I seem to have issues that are very similar in nature. For example, I could be playing golf and as soon as I get a negative thought about failing, I start to feel my heart rate going up, my breathing gets shallow and it just compounds itself to the point that I am ready to burst. It ruins the day. I can be playing a PC game competing against someone in cyber space and as soon as I think this time I might get beat, it starts all over again. Sitting hear typing this out and I am beginning to feel anxiety and sweaty hands ecetera. I am 68 and have been like this since I could remember. Funny thing is, before I retired, I had a job that required a great deal concentration and failure was absolutely not an option. Thing is, it never bothered me But put me in a situation that isn't up to that level and I panic. My dad use to faint all the time but I have yet to reach that point. Sometimes even in simple situations like trying to stop my dog from getting out of the yard, by the time its over, I am huffing and puffing and my heart rate is wild. Don't know what to do.
Just wondering if it seems worse since retirement and you have more time to dwell on issues that worry you?
It's clearly about the thoughts you are having, and they aren't reasonable! We tend to believe that we have no control over our thoughts, but that is absolutely not true! The past is a story, perhaps one with trauma, but still just a story at this point. The future is unpredictable and none of us have control over it ultimately, and so it does not behoove us to spend time ruminating about either one. It does you ABSOLUTELY no good! Ruminating causes suffering. So, what to do?
There's lots of self-help on the web along the lines of cognitive behavior therapy, meditation, a technique called Emotional Freedom Techniques and the like. It seems that now is the time to decide you don't want to live like this anymore and that you are ready to do the work to change things.
You've probably heard "take 10 deep breathes...." Well, any time you notice your thoughts heading in that direction, simply notice it, and then take some deep breaths, focusing on the sensation of the breathe coming in your nostrils, the expansion of the belly, the air leaving your mouth as your belly sinks, again and again, just nudging yourself back to the sensations of the moment when your thoughts try to invade again. This is Mindfulness.
There are lots of mindfulness guided meditations you can listen to for free online. It would be ideal to work up to 20 minutes. The goal is NOT to judge yourself when your thoughts start up again but to gently nudge yourself back to the breathe. Meditation has profound health benefits!
All we have is the present moment, but we are so caught up in our thoughts about past and future that we don't even notice the present! Living in the moment is key. This is not just some new-agey bull; sceintific data has borne out the health benefits of Mindfullness.
Just remember that your thoughts cause your suffering, and you have a choice about what you choose to think about! Notice the troubling ones, be mindful and interrupt them; soon it will get easier and easier!
definately a thought thing thats causing it...i started with the same problems 22 years ago,i was playing guitar in a band and the thoughts of not being good enough caused me to start with anxiety,i started with the racing heartbeat,then i started feeling sick..it was ridiculous,but try as i may it wouldnt go away...the sensations then started to affect me when i was going out,maybe just going to the pub,something as simple as that would cause me to feel physically sick..
now,22 later,i still play in a band but dont have any where near the problem i used to have,in fact it doesnt bother me one bit now,however,after suffering the anxiety/panic attacks for so long i'm now unable to relax at all,i feel every heart beat and unless i have medication i cannot fall asleep for more than a few minutes...
no medication has ever got rid of the anxiety.
wierd thing is that before i started having problem i didnt suffer with my nerves at all...