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Anxiety Disorder and Cardiac Symptoms
I've been DX'd with panic disorder and general anxiety disorder, with a chronic fear of cardic disease, making me cardio-phobic.
With therapy and Klonopin, my panic attacks are under control, however, my chronc anxiety and hypervigilince of heart diesease remains, even though my cardiologist says my heart is fine.
I'm also on Toprol and a diuretic for mild HBP, again, caused by my anxious state.
My question is:As every exam and test points to a healthy heart, how in the world does my mind cause me physical symptoms like chest pain and pressure, arm and shoulder pain, along with heart flutters now and then? Can a chronic phobic condition actually produce these physical symptoms?
p.s.: I'm NOT hypocondric, as the only real concern i have is heart disease, not any and all diseases of the body.
With therapy and Klonopin, my panic attacks are under control, however, my chronc anxiety and hypervigilince of heart diesease remains, even though my cardiologist says my heart is fine.
I'm also on Toprol and a diuretic for mild HBP, again, caused by my anxious state.
My question is:As every exam and test points to a healthy heart, how in the world does my mind cause me physical symptoms like chest pain and pressure, arm and shoulder pain, along with heart flutters now and then? Can a chronic phobic condition actually produce these physical symptoms?
p.s.: I'm NOT hypocondric, as the only real concern i have is heart disease, not any and all diseases of the body.
hi,
i'm a 30 y/o f, my main problem is a racing heartbeat, but i occasionally get "skipped beats," which is what i call pacs of pvcs, cause it feels like my heart thumps real hard against my chest, but i was always under the impression that they tend to occur more often at rest or while relaxed. if u have a structurally sound heart (which from your echo, im assuming u do) I dont think they're considered dangerous, just annoying (and very frightening, in my opinion). Two days after giving having my last baby, I had them nonstop for a whole day, which was really scary and naturally i ran to the er. they said they were "benign heart palpitations. to this day, i dont know what they meant by that. I know how u feel though. Im aware of every single heartbeat i swear, and it's driving me crazy. its impossible for me to get a post on this forum, so i usually ask hankstar anything i want to know. he's very informative and has helped me on this forum. he especially knows about pvcs and pacs, if u want to write a post to him. he is on this forum a lot.
Regards,
Pan
i'm a 30 y/o f, my main problem is a racing heartbeat, but i occasionally get "skipped beats," which is what i call pacs of pvcs, cause it feels like my heart thumps real hard against my chest, but i was always under the impression that they tend to occur more often at rest or while relaxed. if u have a structurally sound heart (which from your echo, im assuming u do) I dont think they're considered dangerous, just annoying (and very frightening, in my opinion). Two days after giving having my last baby, I had them nonstop for a whole day, which was really scary and naturally i ran to the er. they said they were "benign heart palpitations. to this day, i dont know what they meant by that. I know how u feel though. Im aware of every single heartbeat i swear, and it's driving me crazy. its impossible for me to get a post on this forum, so i usually ask hankstar anything i want to know. he's very informative and has helped me on this forum. he especially knows about pvcs and pacs, if u want to write a post to him. he is on this forum a lot.
Regards,
Pan
To Everyone:
Well, at least I am not alone with my problem, as evident by the posts.
But, man, what a horrible way to live.
I'm on Klonopin for my panic, and that drug certinly does help in stoppiing panic attacks, but, needless to say, it does nothing in the way of catastrophic thinking, and I worry 24/7 about heart disease.
The one poster hit the il on the head......yes, there is so, so much news reports every day about heart-related issues....eat this, don't eat this, etc., etc.,etc.
I've become so obsessed, got many tests over the years, but still am not satisfied......you know why?....because the truth is that one can go from a 0% blockage to a very significant 100 % blockage of their coronary arteries in a very short time.....I hope I can someday overcome my phobia, but for now, its constant worry, chest pain, tachacardia, left arm pain, shoulder pain, fear to even exert myself, even daydreams of going thru an emergency cath or by-pass.....how sad is that, folks?
