Palpatations

[Gillyflower18]

Fall is here so of course my depression and anxiety are worse along with frequent palpitations. I am using a light box daily for the sad but the palpitations are getting me down. I get laid of this time of year and I can never relax because of the depression anxiety and palpitations. It’s soooo frustrating. Do any of you have momentary pain with your palpitations? It never travels anywhere else and lasts only a few seconds. I’m sitting here right now with it going poink poink poink. To make matters worse I’m scheduled for surgery in December for one of my terrible feet. I could tear my hair out but I’m too depressed and scared. I can make the palpitations ease up with Ativan but I hate taking it. It could also be related to GERD and my bouts with costochondrites. I guess I’m just looking for people who have experienced something like this. I’m seeing my gp tomorrow and I’m going to bend his ear. He’s generally pretty good about it. He’s an integrative physician.

[Wwerty]

Really sorry that your suffering with palpitations, I think they are the worst symptom of anxiety, I get them daily due to being put on Levothyroxin which caused my anxiety to go through the roof and have given me some horrendous palpitations, sometimes the travel up my throat, I’ve had 2 ecg readings and have been told my heart is fine and not to worry! Easier said than done when your sat there and your heart is jiggling. It’s very scary, I’ve been told to stop the Levothyroxin so hopefully they will disappear, in the meantime when I feel them I get up and do something or drink ice cold water which helps, all so slow deep breaths calm mine down, hope you feel better soon.

[Gillyflower18 in reply to Wwerty]

Thanks it helps to know you are not alone. Like you I try to keep busy. It’s harder during my laid off period to keep from worrying too much about everything

[Jeff1943]

I'm presuming you've been told by a doctor, preferably a cardiologist that your palpitations are symptoms of anxiety and not physical?

Palpitations means different things to different people. To some it means missed heartbeats. To others it just means you can feel your heart beating hard and fast. I'm the former. I very occasionally get missed heartbeats always in relation to stressful situations.

But I know it's just a symptom of anxiety. I know the heart is the largest and strongest muscle in the body. So I feel no fear. And because I feel no fear they quickly pass.

I think you fear your palpitations. The fear you feel floods your nervous system with fear hormone. This causes your nerves to become over sensitised. Jangled nerves produce all kinds of symptoms of which palpitations is quite common. The palpitations cause more fear causing more nervous sensitisation causing more palpitations causing more fear. You're caught in a self-perpetuating vicious circle that is drive by fear.

If only you could lose your fear of the palps, and your fear of the fear, you would fully recover. Your nervous system would no longer be subject to being flooded with fear hormones and it would recover just like any other part of your body can repair itself if left in peace.

So how do you contain your fears? What is your plan for recovery?

First, you can stop fighting and obsessing with your palpitations and any other symptoms. Fighting only causes stress and tension which makes matters worse. Instead I suggest you stop fighting and accept your palpitations. Don't try to stop them happening, simply accept them for the time being. Accept them totally: why not since they can do you no harm as you well know?

Let them come without resisting them and be prepared to accept them for as long as it takes. Face them too, don't try to lose yourself in distraction: you have to face the palpitations. Stop testing yourself every few minutes. Agree to coexist with the palpitations.

Acceptance counteracts the fear, you can't fear something if you truly accept it. This then is your way forward out of the wilderness of anxiety disorder.

Fear is the enemy. Overcome fear with acceptance and all will be well.

[Gillyflower18 in reply to Jeff1943]

I’ve had ekg and 48 hour Holter with nothing significant showing up. Your right about the fear part. My ability to work physically is all I have and this year has been difficult to say the least. I just despair of anything ever changing and this only makes things worse. I am seeing my regular doctor tomorrow to fill him in before my surgery.

[Jeff1943 in reply to Gillyflower18]

Don't despair of anything ever changing. Claire Weekes believed everybody can be cured of anxiety disorder if they follow the method set out in her first book 'Self help for your nerves'. First published 1962 and available new or used on Amazon and Ebay. What I write on this forum is based on Weekes' Acceptance method. Sorry if I've mentioned this before.

[Gillyflower18 in reply to Jeff1943]

That’s okay. I have the book because you talked about it. Sometimes my depression and anxiety cloud my vision. It’s just a really bad time for me right now. It’s good to have the people here to talk with. I don’t feel comfortable talking with my family so it’s all of you and my therapist. I may not be on much but I’m always following the posts

[Gillyflower18 in reply to Jeff1943]

Had another ekg today. Verrrry normal thank heavens. Dr thinks I’ve aggravated my Costochondritis again with heavy work. I’m going to try again to do as you said. I’m still afraid, anxious and depressed but I’m going to try and just accept it. My therapist has another way of saying it. See it and let it pass by you.

[Jeff1943 in reply to Gillyflower18]

Reassuring news about the ekg. "See it and let it pass by" describes acceptance perfectly.

My wife also has costochondritis, it definitely responds to anxiety in her case.

[Gillyflower18 in reply to Jeff1943]

It also is worse when you have to work in the cold! Really appreciate your answers. I always find wisdom in your answers whether to me or others. Maybe some day I’ll be able to fly on an even keel too!