cardiophobia..

[Wildflower13]

..anyone else??

I’ve dealt with it (and anxiety with panic disorder) off and on for almost 20 years. I did medication for years but I am currently not taking anything.

lately (the past 2 years) the anxiety I experience has been centrally focused on my heart. I’ve had many EKGs, sonogram tests, etc etc. Every time the tests come back normal. I have a sinus arrhythmia that I have been told is completely harmless and very common. I have heart palpitations daily, again, I’ve been told my heart is fine and nothing is actually wrong. I’ve had times when I’ve had so many I had to lay down and do a meditation to make them calm down. 95% of the time though they go away on their own and do nothing more than completely freak me out.

The heart palpitations are scary, they are strong, sometimes they feel ‘warm’, feel like they take my breath, etc. I can have them when I’m having anxiety or completely relaxed having a good time.

At this point I’m scared to do anything for fear of having palpitations and them not stopping, or having to seek medical care - none of which has ever happened. They are controlling my life. It is completely shocking to me that I go to work each day. Shocking because I live in this state of chronic nervousness. When someone comes in to talk to me or I run into someone or I have to lead a meeting I always think it could be fatal because it might trigger something awful. It’s to the point where I don’t do simple things that I very badly want to do (visit family, get my nails done, go visit my best friend) for fear of having them. The choke hold this fear has on me has to stop.

I’m 36, I’m healthy, I have no apparent reason to have anxiety much less this cardiophobia. Anything you name, I’ve probably tried it and tried it well (extensive CBT, medication, prayer-the most helpful!, meditation, exercising, etc.)

Does anyone have any tips or tricks? Or does any understand? It would be so nice to connect. I feel like I’m drowning.

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my sob story 🖤

[b1b1b1]

I do really understand. I have a similar anxiety, but about a different organ. If it would help, let me know and I will PM you. It is somewhat bathroom related, so am shy to post all the details here.

[012703060610]

Any other tough situations in your life right now? I tend to go south physically when something is happening to my emotional state. My BP and pulse go up in every Drs office. We transitioned to a summer split custody schedule and I won't see my kids for a month. This has been this way since 2018 and yet anxiety builds as each school year ends. I had been so sad over the weekend, I could only focus on negative things. I too have GI related phobias. I hover around the bathroom for hours a day.....sometimes for no reason at all. I do have GI issues, but I think my anxiety makes it worse to where I truly do have issues because of anxiety. So long story short....I totally get it. You are anxious and of course we all know stress drives anxiety. I can relate to being in a work meeting and fearing how it will go and what will happen after. If you are not on any meds, it may be a good time to ask your doctor. Agree with Glenninindy on Beta Blocker being a good first line approach if you haven't tried. It is really hard to wake up with the daily fear. This is how I am with my GI stress.

[pamb67]

I don't really have any advice but ur not alone in ur struggle. Anxiety is the cause of your palpation racing heart etc find ways to calm urself down like reading walking drawing painting anything that distracts ur mind from the panic hope that helps

[Agora1]

Hi Wildflower13 x

Cardiophobia was my first overwhelming symptom from Anxiety. It took hold of me

to the point that every moment was about my heart. Doctors, tests with everything

coming back normal. Until...it was suggested to do water exercise. That basically my

heart was fine but I was deconditioned into protecting it unnecessarily.

I thought, "are they kidding?? exercise?".. One slow step at a time in the water until

I became a super star of aquatics lol. My heart needed that exercise, my mind needed

that release of adrenaline and negative thoughts.

Sometimes Wildflower, we are the symptoms of our health issues.

Of course, always do what your doctor advises. For me, my cardiophobia went away

as I live to tell the story of my journey. xx