wrong with my heart after an abnormal holter monitor reading and am seeing a Cardiologist on Tuesday. This has come as a complete shock as I'm fit and generally healthy and it's sent my anxiety into overdrive, I can't eat or sleep and the Dr told me to keep calm as it's making my situation worse - yeah right! I am permanently in anxiety mode with all the symptoms we're all familiar with and it's driving me mad. I keep thinking I'm about to drop down dead or have a heart attack and my mind is going all over the place (as is my heart!). I was given a script for very low doze benzodiazepine to take to take edge off for a few days but don't like taking drugs and am worried about side effects making me worse. Can anyone recommend some good coping strategies to get through next few days as I know the nearer I get to Tuesday the worst I will be and I can't even imagine how I will cope with the actual appointment. Thanks so much

[Starwolf]

Hi Koala12,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns with us.

First of all, it is lucky that this underlying problem was revealed...now it can be monitored and managed. It is the undiagnosed problem that is more likely to put us at risk. But I understand that finding out about an unsuspected condition is scary, not news we like to hear.

Being able to do without medication is ideal but in your case, it would help you over these dreaded next few days. It doesn't have to be a long term solution but your immediate safety is a priority.

Quite a few relaxing techniques can be googled. 2 of the most popular are Relaxing Breathing and Relaxed Body Scan. They have helped many forum members.

Distraction will also work. Anything that can focus your attention will do. Watching a captivating movie can offer a couple of quiet hours, as long as it is not the kind that sends your blood pressure rocketing.Taming the restless mind is not easy, persistence is the key, consistently and calmly bringing it back to the chosen activity, as often as necessary. Physical activity also engages the brain and discourages the mind from jumping around in unwelcome directions. It doesn't have to be strenuous but the more concentration it demands, the more efficient it will be.

And please, keep reminding the reasonable part of the mind that most of the scary scenarios we concoct and scare ourselves with never make it into reality. Anxiety is a deceiver. It likes to convince us that the worst is always lurking around the corner, ready to pounce on us.

F.E.A.R....most of the time stands for False Evidence Appearing as Real.

May peace of mind soon return.

[TheoloNerd]

Hi Koala12,

Although my triggers are very different to yours, I really get where you're coming from.

First thing: without knowing what is abnormal in the reading it's hard to know, BUT a lot of heart conditions can now be successfully treated. You're actually at a good time in history for having heart problems. However, that's logic, and logic can sometimes not be helpful at times of anxiety (I know from experience).

Do you have any spiritual beliefs? If you do, taking time to pray can be helpful. Or if you aren't into spiritual things, maybe some kind of meditation or deep breathing.

Personally I find managing my self-talk to be helpful most of the time. It's often the self-talk that's become unhelpful, so saying helpful things to yourself is a good counter to that.

Anyways, I'm a fellow newbie, and I've found this site is great even in the one or two days I've been here. Well done to you for seeking help.