Anxiety and a-fib seem to be `made for each other` - they go hand in hand IMO.
Personally I have suffered from panic attacks for about 25 years - they started when I was in my 20`s. I still remember the first time it happened - it was very bad and had a real impact. Maybe it happens 1 or 2 times a year now. If it does I deal with it although it does hit you at the time. The impact is physical just as much as mental.
Now - this is the point of my post. A-fib will give you some anxiety. This is normal when your heart starts pounding and you feel out of control. At that point it`s almost a self fulfilling prophecy - your heart rate is going to go up and you panic even more.
As daft as it sounds a beer helps to relax me - not recommended if you have a-fib I know However it seems to work for me (HR drops and I relax more). Since being aware of my condition it`s pretty rare I`ll over indulge - 1 or 2 beers is my limit.
For sure a-fib makes you anxious = anxious makes you stressed = a-fib.
How do you deal with anxiety that comes from a-fib ?
Best,
Paul
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Ive had a fib for over 3 yr not no episodes in last 11 mo, yea!! I think the anxiety dance is a process. First several episodes lasted 4-8 hr, A Fib was hard and heavy and I felt like I was dying. I went to bed, tried distracting myself with tv, no luck. I have learned that controlled breathing helps alot, same thing I learned in childbirth 35 yr ago!!! Now, as time marches on, Ive learned not to panic, a few times Ive felt it coming on and I think my breathing chased it off, not everytime. Biggest lesson Ive learned is that it isnt going to kill me, at least not today. It is annoying and worrisome but anxiety feeds the fire of a fib.
Re your beer, hard to argue about something that seems to work for you, lol. My EP told me from the beginning not to drink any alcohol, so I havent. Problem with beer is, maybe next time you need 3-4, then 6 mo later a 6 pack, etc. Before you know it, your liver will start complaining too. OK, grandma's lecture is over🤣 Good luck to you, and hope a fib takes a long hike.
I've had AF for 14 years and feel that I don't panic so much when an attack strikes now. If I feel my heart starting to do something odd, I immediately start deep breathing, if in bed I change my position too. I suspect that a lot of AF is triggered by our not breathing correctly. People quite often say they were sat quietly when it started, well were they sat so quietly absorbed in what they were doing that they forgot to breathe. A bit like daytime apnoea. At one time after exercise, we'd all breathe heavily which was natural, but I find that I have to consciously think about doing that now.
Re your drink helping. Once I'd been in AF for weeks and went to a friends for pre Christmas drinks. I had a small taster of some wine there and it was so nice I had more and more - only small amounts, before I knew it I was back in sinus rhythm.
When getting out of bed to go to the toilet in the night make sure to breathe deeply and continue when you get back into bed.
I also completely agree with Jean. As we get older can it be we are more forgetful to breathe as well as drink and no doubt more. I have found out as a result of AF that I have mild sleep apnoea (nasal strips help), also that I hold my breathe unconsciously when typing important emails. Whenever I feel an ectopic I take several deep breathes, the same when I first get into bed or are stationary watching TV for a while. I have learned to recognise these prompts as my body communicating (sounds flaky I know) e.g. if watching a long film in the evening, every half hour or so I will pause it and do some short light domestic chore. I just feel I no longer wish to sit stationary for an hour and a half without a break, fortunately I don't get the same feeling when out e.g. the cinema possibly because out of your own home you are less relaxed and therefore less of an AF problem. This probably doesn't apply to non Vagal AFers.
I love this post 😊 after years of wrongly being diagnosed with panic disorder, chronic anxiety etc I have spent a lot of time and energy trying to prove that panic and anxiety are a symptom rather than a cause. My new mantra is “even if it appears that I’m having a panic attack please listen to me when I tell you I’m not” this seems to be really difficult for people even medical professionals to grasp sometimes. Of course my mind and body descend into panic and anxiety when my heart is beating at 240bpm but eliminate the arrhythmia and the panic and anxiety wouldn’t have occurred (for me)
It’s great that beer can be a relaxer for you. Arrhythmias are so random that one mans trigger can be another mans medicine!
In terms of what I do to deal with the instant feeling of panic when I realise that despite my weird subconscious breathing response and immediate change of position I’m in full blown AFib, the answer is I just feel really really freaked out! In 30 years I haven’t found a way to override that feeling. It’s that feeling that I actually hate more than anything else, the sinking realisation that it’s happening again and I have no control over when it will end.
Try it - maybe it will work for you - maybe not. The thing to remember is the feeling will pass and it might help.
As for the beer ! I have always enjoyed a pint and find a few pints really helps me chill. I check my HR on a very regular basis and every time it goes down after a couple of beers. Moderation is key here - if I go on a binge it rockets. Best stick to 1 or 2 beers max (sorry ladies - wine is just as good too @Jean ;-))
That won`t be the same for everyone though. Please don`t read my post and think having a few pints will help your a-fib. We all have different triggers so find out what works for you. Trial and error springs to mind.
As daft as it sounds, eating seems to affect me. Every time I have a meal my HR goes up. I`ll be around 80 in the day, and as soon as I eat my evening meal, it`s up to a 100 or more.
One other thing that effects me is coffee. You`ll think I`m crazy when I tell you this.
Almost without exception my heart rate is 90 - 93 when I get up. I really like a strong black coffee in the morning and every time it drops to about 81 - 85 after drinking my coffee. However, coffee is not recommended with a-fib. The reason it drops is more likely something to do with moving (ie not lying down and sleeping) rather than the caffeine.
This is my take on it. Don`t give up things you enjoy because of a-fib - but do it moderation. Find out what works for you - we all have different triggers.
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However it seems to work for me (HR drops and I relax more). Since being aware of my condition it`s pretty rare I`ll over indulge - 1 or 2 beers is my limit.
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