Anxiety about my heart rate

[Braylie]

I'm trying to find help with my anxiety. I've searched all over Google and can't seem to find anyone else with this issue. I'm literally terrified of my heart rate going up. Like if it's above 74 good luck getting me out of bed that day kind of scared. I don't understand. I don't exercise, I can't. I can barely do housework anymore, walking through the store is a nightmare, I have to go so slow and stop a bunch. It makes my anxiety so much worse because i spend all day trying to keep it so low that if it doesn't stay there I can't function. We've got about a 2 hour round trip drive to make tomorrow and all I can think about is how to keep my heart rate down so I don't throw myself into an attack, because I can't just come home quick. I'm only 28 have 3 young kids and I have got to get over this!! Waiting on therapy but it'll be another month. I just need to hear I'm not alone or someone tell me how to get over this.

[hypercat54]

Hi it's very common for health anxiety sufferers to worry about their heart either stopping or their heartrate being too high. If you do a search on here you will literally see hundreds of posts.

The first thing you need to do is see a doctor to rule out any physical causes. I think at the very young age of 28 you are very unlikely to have heart problems. Then seek medical health for your anxiety. Have a look at the link and YouTube.

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con....

[Braylie in reply to hypercat54]

Thank you! Yes my heart has been checked 3 or 4 times for different things and there is nothing wrong, other than my head messing with me

[Hidden]

Breath deep and slow. And do not Google. Bababa

When your anxiety is high and heart rates up. Lay down or play a game with your self.

Either lay down and breath slow counting. Or

Say three things you see red or yellow. And three things you smell and then touch three things

Change what your worrying about and breath slow.

Anxiety is so annoying is always following me around hahah.

It’s because I’m thoughtful lol

[EleanorRose]

Hi,

How are you doing now? I have just come across your post but I have been struggling with something similar recently.

I have (mostly!) got it under control now. I am still having moments of panic (panic attacks, maybe) where I can feel my heart racing or fluttering but the fear of it happening and general anxiety around it has lessened.

Two things that helped were;

- Keeping busy - I despise when people suggest this for anything and sometimes just think, “You don’t understand, I CAN’T” but really forcing myself to do things, even when I wasn’t feeling as though I could, did make a difference.

- Stopping monitoring my heart rate - this was hard for the first couple of days. But ignorance truly is bliss. Your heart rate does fluctuate throughout the day - it’s supposed to, that is normal. I was panicking if my heart rate was ‘too high’ or ‘too low’ (what I’d decided!) and the anxiety was then affecting my heart rate some more. Stopping the constant monitoring really has helped enormously.

I hope you’re doing a bit better now. I’m here to chat if you still need to.

Take care,

Eleanor

[Braylie in reply to EleanorRose]

Oh I'm still about the same! I've got an appointment with an OCD therapist cause that's what they're calling it at this point. I've had a few bad attacks where it gets up around 140 for a few minutes. It's hard to not check it when it gets like that. But I agree the every day, every hour monitor has to stop or I'll never feel better

[EleanorRose in reply to Braylie]

I am really glad you have an appointment with a therapist coming up.

I have OCD, predominately related to my health, and the checking behaviour is part of that. I know - through lots of therapy -that the short term relief of checking doesn’t help in the long term. It is hard to believe sometimes and can be so hard to just ‘stop’ but if you can, it will help.

Feel free to message if you need someone to talk to.

Take care,

Eleanor

[Bluetj]

I understand. I was just n the hospital n April about my heart rate spiking. Now I'm under the care of a heart dr as well. This freaking D&A is crazy & can put ur body thru some crazy things. Hang in there ur not alone. 🙏🏾

[Hidden]

Hello yes my heart rate panic rage and anger all go up like a rocket shooting into the strastosphere.

I try to look my heart like an old hot rod that’s been sitting in the garage...

It’s good to let that motor scream every once in a while and blow all of the carbon out of it 🤣🤣😂🙏

[Gentlespirit]

Health anxiety is not easy to deal with and I understand where your coming from. Have you considered looking into meditation.? Ask your doctor about what is the normal range for your blood pressure.? Do you have preexisting conditions issues that you have not shared with anyone?? I understand the responsibility of caring for children and if your holding something back I understand. At some point you may decide to share the information if that is whats up but I can understand your reluctance to divulge. Try to find a balance .

Putting together puzzles with your kids, coloring or drawing, playing cards or reading or enjoying an interesting movie together. Taking them to the park. Or ask your kids some questions after reading a book. Whether you read to them or they read a book on their own. What is the story about? Who are the characters? Where does the story take place? What is the plot? What do you think of the characters? Which ones do you like? Why? What would you do differently?

Ask your kids to draw 2 or 3 pictures and then tape them on the wall or door or on the refrigerator.

Just do what you can. I wish you well.

[Gentlespirit]

Even though nutrition can help blood pressure medication may be needed. My bp was high but my heart rate was 112 and that was oohhh. So I focused on my breathing and sat still. I had just swiffered the bathroom and kitchen and cleaned the mirror . I went back to do something else and it was too much I guess. I just need to be careful sometimes and not be so hardheaded.