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Anxiety - Ectopic Beats
I got health anxiety close to 3 months ago, due to the death of a friend, and started having hypochondriac-like obsessions because of my slight risk factor of dying of a heart attack like she did.
After having anxiety for three months, I'm now learning, that my risk for a heart attack or cardiac event is EXTREMELY low. But it seems like it's too late.
The worst symptom of this anxiety are these ectopic beats/palpitations/pvcs which drive my off the deep end. They make me toss and turn and prevent me from relaxing, because that's when I get them the most.
Generic Alphrazolam seemed to help them somewhat, but I don't want to be dependent on a benzo to stay calm, because they're highly addictive. The doctor put me on a 0.5mg dose, and it's extended release. I'm apprehensive about taking it, although I was given a 0.5mg dose of regular Xanax by the ER, and didn't find myself craving it.
I just want the palps to go away. The anxiety would be so much more manageable if I didn't have them. It's not a fast or slow heart rate. It just feels like my heart is being squeezed for like 3 seconds, then a strong beat afterwards.
Been tested, no heart problems, and everything is normal. I didn't have any of these symptoms before I got anxiety, so how do I make them go away?
I'm seeing a therapist, but it seems like it's not quite helping yet with the symptoms.
I'm petrified that I'll be stuck like this forever, and will have to rely in medication to "cope" with it. I just want my normal life back.
Everyone is so pessimistic.
Help me, please!!
Tell me how I can conquer these symptoms. The SYMPTOMS.
After having anxiety for three months, I'm now learning, that my risk for a heart attack or cardiac event is EXTREMELY low. But it seems like it's too late.
The worst symptom of this anxiety are these ectopic beats/palpitations/pvcs which drive my off the deep end. They make me toss and turn and prevent me from relaxing, because that's when I get them the most.
Generic Alphrazolam seemed to help them somewhat, but I don't want to be dependent on a benzo to stay calm, because they're highly addictive. The doctor put me on a 0.5mg dose, and it's extended release. I'm apprehensive about taking it, although I was given a 0.5mg dose of regular Xanax by the ER, and didn't find myself craving it.
I just want the palps to go away. The anxiety would be so much more manageable if I didn't have them. It's not a fast or slow heart rate. It just feels like my heart is being squeezed for like 3 seconds, then a strong beat afterwards.
Been tested, no heart problems, and everything is normal. I didn't have any of these symptoms before I got anxiety, so how do I make them go away?
I'm seeing a therapist, but it seems like it's not quite helping yet with the symptoms.
I'm petrified that I'll be stuck like this forever, and will have to rely in medication to "cope" with it. I just want my normal life back.
Everyone is so pessimistic.
Help me, please!!
Tell me how I can conquer these symptoms. The SYMPTOMS.
I just need to vent, and to get some hope.
This is the worst possible thing I've ever had to deal with. I feel like if I can beat this, I can accomplish anything.
But things look so dreary now. I wish to God I had never put myself in this horrific position. ;_;
This is the worst possible thing I've ever had to deal with. I feel like if I can beat this, I can accomplish anything.
But things look so dreary now. I wish to God I had never put myself in this horrific position. ;_;
Hello, I just read your posts and i understand a lot of whats going on. Health anxiety is my #1 issue. And i also experience irregular beats of my heart and you said something like you feel like your heart is being squeezed for a few seconds then it beats really, really hard. That happens to me ALL the time. It is a big symptom of my anxiety.
I can relate to you, but in a different way. And i hope you can find support in this. I have severe anxiety of throw up, have since I was 2. Because i fear this sooo much when i get anxiety it creates a huge cycle for me, because my #1 symptom of anxiety is nausia. So when i feel nausious for whatever reason, it starts my anxiety which makes me nausious, which makes the anxiety worse and so on.
It sounds like since you have anxiety with issues relating to heart troubles (I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend) that your symptom of heart palpitations is acting up more than any other symptom. For me, since I have anxiety of throwing up, my symptom of nausia acts up more than any other. I know medication is not the way you want to go and im certainly not telling you that you need it, but it really does help. Meds combined with therapy works really well to stop anxiety. I have had health anxiety for 15 years (im 17). Right now, after being on medication for around 6-7 weeks and in therapy..my anxiety is 95% gone. My point is...there is HOPE! I know its so hard to stay positive, and for so long people would tell me there was hope and I would be able to overcome my anxiety and i just kept saying to myself, "my anxiety is so bad, theres no way i can ever fight it and win." well now i completely understand what those people meant, and i was wrong! I fought off my terrible anxiety and you can too!
