Does anyone have a constantly racing heart like everyday

[LadyM01]

I’ll try to explain this the best I can. I’m 34 years old with no health issues besides anxiety, acid reflux and a heart murmur. I’m the past 2 years I have been suffering with a racing heart that scares the crap out of me. I have been hospitalized twice because of it and both time I was told nothing is wrong with my heart. I had blood tests and all the other heart tests and all is well but I am not convinced because this past week has been hell and I don’t know what is triggering it. For the past week even with the slightest movements my heart will skyrocket. I don’t get out of breath but I don’t feel as though I need to take a deep breath. It also triggers me to have to use the bathroom. I’ve went 3 times today already. I will say I don’t exercise or eat right but I am really trying to up my water intake as I heard that helps. I am on 25mg of sertraline which isn’t even helping me anymore. My brain won’t let me relax which in turn makes my heart race. It’s worse when I’m home alone doing nothing like now so I figured I would sign up on here to vent and see what others say. I just saw my doc about 2 months ago and he went over the results of my tests when I was in the hospital in November but I feel as though they’re missing something. I’ve never felt this way before it all seems to be getting worse. Also my period is late. I’m not pregnant but that’s stressing me too. Please help I want some relief I’m scared to even go outside

[specialmom]

I'm sorry you are having this experience.  I've had that sensation of racing heart.  Like I can't calm down.  Honestly, what helps me is to deep breath (breath in deeply for a count of three, hold for a count of three, breath out slowly for a count of three, hold for three, repeat).  This is calming to me.  And while you do it, visualize something soothing (whatever is to you like a beach, a field of flowers with birds chirping, etc.).  Headphones with some calming music or any music really can be distracting.  You can practice meditation.  I have a hard time with this so for me, I've used the audio with headphones that kind of does it for you. Lazy meditation.  :>)  Try to exercise because that is not only good for your heart, it's good for stress reduction and lifting mood.  And then keep a journal.  Write down when you feel this way and what else is going on right before it or during that day.  Look for triggers or patterns.  

And a therapist may help you explore this a bit as well.  good luck

[LadyM01]

thank you. it feels good just to know that others are in a similar situation. I will say that yesterday I up'ed my water intake and it really helped to slow my heart rate down and I fell asleep a lot easier than I normally do so from now on I will drink more water and try some breathing exercises. I also need to see a therapist

[specialmom]

A therapist is like your own personal cheerleader who also helps you get over the humps that hold you back in life.  Think of it that way.  :>)  Sounds like you have a good plan.  I'm glad the water helps.  And I'm glad you had a better night last night.  Stay in touch and let us know how it's going!

[Paxiled]

Mom, the meditation I was told to do an eon ago was TM, because at the time it was what was most studied.  These days it's Mindfulness, which is harder to do.  TM is an idiot's meditation.  If Mindfulness didn't work for you, you might look into TM -- it's just easier, though not nearly as spiritual.

[specialmom]

thanks for the tip!  You hate to start to feel anxious because you can't focus on your meditation.  :>))

[Paxiled]

Unfortunately, this has now happened to me -- it started a couple years ago.  I need to switch to Mindfulness, but it's hard to let go of the TM, I've been doing it so long and I did it originally to get rid of migraines and I'd hate for them to come back.  It also gave me a lot of energy, which the other forms of meditation I've studied don't really do.  Meditation is like therapy and medication and natural remedies -- there are a ton of different ones, so don't give up because one wasn't your cup of tea.  But no matter which one you do, the whole point is to watch whatever thoughts you get even if they make you anxious -- to get to where there is no goal to the meditation.  I'm just burned out by all these years of having my brain destroyed by a medication, but before that, even when I was agoraphobic, meditation still helped make my life better.  But this is a reason I always think people should learn meditation from a Buddhist teacher or a Hindu teacher or a Taoist teacher and not from a psychologist or New Age therapist of some kind or another -- these are religious practices and while there's no requirement at all to adopt any of these religions, they are better at explaining how meditation is supposed to go and how important suspending all judgment is in order to do it in a way that is both fulfilling and useful.  Boy do I miss good meditations!

[LadyM01]

Turns out I was actually pregnant with triplets

[specialmom]

Wow, congrats ladyM01!  Triplets.  Wow again!  When are you due?  

[LadyM01]

They passed

[Paxiled]

Are you saying what I think you're saying?  If so, our hearts are so out to you.  

[LadyM01]

Yes they had no heartbeats

[Paxiled]

There's a difference between feeling like your heart is racing because of an anxiety attack and an actual heart problem.  You apparently don't have a heart problem, at least not according to the docs.  Nobody can tell you your docs are right, they're just humans like the rest of us, but given you've got a pretty significant anxiety problem, that's probably the thing you want to work on.  And as you say, you don't seem to have adjusted your lifestyle at all to help by not exercising and eating poorly, which will only make things worse.  Ever seen a therapist or had any treatment for the problem that is bothering you the most that you know is actually there, the anxiety?

[LadyM01]

ive never seen a therapist but it is on my list of things to do. I know it will help me a lot because this is taking over my life and I want to feel better again