Question about heart palpitations

[Steph]

Hello everyone

I have heart palpitations 24/7 and always, always, always have a ball of anxiety in my stomach (if that makes any sense). What I wanted to know is, is it normal (for an anxiety sufferer) to constantly have heart palpitations? I am trying to avoid caffeine and anything sugary as these seem to exacerbate the anxiety, but even without either of these it seems to be a constant thing.

Can anyone tell me if a) you experience the same thing and/or b) what you can do to stop the heart palpitations.

Many thanks in advance

Steph

[blondguy]

Hey Sarbai, GuyIncognito, Jessme, Caitie0 and of course Steph who created this great thread 🙂

I understand that 1983 was a long time ago when I started to have mega heart palpitations with generalised anxiety. I was 23. The heart palpitations are just side effects of anxiety (or bad feelings of anxiety) and harmless

Guylncognito really got this spot on and if I can quote Guy..."I get them too. The old fear/adrenaline/fear cycle, the more you worry the worse it gets"

I know this sounds really boring but there is a great reference book (its cheap and still in print) called 'Self Help for your Nerves' by Dr Claire Weekes. As a psychiatrist she actually had anxiety and these heart palpitations as well. If you google the title she writes in plain english about how harmless these feelings are. Just by reading this really basic book she will take the fear out of the heart palpitations.

I kept reading her paperback so many times I wore it out 🙂 All of the sweaty palms...the tight chest/breathing are really awful but they are still just 'feelings' I have posted a few threads around the forums...I am not pro meds or anti meds but have had this anxiety disorder for a long time and if anyone wants to ask anything be my guest. There is a way out...:-)

I am not an expert in anyway. I just know about anxiety..minor or severe..

My Kind thoughts all.. its great to chat to pro-active and self aware people like yourselves.

Paul

[GuyIncognito]

Hi Paul,

I wore that book out too! I had to get another copy. It's still the one I turn to when I need reassurance and no nonsense advice. Dr Weekes was truly ahead of her time and it should be prescribed reading for anyone with anxiety or panic attacks. Continued success and good health to you.

Kind regards,

Guy.

[caitie0]

Thanks Paul,

I guess mine worry me because I have no other symptoms, I just wake up and feel it, when I am doing things I notice, my chest feels uncomfortable, I feel relaxed other then my heart pounding away. I don't feel stressed or anxious, it is constant, deep breathing doesn't slow it.

The only other feeling I get sometimes is really odd and I don't know how to to explain it, this feeling comes up in my chest that feels dreadful, then it's gone, but never have had this when had my anxiety.

But I'll give her a google and have a read.

Thanks Paul

[blondguy]

Hi Caitie and Guy

Guy, what a relief to find some one that has read this basic paperback 'Self Help for Your Nerves' I had a smile when you said you have worn it out too:-)

Hey Caitie, heart palps can happen during our sleep and wake us up. You also have that other feeling in your chest that you mentioned too. Do you have a job/career or anything in your life that is/had causing you any stress? Also do you sleep generally okay? Does your chest feel tight when the palps are happening?

Kind thoughts

Paul

[caitie0]

Hi blond guy,

Yes sometimes work stresses me a little but not a lot. I sleep fine, when they first started I didn't sleep at all, but when this was happening I was having a major anxiety attack & never experienced it before. I don't have tightness, occasionally have shortness of breath but that hasn't happened in a while and still having palpitations, though tonight I feel better.

The doctor thinks it's stress/anxiety my resting heart rate was 94bpm which I was really concerned about and when I had the holter on, I was having a good day, didn't really feel the palpitations. ( I am 25 & not overweight, unfit though) I just joined the gym hoping that will release some stress and help lower it.

It seems to be any tension, irritation, stress even the slightest, it goes up.

[blondguy]

Hi Caitie, thanks for posting back. Being stressed can elevate our bpm. When we are even a bit stressed we release adrenaline that can make the our heart 'knock'...'thud'...palpitate. Going to gym is a great move to reduce stress levels and good on you!

Type 'A' personalities offer suffer from palps too as they strive so hard to get where they are going in life they have further to fall. Not saying you do of course, but some people with high expectations/goals with work, study or their personal life can also have heart palpitations too. (whether or not we meet our own expectations or not)

The good point is that you are sleeping well right now and you are smart enough to have got over the initial symptoms...You are also an excellent communicator...which provides you (and myself) with a great way to dump these symptoms by 'venting'.

You have great strength to post and say what you feel. Nice1. Paulx

[caitie0]

Thanks Blondguy,

I am defiantly that person that has ambition and want to have a good career etc, and that defiantly isn't happening at the moment. I am thinking my anxiety has now gone down low, and I am having the palps, occasionally my jaw gets numb and I feel a bit spaced out. I am thinking I am just expecting to have to have all these feelings I have to be as anxious as I was when I was having anxiety attacks and not coping, but I guess not.

It's good to have a place were other people can relate and your not alone. 🙂