Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

need help

hi last night i had a scary thing happen i was sleeping and then all of a sudden my heart started beating really fast for about a couple of minutes i was scared to go back to sleep because of it does anyone know what it could of been i am 22 years old i am scared that i might have svt or something
4 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
713386 tn?1235951442
Wow thankyou so much for your post it really helps me understand whats going on as i often think my heart will not beat again after the awful sensations of eptopic beats so ive been told and it feels like it stops for a second then i go really dizzy then a big thud follows its sooo scarey i keep thinking something serious is sooo wrong and that its not normal it takes over my life as i live in fear of the next one and then the next one. I have had tests etc and been told its not serious and not to worry but how can i not when i almost black out with it for a split sec?
Are you a doctor? kind regards x
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Ive been living with anxiety and panic attacks for about 5 years and im only 15 ive really just learned to deal with it what ive done is tricked myself  ive told myself that like i dunno a bad habit is making me have the anxiety and panic attacks ans so if i quit the habit i tell myself i cant have the panic attack ive found that this works very well believe me they used to get to me a lot but now that ive kind of learned to control them they happen less often i just want to say i know how you all feel and you all can make it through it you run your body not these panic attacks and anxiety you all think its scarry for you think of how it was for a 10 year old boy(me) now 15 still living with it and havnt told anyone cause all this time  i thought i was going crazy and didnt want anyone to see me any different than who i am i havnt even told my parents so think oh how hard it is keeping it all inside but you keep it all inside for to lonf it will keep pileing up until you burst well yall just remember if i can do it yall can to.
Helpful - 0
698733 tn?1231926970
Palpitations


Palpitations are short, abrupt periods in which the heart suddenly starts beating fast. If you’re in a sensitive state, this can ring alarm bells because you fear a sudden heart attack. The more you panic, the faster the heart beats. It’s therefore understandable why many people in this situation jump to conclusions and call for medical help. What you have to remember is that palpitations are perfectly natural and can often be caused by exhaustion or stimulants like caffeine. Your heart is an incredibly strong muscle, and it won’t stop or explode simply because it’s beating hard and fast. A healthy heart can beat fast all day long and not be in any danger.



Missed Heartbeats

The medical term for missed heartbeats is extrasystoles. A missed heartbeat is usually an extra beat between two normal beats. Given the pause that follows this premature beat, it just seems as if one beat was missed. And because the heart’s lower chambers fill with a greater-than-usual amount of blood during the pause, the next regular heartbeat can feel like a bit of a jolt. When you feel this sensation, you often freeze and wait in terror to see if your heart is in trouble.

Such missed beats are generally harmless. It can help to sit down when you feel this sensation, but if you wish to keep moving, do so. Exercise won’t cause the situation to get worse, and don’t convince yourself that going home to lie down is the only way to help the situation. If you retreat every time you feel an unusual sensation, that behavior can reinforce a negative idea that your home is the only safe place to be. Our hearts are not atomic clocks that always keep time; they speed up, slow down, or occasionally beat in an irregular fashion. People with anxiety are very keen observers of all bodily functions. From time to time, you may notice an irregular beat or two. This is nothing to get upset about.

Sometimes, individuals go through similar worries about their heart as they do with their breathing. People convince themselves that if they worry enough about their heart, or concentrate too much upon its actions, it may somehow get confused and forget how to beat correctly. It’s quite common for people who suffer from panic attacks to check in on their heart at regular intervals to make sure it’s still beating away.

If you simply can’t stop obsessing about your heart, here are some tips:

• Get a full medical examination. If you don’t, your mind will always bring up the “what if something really is wrong” card. When you get a clean bill of health, trust in the results and don’t second-guess them. If you really must, get a second opinion—but after that, stop doubting your good health.

• Remember that your body has incredible internal intelligence. Simply telling your heart, out of panic, that it might stop doesn’t mean that it heeds your fears. Learn to become more comfortable with your heart, and let it do its job. Listen to it when you’re relaxed and also when you’re exercising. The more comfortable you are with the diversity and range of your heartbeats, the more confidence you’ll have in it.

• Allow your heart to beat in whatever rhythm it sees fit. Don’t try to control the natural rhythms of your body by always insisting on a calm heartbeat. The more you allow your body to flow in the manner it so chooses, the faster it will return to a state of rest.

Very often, your heart only wants to palpitate a bit, thump a few beats harder. Why? That’s the heart’s own business. It’s your mind that interferes and panics, causing the adrenaline to kick off a longer cycle of rapid heartbeats. So from now on, make a verbal agreement with your heart that you’re going to stop interfering and obsessing over its health and trust in it 100 percent. Then hand over the controls. Let go to whatever way your heart wishes to behave. By allowing the sensations to happen and simply getting on with your day, you release the anxiety that you hold around your heart as well as the cautious monitoring of every heartbeat.
Helpful - 0
564491 tn?1320360393
Tiffy,

Is it possible you were having a bad dream?  If you don't think that's it, why not call your doctor and check it out to ease your mind?  

Take care.

Ellen
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community

Top Anxiety Answerers
Avatar universal
Arlington, VA
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?