Is anyone else always worried that something is wrong with their heart? Sometimes I get anxious for no apparent reason and my heart rate accelerates. When this happens, I immediately think I'm going to have a heart attack and I start to panic a little. I even convince myself that my left arm is tingling. My dad suffered a heart attack a few years ago and ever since that time, I've been more cognizant of potential heart problems.
Thankfully, I work in healthcare and have access to doctors with different specialties. I have been able to call on them with questions such as how to lower my heart rate and use the techniques often. (Ocular pressure, bearing down and carotid massage). I have a heart rate monitor app on my phone so I can easily check it if I feel like it's elevated. I've worn a 48 hr holter monitor, had an echocardiogram and a few EKGs. None of which found anything alarming. At the time I was wearing the holter monitor I had been having pvc's which the monitor picked up, but nothing abnormal. I would like to have a stress test done but to be honest, I'm scared something might happen to me during the test. (A downfall of working in healthcare is knowing too much or knowing just enough to be dangerous!)
I currently take Prozac 20 mg daily and Ativan .5 prn. It seems like my anxiety is the worst when I'm pre-menstrual or after Ive had a stressful day/week. I usually take the ativan sublingual (let it dissolve under my tongue) and it works faster than if I take it by mouth. It also helps to read other posts in this forum. Just knowing other people struggle with this gives me comfort.
Just wondering, does anyone else get the urge to have a bowel movement when you're having an anxiety attack?? Maybe it's the adrenaline??
I started taking it after I had my daughter 14 years ago. About 6 years ago I weaned myself off of it and when the anxiety started again my doctor had me try Pristiq. I took it for about a year but decided it was working as well as the Prozac, so I switched back.
your obvious anxiety is based on your heart failing! Which is a understandable fear based on your fear of heart failure! And probably the fear of loss you dread is most certainly the fear that such a important thing in your life can go becouse of a simple organ. Reality of it is anxiety and fear creates fast heart movements, but that actually is healthy. Your heart needs a work out and anxiety won't kill you, it will just massage the heart. Your anxiety is based one the organ, if we all monitored our organs we would all find irregularities. Don't mistake panic attacks with iheart problems but certainly get some councilling for you fear of it, to me (and I may obviously be wrong) but you are suffering from a folia and the relation between the heart and the head is hard to distinguish. It's perfectly normal to have Robbia based on sever emotional pain, and a lot of people speak about moarning being a long process, even though you don't need to moarn, You need to deal with the pain you have suppressed. The ain't councillors out there that deal with what could of been, but there is councillors that deal deal with phobias and pain. My advice recognise the root problem, speak about your phobia and don't focus on the heart being the issue. In that brief post I think you need councilling. Obviously I may be wrong ps the world is a scary place when you existence can be shattered so quickly, but it is life and it's certainly not worth paining yourself for to long for, becouse all your parents want for y.ou when they are born is to be able to live again through you. Your dad may not want to discuss it becouse it's natural for men to be fearful of everything they have tried to protect, but you will cause more concern to everyone if you deal with that phobia! Take care you know the score
Guys I have been hammering this site for 9 days, I have been up and down on citalopram which does help, I have been recently on metazipine for insomnia, Again does help. But I read posts and all everybody does is talk about medication. It here is so many people explaining there desperation sand pain and it's all valid! But why the hell don't doctors provide instant PHYSC help. It's to expensive and the waiting lists don't cure a fix! It's a traversity that anybody can't go the doc and then walk in the next room immediately to have counselling, I'm not preaching cos I'm a massive sufferer and I didn't join this site with a agenda in mind, but it's clear by most forums and mental health issues that serious interaction and therapy can help, most people post a bit about them that actually shows they recognise a little bit of where this pain is coming from, butcher meds are main topic! Don't get me wrong meds work where needed, but suffering usual is based on feelings that overtake the rationale ! Sorry im posting this here becouse I am here, not becouse I discredit the host I am frustrated myself and have been seeking this site for positivity in conditions let's not all medicate Becouse it's easier! Me included, stay open believe in your convictions and think rationally, Haha rant over, Whitney if you feel pain after the councilling or therapy, then go on the drugs but please don't do it the other way round becouse you will put yourself through unnecessary and more importantly chemical imbalances that you don't deserve! Start the prescribed route when you don't have route cause and your thoughts are irrational! As a nurse maybe you understand that society has the wrong way round purely becouse of funding........... Sorry I feel your anxietys are rational and totally understandable, anxiety is in us all, when there is no reason for it then meds will help . Take care
Hello, i know exactly how you're feeling. I've been dealing with anxiety and fear of death and heart attacks for 8 years now. I'm constantly in and out of doctors and specialists and ER's and have had all tests done even stress test but yet I still worry with every little pain I feel. I'm so in tune with my body that I create something as minor as a pain in my back turns into a full blown panic attack. I am at my wits end. I wish I could get more exams done as I feel maybe the first round of echo, 24 hr monitor, stress test may not have been accurate. It does get worse before and during my period and it does cause loose bowels for me as well. I'm here if you need to chat. I currently take 20mg of celexa and 1mg of xanax. Xx
First and foremost I ask the Lord to help me and rebuke satan from taking over my thoughts and feelings. i tell him he has no authority over me or my thoughts! The Bible says when you rebuke the devil in Jesus' name he must flee!!
Sometimes I look to Pinterest for ideas on how to reduce anxiety, how to lower your heart rate, etc. there are some great ideas out there that help. Deep breathing or (belly breathing as i call it), yoga poses, essential oils, etc.
Something else that obviously doesn't help anything is that I'm probably 20 lbs overweight! Anytime you carry extra weight it causes unnecessary stress on your body. My cholesterol is higher than it should be and I'm trying to get back to healthy eating. I know I need to concentrate on heart healthy foods such as fish, almonds, spinach, fruits and vegetables, etc. But donuts taste so much better!! 😊