Border line neurotic

[rasticle]

I have had anxiety for over a year, diagnosed.  I am currently on 20mg Lexapro once daily and hydroxyzine as needed.  The Lexapro has definitely taken the edge off the anxiety but I still have a problem that is driving me insane.  I obsess over my heart and take my pulse constantly to make sure I have a regular rate and rythym  I have seen a cardiologist and have had a holter monitor, EKG, and an echocardiogram.  Yet for some reason I can't stop obsessing.  Every night when I go to bed I can feel my heart beating and I think for sure that I am going to have sudden cardiac death or a heart attack.  I am a 26/M and physically active, I jog and lift weights, etc.  I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else out there is going through something similar or if this is normal for anxiety!  Thanks!

[Bsmith6883]

I have had all of the above as well I am 23 year old female.. EKG.. BLOOD TESTS CHEST SCANS ECHO.. 4,000$$$'s later. You should try to withrdrawl from your medication.. try the Linden Method.. I feel I have recovered after the ECHO it takes a scan of your heart from the inside out.. what else do you need to know? JESUS LOVE YOU:) HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF YOU CAN OVERCOME THIS

[rasticle]

Thanks for all your thoughts.  Dealing with anxiety is such a pain.  Two years ago I would have laughed at the thought of myself going to the ER because of anxiety.  Thanks all!

[Lightwise]

Yes, that is normal for anxiety. CHANCES ARE YOU ARE O.K. When I first started feeling anxious I thought it was my blood pressure to blame, then my heart (i had a bunch of heart tests done), then MS (I had a brain MRI done) and so on and so on. So far the doctors have found NOTHING ! Again, the whole "heart thing"/palpitations etc. is VERY common with anxiety sufferers. I forgot to mention that one day my palpitations scared me so bad that I went to the ER ... of course they found nothing wrong ! Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

[suzi-q]

the heart beating thing can drive you crazy!  Something else that I find is that when a person suffers from this disorder, they tend to "grab on" to feeling that something specific is seriously wrong with them.  Yours happens to be the heart (which a lot of people do because of that anxiety beating of it!)  Mine was brain tumor, lupus, Aids, MS and so on.  I went through all of these illnesses.  And would have sworn I had them for no particular reason.  My doctor said at that time, "you are the healthiest looking sick person I ever met!"  That is when I realized that I was just grabbing onto things because of my anxiety and depression and got help AND medication.  My advice is to return to your doctor to see if he wants to change and/or add a new medication to the mix.  It may help...I am currently on Paxil and Buspar.  I don't 'awfulize' so much anymore.  The meds help this but it also takes self discipine and self talk!

Hope this helps!

[Pum]

Yes that sounds completely normal for anxiety but I'm worried that you still feel that way even on medication.  Is it a background worry or is your life being consumed with those thoughts?  Taking your pulse constantly is no way to live.

You might need to go back to the doctor to see if something else can be done to help if reassurance is not enough.

You are young and sound fit, enjoy life.

Good luck.