Anxiety blues

[Steviej1991]

I am a 22 year old male. I suffer from what Ive been told is panic attacks. I have been rushed to the hospital and have the heart monitors for 2 days and had an echocardiogram done. All came back good. I do have evidence of a heart condition where there is more than 1 path for the electrical current. However my cardiologist diagnosed it as a banign issue. I know the common attacks when it happens from the condition which is a racing heart. A few deep breaths and it's gone.  However there is a deference between the attacks and a panic attack. I have a lot on my shoulders. JUst got laid off, my dad has been diagnosed as terminally I'll with cancer and my fiancé was coming close to her due date for the baby. I'm naturally a worry wart and all that didn't help.  However this past week my fiancé gave birth and it was the most nerve racking thing ever. I worry about everything! I took a ton of strain on my chest. The day after I starte having the feeling as if I need to take a deep breathe as if I'm not breathing right. Then as of last night I get a weird feeling in my chest as though my heart is not beating right. It feels like the heart is fluttering and then it beats deep and hard. Then it's fluttering. Then seems normal for awhile.  Are other people having this problem ? Please help me with suggestions!

[achillea]

As it happens, there's a firsthand news article about this on the net today:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/11/health/anxiety-first-person-irpt/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

[tigi321]

You could consider discussing the use of beta blockers with your doctor. These might take away the symptoms of rapid heart beat and help you cope with the panic attacks better (or prevent SVT if this is what is happening). It is important to consider the ECG results though, because beta blockers are unsafe in certain conditions (e.g., WPW or bradycardia).

[tom_h]

...and I wanted to add that if you do indeed have SVT, being treated with drugs for panic disorder will do nothing for it.  Subsequent episodes may result in increased dose rates, and suddenly you're being mismedicated.  See the problem?

[tom_h]

Hey Steve.  It's very possible that you are experiencing the effects of a panic or anxiety attack along with a sudden and rapid heart rate known as SVT.  The thing you need to do is understand the difference between the two.  Increased heart rate duing a panic attack rises gradually as anxiety feeds back on itself. Heart rates can be anywhere from the low 100's to perhaps 150 or so.  Likewise as the panic episode gradually diminishes, so does the elevated heart rate.

But if you're feeling a sudden, abrupt increase in heart rate, almost instantaneous, this is most likely not a panic attack, but could be something called SVT.  The adrenaline released during a panic attack could be the cause of the SVT as the heart is sometimes provoked into firing up but it.

For now, you need to determine if you in fact have two issues, and if so separate the two putting panic disorder to the left, and a legitimate heart issue to the right. You need to listen to your body and feel what's going on.  If you feel this abrupt increase in heart rate, you need to note this symptom along with how fast the pulse is, and tell your physician of these facts.

[Steviej1991]

Therapy actually worked well for awhile. I had my doubts on it, but I was willing to try anything. I live in Canada so coverage is great so I had done my tests. However you always wonder well did they read the results right? Did they check for everything?  The stress of the baby coming on delivery day was overwhelming. Shaking like crazy, chest pain, dizziness. Typical symptoms from panic, just amplified to the max. But my fluttering sensation was something new to me. And anytime a slightly different feeling comes across your body, you tend to think that your basically going to die... Such a terrible feeling when you worry about going to the mall becuase you fear collapsing. Or at a doctors ap you have to leave the waiting room because your anxiety is so great.  Many of my close friends are 30 31 years old and they have had it since 21 or so. So I'm aware that this is something I have to live with. I just wish symptoms didnt affect me so bad. So I'm trying to find helpful suggestions to get over this so I can enjoy my baby. Thank you for your comments so far :)

[achillea]

A lot of us here have the same symptoms you do--and they are a real pain, aren't they?

You obviously have a LOT on your plate right now, and it's probable that most of your symptoms are related to anxiety or panic.  It's perfectly reasonable.

If you have some kind of insurance or a free clinic, it would be most worthwhile to ask for a referral to a therapist who treats anxiety.

[itdood]

I'm the same as you.  A bit different issue for me on the heart but I understand.  I don't have any words to fix it.  As I've grown older my anxiety issues have settled down a lot.  I don't know why.  Anxiety is the great motivator.  It makes us do things.  It makes you not cross a busy street, it makes you pay your taxes,....

The only words of wisdom I have is that when there's a lot of anxiety, maybe there's a lot on your list to get done and it's over whelming you.  Fix my heart, fix my dad, take care of my baby, get a new job....  Work at those issue a little each day.  Just do the work, it'll get your mind off things, it'll start getting things off your to-do-list....