I have been suffering with anxiety and panic for a while now, I had a chat with my GP last week and I’m waiting on a CBT appointment next week. I have had blood tests, ECG, 24 hour holter monitor and an xray last year after some palpitations and all came back normal but I still can’t accept there is nothing wrong with my heart.
It’s getting me down so much and when the palpitations start up with no apparent reason I am convinced I am about to die, which then gets me into a cycle of worrying which in turn makes my heart rate stay elevated.
Is anyone else suffering with heart or health related anxiety? How do you take your mind off it and make yourself believe there is nothing physically wrong?
Believe me you are not alone. Millions of people suffer with anxiety, panic, racing heart, and hundreds of other anxiety symptoms. One thing anxiety does is create negative thoughts in the mind. Once you recognize that is happening, you need to stop it right away otherwise it will continue. What I do is I say Cancel!! then right away I move on to getting busy or thinking happy thoughts. We have to be determined!
One thing to know is that those thoughts you were thinking that are negative are not based on fact or reality. They are only based on fear which is not reality. It’s also based on feelings , which is not a fact or reality either.
what you have to do is ask yourself what are the facts. Well one of the facts is that all of your testing including blood test, ECG, 24 hour Holter monitor, and x-ray came back normal.
the fact that you have been suffering from anxiety and panic for a while tells you right there that is why you’re getting the palpitations. With anxiety adrenaline is sent out and that is what makes the heart race and palpitate.
It is NOT harmful! It eventually wears off and even if it comes back again it’s still not harmful. I have had palpitations on and off for over 20 years and I just had a routine stress test and they told me my heart was in excellent shape.
So don’t worry about your heart.
I also found that learning how to breathe properly with anxiety will bring your heart rate down. Find those on YouTube there are hundreds of them.
Don’t make your life miserable for nothing. I did that and I beg people to change their thinking even if you have to have counseling sessions it’s worth it .
there are some great talks about managing anxiety on YouTube.
are you busy enough during the day? The worst thing is to be idle and start believing all your thoughts. Your thoughts are not a part of you. They are fleeting they come and go. I found the more busy I am the better I feel.
so,
- keep reminding yourself that your negative thoughts are NOT reality. then quickly do something that makes you smile, laugh, and gives you joy!
- keep yourself busy.
3 remind yourself about the facts EVERY Time you get a negative thought . say them out loud and even write them down many times and in that way your brain will absorb the information.
4 Fear stands for false evidence appearing real! don’t let the false evidence trick your mind - learn proper breathing for anxiety and listen to some talks
- do these things over and over and over and eventually your brain will begin to believe them and you will start to feel better.
- Positive mental attitude is everything! BE relentless !
Thank you so much for your reassuring reply, makes me feel much better knowing I’m not alone, although it’s like a club no one wants to be a part of!
yes it’s a terrible club to be in. Wouldn’t wish it on anybody