anxiety annoying

[Anxious37]

Not really a question just a moan . I have been having really good days for past 2 weeks .Then last night couldn’t sleep and that nasty anxiety creeped in . So at the minute I am in a battle of wills with my anxiety and I determined to win . I am grateful I can handle it a bit better now but annoyed it keeps showing up for what seems no reason . O well hopefully it doesn’t last long and I can enjoy my day . Hope everyone is feeling as ok as can be

[CDreamer]

May I suggest you look at trying some Yoga Nidra - Yoga means connection and Nidra sleep but in essence it is intense relaxation. I lead a group where we practice this lying down for 30 mins and many of attendees report improved sleep and lessening of anxiety. There are many different incarnations of Yoga Nidra on YouTube but the recording of the guided practice I like and have used for about 20 years is from BigShakti - there are a few videos on YouTube which explain what it is all about which is really simple - focus on the breath - Yoga is less about holding difficult to do poses and far more about breath work. What I find is that you must like the voice, I found some to just be irritating. The BigShakti website has a lot of info and you can purchase the guided meditations for a reasonable price.

You have done really, really well since you very first post at lessening your anxiety and coping with your AF so as and when you awake in the night and have all these worry thoughts, rather than get into the catastrophic thinking mode - just focus on your breath - slow it down - take long, slow, deep breaths and count them for a few moments.

[gladliz in reply to CDreamer]

I know what you mean about the voice. The American female yoga teachers seem to either sound like little girls, or harsh and whiney. The one chap I found really relaxing for meditation was Bruce? Does an online course and is quite famous these days. I once worked with a Welshman who had a voice like Richard Burtons slathered in butter. Half the time after a conversation you couldn't remember what he was talking about it was just the sound.

[Czech_Mate]

You are not alone. Many of us here go thru periods of anxiety. Take it easy, Praise yourself for what you get done, don't do yourself over for what you don't get done. Try to learn to dance in the rain.All things must pass.

Cheers

CM

[Buffafly]

Be kind to yourself. It’s a bit like grief, you can be overwhelmed at first but as time goes on you have a ‘grief slot’ each day, and then they get further and further apart until they only happen when an incident sets them off. People who deny or suppress their feelings suffer for it in other ways. It’s ok to be anxious, it’s natural, as long as it’s waning and not constantly overwhelming you you’re getting there.

[Cavalierrubie]

Hi Anxious37

As others have said, you have done really well to get this under control. It’s not easy, far from it, but as you are experiencing, it does go.

I always say that anxiety is a symptom of AF. It’s a viscous circle and we have to find our own way through and deal with it as best as we can. It will get better. Your nervous system has had a shock, and that will be healing in its own time.

Keep going forwards, as l am sure you will. You can do this. 🥰

[Bagrat]

I try to meditate each day, I have also just started a face to face nhs CBT course ( counselling with home work) for which I self referred. Google nhs talking therapies.In addition I use various mantras. One of which applies to things you don't much like but are part of your make up, like anxiety and chronic pain for example.

As Buffafly said it is part of who we are and to some extent a survival thing left over from when most of our anxieties were round physical threats.

The mantra I heard was "You are welcome here too". Maybe accepting your anxiety will be less difficult to bear than trying to fight it.

The other phrases that help me, and I know we are all different are "this too shall pass" and "tomorrow will be different". Different challenges, different joys even different anxieties.

[Buffafly in reply to Bagrat]

Mantras are amazingly helpful. My third child was much more difficult than my first two which came as a shock. My mantra was from something I read, ‘All babies cry but some cry more for less’. Even when she was much older that saying came back to me when she was being over sensitive and demanding!

[Bagrat in reply to Buffafly]

If I'd had my second child first, she would have been an only child

[Czech_Mate in reply to Bagrat]

🥴

[Dannysdad]

You're not alone! My mental health deteriorated as meds addressed the physical problems I didn't know I had. Sleep is a real ongoing problem and staying asleep is the main issue. I catch up with afternoon naps which are refreshing, and try to have at least ten minutes breathing/mindful relaxation. Michael Mosley's Deep Calm episodes on his Just One Thing broadcasts on BBC Sounds are helpful. It also reminds me you can be as healthy as he was, yet still not know what's around the corner. Live for today & try to enjoy it.