Well, at least I am not alone with my problem, as evident by the posts.
But, man, what a horrible way to live.
I'm on Klonopin for my panic, and that drug certinly does help in stoppiing panic attacks, but, needless to say, it does nothing in the way of catastrophic thinking, and I worry 24/7 about heart disease.
The one poster hit the il on the head......yes, there is so, so much news reports every day about heart-related issues....eat this, don't eat this, etc., etc.,etc.
I've become so obsessed, got many tests over the years, but still am not satisfied......you know why?....because the truth is that one can go from a 0% blockage to a very significant 100 % blockage of their coronary arteries in a very short time.....I hope I can someday overcome my phobia, but for now, its constant worry, chest pain, tachacardia, left arm pain, shoulder pain, fear to even exert myself, even daydreams of going thru an emergency cath or by-pass.....how sad is that, folks?
o you have an excellent handle on the ature of your anxiety and that is an excellent start;
o 'life' is a inpermenant situation and full of many risks and your risk from driving a car to work likely far exceeds your risk of AMI unless you have multi-factored risk profile for CAD/AMI;
what is you family history ?
o there is a lot of evidence that Cognitive -based Therapies work well in conjunction with medication for Panic syndromes;
o reasonable levels of heart-friendly diet:
such as a modified vegetarian diet with fish and chicken can improve the lipid (including arthrogenic subfractions) profiles...more whole foods-veggies and fruits, less processed foods (loaded with refined flours, sugars, trans fats), eating more frequent smaller meals, substuting monosaturated for saturated fats etc
some American diets are positively toxic...;
o (almost any) _regular_ exercise:
has multifaceted benefits on mood, whole body habitus well being, stress relief, endothelial function, lipid profile, etc etc...Just Do It...everyday...walk the stairs etc...;
o meditation/ 'mindfullness' training/ yoga :
has been shown in a number of studies that have marked effects on health, refractory pain syndromes, PTSD etc ...lookup the books by Jon Kabat-Zinn (see Amazon) who initiated a well respected Pain Management Clinic in Worcester Mass that has seen dramatic results over the years and been replicated across the country;
P.S. if you want I'll give you my email and we can continue this discussion at greater detail off the board...over time...;
o recycle the blind fear and huge energy you're devoting to it into pro-active programs to mitigate the life risks including CAD using the best of current knowledge which is all anyone can do....;
my uncle was a very accomplished Mayon Clinic trained pediatric cardiac surgeon and took meticulous care of himself...lived 20 years longer than his two brothers hwo died from cardiac situations...then died after 4 years of Alzheimers where his marvelous mind melted...so it goes...on the other hand my 90 y.o. Mom smokes and eats bacon sandwiches and a pint of full fat ice cream at a sitting...she still rakes leaves, cuts grass and shovels snow...life ain't fair...get over it..Live....;
be well my friend...;
//
o 'life' is a inpermenant situation and full of many risks and your risk from driving a car to work likely far exceeds your risk of AMI unless you have multi-factored risk profile for CAD/AMI;
what is you family history ?
