Heart flutters/palpitations is this caused by my anxiety??? Help please.

[Healthanxiety101]

I've had bad anxiety for a few years now and always manage to find something wrong with my health..(when nothing is wrong). Anyway a few weeks back I started becoming aware of my heart beat and it annoyed me for weeks. I could feel it all the time unless I was moving, now 2 weeks later I keep having what feels like a skipped beat every now and again..some days it's worse than others. My family keep telling me it's because I am over aware of my heart and I bring on these flutters myself by thinking about them. Thing is I don't feel like I'm thinking about them..even though my subconscious will be as ive worried about it a great deal...but when I do it does make them worse. Has anybody else experienced this and could somebody please tell me if this is all due to anxiety and the vicious circle it causes. also had ECG and it was fine the same as my last one 3 years ago. blood test for thyroid was also fine..sorry to ramble. any response is appreciated.

Thanks.

[Marie_danielle]

I would experience the heart palpitations and skipped heart beat feeling but only when I was feeling anxious. So it is surprising to me that you would get these when you are not thinking any anxious thoughts. It may be something to look further into maybe see a heart specialist to make sure everything is okay! I know that in the book "DARE The New Way to End Anxiety" it explains a lot about why the heart does what it does for people who experience anxiety and it was very interesting. I really recommend the book!!

[Healthanxiety101 in reply to Marie_danielle]

Well I say imy not thinking about them but it is always in my mind. I wake up thinking about them. few days ago I didn't have them at all and when I started thinking about them guess what they happened. so is this something you could relate too? as in it could be anxiety making this happen? as I did mention in the post the tests I've had at the doctors have been normal.

[Marie_danielle in reply to Healthanxiety101]

Yes totally can relate. For me a lot of times it's when I am lying in bed anxious trying to fall asleep and then I start to feel my heart pound and it make some nervous then it is like it pounds more. I believe mine is completely a result of my anxiety because it never happens when I am not anxious. It is frustrating though when the tests come back normal when you feel it is an issue because then you just have no clue what to do about it. As I mentioned on my post on my page I posted yesterday, if you haven't seen a naturopath find a good one near you and book an appt! Very helpful doctors that may have more answers!

[Healthanxiety101 in reply to Marie_danielle]

If I am completely distracted it dosent happen. the thing I find strange is I was worried about feeling my heart beating...but now it's a worry about the flutters feelings. I do have bad health anxiety and obsess over symptoms. become too aware. if I'm completely distracted I don't notice them at all until they cross my mind then it starts again.

[Marie_danielle in reply to Healthanxiety101]

Mine is the same, that is why when I am working i feel my best but every weekend with all the free time my anxiety is worse!!! I also obsess like crazy. I do think reading the DARE booked helped me cope with it and understand more though!

[Healthanxiety101 in reply to Marie_danielle]

Feels so good to have somebody say they feel the same! I too feel better at work for the most part. I will defo have a look into that book sounds very informative. the things anxiety can do to our body is unreal

[sunnyg]

Oh, yes. The dreaded heartbeats from hell. It makes us feel like we're dying...but we're not.

[Healthanxiety101 in reply to sunnyg]

Scares the hell out of me! unless I'm distracted of course lol

[honey1699]

Hi, I suffered gad for 2 years, i had every symptom going, even thought the veins in my foot were not supposed to be there, i know it sounds crazy but when you suffer with anxiety you are always thinking or looking out for everything going even though there is nothing wrong. I had lots of ecgs and they were also fine apart from my heart rate was always 140 due to the high levels of anxiety i was experiencing. I was given about 10 different lots of meds and in the end saw a Physiatrist who took me of all my meds and eventually started to get better with relaxation classes and talking therapy. have you tried speaking to a counsellor or seeking help from your gp. i had to change drs twice as all they kept doing was giving me different meds and making me feel worse. please let me know how you get on. take care

[Healthanxiety101 in reply to honey1699]

Yes I am seeing a therapist and she is doing cbt. the controlled relaxation breathing does help a lot with this symptom. I'm going to my doctors on Friday he tried to put me on mitrazapine last time but I had bad experiences with citalopram which left me in a bad way so I don't trust them things..besides they only mask what's happening.. thing is I get anxious without knowing and before I know it I'm in the circle all over again. thanks for your reply.

[wildrosie]

I suffer from this every day and every night!! its horrible anxiety is a nightmare!! x

[LDS32]

I've gotten heart palpitations for years on and off. I felt real well the passed few weeks so I stopped taking Xanax a week ago and the palps are back. Overall I feel well so I'm not too worried.