[Madras1]

Hi I am not medically trained, I and many others have and have had anxiety , the thoughts ooh what if this happens , ooh what was that beat there , I better check my pulse , is it afib ? , its getting worse, these thoughts feed your anxiety and the more you think the worse it gets , I used too suffer badly from anxiety over afib returning, it wasnt the afib that worried me it was what if it starts again . My cognitive thinking was a bit mixed up . I dont know if anxiety can help trigger an episode of afib ,I know stress can . How I managed over a little time was when I felt anxious over my afib I would say to myself , Ok afib do you worst , I am inviting you , you dont scare me, tell your self to accept the feeling , is that it ? the secret I think is accepting , if your anxious thoughts over afib come in to your head let them , This worked for me , it might not work for everyone but Anxious 37 give it a go , its the what if , accept the what if .

[actionteddy in reply to Madras1]

Excellent advice ,this is what I try to do ,it's part of afib,but doesn't have to be the ruler .

[AAW2024]

Totally understand. I get those odd nights when up for the loo, I can't get back to sleep for maybe 2 hours while I battle the anxiety and try breathing excercises to calm myself. If I can't...then a cocododamol usually is my last resort to get me to sleep again. I don't know what else to do.

[secondtry in reply to AAW2024]

If male, try using a Uribag by your bedside, sounds unattractive but works great for getting back to sleep. May be too much information, but I also have one in the car in case I am trapped in a motorway jam. I mentioned it to a friend and he thanks me every time we meet 😆.

[AAW2024 in reply to secondtry]

Unfortunately not male!!! Great idea for you tho.

[Vonnegut]

Guess “calling” yourself “anxious” wasn’t a great idea! It’s as if you have defined yourself that way! Slow breathing and how about adopting a more positive “name” to use here- like a favourite author -

[Anxious37 in reply to Vonnegut]

At the start that was how I felt but think maybe time to change something else

[OzJames]

Read Breath by James Nestor. I’ve managed to control my HR whilst walking by mindful breathing through my nose. Check out reviews

[southkorea]

I emphasise . I sleep well for weeks then suddenly I can’t sleep and start worrying about nonsense. Just except those nights as zi know they will pass!

[HollieAdmin Administrator AF Association]

Hello,

Thank you for your post.

It is completely understandable to have anxieties but please be proud of yourself for managing the past two weeks so well.

If you would like to contact a member of our Patient Services Team, please complete our contact form and a member of the team will be in touch:

UK and International: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

US: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

We are always here to listen and to provide support so please do not hesitate to contact us if you need us.

Kind regards,

HollieAdmin

[Ewloe]

I think I’ve replied to you before. But as my anxiety is about this morning reading your post made me take positive action 😂. I was meithering about a referral the gp has done and different scenarios were starting to whirl around in my head. So I’ve just got off the phone with the gp practice ( after half an hour waiting to speak with them) and found out the facts which I’m happy with and my head can have a rest.

Thank you.

[Qualipop]

I had a breakdown 40 years ago. It took a good 10 years before I got the anxiety fully under control. It would jump up and bite me for no apparent reason. I found a wonderful lady who did hypnotherapy and taught me to do it myself, basically recognising the signs of it starting and doing relaxation exercises to stop it before it got bad. The more I did it the easier it was, No problems at all in the last 30 years. Obviously when things go wrong like when I had a heart attack, I'm concerned but never panic.

[Jetcat]

anxiety can certainly be a pest sometimes.!! Hope you’re feeling better soon 37.👍

[DKBX]

The fluttering in my chest (even short runs of ectopics) brings on anxious hormones and exacerbates the fibs and flutters. Why anxiolytics aren’t part of a medical regimen for arrhythmia I’ll never know. My solution? Cannabis tea. But I grow my own in a state where it’s legal to do so. So probably not advisable for you. Consequently, until the medics wake up, we are stuck with yoga and deep breathing exercises … also effective to some degree (but not as good as the tea).