o there is a lot of evidence that Cognitive -based Therapies work well in conjunction with medication for Panic syndromes;
o reasonable levels of heart-friendly diet:
such as a modified vegetarian diet with fish and chicken can improve the lipid (including arthrogenic subfractions) profiles...more whole foods-veggies and fruits, less processed foods (loaded with refined flours, sugars, trans fats), eating more frequent smaller meals, substuting monosaturated for saturated fats etc
some American diets are positively toxic...;
o (almost any) _regular_ exercise:
has multifaceted benefits on mood, whole body habitus well being, stress relief, endothelial function, lipid profile, etc etc...Just Do It...everyday...walk the stairs etc...;
o meditation/ 'mindfullness' training/ yoga :
has been shown in a number of studies that have marked effects on health, refractory pain syndromes, PTSD etc ...lookup the books by Jon Kabat-Zinn (see Amazon) who initiated a well respected Pain Management Clinic in Worcester Mass that has seen dramatic results over the years and been replicated across the country;
P.S. if you want I'll give you my email and we can continue this discussion at greater detail off the board...over time...;
o recycle the blind fear and huge energy you're devoting to it into pro-active programs to mitigate the life risks including CAD using the best of current knowledge which is all anyone can do....;
my uncle was a very accomplished Mayon Clinic trained pediatric cardiac surgeon and took meticulous care of himself...lived 20 years longer than his two brothers hwo died from cardiac situations...then died after 4 years of Alzheimers where his marvelous mind melted...so it goes...on the other hand my 90 y.o. Mom smokes and eats bacon sandwiches and a pint of full fat ice cream at a sitting...she still rakes leaves, cuts grass and shovels snow...life ain't fair...get over it..Live....;
be well my friend...;
//
Anything related to your heart can be very disconcerting. Anxiety only creates more problems. There is peace in knowing your anxiety symptoms are shared by others and you are not going crazy. My father has been almost incapacitated by his fear of cancer and heart attack. Head to you local library/bookstore or even a site like bookfinder.com and find some books to help you. I would recommend the following:
Claire Weekes, Peace From Nervous Suffering (she tends to focus on agoraphopia but the anxiety symptoms she highlights apply to anyone)
Dale Carnegie, How To Stop Worrying and Start Living (written over 50 years ago, it still applies today...gave this book to my dad and it really seemed to calm him)
Lucinda Bassett, From Panic to Power (great techniques to calm you)
Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now (my personal favorite)
Good luck to you!
Claire Weekes, Peace From Nervous Suffering (she tends to focus on agoraphopia but the anxiety symptoms she highlights apply to anyone)
Dale Carnegie, How To Stop Worrying and Start Living (written over 50 years ago, it still applies today...gave this book to my dad and it really seemed to calm him)
Lucinda Bassett, From Panic to Power (great techniques to calm you)
Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now (my personal favorite)
Good luck to you!
Hi Jerry-
I have an idea that might help. It's given me more confidence anyways. I'm only suggesting it because your cardiologist said your heart is fine. You wrote of your concern about exerting yourself. Well, my thinking was somewhat similar, but I still continue to exercise. Do you know that it actually calms me and gives me more confidence? I usually ride the bike for 20-25 minutes 2x's a week, enough to get my HR up. Why don't you try some very light cadio work of some kind for 5-10 minutes and maybe build a little every other day. I really do feel that this will help your confidence level which will in turn calm your mind, not to mention stimulate those endorphines (s.p.). This helps me deal with it more realistically. Also a better diet of fruits and vegetables is helping me more. I'm trying to get rid of the dairy. Take care Jerry.
I have an idea that might help. It's given me more confidence anyways. I'm only suggesting it because your cardiologist said your heart is fine. You wrote of your concern about exerting yourself. Well, my thinking was somewhat similar, but I still continue to exercise. Do you know that it actually calms me and gives me more confidence? I usually ride the bike for 20-25 minutes 2x's a week, enough to get my HR up. Why don't you try some very light cadio work of some kind for 5-10 minutes and maybe build a little every other day. I really do feel that this will help your confidence level which will in turn calm your mind, not to mention stimulate those endorphines (s.p.). This helps me deal with it more realistically. Also a better diet of fruits and vegetables is helping me more. I'm trying to get rid of the dairy. Take care Jerry.
You all have my sympathy...or would that be empathy? I have suffered from anxiety most my life, not coincidentally brought on about the same time I became aware of my heart "irregularities"...extra beats, occasional PSVT. I have tried drugs and some counseling...but it is one long battle. I do exercise almost every day, but still fear heart problems even thought I have had every test in the book, all normal, and have a good family history. I'm 47 now, and am really upset about all the time I have wasted and places I have not gone or didn't enjoy because of my obsession with my heart. It is like OCD. No matter how much I try to stay positive, the negative thoughts keep coming back. It's a curse! I wish good luck to anyone suffering this fate...There has been some good advice...keep the suggestions coming...maybe there's something out there that will cure all of us at last!
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