I am a 19 years old male, soon to be 20. This entire year I've gone through hell of symptoms, very hard to explain, and many of those have gone away. But my heart concerns remain. My pulse rate is always high like 100+. It slows down during the nights. I feel so vulnerable, feels like a heart attack is about to happen all the time, I've had way too many ECGS echos before, a week ago I went to a private cardiologist, had ECG and ECHO which showed no abnormalities other than tachycardia, the next day I had a 24h monitoring, the highest pulse I had was 152 around 1 PM, and the lowest 38 during 6 AM (deepest sleep). The following day I had a stress test, yes I could go on to the end, it was a hot little room to be honest, 12km/h was the max I think that I excercised on it, but was there for about 12 minutes I think? I got so tired and sweaty, the doctor said he was sure that my heart is okay but he ran through the tests to convince me that I am ok, but how am I okay? My heart is racing, I feel pains on the left side, it's so weird, like too much pressure on my chest, like I cannot breathe sometimes, am I dying?? Insane.. I want to cry, I want to live as happily as my friends do. I want to add the list of other tests that I have went through: So many CBC's, CT of head, hearing tests, not to mention the ECGs and ECHO's, too many, X-rays of back and neck, urine tests, eye tests, neurology visits and more that I have forgotten. But why am I like this? I am on week 2 of setraline 50mg and xanax 0.25 twice daily.
First let me say how sorry I am that you are feeling this way. Believe me I can totally relate to you as well as millions of other people who suffer from anxiety. Mine started in my 20s and like you, I had numerous tests all came out normal. I have had every symptom you are having plus more. Imagine how terrified I was because when I had all this going on nobody was using the Internet. I literally felt I was the only one in the world like this and it was horrible. I'm now in my 50s and I do have control over my anxiety. But let me explain something as to why you are getting the racing heart, shortness of breath. And pains in chest.
when you have anxiety, your brain thinks that you are in danger so it sends out the hormone adrenaline to protect you. Adrenaline causes a racing heart among other symptoms. When people feel the racing heart, they get more anxious so the brain sends out more adrenaline . It's a vicious circle! When the brain musters up all this energy if he comes over anxious. But when you're in no actual danger, all that energy has to go somewhere so it comes out is symptoms such as the chest pain, shortness of breath etc.
REMEMBER this….Any symptoms related to anxiety and stress CANNOT Hurt you! They can be scary and weird but that is all they can do!
you are not dying! Your heart will not stop!
even at the rate it is going, you will be fine.
So the key to all of this is to calm down the brain because that's were all anxiety begins. The more anxious you become when you get symptoms, the worse everything gets.
so, how do we call him down the brain?
well first feel relieved that all the test you have had were all normal. That's great!
let me share with you what has really helped me over the years. I've been through it all!
first of all, there are excellent audio meditations on YouTube for stress, anxiety, sleeping, depression etc. they completely call me down and bring down my heart rate in my mind and body are totally relaxed! There are many to choose from. Just search for guided meditation for anxiety or whichever one you want. I like to use earbuds and lie down to listen for the best effect. I do this a couple Times a day.
very important want to listen to is " mindfulness breathing guided meditation". It is very important to know the proper way to breathe during anxiety and the symptoms you're having. There are a few to choose from but you can start with that one. Do this every time you begin to feel your heart race I feel anxious. It completely slows down my heart rate! This tells you that it's definitely all about anxiety.
also, it really helped me a lot to speak with a counselor. Sometimes it's hard to manage this alone and talking to another person in person who can help you is great.
try to stay active and do things you enjoy. The worst thing you can do is sit around and think about and worry because once again that will release the adrenaline.
also, be good to yourself and try not to take life too seriously. Don't forget to smile and laugh which has been proven to make positive changes in the brain. Be a fighter for yourself. If you ever get negative thoughts don't try to fight them off. What you do is acknowledge them in a calm manner, then Imagine them floating off and dissolving. Do this every time. The same with symptoms. Don't get anxious but egg knowledge that they are there and tell yourself "it's OK. I can handle this in my body right now. It will eventually stop"
you will be fine. You just have to learn how to manage the anxiety. If you can ever get a book called Mindfulness, teaches you all of this and can really help. It's a white covered book with a ball of tangled string on the front. We are here for you! 😄
Sorry about some of the miss spelled words. I was talking as this was typing .
but I think you can pretty much figure out what I was saying