Over awareness of heart?

[MarkWilson4455]

Ever since my anxiety was triggered, my body has always had over awareness of my heart. I keep checking it to make sure it's beating properly, I constantly check heart rate monitor apps on my phone and I always worry about having a heart attack or my heart not beating. It has put a damper on my life but I also worry that if I don't focus on it, either of those two things will happen. I also take propranolol tablets as well because, even though I don't have a heart condition, I'm afraid my heart will beat uncontrollably if I don't.

It's really interfering with my life and I wish I was normal again! I'm too afraid to do anything now that my brain has gotten full awareness of my heart. Is there a way to treat this anxiety and has anyone else had this experience? Thanks.

[Embrace123]

Helloo

[Kaylar88]

Yes, it does. I get them all the time.

[Embrace123]

Does anybody anxiety cause paps likr skipped beats

[MarkWilson4455]

Thanks for responding! Though just to clarify, my doctor didn't give me the apps, I got them myself to try and help but yeah, now it's become an obsession. I hope to try and find a psychiatrist, in the meantime I probably should tell myself that my obsessions and thoughts are just my imagination.

[specialmom]

Hi there.  Well, please know that you are not alone.  Health anxiety and specifically about the heart is not uncommon.  And we can become 'hyper aware' of things and start to FEEL every little thing and imagine we are feeling things.  You've had health work ups at this point that indicate that your heart is health.  So what causes you not to trust that?  Your anxiety.  Simply your anxiety.  That is the source of your issues and you have to see THAT as what needs treatment rather than focusing on your heart.  :>)  Your doctor probably felt they were helping you by giving you an app for your heart to PROVE your heart is fine but instead, it became a new source of obsession and anxiety making it unhelpful.  A primary care doctor is not helpful at this point.  Your best bet is to see a psychiatrist or psychologist and work on this anxiety.  Medication can help.  If what you've tried thus far has not, there are other medication options.  And talk therapy really needs to be done.  Your life can be better but you have to work on the anxiety.  Your heart is not the problem.  good luck

[AnxiousNoMore]

The doc didn't tell him to get the app, so I wouldn't write her off yet. If it is easier, quicker or cheaper I would go to her for a consultation update, which would be necessary for meds anyway.

I would avoid meds if possible at first, but if you don't feel comfortable after talking to someone about this anxiety then short term ones that last half a day of so might give you enough of a break that you are able to resolve this. They are basically an on demand solution so you only take as necessary. Doc can go over this with you, but avoid getting them if possible.

[MarkWilson4455]

I get what you are saying. It's just lately I've developed thoughts of my heart beating so uncontrollably fast to the point of it either exploding or stopping and it's really scary! It's made me more afraid to go out to places on my own. Can this be cured?

[AnxiousNoMore]

Sometimes yes and sometimes not so you have to try to find out. In the case of the not, it might be that your mind just won't let go despite all the methods, including therapy, you try to resolve it and even with time it doesn't go away.
I don't have any statistics on this and don't even know how they could measure it when the problem is just in the head of the sufferer, but I do know lots have found a way to end the problem and sometimes as quickly as it emerged. After all, there is no physical problem, so there might be a way for you to accept it the way you used to consider yourself to be healthy. Read your first sentence "Ever since my anxiety was triggered my heart issues have been there."

Seek help and hope for a good result, and the first step may be to find a solution that allows you to get rid of the app that is reinforcing your fear, including just throwing it away on your own.

[Paxiled]

Your doctor gave you the drug because it is sometimes used for anxiety disorders, though usually for social anxiety.  I'd suggest you get a psychologist for therapy who specializes in the treatment of anxiety, so you can learn not to obsess over this stuff.  It's what we anxiety sufferers do.  It's hard to stop -- you're developing a sort of OCD-like condition here -- because doing what you're doing causes you anxiety and not doing it causes you anxiety.  You need to learn, if you can, how to stop doing this.  If therapy works, it will be the end of it.  Medication can only tamp down the symptoms, it doesn't cure the problem.  And realize that although your fixation is you heart, it could be anything -- it's the kind of thinking you're doing that's causing you this problem, not your heart and not your body's awareness of your heart.  

[MarkWilson4455]

Well what I meant by that is that, I'm scared of becoming unaware of my heart beating because I'm afraid it will leave it unprotected and thus it will beat uncontrollably until it explodes or stops.

[MarkWilson4455]

Yes, he prescribed it to help me relax. And no, he didn't suggest me to monitor my heart, I did that myself.

[AnxiousNoMore]

You mentioned he said you have no heart problem and this. "It has put a damper on my life but I also worry that if I don't focus on it, either of those two things will happen."

Is there anything that you can add regarding this issue?

[MarkWilson4455]

Actually the propranolol was prescribed by my doctor. Sorry I didn't mention that. Thanks for responding.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Did he tell you why he prescribed it? You said you don't have a heart condition, so is it a placebo to help you relax?

[AnxiousNoMore]

Also, you mention you check the app regularly as you are presently living with a constant worry. Did your doctor suggest you monitor the heart, because if he didn't you might get a break from the worry if you remove the app, at least for a while. You said you have no heart issues, so that is why it might be a good change to do without the app.

[AnxiousNoMore]

From your post I assume the propranolol is not prescribed by your doctor? I read about it and it seems to be available over the counter, so you should be discussing with your doctor if she thinks it benefits you, because it has side effects so it is never wise to take something you don't need. From your post you indicate you only take it as a prevention of a heart issue that hasn't been diagnosed.
Your heartbeat can go up with worry, which is why many people with anxiety also fear they have heart issues. The more you worry the more the heart seems to be exhibiting worrisome symptoms. Some people who have no real heart problems can get over the constant heart worries using various relaxation techniques or seeing their doctor for a heart check if the diagnosis is negative. Others can't ever rid themselves of the constant fear that something is wrong, so visit ER once in a while when their anxiety fears about heart attacks get to be too much to bear.
I would see the doctor for help and discuss the constant monitoring you are doing, as this might be keeping your worry fresh in your mind all the time.