Hi
I have suffered with GAD predominantly health anxiety and panic attacks for over 12 years.
Does anybody experience symptoms of anxiety, in my case heart palpitations, even when you dont feel anxious? For example, I will be reading or watching TV and feel calm and relaxed but then out of nowhere will experience palpitations and start to panic....or is it that I have a panic attack which brings on palpitations. I have no idea what comes first...palpitations that cause me to panic or panic attack causing palpitations!
I certainly notice my post ablation, post beta-blocker symptoms get a lot worst when under any stress, even simply talking with somebody. I dont feel anxious at all but maybe after my childhood I am anxious my whole life and so am used to it as I know no other condition?
Hullo Jen,
You are not on your own. ( not that it helps ) 30 years ago I had a massive nervous breakdown, marked by severe anxiety and since then It flares up in spite of being on medication. It is exhausting and debilitating . My Dr says I need something cognitive therapy however, I am 75 and to discuss my past would take forever !!! I awake in the morning and am instantly overwhelmed by anxiety symptoms even th I have no worries. 2 yrs ago I started having frequent bouts of Benign Ventricular Ectopics ( equally debilitating) Seen 2 cardiologist + all the tests.....nothing to be done. My GP says any emotional response affects your heart rhythm.. Its a bummer, with the anxiety I cannot put my mind to doing anything and feel sick , cannot eat etc. I have found that a Diazepam Tab first thing in the morning helps no end , BUT they are reluctant to prescribe them. Yes, I'm sure the palpitations and panic go together.. Hope all goes well with you.
My palpitations were always diagnosed as anxiety even though I was perfectly relaxed, they would start when I was reading a book . I now have svt and am on beta blockers, I,ve been like this for over 40years. I think some of us are born anxious in the subconscious mind, I,ve learnt to live with it.
Hi Ann I am similar to everyone else here have health anxiety and ectopics from I was 19 I am now 55 have tried all sorts of medication nothing worked just had my second ablation 3 weeks ago so far still suffering but told give it time which I feel I dont have! I also have stomach problems and like everyone feel that the heart and stomach are connected. I will keep posting my recovery updates to let you know if I get any better, hope you start to feel better too.
Oh yes Jen, I get skipped beats when I am not even anxious. I have GAD and most of mine is health related. I give you an example. I got up to go to the bathroom last night, had a pain in my calf. Kinda like a cramp. Well, for the rest of the night, I had sharp pains in my calf. Now, I started thinking, " maybe its a blood clot" In the morning I woke up turned over and felt a skip in my neck. But , the leg pain was gone. Now, have I stopped thinking of the pains? No , and then was on the phone with a friend, had another skip. So, now obsessing about skips. I get at least one I feel every day, for 40 some years! You would think I would be used to it! No, but I am doing Cognitive Therapy, as i cannot take a lot of the pscyh meds. I used to take Prozac and Xanex, but I read that many people on Prozac had their heart stop. So I stopped it, It was working so well too. I hardly worried and didnt have panic attacks. I still take a low dose Xanax every day but have stayed on same low dose for years. Tried other meds, didn't help and made my heart race. Dr said no more psych meds for you. I now have a pacemaker for Sick Sinus Syndrome. That is slow heartrate. Not caused by my skips honest. Can happen at any age. But , have not had panic attacks for a year or so. The CBT training does help alot, but you have to do the work. Well, I am a work in progress, but much better. I don't know if I helped, but you are not alone, and dont give up, life is worth living, and try to live it the best way you can. Hey, I could not drive over a bridge for 4 years, drove 3 times over one in the last 3 weeks! Vast improvement( don't know why I freak out on bridges, somthings you never learn. Hugs, and let us know how you are doing, Mabel (Ileen)
I,m on here every day but don,t post much,it is helping me with this problem. The beta blockers make me feel awful though, I don,t know which is the worst, the palpitations or the light headed feeling on getting up from sitting and fuzziness in my chest
Hi everyone
Thanks for replying. Hearing other peoples stories does help a great deal and its good to know Im not alone!
I just want to feel normal and be happy and be able to enjoy life without feeling as though every palpitation will make me pass out or worse! Ive never fainted in my life and have had palpitations and anxiety/panic attacks since I was 16 (probably younger) and Im now nearly 39 with 3 gorgeous children and a boyfriend.
Even going into a supermarket can set my anxiety going and I just want to leave the shop. Symptoms include feeling faint, feeling as though I cant breathe, palpitations, feeling detached from body and surroundings, sweating, tingling tongue...list could go on lol....when will it end lol x