Help!!

[Rachhxo303]

Hello all, i live in constant fear of my heart stopping. I have tachycardia (from anxiety) and PVCS/PACS. All nothing to be worried about. Ive had every test possible and nothing is wrong with my heart. But, i cannot stop worrying that i might just fall over and go into cardiac arrest. sounds stupid, but that thought basically takes over my life. I live in constant fear. I struggle bad with anxiety and all this heart worry just adds to it. I feel like im worrying myself to death. What im basically trying to ask is if anyone knows how I could stop worrying about my heart stopping?? I cant no matter how much i try and how much self talk i do. I check my pulse literally every few minutes. (stupid i know) but i cant help it. I dont even go out anymore due to the fact im scared i will fall over and die. Any thoughts or advice would be awesome. Thanks!!

[horseluver4]

Inbox me. I would love to chat :) you and i are just alike

[Rachhxo303]

Hi! Yes, i see a cardiologist. & my resting heart rate is 100. Ive gotten countless ekgs, holters, echos, etc and they all say the tachycardia isnt due to a valve problem cuz my heart is structured completely fine, its most likely anxiety. The thing that worries me is that all these doctors say "probably" or "most likely" no one can reassure me 100 percent that im okay. I do take a beta blocker which has done me absolutely nothing at all unfortunately. 25 mg metoprol. Im probably not getting any help from that since its such a low dose but they cant up me to anything higher or stronger due to the fact im so young and weigh only 115ish. I do see a therapist, and theyve been throwing anxiety meds left and right, its just a really tough thing for me to get myself to start that because ive seen my dad go through absolute hell after his meds stopped working, he lost his job license etc. all because he literally couldnt function once his anxiety meds stopped working and since then cannot find any other med that works for him. Super sad and im just real hesitate to start since i may become pregnant in the near future, and would have to stop. Then again, i should probably focus on right now and maybe they will actually really help me. Im just at a loss for what to do but i really need to get out of this dark hole that I'm in for Gods sake im only 18 i feel bad for myself alot of the time because ive missed out on my high school years because of this heart worry and anxiety. Thanks for all your help though guys it means so much to me!! Hope everything is going alright with you guys. Happy holidays:)

[Rachhxo303]

Thank you so much! That helps me alot actually. Im definitely going to do some research but that whole thing you said was very comforting I appreciate it.

[achillea]

Since your heart has been tested repeatedly and found to be OK, and since you understand that you suffer from anxiety, the reasonable thing to do is see a doctor who treats what's responsible for your discomfort, right?

Psychiatrists are doctors who treat panic and anxiety, and--in my considerable experience--they can get you out of the emotional quicksand you're stuck in.  You're young--any possibility you're on your parents' health insurance plans?  If so, find a good doc and get this taken care of.  You will feel a lot better very quickly.

[Jerry_NJ]

I read your post in the context that what you say about your heart conditions have been diagnosed by a medical doctor, best if a cardiologist.

What is you resting heart rate.  Tachycardia is generally defined as a resting HR of 100 or more.  That said, and I am an old male so that may mean there is no connection between what I say and you, I can't tell the difference between a HR of 80, normal for me, or 100 or 110, which it is if I just walked up a flight of stairs... not run up the flight.  

Are you taking any heart medications to help control you heart symptoms?  If not, it could be a good idea to discuss with your doctor.

I see you description as a troubling cycle.  Anxiety -> Heart problems -> Anxiety.  It may be best to try to control the anxiety (meds) and see if the heart issues subside.

Assuming you have been diagnosed by a doctor and you are following directions I will say it is very unlikely that your heart will stop.  A heart attack, is extremely unlikely... I believe.

Hope you get some input from someone nearer your age, and from a female may help too.

[Gulfstream2]

You know the heart is probably one of the most resilient and tough muscles out there, whatever happens or no matter how much a person goes through, it just keeps on going. Why? Because its meant to.

I can understand your cardiac neurosis, I had a bout with anxiety randomly for a few months and I never felt my heart start pounding out of nowhere and it alarmed me, and for a while I had heart concerns from the anxiety, now it has pretty much abated. I figured I would start to educate myself about the heart, so I began reading about it and was pretty amazed by how much it can go through and still come out a-okay. I think that when you have heart fears and you have no formal knowledge of cardiology, not the really complicated stuff but just general knowledge, it makes things somewhat scary because you aren't sure of what is normal and not normal. But I can assure you, if you take care of yourself, your heart will always remain healthy.

If you stay in good health, keep fit and don't do anything that would jeporadize your health, you really should not have any concerns or neurotic thoughts about your heart. People who do drugs, smoke and drink excessively, eat terribly and never are proactive about keeping themselves in good shape are the ones that are predisposing themselves to heart disease.

My advice would be to read up about the heart, learn some facts and general knowledge about it and come to the realization that you healthy, your heart is in great condition and you have no real reason to be concerned.

Best regards to you!