And you are causing no one trouble by posting on here! Its GREAT that you are. This site has helped me tremendously and i hope it does the same for you. I'm glad to read your posts, and never feel discouraged to ask questions or ask for support.
Its great your going to look into going to therapy. I think it will really help you.
Keep your head high and I can assure you, there is nothing wrong with your heart! You are currently living a healthy lifestyle, and you have your whole life ahead of you! You WILL beat this anxiety, and you will come out a stronger, healthier, and happier person because of it.
Good luck to you! :)
I can relate to you, but in a different way. And i hope you can find support in this. I have severe anxiety of throw up, have since I was 2. Because i fear this sooo much when i get anxiety it creates a huge cycle for me, because my #1 symptom of anxiety is nausia. So when i feel nausious for whatever reason, it starts my anxiety which makes me nausious, which makes the anxiety worse and so on.
It sounds like since you have anxiety with issues relating to heart troubles (I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend) that your symptom of heart palpitations is acting up more than any other symptom. For me, since I have anxiety of throwing up, my symptom of nausia acts up more than any other. I know medication is not the way you want to go and im certainly not telling you that you need it, but it really does help. Meds combined with therapy works really well to stop anxiety. I have had health anxiety for 15 years (im 17). Right now, after being on medication for around 6-7 weeks and in therapy..my anxiety is 95% gone. My point is...there is HOPE! I know its so hard to stay positive, and for so long people would tell me there was hope and I would be able to overcome my anxiety and i just kept saying to myself, "my anxiety is so bad, theres no way i can ever fight it and win." well now i completely understand what those people meant, and i was wrong! I fought off my terrible anxiety and you can too!
And you are causing no one trouble by posting on here! Its GREAT that you are. This site has helped me tremendously and i hope it does the same for you. I'm glad to read your posts, and never feel discouraged to ask questions or ask for support.
Its great your going to look into going to therapy. I think it will really help you.
Keep your head high and I can assure you, there is nothing wrong with your heart! You are currently living a healthy lifestyle, and you have your whole life ahead of you! You WILL beat this anxiety, and you will come out a stronger, healthier, and happier person because of it.
Good luck to you! :)
Heart palps and our rythms can be as unique as a finger print in my opinion. I can feel my PVCs sometimes and I have also been tested. Heck, my resting EKG always says that I have had a prior MI, but it actually turns out I just have a slow and strong heartbeat because I have ran distance for most of my life. So, my point is, what is abnormal for someone else may be perfectly normal for me.
My original concern with anxiety came from concerns about my heart. I became so aware of everything going around I could feel myself rocking to the beat and feeling every little blip, pain, twinge, etc.
I also believe that therapy for your anxiety could really help you. It did for me and I still notice PVCs once in awhile, but remember that they can be exacerbated from stress and many other things as well and in the vast majority of cases they are completely benign. If you have been checked out by your doctor and you have a clean bill of health then trust him/her.
Exercise has helped my anxiety tremendously. Not only is it good for me, it helps keep grounded and feeling good both mentally and physically.
Realize that you are not alone in what you are going through....many of us have been through it which means you will get through it as well...keep us posted!
My original concern with anxiety came from concerns about my heart. I became so aware of everything going around I could feel myself rocking to the beat and feeling every little blip, pain, twinge, etc.
I also believe that therapy for your anxiety could really help you. It did for me and I still notice PVCs once in awhile, but remember that they can be exacerbated from stress and many other things as well and in the vast majority of cases they are completely benign. If you have been checked out by your doctor and you have a clean bill of health then trust him/her.
Exercise has helped my anxiety tremendously. Not only is it good for me, it helps keep grounded and feeling good both mentally and physically.
Realize that you are not alone in what you are going through....many of us have been through it which means you will get through it as well...keep us posted!
while i don't have those very often, i do notice that like anxiety caffeine makes it worse. And do keep posting, all the different thoughts and ideas not only help you but possibly others as well cuz if there is one thing i have learned is that there doesn't seem to be a symptom that someone else hasn't also experienced. i had no idea until my therapist advised me to go look for a forum how many people can suffer what you do, and i felt so alone!!
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