[Fblue]

i’ve been dealing with bouts of anxiety as well. It’s a hard time in the world right now besides our personal issues. My friend who is a trauma therapist said we need to move because I do a lot of meditation and I started doing some gentle dance movement from YouTube videos and it’s helped my mental state. I also take a walk every day. These are just some things that have helped me and I agree the yoga Nidra guided meditation is so helpful for the nervous system to calm down. I loved it so much when I went through health issues back in 2007 when I had Lyme disease, allergic reaction to a drug Levaquin that caused lifelong tendon issues, and then got a fibs four months rash,, I relied on yoga Nidra and I loved it so much that I got certified myself. My teacher who is streaming is Jennifer Reis. I like her original CD Yoga Nidra, and it’s the healing track the middle track on the CD. Another thing that helped me very much recently was also from the trauma therapist friend of mine, she said think about all of the ancestors before you and then we’re just one little piece on this continuum of then our children and grandchildren and future generations and just thinking of that bigger more expansive reality made me see that I’m just moving through and it’s all OK. It might not help anyone else, but it helped my perspective very much so I thought I would share it with you. 💜

[Ppiman]

Poor sleep and an anxious mind make for a hard life.

Steve

[shiftcolors]

Matthew 6:25: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Psalm 94:19: "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy."

1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

[MaryCa]

My GP prescribed me Valium/diazepam for when anxiety struck. I was given thirty once. I still have some of them a year and a half later. My ablation really has been a life saver. For some reason driving really triggered the anxiety, weird because normally I'm a confident driver. But my Fitbit picks up spikes in my heart rate while driving, definitely weird.

[DawnTX]

just like you I get annoyed with it because it’s there for no reason but it’s something you’re going to need to deal with. I don’t know your whole situation. I have a I can still feel a flutter just so you know and that’s normal so yes, I’m very annoyed at it with the pacemaker. I know it’s not damaging my heart but it’s still aggravating. It’s not all that painful usually I get an ache. All I can say is, I’m glad this is all I have because of it. We can still complain about it lol it’s not fun. We have good days and bad. We can be having a great day and suddenly there it is. Try to distract yourself don’t go taking your numbers over and over again if you meditate that’s a great way to handle it.

we have a giant learning curve that will probably never end when it comes to this thing you may be able to find some of your triggers and keep away from them other things happen such as anxiety you are not alone in this

[AussieHeart]

A Healthline post healthline.com/health/healt... on getting off to — or back to — sleep (which also helped with thoughts of anxiety) really helped me.

The military method was developed during World War II as a relaxation technique that is said to have helped the U.S. Navy preflight school airmen fall asleep in 120 seconds. Stress and sleep deprivation had impacted their judgment, rationale, and decision making.

It took pilots nearly 6 weeks of practice, but there was supposedly a 96% success rate — even after drinking coffee and with guns firing around them.

It’s important to note that a lack of scientific research supports these claims. This sleeping method also takes a full 120 seconds to complete. But the last 10 seconds is all it takes to finally snooze.

The military method

Relax your entire face, including the muscles inside your mouth. (To relax your mouth touch the top of your teeth with your tongue).

Drop your shoulders to release the tension, and let your hands drop to the side of your body.

Exhale, relaxing your chest.

Relax your legs, thighs, and calves.

Clear your mind for 10 seconds by imagining/visualising a relaxing scene.

If this doesn’t work, try saying “don’t think” repeatedly for 10 seconds.

Within 10 seconds, you should fall asleep!

My new mantra is “don’t think”. If my head is swimming with thoughts at night, or I suddenly wake up, I use the above technique to get back to sleep or a variation of it, eg: do a body scan exercise by relaxing your toes, then breathe in saying to yourself don’t think, breathe out saying don’t think until you’ve scanned up and down your body. You can do this counting sheep but fill the space by saying “don’t think”! It seriously stops you stressing over the small stuff

[Curiousafib]

I can relate. I’m a couple years into the journey. I miss the days when I took my health for granted, but a couple of CVs, an ablation, and meds have helped.

[Sixtychick]

Anxiety is awful.I have had it a few times, over the years. Am just getting over another bout of it. I have found Hypnotherapy is a very good help to me. I’m also having 6 counselling sessions paid for by my Benendon Health cover. I’ve had 2 of those so far. Not sure it’s helping that much though. I am also having an assessment tomorrow for CBT provided by the NHS. I don’t want to take medication, if I can help it. Hope you find something that helps you.

[Beckymar]

hi I know exactly what you are saying. I have AFib too and just recently I am anxious all the time. Just hoping one day soon it will pass. Hope yours better soon