So I've had health anxiety for around a year now, and I've been thinking I've had aneurisms, brain damage, cancer, heart issues, arrythmia and blood clots.
Last summer I didn't have any anxiety at all, but then it returned when school started again. My anxiety isn't really based on school or social issues, as I have lots of friends and a supportive family. I often go out with friends and stuff, but this health anxiety often prevents me from doing things. I honestly don't know why I have it.
A few weeks ago it pretty much disappeared again, but on Tuesday it came back. Hard. I was running to catch the bus, and when I sat down I felt my heart pumping. By habit I checked my pulse, and noticed that for about 30 seconds it skipped every fourth beat. I don't know why, and I doubt it was anxiety related - probably because of me suddenly sprinting to the bus, then suddenly sitting down? Doesn't matter as it disappeared really quickly, but obviously this caused my health anxiety to return.
Since Tuesday I have been checking my pulse regularly like every 10 minutes when I'm not occupied with something special like friends, family or video games. As I check my pulse for like a minute every 10 minutes I pretty much always feel something "wrong". Either it feels to weak, too strong, too fast, too slow, it skips a beat, it beats double or I move my hand/neck so I lose the pulse feeling. I've also been having chest tightness and arm pains, the arm pains I've had a long time and they're unrelated to my anxiety (nerve problems in neck) but when I'm anxious I still think it's a heart attack.
I know some arrythmia is caused by anxiety, and that it isn't dangerous but it still doesn't stop me from thinking it is. I'm checking my pulse while writing this. I'm going to my doctor on Monday for an unrelated issue, so I guess I'll ask her but last time I went to her with a heart related issue she basically told me "its not a heart problem ur way too young, probably stress or anxiety" - and I doubt it will differ if I ask again.
Has anyone else here had problems with arythmia from health anxiety? Everytime I check my pulse it feels like something is wrong, skipping beats, 2 rapid beats, too fast, too slow, too "hard" or too weak..