Obsession with my Heart rate

[cfvine23]

  Just recently, I'd say about three months ago or so, I had a severe panic attack in which I was absolutely sure that I was going to die. I rushed myself to the hospital, I've never been so scared. My hear was racing and I was having chest pains and shortness of breath. After a thorough exam my doctor said there was nothing to worry about, me being a reasonably healthy 19 year-old with no background of hear problems. I've since been on an anti-anxiety medication, which isaking me feel a lot better. The problem is that I seem to be totally obsessed with my heart rate, contantly checking my pulse and worrying that it is too fast. Although my resting heart rate is around 81-87bpm, I still feel that it is too fast and can't get over this obsession that is consuming me. I feel positive about it and am in  therapy  , I'm just not sure what else to do. It's hard for me to exercise seeing as this increases my heart rate and freaks me out even more. Any comments would be appreciated

[AJWS6]

I had a heart obsession after being hospitalized for an over working heart.  Rather then focusing on my heart rate, checking pulse every 5 minutes, etc... I started talking to my heart, praising my heart for beating so strongly, keeping me alive, telling my heart it's doing a really great job, working so strongly, amazingly my heart obsessions stopped after awhile.  The more I praised my heart the more confident & comfortable I became during heart palps.

My heart used to beat 110-120 bpm, at rest, I would be out of breath, chest pains, just feeling really sick.  

But try talking to your heart, hello, how are you heart, so happy your working so strongly today.  

Don't be afraid to exercise, it will boost your confidence, you heart is working fine, you will feel good, and with time, you won't think about your heart anymore.

While I was at the hospital, I freaked out about my heart, a nurse say's to me, your heart beat is strong, that's A good thing, when it doesn't want to beat much at all, then you need to worry.  

[cfvine23]

Thankss, I'll try that. An approach I haven't attempted. Appreciate your advice, and glad to know someone else has gone through this.

[CaliGirl48]

I love this idea! I'm going to try it because i have the same problem with my heart.

[tostressed]

I have had that same obsession before. I literally was taking my pulse rate all day long. My husband was catching me doing it all the time. I will tell you this when you are taking your pulse, you are already anxious to the odds on you having a normal rate 60-80 bpm is small. You are so worried that you will have a high pulse rate that you are making that way. I obsessed about that for so long, but finally got over it. Now sometimes out of the blue I will take it because the doctor said that is good to do every once in a while. I am usually in normal range 95% of the time. I don't think about it anymore. I know it's hard to do, but you have to keep your mind busy on other things and relax. Exercise is great for your heart. Get a good cardio. Let it beat fast and strong for a while then once you are relaxing you will see it will beat within normal range. Your heart looks forward to a good work out. It is very essential for a healthy heart. Hang in there, you will be o.k

[bayareagal]

I too have an obsession with taking my pulse.  I take it between 50-100 times each day.  I take it at work, while I'm shopping, wherever I am.  I try to be sly so people don't know but they must really think I am a nut.  I also walk around with a stethescope listening to my heart and a thermometer in my mouth.  I have recently started Paxil after I explained these things to be doctor.  I also see a therapist.  Paxil hasn't kicked in yet but I'm hoping soon.

[Embulbeeanne]

I have the same problem as well. I take prozac and it seems to help alot with the obsessive part of the whole mess. It's like I start to focus on it and thenI get easily distracted by other more important things. It helps alot because I was getting heart rates in the 170's when I would freak out. I still check my pulse many times daily, but it's getting fewer and fewer.

[taeon]

I've been doing the same thing recently.  My ex told me to stop it yesterday.  So instead I go to my backup comfort measure (here's where I get weird):

I stick my left index finger in my left ear.

It helps.  Try it.  It's like sucking on your thumb as a kid.  It tunes out some of the distractions around you and gives you something to focus on.  Yeah, that's your finger.  It's in your ear.  Fancy that.