Anxiety: Heartbeat Hyperawareness

[Fitz8675309]

Lately I've been very afraid something is wrong with my heart. I have many problems with anxiety about my health, and they've all turned out to be nothing. But I always fear that this time it's "for real."

I have gotten into a habit where I am constantly aware of the beating of my heart, and can even hear it in my ear. "Is it beating too fast? Wow, my bpm jumped up fast when I walked over here. Feels like it's beating slow but extra hard now," etc. It's driving me insane!

How do you deal with being super tuned-in to every little bodily function? This anxiety is so frustrating, I feel like my life has been taken over. I wish I had someone to talk to that knows what I'm experiencing.

Thanks

[Ashlyxo]

For a very long time I was obsessed with my heart rate. I wore a fitbit and was constantly looking at it every 2 seconds. I would look at it and it would be 76 when I was sitting down and I would stand up and it was instantly 120. Weird things.. I was always taking my pulse and feeling my chest and worrying that I was dying. The only thing that has worked for me is taking the fitbit away. I stopped wearing it. For a while I would still take my own pulse but every time I would freak out about my heart I would force myself not to check it. Eventually I was tuned out. Like now I don't even think twice. If my heart is beating fast I simply say "this is what it is supposed to do". It is just your body's reaction to something. I always say that it is better than not beating at all.. If you are not having any other symptoms than try to ignore it or justify it. I realized that I had been freaking out over my heart for 3+ years.. At that point I figured if there was a problem with my heart, there would be more symptoms or I would be dead by now. But if you think there is definitely something wrong, call your doc. At least you could get a piece of mind.

[Fitz8675309 in reply to Ashlyxo]

Thank you for your kind words. I have seen a doctor for chest pains, and it's been labeled a symptom of my anxiety, which I think is probably true.

Went to the doctor again for pounding in my ears, she thinks it's related to sinus congestion and put me on Sudafed for two weeks to see if it clears up.

I appreciate your advice on learning to dismiss the urge to monitor yourself, it's been very helpful.

[01021968]

Hi. I been having this thing. For 15 years. And yes. I do the same thing my hart beats slow and hard seems like than it fast. Bp goes up and down. It's a bad deal I still fight it and I take meds. Even while walking with family I'll feel like crap light headed like u not there it sucks really. I know your pain.